Editorial
Editorial nº 76
Leather Technology Magazine
![Summary](imagenes/sum76.jpg)
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Editorial
According to international publications, the most
remarkable technological advances for 2011 include 3D
cell phones, Internet-equipped cars, nurse robots and
cybernetic implants.
The 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two
scientists, Geim and Novoselov, who iscovered
“grapheme” from graphite, which is flexible, transparent,
inexpensive, and will be used in processors, tactile
screens...
I cannot but feel astonished at such technological
vertigo; it makes me reflect, even against my own will, on
the current situation of the leather industry and its chain
of value.
On the one hand, the “Leather Naturally” initiative, that
is luckily gaining worldwide reach, promotes the value of
leather and its versatility by educating consumers. This
movement struggles to make synthetic leather substitutes
fill in their marketplace as such, without casting confusion
on end products. Only leather is considered “LEATHER.”
On the other, the international leather industry is
concerned with sustainability; in articular, in some
countries we wonder if there will be enough raw materials
in the future.
Will we also be capable of designing innovative
technologies that would allow us to work with more
environmentally-friendly processes, producing the least
amount of waste and effluents as possible, but still
meeting the requirements of the manufacturing industries?
Will we be able to reduce the carbon footprint?
The pressure of the market is strong. Leather must
appear “natural,” but without natural flaws. It must
overcome the most varied and aggressive tests of
resistance to rubbing, staining, abrasion, etc., many of
which were originally designed for materials other than
leather.
Considering all these aspects that, at times, seem to get
us down and make us feel like “Don Quijote”, fighting the
wind mills, I believe that those who work in the leather
industry must be prepared to face this challenge.
In order to surmount the inconveniencies and obstacles
in the way, I believe we should bet on research and
training as key factors to attain our goals.
Fostering the creativity, innovation and enthusiasm of
young people who are incorporating or will incorporate into our industry is a duty that should not be circumvented
by those who have been working in the leather industry
for several decades now.
Lic. Patricia Casey - Presidente
Impact of the 3rd Symposium
AAQTIC’s activities are now being carried out by a
newly-appointed Board of Directors, presided over by
Patricia Casey, who has writen her Editorial in her role
as President.
I have been invited to continue this magazine (as well
as AAQTIC’s communications in general), a task I will
be very pleased to undertake.
Last November the Third Symposium of the Tanning
Industry was held, whereas a Fourth Symposium is
already being prepared.
The Symposium held last November was different
from the previous ones: no dinner was organized, but
invitations were issued to institutions, companies, some
of which presented their updates, and press media in the
sector, which offered their publications. Along with the
posters, these activities made up a supplementary space
to the conference room. Other companies, especially
from the chemistry sector, made their participation
by sponsoring the event in one way or another. Social
activities materialized in the opening cocktail on
Thursday 25th. The foregoing evidences that the Tanning
Symposium has been the meeting point of the sector.
More than 150 people took part in the event, including
professionals, technicians and businesspersons. It
was the perfect opportunity to call several technicians
from tanneries in provinces other than Buenos Aires.
In addition, it´s worth nothing that, although it was a
nationwide meeting, there were colleagues from other
countries as well, such as Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and
a guest lecturer from Germany.
Five works were presented orally, and 4 via poster.
There were other activities such as a Round Table on
Tanning Effluents; a guest Lecture and a Monograph
Contest addressed at younger technicians.
These works will be published in our magazine from
this issue on.
In this way, we keep sticking to the idea that AAQTIC’s
different ways of conveying knowledge (Courses,
Conferences, magazine, website, Symposia, etc) give
their feedback to one another.
We continue to publish works presented at the 2008
Rio Latin American about Lead in Footwear and Leather
Cleaning.
Apart from the technical works, the issue on
Sustainability in the interview to Mr. Tegtmeyer, a guest
lecturer at the Symposium. We continue publishing the
sections on Trends, Tanning History, and Institutions: in
this issue, the Leather Engineering Department of Ege
University, Izmir. Turkey.
And of course, Bibliography, updates on the sector and
the valuable contributions by the CITEC.
Claudio Salvador Director |