Published: 23 April, 2010
The ISA TanTec tannery in Saigon, Vietnam has been awarded second prize in the German Energy Efficiency Awards by the German Energy Agency (EnergieEffizienz). Viessmann Werke, a heating technology system manufacturer won the first prize.
Building on the experience of their comparable production facility in China, tanners ISA TanTec have implemented an integrated energy and environmental management system for their new plant in Saigon.
Saigon TanTec uses on average only 33 mega joules (MJ) of energy per square metre of leather, in comparison with a leather industry standard of approximately 52 MJ (calculation by BLC – Leather Technology Centre).
The aim of the energy and environmental management system was to make an efficient use of energy, water and chemicals and to carry out continuous monitoring and calculation of the overall energy requirement of the production process. The reduction in energy requirement was achieved by optimising individual formulations, lighting and air conditioning systems and by in-process measures.
Saigon TanTec were awarded the 2nd prize in view of their all-round approach and consistent implementation of innovative technologies in the field of energy and environmental engineering. The company’s strategic energy and environmental management, which takes a holistic view of production and is directed to continuous, environmentally focused optimisation of the entire production. With its ‘LITE Leather’ label, the company has created a mark, recognised in the leather industry, which identifies leather produced in an energy and resource efficient manner.
The savings achieved by Saigon TanTec such as the 40% cut in energy consumption and the reduction in CO2 emissions of 2,700 tonnes per year.
Air conditioning has been replaced with an open design optimised for airflow as well as a 50% reduction in water consumption and 15% reduction in chemical consumption has been achieved.
Clariant to showcase in Guangzhou
China
Published: 22 April, 2010
Visitors to the 2010 Guangzhou Leather Fair, Guangzhou, China, June 1-3 will be see Clariant’s new collection of leathers, based on their spring-summer 2011 colour and fashion trends. Leathers covering most types, including shoe uppers, handbags, garments, and sofas will be shown. On booth 0110 0112 & 0131 0133 in hall 11.2, Clariant will demonstrate how innovative products and processing techniques, offering environmental benefits and optimum processing economy, can enhance the natural beauty of leather with the look and performance to suit individual customer requirements.
Under the motto: ‘Clariant – Always One Shoe Step Ahead’ Clariant will showcase innovative highlights from wet-end to finishing, created through their global approach to fashion and article development. New specifications constantly require adjustment and innovation.
Highlights from Wet End
Innovative systems for full and soft chrome or chrome free leathers
Clariant continues to use leading edge technology in order to provide chemicals that meet today’s requirements for ecological, innovative and aesthetically pleasing leathers, while giving the tanner maximum added value and process simplicity:
Chrome Free Collections
Chrome free leather, using Clariant’s pretanning system Granofin® F-60 in synergy with the retanning agent Tanicor® SCU.
Nappa and Sofa Collections
Clariant offers Natural Nappa and Superb Sofa collections produced using its specialty retanning and fatliquoring systems, Tergotan® PMB and Tergotan TSP. These intelligent polymer retanning agents deliver even softness, tightness and grain pattern. Tergotan
PO-60, a brand new development from Clariant, is a true retanning and softening polymer that gives superb softness / tightness when used as a replacement for conventional retanning agents and fatliquors. On a phenol and formaldehyde free basis, it can meet even the toughest ecological legislation. In combination with Clariant’s specialty fatliquoring systems featuring the new Derminol® SO-31, a highly softening synthetic fatliquor, Clariant can offer total solutions for all nappa and sofa requirements.
Vegetable looks and handles from chrome and chrome free substrates
To meet current market trends for vegetable type leathers Clariant presents a full range of new articles with that classical vegetable look and feel using our new specialty fatliquors: Derminol DDS and Derminol PUA. These products along with innovative processing techniques offer the tanner the opportunities to produce beautiful vegetable type articles with the simplicity and economy of traditional chrome leathers.
From the Finishing side Clariant presents the following innovations:
Elegant Upgrading
Elegant upgrading continues to play an important role in today’s leather manufacture. The importance of cutting yield and increased profitability are still at the forefront of Clariant’s finishing developments. As one of the market leaders in specialty chemicals and in upgrading technologies, Clariant offers its customers complete tailor-made solutions with real benefits.
Finishing techniques for upgrading using Melio® Aquabase and Melio Ground systems provide solutions for the low grade raw materials currently available and meet the current requirements of the market. In particular, customers can take advantage of the outstanding upgrading and natural looks obtained with Clariant’s highly innovative cationic prebase compound Melio Ground UP.
Melio Aquabase Technique – to cover hide defects
Melio Aquabase M-90
This new innovative development is used to cover deep defects, in order to make them invisible after finishing. Melio Aquabase M-90 is applied by hand with a spatula. The application is extremely simple due to its special composition which allows application without drying too quickly and enables buffing without smearing. Melio Aquabase M-90 is suitable for a wide range of leathers, including automotive, shoe upper and upholstery leathers.
Beautiful rich wax effects and versatility for both shoe and upholstery styles
Melio 06-F-88
Clariant offers a new water-based wax with excellent burnishability along with high gloss and a natural waxy touch that make it suitable for both shoe and upholstery leathers. Clariant’s new Melio 06-F-88 gives versatility and ease of use to the Finisher.
New Aqualen® topcoat systems for all requirements
Aqualen Top DC-2050.B / Top GC-2051.A
Clariant’s new topcoat system based on Aqualen Top DC-2050.B (dull) and Aqualen Top GC-2051.A (gloss) is a brand new development especially for soft leathers such as furniture leather or shoe upper nappas.
Both products can be mixed in any ratio in order to adjust the desired level of gloss or dullness. Common to both products and therefore the whole system is the very elegant optic achieved as a result of the softness, very high resistance to rubbing and flexing, no hardening even after long period of time, and a very natural appearance and pleasant feel.
Melio WF-5238 / WF-5243
Two new developments to compliment our already outstanding aqueous topcoat systems. Melio WF-5238, a highly concentrated silicone with a luxurious smooth feel which also improves physical properties of aqueous topcoats, and Melio WF-5243, an additive with a natural pleasant handle and the ‘wet touch’ feel which now features strongly in customer requirements.
Neosan® 2000 – the intelligent pigment system
These pioneering casein free aqueous pigment dispersions offer new customized solutions with outstanding advantages. They are Arizona-proofed for outstanding heat and light fastness as well as hot light ageing properties. When used with Clariant’s Pelcroma® Computer Color Matching, accurate, true and brilliant colors are assured.
Supronil® HK dyes
Discover Clariant’s very well established Supronil HK range, a complete range of versatile colors suited to today’s fashion demands.
China goes to WTO on footwear duties
China/European Union
Published: 09 February, 2010
China filed a complaint against European Union shoe tariffs at the World Trade Organization as Beijing continued its legal assault on what it says is unfair Western protectionism. Europe has grown increasingly concerned about China's balance of trade and what some critics view as its artificially weak currency.
China, which joined the WTO in 2001, filed its first unfair trade case against the European Union in July 2009, also involving antidumping duties.
The latest move appeared intended to increase pressure on the European Union, which had itself been sharply divided over extending the shoe tariffs.
In a statement issued by its mission in Geneva, where the WTO is based, the Chinese government said Europe's actions ‘violated various obligations under the WTO and consequently caused damage to the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese exporters.’ It added that China ‘had repeatedly consulted’ with the European Union but said that its concerns ‘had not been properly addressed or settled.’
In an eight-page legal complaint, the Chinese government requested consultations on both the original 2006 decision to impose the shoe duties and last year's move to extend them. The EU and the U.S. have sought to stem the flow of Chinese imports with special duties.
In the EU case, China is taking on one of the most important tariff increases ever levied, which has negatively impacted its shoe industry. The 16.5% tariffs are antidumping duties, meant to punish goods that are sold below cost and hurt the sales of domestic producers. The EU duties were inaugurated in 2006 and extended for 15 months in December 2009. At the same time, shoe imports from Vietnam were hit with a 10% tariff.
The EU dismissed the complaint. ‘Antidumping duties are not about protectionism’, said spokesman John Clancy. ‘They are about fighting unfair trade.’ The measures, he said, were imposed only on ‘evidence that dumping of Chinese products has taken place and that this is harming the otherwise competitive EU industry.’
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