Development of a test infrastructure for the East African leather industry
In a joint project with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the East African leather industry is supported in setting up an infrastructure for testing physical parameters on leather. Our institute will contribute its materials expertise and extensive experience in materials testing.
The leather industry in East Africa is in a state of upheaval. Instead of countless local handicraft tanneries, modern and industrial tannery centres are emerging in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique or Tanzania, which want to produce leather with qualities that are common in industrialised countries. Laboratory infrastructure is to be developed for this purpose as well.
Our accredited testing laboratory will contribute its technical know-how and material expertise. In a first step, test capacities and the need for test equipment and components will be determined. Laboratory staff will then be trained in materials science and sample preparation in training courses. Physical test parameters will then be determined and validated in round robin tests with the participating laboratories to ensure the quality of the laboratory work. A nice development project, we think.