SATRA in discussion with New Zealand researchers

LASRA Director Dr Warren Bryson visits the SATRA Technology Centre.

SATRA Technology Centre recently received a visit from Dr Warren Bryson, Director of the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association (LASRA). The 84-year-old association is a research, training and testing Institute in the Australasian region, with a broad experience of leather and leather production and close ties to the domestic and regional livestock, tannery and footwear industries. It has recently developed chromium-free ovine leathers – said to have higher material strength comparable with bovine leathers, while maintaining the characteristic softness and flexibility that are suited to the manufacture of lightweight children’s and women’s footwear.

The discussions at SATRA were wide-ranging and included the challenges and opportunities facing the New Zealand leather and footwear industries. The potential for joint research projects was identified, and Dr Bryson said that he felt honoured to have the opportunity to visit SATRA, and meet with Chief Executive Austin Simmons and key members of staff. Dr Bryson remarked that the broad range of activities and capabilities at SATRA is very impressive and beyond what LASRA could aspire to, given its much smaller support base. He explained that LASRA’s skill base was largely in skin and hide processing and tannery research, and that it is in collaboration with Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in the fields of protein chemistry, proteomics, and structural analysis. LASRA also runs a physical, chemical and environmental test-house. Dr Bryson said that as SATRA’s activities are clearly complementary to those of LASRA, it made sense to collaborate on projects that would benefit from the input of SATRA’s skills, expertise and facilities.

Photograph shows Dr Warren Bryson, Director of LASRA (on right) during his visit to the Technology Centre, with SATRA Chief Executive Austin Simmons.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 6 of the January 2012 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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