In his youth, Axel Landmann, who became an eminent leather scientist, was awarded a grant to study leather manufacture at the Northampton College of Technology before joining Lankro chemicals, where he learned to make, test and control leather finishes. He continued his studies to obtain an Honours Degree in Chemistry and became an Associate of the Royal Society of Chemistry and, later, a Fellow. Axel joined the British Leather Manufacturers Research Association (BLMRA), later to become the BLC Leather Technology Centre, where he remained for the rest of his career until retirement. There he started a new department of Leather Finishing and also guided the research with a strong emphasis on practical applications, including the evaluation and development of test methods.

Axel represented a variety of committees, including SLTC and IULTCS, and he also lectured at congresses such as the Hungarian and Czechoslovak Leather Societies. He served a term as SLTC President from 1990-1992 and remained a member of the Council during his retirement. 

He was an advisor to the Ministry of Defence on leather methods and appeared as an expert witness in court on behalf of the Trading Standards Department in cases involving leather descriptions and performance.

Axel Landmann was the first recipient of the Axel Landmann Certificate in 2014 and the full list of other people recognised with this honour can be found on our “Past Presidents and Awards” page. 

Acknowledgement:  International Leather Maker Article:  March 27, 2018