About Us
About Us
We are a non-profit International Learned Society serving the leather sector and dedicated to the future of the leather industry.
The Society
In our changing world, information is the key to success and therefore the Society was formed to encourage interest in all branches of the leather industry. The Society covers both the theoretical and practical interests of not only those involved in making leather but also the hides and skins trades, machinery, chemicals, and dyeing and finishing manufacturers, as well as allied industries such as effluent treatment and support service industries. The interests of the Society cover chemistry of course, but also physics, management, microscopy, bacteriology, engineering and sustainability.
SLTC Origins
The origins of the Society go back to 1897 when the first ever International Conference of Leather Chemists was held in London, and subsequently The International Association of Leather Trades Chemists (IALTC) was formed.
1902 saw the first publication of “Collegium”, the journal of the IALTC. In July 1917, at the height of the Great War, the UK branch of IALTC split from the rest of the body, to create its own Society of Leather Trades Chemists comprising the main UK Section plus the thriving South African and Australian Sections. At that time the UK Section was made up of three regional groups; a Northern Group, a West Country Group and a Northampton Group. During the separation there also came the split from the original European publication Collegium, and the formation of the new journal, JSLTC.
The final name change to Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists came about in 1972 to reflect the changes in membership interest.
More recently, the UK Groups and International Sections have combined to form one International Society, including members from all around the world.
Test Methods
The Society is the originator of the “Official Methods of Analysis”. These methods were the reason for the first meeting in 1897. They were last re-issued in 1996 with amendments and additional methods added until 2005 when ISO (International Standards Organisation) took over the responsibility for the joint IULTCS/ISO methods.
Since 2005, Standards have been available from individual countries’ own Standards Organisations. However many of the original methods have changed little, are still used around the world and are therefore useful documents.
Printed copies of the 1996 edition including amendments can be purchased from the online shop on this website in our Journals & Publications section.
Affiliations
SLTC is a member of a coordinating body the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies – IULTCS www.iultcs.org
