Up-date on the XXXV. IULTCS International Congress 2019 in Dresden

VGCT (German Leather Technicians and Chemists Association), organiser of the Freiberg Leather Days, will be hosting the XXXV. International IULTCS Congress in 2019 celebrating its 70th birthday at the same time. Application for holding the congress in Germany dates back more than four years, in the margins of the 2014 APLF edition in Hong Kong when the IULTCS board decided to give acceptance to the German association.

Since the beginning of 2017, when the baton was passed on to VGCT in the course of the XXXIV. IULTCS Congress in Chennai, India, the German association started to promote actively the congress of this significance and size. In being a source of inspiration and innovation, the congress shall ensure the constant progress and development of our industry on a global scale in order to meet future demands and requirements.

The XXXV. IULTCS International Congress 2019 is designed to provide a scientifically ambitious and in its scope a global industry meeting point in the heart of Europe, Dresden. The city, located in the Elbe river valley, is said to be one of the prettiest cities in Germany with its historic centre: the Zwinger and the Semper Opera House, the Royal Palace, Frauenkirche and Brühl's Terrace forming the typical “Canaletto View Silhouette”. All this attractions are in close proximity to the International Congress Center (ICD) Dresden, a spacious and multi-functional congress venue overlooking the river and the historic city center.

According to the high standards of the German leather and tanning industry and its European neighbors the congress theme was set:

„Benign by Design“ – Leather  - a Future through Science and Sustainability

The congress concept determines some significant general conditions:

• Next to the technical programme the congress will feature a special exhibition and lecture area on automation, machinery and industry 4.0 in the tanning and leather processing industry, poster sessions throughout the conference and speed science sessions for the best poster submissions.

• The Freiberg Leather Days, a yearly gathering of the European leather and tanning industry, which took place in June 2018 in Germany and counted 240 participants from 22 countries, will be coupled with the congress enlarging the range of information and knowledge exchange significantly thus generating benefit for both groups of participants.

• The congress shall provide a maximum of horizontal and vertical integration of all groups of stakeholders being involved in the process of leather manufacture, processing and application of leather as well as trade and retail of leather.

With less than a year left, preparations for the congress are in full swing. The organisation team around Martin Heise, Trumpler GmbH & CO. KG and Chairman of VGCT, and Dr Beate Haaser, CEO of SÜDLEDER GmbH & CO. KG and Deputy Chairman of VGCT, are about to finalise the time-line for the months leading to congress. Starting point for the hot phase of preparations will be the “Call for Papers” to be opened beginning of September. The host, VGCT, and the technical committee of the IULTCS congress invite experts, professionals and students of the industry from around the globe for numerous paper submissions as base for an inspiring and ambitious programme.