Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in collaboration with the Government of Malawi Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism started the training of Artisans/MSME’s on Vegetable Tanning Techniques on June 6th, 2022. The Training aims at enhancing the skill of Selected SME’s to produce a quality of vegetable tanned leather by using vegetable tanning techniques.
The 10 days training will be conducted by Mr. Harrison Mungai, Leather value chain Expert, a resource person from Member State Mr. Crispin Amasi and facilitated by ALLPI Investment, Trade and Marketing expert Mrs. Birkinesh Gonfa. The main Topic of the training and practical session are:
- Introduction to pre, peri and post-slaughter defects and their effect on hides and skins Quality (theory/ practical)
- Methods of flaying and their effect on hides and skins quality (theory)
- Sections of hides/skins (theory/practical)
- Preparation of raw material for processing (theory/practical)
- Various methods of hides and skins curing and preservation (theory/practical)
- Introduction to Beam- house operation: Sorting, selection, Soaking, liming, fleshing, deliming and bating (theory/practical)
- Introduction to Tanyard operation – pickling, tanning and fixization (theory practical)
- Vegetable tanning and acidification (Theory/practical)
- Production of hair-on leather (Theory/practical)
- Chrome tanning and Basification, (Theory/practical)
- Post tanning operations (mechanical – sammying, splitting and shaving Neutralization, Process retaining, dyeing, and fatliqouring (theory Practical)
- Methods of drying various type of leathers: Sam/set, vaccum dry, Air drying, paste and toggle drying etc (theory/practice)
- Preparation for leather finishing- Conditioning, staking, Toggling, Buffing, De-dusting and Impregnation and Methods of finish application (theory/practical)
- Embossing/ plating (various types of prints), lamination of leathers (theory)
- Introduction to batik dyeing (theory/practical)
- Occupational Health and Safety in workplace (theory/practical)
- Footwear leather specifications – various (theory/practical)
During the opening session of the training the program and participants introduction was addressed by Mrs. Tawonga Hellen Nkana Njikho Industrial Development Officer, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Malawi Government. From ALLPI side also the objective of this training and ALLPI’s vision and mission in addressing the LVC problems addressed by Mrs Birkinesh Gonfa Investment, Trade and marketing Expert. The official opening of the training was by Mr. Clement Phangaphanga Director of Industry and he addressed the importance of leather as a global trading product and the Malawi Government’s decision to support leather sector as a priority in the strategic plan to develop the Industry in General.
The participant’s introduction and their expectations from this kind of training were also addressed during the opening session.
In this training twenty five Artisans/MSME’s are selected from Lilongwe and Blantyre city who worked as a cooperative in the leather field and the above topics will be addressed in a participatory and team work platforms based on the consensus reached during the opening of the Training session.
