The XXXVIII IULTCS Congress

will be held 2025 in Lyon, France.

Tannery effluent treatment videos

Please visit the videos of Key technologies for tannery effluent treatment 

Past Congresses

Keep updated by visiting this page

Latest News and Events

News Release from the IULTCS

The IULTCS officers are very happy to announce the appointment of four new Commission Chairs. Each Chair was selected due to their dedication, leadership, and vision for the IULTCS organization, these attributes stood out during the election process, and the officers...

The XXXVIII IULTCS Congress

IULTCS are proud to announce the dates for the XXXVIII IULTCS Congress in Lyon, France. From Monday 8th September 2025 to Thursday 11th September 2025 The theme for this event will be “Beyond leather tradition, innovation and sustainability".

June 12th and 13th FILK Freiberg Leather Days – Saltzburg, Austria

THE MEETING POINT OF THE EUROPEAN TANNING AND LEATHER INDUSTRY The Freiberg Leather Days has been the meeting place for the European tanning and leather industry since 2012. Every two years in Freiberg and the other year out of town, the VGCT and FILK Freiberg as...

New IULTCS ISO-EN Leather Test Methods April 2024

IULTCS methods of analysis for leather, including equivalent ISO and EN Standards The IULTCS, through the IULTCS Testing Commissions (IUC, IUF and IUP), provides help and protection for the leather tanning industry worldwide by developing and publishing test methods...

Message from the President and Officers January 2024

Dear IULTCS members and associates, 126 years of cooperation and exchange of knowledge for the development of the tanning industry are supporting the fundamental principles of the IULTCS. The Officers of the Union for the period 2024-2025 are proud of this fruitful...

The 37th IULTCS Congress Held Successfully in Chengdu China

The Global Leather Technology Summit Held in Great Anticipation After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated 37th International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress was held from October 17th to 20th, 2023, in...

Professor Jianzhong Ma Announced as Recipient of the IULTCS Merit Award 2023

It is with great pleasure that IULTCS announces Prof Jianzhong Ma has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious IULTCS Merit Award for Excellence in the Leather Industry. The IULTCS was founded for the purpose of encouraging the technology, chemistry and science of...

A recent appointment at IULTCS has seen Dr Christine Anscombe step back from her role as Chairman of the IUL. Christine is replaced by Julian Osgood. The following is a short message from Julian

Dear All I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a recent change at IULTCS. The International Union of Liaison and Communication Commission (IUL) Chairman, Dr Christine Anscombe, after many years of dedicated service to the Society, has decided to take...

Winners of 2023 Young Leather Scientist Grants Announced February 2023

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 IULTCS Research Commission (IUR) Young Leather Scientist Grants. The research grants are awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the...

IULTCS Young Leather Scientist Grant Programme 2023 Announced

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the 2023 grants to be awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35, for research projects in the categories: Basic Leather Research, Machinery / Testing and Sustainability / Environment – to be...

The XXXVIII IULTCS Congress

IULTCS are proud to announce the dates for the XXXVIII IULTCS Congress in Lyon, France. From Monday 8th September 2025 to Thursday 11th September 2025 The theme for this event will be “Beyond leather tradition, innovation and sustainability".

June 12th and 13th FILK Freiberg Leather Days – Saltzburg, Austria

THE MEETING POINT OF THE EUROPEAN TANNING AND LEATHER INDUSTRY The Freiberg Leather Days has been the meeting place for the European tanning and leather industry since 2012. Every two years in Freiberg and the other year out of town, the VGCT and FILK Freiberg as...

New IULTCS ISO-EN Leather Test Methods April 2024

IULTCS methods of analysis for leather, including equivalent ISO and EN Standards The IULTCS, through the IULTCS Testing Commissions (IUC, IUF and IUP), provides help and protection for the leather tanning industry worldwide by developing and publishing test methods...

Message from the President and Officers January 2024

Dear IULTCS members and associates, 126 years of cooperation and exchange of knowledge for the development of the tanning industry are supporting the fundamental principles of the IULTCS. The Officers of the Union for the period 2024-2025 are proud of this fruitful...

The 37th IULTCS Congress Held Successfully in Chengdu China

The Global Leather Technology Summit Held in Great Anticipation After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated 37th International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress was held from October 17th to 20th, 2023, in...

Professor Jianzhong Ma Announced as Recipient of the IULTCS Merit Award 2023

It is with great pleasure that IULTCS announces Prof Jianzhong Ma has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious IULTCS Merit Award for Excellence in the Leather Industry. The IULTCS was founded for the purpose of encouraging the technology, chemistry and science of...

A recent appointment at IULTCS has seen Dr Christine Anscombe step back from her role as Chairman of the IUL. Christine is replaced by Julian Osgood. The following is a short message from Julian

Dear All I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a recent change at IULTCS. The International Union of Liaison and Communication Commission (IUL) Chairman, Dr Christine Anscombe, after many years of dedicated service to the Society, has decided to take...

Winners of 2023 Young Leather Scientist Grants Announced February 2023

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 IULTCS Research Commission (IUR) Young Leather Scientist Grants. The research grants are awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the...

IULTCS Young Leather Scientist Grant Programme 2023 Announced

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the 2023 grants to be awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35, for research projects in the categories: Basic Leather Research, Machinery / Testing and Sustainability / Environment – to be...

Registration for Virtual Participation in Romanian Materials Conference (ICAMS) Underway

The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather (INCDTP) Leather and Footwear Research Institute (ICPI) Bucharest, Romania announces that the 9th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems ICAMS 2022 - will be held virtually in...

June 12th and 13th FILK Freiberg Leather Days – Saltzburg, Austria

THE MEETING POINT OF THE EUROPEAN TANNING AND LEATHER INDUSTRY The Freiberg Leather Days has been the meeting place for the European tanning and leather industry since 2012. Every two years in Freiberg and the other year out of town, the VGCT and FILK Freiberg as...

New IULTCS ISO-EN Leather Test Methods April 2024

IULTCS methods of analysis for leather, including equivalent ISO and EN Standards The IULTCS, through the IULTCS Testing Commissions (IUC, IUF and IUP), provides help and protection for the leather tanning industry worldwide by developing and publishing test methods...

Message from the President and Officers January 2024

Dear IULTCS members and associates, 126 years of cooperation and exchange of knowledge for the development of the tanning industry are supporting the fundamental principles of the IULTCS. The Officers of the Union for the period 2024-2025 are proud of this fruitful...

The 37th IULTCS Congress Held Successfully in Chengdu China

The Global Leather Technology Summit Held in Great Anticipation After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated 37th International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress was held from October 17th to 20th, 2023, in...

Professor Jianzhong Ma Announced as Recipient of the IULTCS Merit Award 2023

It is with great pleasure that IULTCS announces Prof Jianzhong Ma has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious IULTCS Merit Award for Excellence in the Leather Industry. The IULTCS was founded for the purpose of encouraging the technology, chemistry and science of...

A recent appointment at IULTCS has seen Dr Christine Anscombe step back from her role as Chairman of the IUL. Christine is replaced by Julian Osgood. The following is a short message from Julian

Dear All I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a recent change at IULTCS. The International Union of Liaison and Communication Commission (IUL) Chairman, Dr Christine Anscombe, after many years of dedicated service to the Society, has decided to take...

Winners of 2023 Young Leather Scientist Grants Announced February 2023

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 IULTCS Research Commission (IUR) Young Leather Scientist Grants. The research grants are awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the...

IULTCS Young Leather Scientist Grant Programme 2023 Announced

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the 2023 grants to be awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35, for research projects in the categories: Basic Leather Research, Machinery / Testing and Sustainability / Environment – to be...

Registration for Virtual Participation in Romanian Materials Conference (ICAMS) Underway

The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather (INCDTP) Leather and Footwear Research Institute (ICPI) Bucharest, Romania announces that the 9th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems ICAMS 2022 - will be held virtually in...

IULTCS Asks EU Legislators to Reconsider Proposed Restrictions

Members of IULTCS have collaborated with industry scientists from FILK, Stahl and TFL to prepare a document that was submitted to DG Grow (the European Commission Directorate-General department responsible for EU policy on the single market, industry, entrepreneurship...

New IULTCS ISO-EN Leather Test Methods April 2024

IULTCS methods of analysis for leather, including equivalent ISO and EN Standards The IULTCS, through the IULTCS Testing Commissions (IUC, IUF and IUP), provides help and protection for the leather tanning industry worldwide by developing and publishing test methods...

Message from the President and Officers January 2024

Dear IULTCS members and associates, 126 years of cooperation and exchange of knowledge for the development of the tanning industry are supporting the fundamental principles of the IULTCS. The Officers of the Union for the period 2024-2025 are proud of this fruitful...

The 37th IULTCS Congress Held Successfully in Chengdu China

The Global Leather Technology Summit Held in Great Anticipation After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly anticipated 37th International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies (IULTCS) Congress was held from October 17th to 20th, 2023, in...

Professor Jianzhong Ma Announced as Recipient of the IULTCS Merit Award 2023

It is with great pleasure that IULTCS announces Prof Jianzhong Ma has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious IULTCS Merit Award for Excellence in the Leather Industry. The IULTCS was founded for the purpose of encouraging the technology, chemistry and science of...

A recent appointment at IULTCS has seen Dr Christine Anscombe step back from her role as Chairman of the IUL. Christine is replaced by Julian Osgood. The following is a short message from Julian

Dear All I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a recent change at IULTCS. The International Union of Liaison and Communication Commission (IUL) Chairman, Dr Christine Anscombe, after many years of dedicated service to the Society, has decided to take...

Winners of 2023 Young Leather Scientist Grants Announced February 2023

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 IULTCS Research Commission (IUR) Young Leather Scientist Grants. The research grants are awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35. The monetary awards help support the...

IULTCS Young Leather Scientist Grant Programme 2023 Announced

The Executive Committee of the IULTCS is pleased to announce the 2023 grants to be awarded to three young scientists, under the age of 35, for research projects in the categories: Basic Leather Research, Machinery / Testing and Sustainability / Environment – to be...

Registration for Virtual Participation in Romanian Materials Conference (ICAMS) Underway

The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather (INCDTP) Leather and Footwear Research Institute (ICPI) Bucharest, Romania announces that the 9th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems ICAMS 2022 - will be held virtually in...

IULTCS Asks EU Legislators to Reconsider Proposed Restrictions

Members of IULTCS have collaborated with industry scientists from FILK, Stahl and TFL to prepare a document that was submitted to DG Grow (the European Commission Directorate-General department responsible for EU policy on the single market, industry, entrepreneurship...

IULTCS Welcomes New Korean Members

The IULTCS is pleased to announce that two organisations from the Republic of Korea have joined the IULTCS family. Representing leather industry companies ‘Korea Tanners' Association’ has joined as an Associate Member and also leather producer Whanam Leather Ind Co...

A brief history of the union

The International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies, a world-wide organization of professional societies, was established in London in 1897. There are currently 19 Member Societies, 6 Associate Members and 1 Supporting Member – representing some 3000 individual members.

On September 29th, 1897 the originators of the conference constituted themselves into the first International Association of Leather Trades Chemists and specified the conditions for joining. They then invited applications for membership. Mr. Seymour Jones (Great Britain) and Mr. Franz Kathreiner (Germany) were elected President and Vice-President respectively.

The business of the conference largely centred around vegetable tanning materials and their analysis, but reference was made to use of lime in unhairing and its removal from skins. It is interesting to note that special mention was made of the necessity to deal with the polluting effects of tannery effluents.

By 1911, ten countries were represented in the Association and the membership had grown to 414. The Association’s journal, Collegium, under the editorship of F. Kathreiner, appeared in 1897 and became a multi-lingual independent publication in 1902.

It is not possible to reference all the early pioneers who supported the Association before 1914 but the following, in addition to those mentioned above are worthy of special mention by virtue of their outstanding work in the field of leather chemistry and technology. M.C. Lamb, E. Stiasny, F.H. Haenlein, H. Becker, W. Fahrion, K. Schorlemmer, L. Meunier, A. de la Buere, G. Abt, U.J. Thuau, P. Chambard, W. Eitner, B. Kohnstein, G. Grasser, J. Jedlicka, L. Pollack, E. Andreis, R. Lepetit, G. Baldracco, E. Schiaparelli, A. Gansser, E. Nihoul, D. Wauters, A.W. Hoppenstedt, H.C. Reed, H.C. Small and W. R. Alsop.

In 1917, due to hostilities, the members were divided into two groups. One group under the name “Internationaler Verein der Lederindustrie Chemiker (IVLIC); covered Germany, Austria, Hungary, Holland and Scandinavia. The other group, from 1925 under the name International Society of Leather Trades Chemists (ISLTC) covered Great Britain (and the Commonwealth), France Italy and Belgium. Switzerland (VESLIC) and the USSR formed their own societies, but the American Leather Chemists Association (ALCA) had already been in existence since 1906.

From 1926 joint discussions took place between members of the IVLIC and the ISLTC. Later the following joint conferences were held – Basle (1931), Amsterdam (1933), Brussels (1935) and Copenhagen (1937).

In 1946 the British Section of the ISLTC put forward a proposal that there should be a federation of separate autonomous national societies. The Executive Committee of the ISLTC agreed to this and on January 1st 1948 the Internal Union of Leather Chemists’ Societies (IULCS) was instituted simultaneously with the dissolution of the ISLTC.

A draft constitution was prepared and this was first published as “The International Union of Leather Chemists’ Societies (IULTCS) Provisional Statutes 1948”. This was approved with minor amendments by the first meeting of the Council of Delegates in Paris on September 26th 1949. (Further amendments to the Statutes have been approved since then.)  Read more.