Central Leather Research Institute a constitutent labaratory
of the CSIR India was set up at the inititative of
Jawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India in 1953.
Since that time, the Indian leather industry has recorded a
phenomenal progress with 70% of leather made in the country
being exported. There has been more than 60-fold increase in
export earnings in the last 37 years. In the Nation's march
on the leather front, CLRI has played a significant role by
serving as a scientific apex body and training centre. Many
milestones have been crossed by the Indian leather industry
and CLRI has remained an enabling force in this eventful
journey. This is the largest leather research laboratory in
the world. The strength of its R&D inputs stems from more
than 18 research groups comprising about 640 personnel. CLRI
has achieved significant progress in the leather sector in
both applied and basic research fields. It is no
exaggeration to state that nearly 55% fat liquor production
in the country is based on CLRI process technologies.
Similar achievements can be quoted in other fields explored
by CLRI.
The objectives of CLRI are:
CLRI also has a mandate which attempts
CLRI Regional Centres for Development and Extension
Regional Centres spread all over the country serve as a
window as outlets for technologies developed at CLRI,
Madras. They also carry out important certification and job
work activities. These Centres also serve as trouble
shooting Centres for the leather industries located in their
region.
CLRI presently is headed by Dr T Ramasami
CLRI provides basic facilities as well as expertise in
undertaking techno-economic feasibility studies, training
and education, testing and quality controls, technology
applications in respective fields.
The complex chemical and physical processes involved in
tanning continue to intrigue scientist seeking excellence in
leather research. The molecular architecture of collagen,
Ramachandran's triple helical structure of the protein, the
fundamental and molecular level processes involved in
tanning, the composition, constitution and structure of
numerous tanning materials, the play of microbes as friend
and foe and the ability of leather to form composites with
synthetics through grafting have formed the basis of
research contributions made by CLRI scientists.
Excellence in applied sciences with relevance to leather
industry is a continuing theme. Chemical engineering inputs
to design, optimize and control processes for leather making
as well as large scale manufacture of specialty chemicals
and auxiliaries for leather industry are receiving intensive
attention at CLRI.
Significant achievements of CLRI in the applied areas
include a multi-purpose high exhaust chromium aluminum
synthetic tanning agent, Alutan, an extraordinary soft
binder with high cold cracker resistance, Acryl soft binder
and Novotone process for leather upgradation.
CLRI pioneered the grafting of acrylics onto collagen and
the technique now found applications ranging from density to
tanning.
While leather holds its own as a material for footwear by
virtue of its comfort, a bad sizing and design can mar all
that leather can offer. CLRI has evolved new sizing systems
for children and designed lasts based on scientific load
distribution and kinematic studies. The special footwear
needs of the physically handicapped are also studied in
collaboration with medical specialists.
Design and development of tools and techniques and quality
assurance in leather products industry are two major themes
of CLRI's research on leather products.
Major R&D Programmes
The major R&D programmes of CLRI relate to modernization of
tanneries, development of environment-firendly chemicals and
technologies including enzymatic options, computer aided
designs for footwear and garments, split leathers and
quality upgradation of lower ends, molecular biology of
collagen and metal-collagen interactions, waste water
management, region-specific appropriate technologies,
tannery and slaughter house byproducts including carcass
utilization, and hazard and risk analysis
R&D Applications for Modernisation of Leather Industry are
very much required for the following areas :
Leather technology is useful in the following areas of
production:
Significant Achievements
Major Technologies Transferd to Industry
The achievements of various research activities leading to
technology development has been transferred to the industry
and the industries derive the benefits in the manufacture of
leather goods. The following are some of the processes being
adopted by particular industries as indicated inside the
brackets.
Basic Research Areas
TECHNO ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Technologies Ready for Transfer
Some of the following technologies developed are yet to be
implemented in the industry for achieving excellence in the
leather manufacturing.
Major Future Programmes
Greater attention would be paid to quality improvement of
raw hides and skins; process optimization and control in
various tannery operations; zero or low waste technologies;
aqueous finishing and topcoat agents; design and fabrication
technologies for leather products; value-added products from
slaughter house and tannery wastes and objective assessment
of leather
CLRI offers comprehensive services in setting up and
promoting leather processing units. Expertise and experience
exist in development of technology packages for specific
clients for establishing tanneries, leather chemicalunits,
effluent treatment plants and leather products manufacturing
units. CLRI also undertakes safety and risk analysis studies
for various industries.
Training Courses
CLRI, in association with Anna University, Madras, offers
B.Tech and M.Tech (Leather), M.Tech. (Footwear Science and
Engineering) and Ph.D. in leather technology and in basic
sciences.
CLRI has also been serving as an international
training centre for leather and leather products sectors for
candidates sponsored by FAO, UNIDO, UNDP, CSC, ITC etc.
To meet the acute shortage of qualified prsonnel in various
sectors of the leather industry, CLRI offers several
specialized training programmes on regular basis in the
following areas: leather processing, chemicals, footwear,
leather goods, and byproducts.
Publications
The laboratory publishes LESA [Leather Science Abstracts]
(monthly) and its annual reports.
Leather Technology Mission (LTM)
A technology mission on leather has been launched by the
Government of India. This is the first of the technology
missions being implemented directly by a Science department
and the CSIR. The Institute has been entrusted with the
responsibility to co-ordinate a technology driven
development through the Leather Technology Mission.
The Mission was inaugurated by Shri Bhuvanesh Chaturvedi,
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Vice-
President, CSIR on January 12, 1995 at the NPL Auditorium,
New Delhi.
The total outlay of the Leather Technology Mission is
Rs.22.00 crores; out of which Rs.10 crores have been soured
from the agencies. The total duration of the programme is
four years.
The objectives of the mission are:
Hussain and
Sons, Ranipet)
microprocessor-controlled blended-vegetable tanin extracts
financial and technical support from
NLDP and CSIR, CLAD offers following services:
upgradation techniques
and urban sectors in leather
