SATRA and US-based Timberland Corporation are working together to train and accredit throughout the company’s footwear supply chain.

Companies that supply leather to Timberland’s manufacturing contractors have set up laboratories to conduct tests to confirm that the quality of the material meets that specified by Timberland’s designers and technologists.

The first two suppliers, Teh Chang in Taiwan and Joinland in China have recently been accredited by SATRA. This means that their laboratory equipment, technicians, testing methods and quality management systems have been evaluated by the technology centre’s auditors and proved to have reached the required standards.

The key tests involve the tear strength and colour fastness of the leather, together with an evaluation of its chemical content.

SATRA is working with a number of other companies to finalise accreditation in their laboratories.