During the upcoming XXXIII IULTCS Congress (International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies) to be held in Brazil, the participants will be offered a visit to the brand new premises of the Senai Institute of Leather and Environmental Technology (IST). Based in Novo Hamburgo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, where the congress will take place, the institution has renovated and expanded its area with the help of over US$3 million in investment from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). IST is already recognised as a reference in terms of leather and environmental technology, holding an ISO 14001 certificate. It is dedicated to technical and technological qualifications as well as further professional development for the entire leather production chain since 1996. A number of projects have been carried out in partnership with industry, universities, governmental organisations, and research centres. The institute is composed of physicochemical, physicomechanical, effluents and microbiology laboratories, having tests accredited at the Brazilian Institute of Metrology (Inmetro). It also has a complete tannery school installations and an Effluent Treatment Station.
