SATRA has announced a series of courses for footwear technologists in the very heart of the Chinese footwear industry and using, for the first time, its new China office in Dongguan City as a training base. Experts from the UK technology centre will present five modules from the SAFT (SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist) programme on June 21 to July 2.
Technologists from China will study and prepare for examinations on lasts and fitting, materials and constructions, laboratory testing procedures, production design, performance and risk assessment, and quality assurance and supplier auditing. "This is a major step forward for our SAFT training programme and Peter Zeng, our new China office manager, has played a key role in stimulating local interest and promoting awareness," says SATRA training officer Bob Dale.
Successful students - those having passed examinations in all five modules - will be
accredited by SATRA. They will then be recognised as part of a small but select international group of footwear technologists with a proven high level of knowledge.
Response to these Far East courses accelerated after SATRA presented a seminar on SAFT prior to April's Asia Pacific Leather Fair. The SAFT programme is also in demand in the United States and for the first time a US tannery will host a course for SATRA members. Prime Tanning Co Inc is opening its premises at Berwick, Maine, on the East Coast, on August 16-27. Places on SAFT courses in the UK are also filling fast, SATRA says, with the latest sessions at SATRA House, on June 10-11 and June 15-18.
SATRA has also announced the promotion of Steve Rose to business manager of its combined management services and quality services group. The quality services team sets up and accredits laboratories all around the world - and also trains and certifies laboratory technicians. The management services team trains and certifies factory operatives in stitching, cutting and grading as part of the installation of cost-saving systems.
