Specialized laboratory established for hide and leather research

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. A specialized laboratory for hide and leather research has been established at the School of Industrial Technology of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. Statistics show that 80 percent of livestock hide is discarded without being processed. However, by putting the laboratory into operation, it will become possible to properly utilize up to 90 percent. More specifically, the laboratory will define the characteristics of the hide and leather as well as whether it meets quality standards. In other words, it will become easy for manufacturers to decide whether to use the material for making products such as shoes or bags. Despite counting 60-70 million heads of livestock annually, only 10 thousand items of hide are processed each year. The hide of sheep, goats, and cattle are predominantly processed. In the last few years, however, horsehide has also begun to increase in use. The laboratory will specifically define which parts of the hide are suitable for making certain products. For instance, following a study that found that horsehide is suitable for manufacturing coats due to its softness, horsehide began to be increasingly processed in the country. Thus, herders are currently being advised by researchers and manufacturers to protect their livestock’s skin and hide by protecting them from various insects as well as to not use lacquers in marking them. ide and leather manufacturers expressed their hope in the laboratory to make significant contributions in the development of the light industry.