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Leather Technology Courses in India don’t have a prominent presence in the education scenario. Leather Technology Courses (2011) are also few as the industry is mostly primitive in production and processing techniques, which further affects the quality of the end product. Until the leather industry in India, becomes technologically advanced it will not require as much skilled work force. Yet, it would be unwise to say that Leather Technology Courses are useless; the advancement in technology and practices is under-process. Leather Technology is defined as a discipline which is focused around leather processing and its finished products. Because of its nature of work, it utilises principles of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, computing, management, microbiology, physics, polymer sciences and mechanical engineering. Those professionals who are indulged in Leather Technology are known as Leather Technologists. Leather Technologists understand materials, their reactivity, the means to control it and techniques of  testing and analysing the finished product. Leather Technologists use this knowledge in practical tanning processes and machinery operations. In India, leather industry involves (1) The process of raw material production - carcass collection and flaying (2) Production of leather from the raw material – Tanning (3) Manufacture of leather products from finished leather. All these processes involve operations which determine thickness, softness, texture, colour and water proofing leather. Leather is then converted into a wide variety of products – bags, belts, bookbinding, clothing, driving belts, footwear, gaskets, gloves, gas meter diaphragms, harness, hydraulic seals, luggage, saddles, wallets and underwater craft, upholstery including automobiles, sports goods and many others. Buffalo, Cow, Goat, Ox and Sheep are major animals from which hides and skins are procured.

List of Leather Technology courses in India

Few of the specialized fields

• Accessories
• Finished Leather
• Quality control
• Leather Garments
• Soles and Chemicals

Course: Partial Content Overview

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

• Theory of Pre-Tanning Materials
• Biotechnology of Leather Manufacture
• Principles of Leather Finishing
• Plant Layout and Project Formulation of Tannery

Course Objectives

• To produce leather to a degree of uniformity required by customers
• To maximise employment and harness skills
• To introduce safe working environment for workers

Leather Technology Course: Basic Requirements

B. Tech. course in leather technology requires 10+2 pass from any recognized board of India.
One should have a minimum of 55 % in their higher secondary board examinations. Compulsory subjects include physics, chemistry and mathematics.
To take admission in B. Tech. / B.E. in leather technology one should clear IITJEE  for entry into IITs or AIEEE for entry into NITs and other government as well as private institutes.
Apart from that there are various states JEE held.

Some of the Major Leather Technology Schools

• Central Leather Research Institute
• West Bengal University of Technology
• Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology
• Govt. College of Engineering and Leather Technology
• Anna University - Chennai

Personal Attributes

Commitment, Dedication and Hard Work are the key attributes to join the industry. The work is tiring, especially while in tanneries and production houses which requires the aforesaid skills.

A candidate should have skills to plan out project and execute them.

Candidate should have broad understanding quality and environmental standards to ensure full compliance under law.

Career & Job Perspectives

Leather was one of the first manufactured materials and leather industry is one of India’s oldest manufacturing industries. It has been catering to the international market right from the middle of the nineteenth century. The demand for its products is both domestic as well as international. Council for Leather Exports (2007) statistics put India at Eighth position in the list of India’s top export earning industries. About 46% of the production is exported and it contributes roughly Rs. 10,000 crores per annum, i.e., about 4 per cent to export earnings. Major production of leather and leather products is done in Chennai, Ambur, Ranipet, Vaniyambadi, Trichy, Dindigul, Kolkata, Kanpur, Agra, Jallandhar, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai. So it can be safely assumed that these regions are major employment areas. Excellent opportunities exist for obtaining senior positions in the leather and allied industries, quality control, research, management and marketing. These opportunities can also be availed at worldwide level. Some leather concerned associations in India which provide employment are CLE – Council for Leather Exports under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce, CLRI - Central Leather Research Institute, LIDCAP - Leather Industries Development Corporation, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.

Remuneration

One can easily get a salary of 3.2 lakh p.a. for fresh Leather Technologist. Salary abroad puts this figure in $4000 p.a. Remuneration, however may vary, depending on the organisation and post one is working at.

Leather Technology Job Types

• Technical Designer
• Industrial Engineering Manager
• Leather Merchandiser
• Leather Technician
• Educators
• Leather Researcher
• Consultant
• Leather Supplier
• Quality Controller

Employment Areas

• Tanneries
• Tanning & Finishing Units
• Leather Goods and Garments Manufacturers
• Independent Footwear Manufacturing UnitS
• Export Firms
• R & D Facilities
• Laboratories
• Chemical Industries
• Engineering Industries