A NEW partnership has been formed across the Atlantic to market a major development in the shoe industry.

J B Broadley has signed the agreement with Irving Tanning, of Maine, USA, to sell its Laminex products within the Pacific Rim.

Laminex is a polyurethane-based foil developed by the Rawtenstall firm for tanners to upgrade leather.

Tanners split hides into several layers with the top being used for clothing. Lower quality layers are used for suede and other products.

But in the past the final layer and the offcuts have been discarded. The Laminex foil developed by J B Broadley is used to coat the offcuts and give them all the properties of typical leather, together with a waterproof coating

The final product is also much cheaper than conventionally finished leather.

The Laminex-coated leather can then be used by manufacturers to make up sports shoes and other leather items.

J B Broadley, a member of Allied Textiles Companies, employs 140 in Rawtenstall producing products for the footwear industry, including shoe linings and coated fabrics for military and industrial applications.

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