Germany's Lederinstitut Gerberschule Reutlingen

摘要

There are very few institutes which may claim to be unique in the world, but the Lederinstitut Gerberschule Reutlingen (LGR) is considered one of those. Not only is it recognised as a teaching institute offering a modern, solid foundation for next-generation tanners from around the world, but it acts internationally as a service provider in the field of testing and research. The amalgam of these strengths, in combination with a comprehensive tannery used both for training and production, only exists at LGR. The Deutsche Gerberschule school of tanning was established in 1889 in Freiberg/Saxony, at a time when chemical engineering was making significant inroads in the field of leather manufacture. As this teaching centre was no longer available post-194 5, the German Leather Industry Association founded the Westdeutsche Gerberschule school of tanning in Regensburg in 1950. In the autumn of 1954, the school moved to modern premises in Reutlingen, being purpose built in co-operation with the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and the town of Reutlingen. Situated at the foot of the Swabian Jura Mountains, the centuries old tradition of tanning in Reutlingen can be found in street names and landmarks such as "The Tannery Fountains".