Bayer at the Asia Pacific Leather Fair

Some trends last forever. High-gloss leathers produced with Baygen® lacquers, for example, have inspired fashion designers in Paris, Milan and Hong Kong time and time again over the last few decades. Originally introduced in the mid-fifties to replace the outmoded linseed oil technique, Bayer AG's high-tech polyurethane lacquer systems – like all other Bayer products for the leather industry from tanning materials to finish products – have been continually adapted to meet market requirements and give fashion designers increased scope for creativity. Bayer is ready to meet the challenges of the coming season, too, with a comprehensive, tailor-made range of leather chemicals, finishing agents and, above all, components for high performance polyurethane lacquers. The latest example is Baygen® Hardener LR, a lightfast product which is ideal for producing the pastel-colored patent leathers which are a feature of next season's fashions.

Following the flashy signal colors which dominated the scene last year, the mood this coming season will be somewhat quieter again. Garish effects have given way to subdued color messages such as are received by the eye in a bright, sunlit room. Light and pastel shades will brighten up the greyness of everyday life with some rays of sunshine. These colors place special demands on the lacquers used: they must be exceptionally lightfast and have no tendency to yellowing. Lightfast Baygen® Hardener LR, which Bayer will be presenting at this year's Asia Pacific Leather Fair, is particularly suitable for the cheerful colors of the coming season. This product is a lightfast, isocyanate-based crosslinking agent for two-component Baygen patent finishes. It has a fastness to xenon light of 4 to 5, which is about two to three points higher than conventional hardeners.

But this is not the only new member of the Baygen lacquer family which the Bayer delegation has packed for this year's trip to Hong Kong. The leather experts from Leverkusen are also taking with them Baygen® Top TF, a polyester-based lacquer component with good handling properties and particularly high fastness to thermosetting for patent finishes. The third newcomer in the Bayer lacquer range is Baygen® Compact Bottom AP, a special aqueous preparation of covering polyurethane and acrylic dispersions for producing satisfactory base coats on the highly flexible Baygen® patent leathers.

Under the motto "Bayer brings out the best in leather", Bayer's leather experts will be exhibiting over 30 samples of leather and fashionable leather goods such as shoes and handbags in the latest designs at its Stand L3 in Hall 3 to show leather processors from all over the world the high standard of quality obtainable with the new lacquer components. Anyone who wants to have a "peep behind the curtains" before the fair can find out all about Bayer's range of leather chemicals on the internet under www.bayerleather.com and www.advancedleather.com.