Born out of the initiatives of the visionary, Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, under the scientific and Industrial Research, CLRI was established in 1953. 
Since that time the Indian leather industry has recorded a phenomenal progress with 70% of leather made in the country being exported. There has been more than 60-fold increase in export earnings in the last five decades. In the Nation's march on the leather front, CLRI has played a significant and decisive role by serving as scientificapex body and training center.

Many milestones have been crossed by the Indian leather industry and CLRI has remained an enabling force in the eventful journey. This is the largest leather research laboratory in the world. The strength of its R&D inputs stems from more than 18 research groups comprising of about 640 personnel.

CLRI has achieved significant progress in the leather sector in both applied and basic research fields. It is no exaggeration to state that nearly 55% fat liquor production in the country is based on CLRI process technologies. Similar achievements can be quoted in the other fields explored by CLRI. CLRI presently is headed by Dr T Ramasami

Research

The complex chemical and physical processes involved in tanning continue to intrigue scientist seeking excellence in leather research. The molecular architecture of collagen, Ramachandran's triple helical structure of the protein, the fundamental and molecular level processes involved in tanning, the composition, constitution and structure of numerous tanning materials, the play of microbes as friend and foe and the ability of leather to form composites with synthetics through grafting have formed the basis of research contributions made by CLRI scientists. 

Significant achievements of CLRI in the applied areas include a multi-purpose high exhaust chromium aluminum synthetic tanning agent, Alutan, an extraordinary soft binder with high cold cracker resistance, Acryl soft binder and Novotone process for leather upgradation. 
CLRI pioneered the grafting of acrylics onto collagen and the technique now found applications ranging from density to tanning.

While leather holds its own as a material for footwear by virtue of its comfort, a bad sizing and design can mar all that leather can offer. CLRI has evolved new sizing systems for children and designed lasts based on scientific load distribution and kinematics studies. The special footwear needs of the physically handicapped are also studied in collaboration with medical specialists. 
Design and development of tools and techniques and quality assurance in leather products industry are two major themes of CLRI's research on leather products.

Major R&D Programmes

The major R&D programmes of CLRI relate to modernization of tanneries, development of environment-friendly chemicals and technologies including enzymatic options, computer aided designs for footwear and garments, split leathers and quality upgradation of lower ends, molecular biology of collagen and metal-collagen interactions, waste water management, region-specific appropriate technologies, tannery and slaughter house byproducts including carcass utilization, and hazard and risk analysis 
Significant Achievements

Basic research contributions relating to combination tanning mechanisms, mechanism of shrinkage phenomena, aluminium and zirconium tanning materials, structural aspects of collagen, nutritional disorders and collagen, structural stability of chrome-collagen compounds, Indian vegetable tannin resources, novel NMR techniques and chemistry of chromium and its complexes Applied research relating to new and innovative techniques for leather processing, upgradation of low grade raw materials and leathers, technologies for manufacture of chemical auxiliaries, animal and tannery byproduct utilization, biotechnologies for leather processing, chrome recovery and reuse, modernization of tannery wet operations, high performance and environment-friendly synthetic tanning agents, nationwide surveys on (a) raw hides and skins (b) capacity utilization in tanneries and (c) women's employment in footwear sector, and surgical sutures and collagen sheet for burn management. 
Major Technologies Transferred to Industry
High performance tanning compounds Alutan and Alcrotan (Balmer Lawrie and Co., Madras) Comprehensive microprocessor based technology package for modernization of tannery operations (M.K.Khizar Hussain and Sons, Ranipet) Technologies for synthetic fatliquors (Balmer Lawrie and Co. Madras) Process knowhow package for phosphorylated fatliquors (Balmer Lawrie and Co., Madras) Technology on microprocessor-controlled blended-vegetable tannin extracts Know-how package for development of rice barn oil wax products for leather industry (Yanam Oils Ltd. Kakinada) Process knowhow package on trimethoxybenzoic acid (Silver Hills Private Ltd. Attur) Process knowhow package on Thiram and Ziram (SPIC, Madras) Upflow anerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for tannery effluent treatment at Kanpur (Indo-Dutch Programme) Development of high quality shark leather (Bay of Bengal Fisheries Development Programme) Technology on keratin hydrolysate, a retanning and filling agent (Protochem Industries, Pondicherry) Risk assessment studies (3 organizations) 
Technologies Ready for Transfer

Newer techniques for processing and finishing of buffalo splits and lower ends of leather into utility/specialty leathers Gait analysis and CAD based footwear designs Insole board for footwear High exhaust tanning salts Syntans and fatliquors Knowhow on Claribleach for bleaching of human hair Meat, poultry feather and carcass meal 
Major Future Programmes

Greater attention would be paid to quality improvement of raw hides and skins; process optimization and control in various tannery operations; zero or low waste technologies; aqueous finishing and topcoat agents; design and fabrication technologies for leather products; value-added products from slaughter house and tannery wastes and objective assessment of leather 
Main Facilities

Pilot tannery
Footwear pilot plant
Chemical pilot plant
Design cell
Polymer testing and synthesis
Byproducts pilot plant 
NICLAI - National Information Center on Leather and Allied Products 
Services Offered

CLRI offers comprehensive services in setting up and promoting leather processing units. Expertise and experience exist in development of technology packages for specific clients for establishing tanneries, leather chemical units, effluent treatment plants and leather products manufacturing units. CLRI also undertakes safety and risk analysis studies for various industries. 
Training Courses

CLRI, in association with Anna University, Madras, offers B.Tech and M.Tech (Leather), M.Tech. (Footwear Science and Engineering) and Ph.D. in leather technology and in basic sciences. 
CLRI has also been serving as an international training center for leather and leather products sectors for candidates sponsored by FAO, UNIDO, UNDP, CSC, ITC etc. 

To meet the acute shortage of qualified personnel in various sectors of the leather industry, CLRI offers several specialized training programmes on regular basis in the following areas: leather processing, chemicals, footwear, leather goods, and byproducts. 

Publications

The laboratory publishes LESA [Leather Science Abstracts] (monthly) and its annual reports in the "Journal of Indian Leather Technologists' Assocition". 
Contact person: Director, CLRI 

Field Stations/Extension Centres

Regional Centre for extension and development (CLRI)
220, Dharavi Road, 
Bombay - 400 017
India 
Regional Centre for extension and development (CLRI)
3/1C Matheswartola Road, 
Calcutta - 700 046
India 

Regional Centre for extension and development (CLRI)
11/208, 'Southerganj', 
Kanpur - 208 001
India 

Regional Centre for extension and development (CLRI)
Nakodar Road, 
Jallandhar - 144 003
India 

Regional Centre for extension and development (CLRI)
5013, GIDC, 4th Phase
Vatwa New Telecon Retail Store
Ahmedabad - 382 445
India

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