Saudi Leather Industries Company has extended its products portfolio with the introduction of the security belt and safety footwear with composite cap.

Conductive footwear plus safety footwear for women will be launched during the year.

The company describes itself as a regional pioneer of modern techniques in the manufacture of industrial safety, military and formal and casual footwear.  It has been operating since 1982 and general manager Khalid Al Jabr says product development is its hallmark. The equipment includes three world-class injection moulding machines including Germany’s Desma and New Desma-30 station, the latter under installation. It will increase production capacity by 40 per cent.

Technology for the plant in Dammam’s Second Industrial City was bought from Woverine Inc, USA. Saudi Leather is a fully Saudi-owned company accredited to ISO 9001:2000 since 1996 and a member of Satra (the Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association), UK.

“Our basic mission is to manufacture quality footwear to cater to the needs of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, the Middle East and North Africa,” a company text states. “All footwear conforms to stringent international specifications as do all the raw materials and components used. We maintain consistency in quality and specifications and our finished goods are monitored closely in the factory laboratory and through outside independent laboratories.

Customers include Saudi Aramco, Sabic, Saudi Electricity Company and other leading companies in Saudi Arabia.

 Its overseas agents are posted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan and Sudan. “A fleet of mobile services is maintained to provide on-site shoe fitting based on a pre-organised agreement with interested customers. This minimises the possible disruption of work schedules and eliminates the need for customers to hold inventory,” the text states.

“It has capabilities of manufacturing safety footwear with a steel mid-sole for puncture-proof protection from the bottom in accordance with EN/ISO-20345:2004 S3.  It can also make work footwear with patterns and designs most suited for a specific job environment. Capabilities include producing footwear for abnormal sizes, uneven feet, uneven legs etc.”

Jabr says expectations are that demand will rise this year, but he cannot say by how much as the company had still to take stock of “many vibrant issues.”

The company is exploring new markets beyond its current export base. The growth strategy is to maintain “customer loyalty and patronage,” says the official.

Safety shoes

Saudi Leather manufactures more than 40 different styles in this category under five main categories, namely Oxford, Slip-on, Chukka, Lace-Up and Pull-On. All the safety footwear conforms to EN/ISO-20345:2004. The soles are resistant to oil, acids and alkalis and are slip resistant and non-conductive.

Military shoes

Among this category are Oxford shoes and boots depending on customers’ specifications but the most moving of the military footwear are the Black Oxford shoes, the Desert Boot - made of desert colour suede leather - the black Combat Boot and Camouflage Boot, All of these can be provided with a side zipper or velcro or a flap over the zipper.

The company’s military footwear is made of genuine leather and comes with nitrile rubber or polyurethane soles depending on what the customer likes.

Casual footwear

There are six styles under this brand and the shoes come in black, burgundy and light brown. They almost look the same but there are subtle differences in the uppers design. A very soft sheep skin is used for the uppers and this is fully lined with cushioned soft leather.

Light and flexible polyurethane soles are provided and are slip-ons. They weigh less than 500 gm and are available in sixes 37 to 46.

Commenting on the footwear industry, Jabr says challenges abound as the market is “highly oversubscribed” in the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East.