“We are certain to have defined a new standard for artificial leather” – that is the confident statement made by the Japanese company Kuraray (Europe: Eval Europe NV, B-2070 Zwijndrecht; www.kuraray.co.jp) on introducing the new “Parcassio” artificial leather to the market. The material consists of a base film made from unwoven PU fibres which are coated with a laminate of two woven PA micro-fibres of different thicknesses (0.07 and 0.0001). This layer is then covered by a thin water and air permeable PU film which has been sprayed with a resin of an as yet undisclosed type. According to the company, the surface is treated in much the same way as natural leather, which gives the artificial product very similar optical and tactile properties. In Japan “Parcassio” has already been used for the production of shoes and bags. The mid-term strategy aims at replacing the “Clarino” brand with the new product. “Clarino” which was launched in 1965 has made Kuraray the world´s leading producer of artificial leather, says the company.