Leather production
The 4 stages of leather production
1. Preparation for tanning
- The salted hide is soaked in a bath
- Hair is dissolved in the dehairing process
- The originally approx. 10 mm thick hide is split into layers of 2-3mm in thickness
The hide fibers consisting of proteins are loosened and the interstitial space of the fiber structure enlarged.
* The salted hide is soaked in a bath * Hair is dissolved in the dehairing process * The originally approx. 10 mm thick hide is split into layers of 2-3mm in thickness | The hide fibers consisting of proteins are loosened and the interstitial space of the fiber structure enlarged. |
2. Tanning
- Tanning with chromium sulfate, vegetable or synthetic tanning agents
The skin fibers are conserved and thus made durable.
* Tanning with chromium sulfate, vegetable or synthetic tanning agents | The skin fibers are conserved and thus made durable. |
3. Dyeing and lubricating
- The hide fibers are lubricated with fish and synthetic oils
- The hide fibers are completely soak-dyed with azo dyes
Waxes prevent the hide from drying out and improve suppleness.
* The hide fibers are lubricated with fish and synthetic oils * The hide fibers are completely soak-dyed with azo dyes | Waxes prevent the hide from drying out and improve suppleness. |
4. Finishing
- The dyed hide is dried at moderate temperatures, stretched, soft-milled and conditioned for the application of coatings
- Finishing: fine-particulate, thin-layered coatings are applied with a printing or spraying machine
Stretching prevents subsequent uneven stretching after use. The applied coatings improve the characteristics of the leather: water-repellency, light-fastness, scratch resistance.
* The dyed hide is dried at moderate temperatures, stretched, soft-milled and conditioned for the application of coatings * Finishing: fine-particulate, thin-layered coatings are applied with a printing or spraying machine | Stretching prevents subsequent uneven stretching after use. The applied coatings improve the characteristics of the leather: water-repellency, light-fastness, scratch resistance. |