Production process

The first operation to be carried out is the removal of the salt (or brine) used for preservation after the animal has been slaughtered. The operation is carried out inside a drum connected to an electric motor that rotates it, shaking the salt out of the hides.

Loaded into large drums, the hides are soaked in water and treated with surface-active and antiseptic substances. The aim is to wash and clean the skins from impurities and other substances used for preservation and to restore their original water content.

A mixture of water and hair removal substances is used for this operation, causing the dermis to swell and the fats to saponify. Liming also helps improve the softness and suppleness of the pelt.

As uneven distribution of grease on the pelt can lead to incorrect or uneven fixing of the chemical reagents, degreasing is carried out to remove excess components and evenly distribute the residual grease.

The inner surface of the pelt is made up of subcutaneous tissue, fat and other residues (“flesh”) which are removed with the fleshing machine, which separates the pelt from the waste material.

Before the process begins, it is necessary to stabilise the pelts with specific processes such as de-liming, i.e. the removal of the lime used earlier, and the reduction of the pH to neutral. Lastly, macerating enzymes are used to increase the opening and relaxation of the fibrous weave of the dermis. 

The pelts are loaded into special drums and left for several hours to interact with tanning agents, depending on the characteristics to be obtained in the final product. This is the actual tanning phase, the heart of the entire process.

This is the process of splitting along the upper layer (the grain) from the lower part (the crust) along the whole section. Splitting can also be carried out before tanning, in which case it is called “lime” splitting, and this allows the grain and crusts to be tanned differently. If it is carried out after tanning, it is called “wet blue” tanning.

Carried out using a machine with sharp blades that precisely removes the outermost layers of the leather from the underside, it makes it possible to obtain an even thickness and prepare the leather for the subsequent processing phases.

This consist of treating the previously tanned leather with vegetable tannins, synthetics or resins to convey fullness and firmness to the final article.

This is the phase in which the leather acquires the colour required by the customer. It can be superficial (involving only the surface layer of the leather and enhancing its natural quality) or through-dyeing (penetrating deeply into the layers, resulting in long-lasting and resistant colour).

The fibrous elements dehydrated by tanning are covered with a layer of grease to give the leather the required softness. This step influences elasticity, resistance to stretching, impermeability and permeability to air and steam.

Once the “wet” processing phases are complete, the leather has to be dried. This is carried out using two different methods: vacuum drying and wet toggling. In the first, the leather is placed between two plates and heated with steam. In the second, hides are spread out on a frame and placed in an oven. In both cases, the process ends by hanging the skins on a slowly moving suspended chain for about 24 hours.

After drying, the fibres are stiff and compact so they have to be softened and stretched.  This is carried out using a machine with vibrating cylinders.

This is carried out using a machine equipped with abrasive rollers that buff the topside of the leather. Buffing gives the leather a more elegant finish, ready for enhancement with further treatments.

In humidity-regulated drums that spin at high speed, the leathers undergo a series of mechanical shocks that loosen their fibres. Thanks to the use of natural substances such as greases and oils, the leather becomes softer and more supple.

This step increases the performance of the leather and adjusts the final colour, conveying uniform, high-quality finishes or special textures, with endless creative possibilities. With spray finishing, one or more airbrush-like devices spray very fine droplets onto the surface of the leather, creating a thin film on the outside. With spreading finishing, the leather is fed into a machine that applies the required design.

Embossing is a decorative technique to create raised patterns on the surface of leather. It can be performed using different methods, such as the use of embossing dies or hot embossing, and the results can vary from simple monochrome designs to patterns with a 3D effect.

To guarantee the desired level of brightness, the leather is stretched so that the resins and pigments deposited on it can spread evenly and take on a more compact appearance.

During this last operation, the rough edges of the skin are removed using special trimming tools to obtain a regular and uniform shape.

Quality control, carried out throughout the production process, is essential to ensure compliance with specifications and to meet customer expectations.

Our leathers undergo a wide range of tests, based on international standards, customer requirements and the company's production and environmental standards.

The last operation that is performed is measuring with precision electronic equipment. Once completed, the leathers are ready to be packed and shipped.