See this modern cowhide processing factory, How tanning all kinds of leather, cow, goat, and sheep

Summary

This video provides a detailed look at the leather-making process for cowhide and sheepskin, from raw skin to finished product. It begins with preservation through dry or wet salting to prevent spoilage, followed by factory processes including soaking, liming, unhairing, flesh removal, trimming, splitting, and tanning using chrome or mineral methods. The leather is then dried using various techniques, colored, embossed, ironed, and softened to achieve a smooth, polished finish. Quality control ensures consistent thickness, size, and appearance. The video also highlights the processing of cow, goat, and sheep leather, offering an informative, step-by-step view of modern leather production.

Takeaways

• 🐄 The leather-making process starts with obtaining cowhide and sheepskin and sending them to a factory.
• 🧂 Salting, either dry or wet, preserves the hides and prevents putrefaction before processing.
• 📦 Salted hides can be stored for several months and are resistant to temperature fluctuations.
• 💧 The production process includes soaking, liming, and swelling to prepare the skin for further processing.
• 🔪 Flesh removal, trimming, and cutting the edges are essential steps to prepare the hides for tanning.
• ⚗️ Tanning can be done using wet blue chrome tanning or wet white mineral tanning methods.
• 💦 After tanning, excess water is removed, and the thickness of the leather is adjusted and measured for quality control.
• 🌬️ Drying can be achieved using vacuum drying, frame drying, or drying tunnels to extract water and smooth the leather grain.
• 🎨 Coloring, finishing, embossing, ironing, and pressing enhance the appearance, texture, and quality of the leather.
• 🥁 Softening the leather is done using staking or drums, followed by laboratory quality control and packing.
• 🐐 The process is applicable for cow, goat, and sheep leather, ensuring versatility in leather production.

Q & A

What is the first step in the leather-making process according to the video?

The process begins by obtaining animal skins, such as cowhide or sheepskin, and sending them to the leather-making factory.

How are the skins preserved before processing in the factory?

Skins are preserved either by dry salting with solid salt or wet salting using salt solutions, which helps prevent putrefaction and allows storage for several months.

Why is careful salting important in leather processing?

Careful salting is crucial to avoid putrefaction of the skin while being free from cooling, ensuring the skin remains usable for leather production.

What are some key production steps in a modern tannery?

Key steps include soaking and liming, swelling and unhairing, flesh removal, trimming, cutting edges, splitting, tanning, drying, coloring and finishing, embossing, ironing, pressing, and softening the leather.

What are the different tanning methods mentioned in the video?

The video mentions wet blue chrome tanning and wet white mineral tanning as methods to process the leather.

How is water removed from the leather during processing?

Water is removed using techniques such as vacuum drying on heated plates, frame drying, and drying tunnels.

What steps are involved in coloring and finishing the leather?

Color matching and mixing are followed by coloring, embossing with machines or rolls, ironing and pressing to produce shinier and smoother leather.

How is the leather softened after processing?

Leather is softened using a staking process or by placing it in a drum to achieve the desired softness.

What quality control measures are mentioned in the video?

Quality control involves measuring the thickness of the leather, checking the size, and conducting laboratory tests to ensure consistency and quality.

Does the video cover the processing of different types of animal leather?

Yes, the video shows how cow, goat, and sheep leathers are processed using similar steps in a tannery.

What is the purpose of embossing in leather processing?

Embossing is done to create texture and patterns on the leather surface, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and finishing quality.