In ZANIN S.R.L. use what is known as a method of Traditional Tanning. This process, known worldwide, remains the most reliable and provides the best results. Now we give a brief trying to explain the consistency of this method, letting you see our passion for what we do because we are sure that we work a noble material, and that is why, we want to transmit that same experience, making a quality product so important for you as it is for us, who have the same force and it’s enduring in time.

We believe in what we do and our main capital is labor, with responsibility, quality and mainly, with the desire to continue growing.

Our tannery process begins with the acquisition of selected cattle hides in refrigerator in salted or fresh condition as required. Received the leathers are soaked and conditioned achieving the elimination of dirt and recovering their loosely hydrated natural state.

The following unhairing process is carried out by a combination of enzymes of specific action and a mechanical action of the drums.

By the next liming process, the leathers are swelled and cleaned out from unwanted material within the collagen fibers and thus releasing the actual active tanning groups. This process also prepares the leathers for the next mechanical processes.

Unfleshing, done by specific machines, removes the subcutaneous fat in order to achieve proper penetration of the chemicals in the subsequent stages.

Continued to proceed with leather trimming into butts, heads and skirts, according to the required destination, and proceeding to the division into parts depending on the thickness.

Afterwards splitting into desired thickness and sorting out fleshings. In our case we work with thicknesses ranging from 2.5 mm to 6.0 mm. This part of the process is of the utmost importance, for here the leathers are geared to the product according to market requirements.

DELIMING, PURGING AND PICKLED

The purpose of these three operations is to prepare physically and chemically dehaired leathers to be tanned. Limed leather has a pH of approximately 12 and the fibers are swollen and distended and are undesired products from the degradation thereof and the chemicals used, so that these operations constitute intermediate sections in the tanning process. Deliming through eliminating the alkali and pH adjusted to purge consisting of an enzymatic action to remove undesired components of the leather

THE VEGETABLE TANNING

This process is as old as humankind. It was discovered by the observation that if a raw skin got in contact with bark, wood or leaves of certain plants, it ended up stained and those parts wich were stained and apparently damaged turned into perennial leather.

Vegetable tanning allows conservation of the leather fibres and introduces certain characteristics of softness to touch and elasticity as a consecuence of the tanning material and the working methods applied, in our case a blend of vegetable tannins are applied.

Our tanning process for saddlery is hundred percent vegetable and it is aimed to jumping saddles, accesories, furniture, briefcases, bags, boxes, floors, etc.

After tanning and samming the leathers are taken into the desired thickness by means of shaving.

FATLIQUORING

At this stage, a deposit of fatty substances in the interfibrillar spaces is done in order to give the leather the desired softness and handle properties. Here a correction and control of physical properties is done. Properties like tensile and tear strength, extensibility, wetting properties or water repelling capacity, water-proofness, permeability to air and water vapour, water absorption and moisture storage capacity, thermal and electrical thermal conductivity are adjusted to the article requirements.

Mechanical process called setting-out is carried out afterwards to even the leather, stretch it out, and give a finer look to its grain side drawing.

Once setted out, the leather is hung and let dry to a certain extent when it is setted-out again with a different machine wich further evens the leather freeing it out from folds.

After this last setting-out the leather is ready to be hung again until drying.

THE DRYING

This is one of the most important processes in such articles. This is where special attention should be depend on it for color, break and softness of the material. When the leather reaches the ideal percentage of moisture it is ironed and then classified to proceed with the finishing method.

THE FINISHING

The final step of leather making is Finishing. The purpose of this final stage is to make the leather usable and suitable for the manufacture of end products.

Our finishing processes are carried out by mixing both ancient table traditional finishing and new methods of spraying.

On the tables the leathers receive different kinds of aniline, grease and oil blends wich give a special and desirable touch, feel and natural look, whilst by means of spraying it acquires further enhancement of the mentioned qualities plus certain fastnesses and characteristics required.

Finally mechanical processes of ironing, engraving and heating are given when necessary, providing to the leather the final look and quality improvement