Technology

Soaking/Liming

These two operations are performed in the same equipment using for this purpose a series of wooden drums which can hold from 6000 to 9000 Kg.
Soaking removes the salt used to preserve the hide and rehydrates it as well.
Liming removes the hair through the careful addition of a mixture of Sodium Sulphide and Lime, which leads to a controlled swelling of the hide.
This, in turn, causes the structural fibers of the hide to split, allowing for better penetration of the chemical agents and preparing the hide for the steps which follow.
The entire process in these steps is controlled by a computerized system.

Fleshing

Subcutaneous tissue and fats are removed through a mechanical process, utilizing two Rizzi fleshing machines.

At this point, the residues collected are sent to a unit which processes this type of residue.

Splitting (Only for hide split into layers)

In accordance with the client´s wishes, the hides can be split into layers after fleshing. This mechanical process is carried out using a Mosconi splitter, which splits the hide into two layers, the flesh and the grain. The grain is transferred to tanning drums while the flesh, the lower layer, is set aside to be tanned later.

Deliming / Bating / Pickling / Tanning

The first three processes are designed to prepare the hide for the tanning phase.
In Deliming, through washing and the addition of chemical agents, the pH is reduced at the same time as the natural swelling of the hide is diminished.
The Bating process is important as it breaks down fibrous proteins through the addition of enzymes. This then leads to a softer and more elastic hide.
At the end of this process, the hides are washed in cold water. In the Pickling stage, through the addition of acids, which cause a great reduction in the pH and salt content that inhibits potential swelling caused by the acids, the hide is prepared for the tanning phase.
Tanning operation is done by addition of Chromium Sulphate which will run for a set time, and then the Basifier is added. After this addition and slowly the pH increases throughout this operation, the chromium will attach to the fibers of the leather which will lead at the end of the process to obtain a stable leather and with good physical properties.

Drying / Measuring / Packing

At the end of the process, the hides are dried in order to remove excess water in compliance with the clients’ requirements.

Two machines, a Meneghetti and a 3P, are used for this purpose.
Our Wega system for measuring and packing the hides, allows for greater efficiency in the packing of the hides for shipment to the client.
Todas las fases del proceso productivo son debidamente monitorizadas.
All of the phases of the production process are duly monitored.
All of the technical parameters (pH, temperature, ºBé, time, rotation and control of the physical properties of the leather) are controlled and finally registered.

The production process at GamaPrópria is computerized to ensure a high degree of testing and control.

Our production system relies upon the use of Information Technologies for the planning and control of production. The utilization of IT allows for a greater flexibility in production and better control of the stages of preparation, allowing for improvements to our services and the optimum delivery of our products.

Meanwhile, this also makes possible a reduction in our operational costs and the costs associated with the waste of raw materials, thereby improving the quality of our products. Its use also contributes to achieving a better structuring of our production processes. The processing of the hides is carried out in lots which are controlled by computerized means.