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Sustainability without Compromise

Qualus helps tanneries save costs, lower their environmental footprint and improve quality in leather production

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Sustainability Shouldn’t Get In The Way Of Quality

We know tanners face pressure to lower their environmental footprint, governments are tightening standards and designer brands, often in response to consumer activism, are increasingly requiring tanners to prove environmental credentials through certification programs.

How do you do that without lowering the quality of your product or increasing production costs?

Qualus’ patented system enables tanneries to reduce their environmental footprint while also improving product quality and increasing profits.

In demonstrations with over 20 tanneries worldwide, our system has reduced water usage by 30% to 40% and reduced chemical usage by 10% to 15% in retanning while improving leather aesthetics and enhancing technical properties of the finished product. These savings can boost profit margins by 40%-90% resulting in payback within 6 months, on the initial investment by a tannery.

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A New Paradigm for Leather Production


The Qualus Modular System

Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5

Our Tanners’ Experience

“With the constraints on water, Qualus have created the technology that must be adopted by the industry.”

Managing Director of automotive tannery in Mexico

    “Many promise water and chemicals savings but the leather is not good enough. In your case, the leather is good.”

    Head of Operations of automotive tannery in Europe

      “We found no difference between Qualus and the control leather. So we shipped it straight to production.”

      Leather R&D Coordinator for Luxury Goods Brand in Italy

        Case Studies

        Automotive Tannery Mexico Case Study

        Automotive Leather – Leon, Mexico

        Leon has grown rapidly as a hub for automotive leather production over the last twenty years. With its proximity to the US, it’s an ideal place for suppliers to the automotive industry. A major problem, however, is consistent access to water. Tanneries throughout the city rely on daily shipments by water tankers which are often delayed. By substantially reducing the quantity of water required for retanning, Qualus’ system can help automotive tanners overcome the daily challenges of production in water constrained areas while still delivering the demanding technical standards for automotive leather.

        READ THE CASE STUDY

        Footwear Leather – Santa Croce, Italy

        Perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, leather production in Italy is an art that is zealously protected by tanners. Leading designers from across the world flock to Lineapelle to source the best leather. For Italian tanners and their customers, improved environmental credentials, and lower costs are worthless if the quality of leather doesn’t meet the desired standard. Qualus’ unique patented system has successfully produced leather for a broad range of footwear applications, including for high end luxury brands, while significantly reducing water and chemicals for retanning.

        READ THE CASE STUDY
        Footwear Leather Tannery Case Study

        Contact us to get started

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        ESTR Limited (trading as Qualus). A company registered in England and Wales. Company number 12000641.


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        Module 2: Sfere Dosing

        At the time that Sferes are required in a drum for processing, they must be transported from the storage to the drum. A variety of mechanisms for transport exist, ranging from a fully automated system (e.g., using pneumatic pumping) or a manual system such as using cranes. Typically, the more automated the system the greater the capital expenditure required.

        Module 5: Sfere Cleaning Station

        In order to ensure that the chemicals from the previous cycle do not contaminate the next process, the Sferes must be cleaned before they are returned to storage. Qualus has designed a machine, the SCS Station, that has been tailored specifically to clean the Sferes. This is the only component of the SMS System provided by Qualus.

        Module 4: Separation of Sferes and substrates

        At the end of the processing cycle, the contents of a drum are emptied into a large container. As the Sferes are designed to fall off the substrates, a simple lifting and shaking of the substrates is required to remove any Sferes from their surface. To ensure that the lifting and shaking is done systematically and efficiently, some tanneries may choose to implement an automated hoist system or a water bath to help move the substrates from the container to the next stage of processing.

        Module 3: Intermediate Float Draining

        Qualus’ technology works with existing drums with minor modifications to ensure that the Sferes are retained in the drum during mid-cycle drains.

        Module 1: Sfere Storage

        Sferes need to be stored somewhere when they are not being used in a drum for processing. The containers for storage can vary from one large silo to small containers, depending on a tanner’s needs and constraints (e.g., available space.)