Biodegradable Tannage is an environmentally friendly tanning process that uses biodegradable substances. Leather tanned using this method can decompose in nature at the end of its life without leaving any harmful residues.
Crust leather is leather that has been tanned but not yet dyed or surface-treated. It is stored or processed in this raw form before being dyed or finished, depending on its intended use. It serves as the raw material for various leather products.
DIN EN 10993 specifies requirements for the biological safety of medical devices. This standard includes tests to evaluate the biological reactions of tissues to a medical device to ensure that the product is compatible with the human body. Particularly important for products with prolonged physical contact.
Through-dyed leather refers to leather that is dyed evenly throughout the material, as opposed to leather that has only been dyed on the surface. This dyeing process gives the leather a continuous color consistency so that scratches or abrasions are less noticeable. Through-dyed leather is particularly robust and is often used in the manufacture of premium leather goods.
This standard specifies the exact test methods for safety footwear certified in accordance with EN ISO 20345. It includes tests to determine the slip resistance, water resistance, shock absorption and other properties of safety footwear.
EN ISO 20345:2022 is a European standard that defines specific requirements for safety footwear. This standard describes the basic protective features that a safety shoe must fulfill, such as protective toe caps, slip resistance and penetration protection. The shoes must be able to withstand loads of up to 200 joules to prevent injuries in the workplace.
Barrel-dyed describes a dyeing process in which leather is treated with dyes in large rotating barrels. This method allows the leather to be dyed evenly throughout, as the material is soaked in the dye. Barrel-dyed leather is characterized by its long-lasting color that penetrates deep into the fibres.
Lining leather is the leather used inside a shoe to cushion the foot and absorb moisture. It ensures comfort and durability. High-quality lining leather is breathable and pleasant to wear.
Tanning is the process of preserving animal hides using chemical or vegetable substances to turn them into leather. Tanning makes the hides stable, resistant to rot and flexible. There are various processes, including chrome tanning and vegetable tanning.
The ILO guidelines are recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO) that aim to promote fair and safe working conditions worldwide. These guidelines cover topics such as occupational health and safety, working hours, fair wages and the prohibition of child labor and forced labor.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was founded in 1919 to promote workers’ rights worldwide. The ILO is committed to decent working conditions, social justice and fair pay. It develops international labor standards and monitors their implementation.
ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognized standard for quality management systems. Companies certified to this standard have implemented processes to ensure that their products and services consistently meet high quality standards. The standard promotes continuous improvement, customer focus and legal compliance.
ISO 14001:2015 is the globally recognized standard for environmental management systems. Companies that receive this certification undertake to minimize their environmental impact, comply with legal requirements and continuously improve their environmental performance. It serves to reduce emissions and resource consumption.
The LWG Gold Standard is the highest certification awarded by the Leather Working Group (LWG). This organization evaluates tanneries in terms of their environmental sustainability and production processes. To achieve the Gold Standard, tanneries must meet strict requirements in terms of water consumption, energy efficiency, waste management and chemical use. This certification stands for sustainable leather production.
Material chain management refers to the management of the entire supply chain for materials used in production. This includes procurement, transportation, storage and use of materials. Effective management ensures cost efficiency, quality improvement and environmental protection through more sustainable practices.
No heavy metals such as chromium are used in Metal Free or Heavy Metal Free tanning. This method reduces the environmental impact and is better for the skin. It is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional tanning processes.
The upper leather is the outer, visible part of a shoe that covers and protects the foot. It determines the appearance of the shoe and is made from various materials such as leather, synthetic materials or textiles. Upper leather offers protection and, depending on the material, is hard-wearing and breathable.
Private label products are special goods that are manufactured for a specific retailer or retail chain. The manufacturer produces these products on behalf of the retailer and they are sold exclusively under the retailer’s brand. Private labels allow retailers to stand out from the competition and often offer products at lower prices.
PPE stands for personal protective equipment and includes all equipment used to protect the health and safety of workers during hazardous work. This includes safety shoes, helmets, gloves, safety goggles and hearing protection. In many industries, such as construction or manufacturing, PPE is required by law to prevent accidents and injuries at work.
Rawhide is the unprocessed hide of an animal, which is obtained and preserved after slaughter before being turned into leather. It is further processed in various industrial processes.
SA 8000:2014 is an international standard for corporate social responsibility. It ensures that working conditions are fair and ethical and covers aspects such as occupational safety, fair pay, prohibition of child labor and freedom of association. Companies that are certified according to SA 8000 are committed to social justice and decent working conditions.
The upper is the upper part of a shoe that surrounds the foot and starts above the sole. It is sewn together from various upper parts that ensure comfort, stability and protection of the foot. The upper consists of a combination of upper and lining leather as well as other components that are stitched together during the manufacturing process in the stitching shop. The main upper components include:
The EN ISO 20345 standard classifies shoes into different shoe shapes depending on the height of the upper:
The upper is therefore not only of decisive importance for the protection of the foot and wearing comfort, but is also an essential component in the classification of shoe types, especially for safety shoes.
SG-tested means that a product or service meets the safety standards of the responsible testing authority, e.g. testing for harmful substances at the PFI (Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute) or TÜV.
Full-grain leather comes from the top layer of the animal hide and retains the natural grain structure. It is not sanded or polished, leaving the unique characteristics and natural imperfections of the hide visible. Full-grain leather is considered to be of particularly high quality as it is very hard-wearing and durable. It develops a patina over time, which makes the leather even more attractive.
Wet Blue is the condition of leather after chrome tanning, before it is dyed or further processed. The name is derived from the bluish coloration that results from the treatment with chrome salts. Wet Blue is often stored as an intermediate stage in leather production.
Wet white tanning is a process for producing leather without the use of chrome. Instead, more environmentally friendly substances are used to give the leather a white color after tanning. This method is used for more environmentally friendly leather products.
Whitelabel products or services are those that are produced by one company or manufacturer but are sold to other companies without branding. These companies apply their own brand to the product so that the end customer does not know who developed the original product.
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Intercueros GmbH
Robert-Bosch-Strasse 11
69514 Laudenbach
P.O. Box 11 08
Phone: +49 6201 392930
Fax: +49 6201 73138
E-mail: info@intercueros.com