Hides go through a multi-phase process that starts in the moment they are removed from the animal and only ends once they have the adequate resistance, flexibility and look required for their use.

FMC Foret products are used in the various stages of this process, which starts with the “Ribera” phase (hide unhairing) and ends with drying and finishing.

• “Ribera” phase: This phase sees hair or wool removed from the hide. This involves “liming”, in which the hair is dissolved using Sodium Sulfide or Sodium Sulfhydrate, followed by “deliming”, in which the hide is washed to remove the products to avoid contamination of later stages in the tanning process. This step uses Sodium Bisulfate.
• Pickling phase: The hide is chemically prepared for the tanning process.
• Tanning phase: This phase stabilizes the collagen content of the hide with mineral or vegetable curing agents, transforming it into leather with the addition of chromium salts, resulting in the “wet blue”.
• Post-tanning mechanical process phase: The leather is given a specific and homogenous thickness.
• Post-tanning wet process phase: The collagen is reprocessed to modify its properties so that they meet the specific requirements of the finished articles.

Drying and finishing phases: Excess humidity is removed, the hide is dried and undergoes a final mechanical process followed by the application of any finishing layers. In addition, water used in this process is treated using Sodium Bisulphate and Hydrogen Peroxide.