FAQ

1. WHAT IS TANNING?
2. WICH HIDES DOES HULSHOF ROYAL DUTCH TANNERIES USE?
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHEEP LEATHER PIGSKINS AND BULL HIDES?
4. DAMAGE AS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS?
5. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PIGMENTED FINISH ANILINE AND SEMI-ANILINE FINISH?
6. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LEATHER?
7. HOW IS UPHOLSTERY LEATHER BEING TESTED?
8. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT LEATHER?

1. WHAT IS TANNING?

The tanning of hides can be described as following: 'The tannin products penetrate the hides and fixate to the hide-molecules. The raw hide is transformed in a product called leather which is less temperature sensitive and does not decay easily'. There are various ways to tan a hide, such as a vegetable tannin, mineral, a chrome tannin and so on… and each with it's own distinguished features. The chrome tannin is the used in most cases.
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2. WHICH HIDES DOES HULSHOF ROYAL DUTCH TANNERIES USE?
There is no question that the quality of finished leather begins with the quality of the raw hide used, and the Hulshof company policy is to use only first choice bull hides. The cattle receive meticulous vetinary care during

their lifetime. The Hulshof hides are never treated with highly damaging salt, as is common in many tanneries around the world. Eliminating the salting process means the leather is better and softer with much less damage to the environment.
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3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHEEP LEATHER, PIGSKINS AND BULL HIDES?
The bull hide is by far the most suitable for upholstery-leather, particularly because of its' big surface. The area of a full grown bul can easily reach 6 m2, and is supple and very strong. Sheepskins and pigskins are also being used for upholstery leather, although sheepskins are very small in size, are stiff and have a low tearingstrength. Pigskins have a very thin grain, are also small and have an irregular structure, compact in the back and loose around the belly. Furthermore are pigskins mainly perforated by deep ingrown hairs.
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4. DAMAGE AS NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS?
The bull hide is marked by climatic and other situations it lives in. Most animals will have had wounds, scratches, insect-bites or have caught diseases which left scars on it's hide. These natural characteristics as well as the animals own surface structure, shown as neck and fat wrinkles, must be considered as signs of the animals history and authenticy.
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5. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PIGMENTED FINISH, ANILINE AND SEMI-ANILINE FINISH?
A pigmented finish is a protective coating which uses pigments in a resin binder. The leather shows an uniform, solid and brighter colour and can be further processed with an imaginative embossing. The popular finishes nowadays are the anilines. This finish is applied in very thin layers allowing the grain (incl. the natural range markings) to stay visible, while retaining the beautiful soft touch of naked leather. Semi-anilines are finishes containing just a small amount of pigment producing a leather that falls between the above two.
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6. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LEATHER?
Leather is a beautiful product, it's durable, hygienic, stylish and easy in maintenance. Leather provides an interior with warmth and shows the beauty of nature. Leather adapts it's temperature to the surrounding area, this is sometimes an explanation why leather feels 'cold'. As soon as you are seated, the leather adapts itself to you body-heat and for this reason leather can be said to contain a built-in airconditioner.

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7. HOW IS UPHOLSTERY LEATHER BEING TESTED?
Depending of it's purpose, different requirements are set for different leathers. Fine upholstery leather must have the following properties:

The leather must be entirely flexible, so as grain and finish do not break after repeatedly flexing and stretching (the so-called crackling effect).
It must have sufficient light-properties.
The finish must adhere to the grain.
The leather is not allowed to tear, not even on the stitches.
The leather must be dyed sufficient deep or through and though.
It must have a certain resistance against damage that result from rough objects.

These properties can be tested by international approved test methods. The upholstery leather has to comply to certain codes. With the results of these tests, a prediction can be made, on how the leather will behave during its' usage.
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8.HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT LEATHER?
In addition to our professional literature Royal Hulshof offers the opportunity to industry members to attend courses and excursions to learn more about our process and our products.
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