Topstar 3400 is a full hide rollercoater, which has been designed to apply a colour coat and top coat on full grain and embossed automotive and furniture upholstery leathers. The company envisage that Topstar could allow tanners to finish leathers without the use of spray finishing which can have environmental and cost saving benefits.
Gemata claim that it is possible to obtain smooth and embossed leather finishing effects on leathers using a rollercoater, which are comparable to traditional spray finishing techniques.
The manufacturers claim that using Topstar can save up to 60% of finishing chemical use, 75% of wash waters (80 litres per hour) and 80% of electrical power (15kW/hour) compared with traditional spray finishing techniques.

Vallero International have introduced a revolutionary inner drum system called Vortex which they have patented. The internal system is composed of three high ‘dragon’ shelves and it can be used for all drum processes and installed in any vessel whether made from wood, plastic or stainless steel.
The shelves are directed to the drum centre allowing rotation in both directions and the top profile is wave shaped and not linear. The height of the shelves depends on the operation and  drum size. In soaking and liming drums of 4.2 x 4.5m the shelves are 1m high.

Swiss drum and automation specialists, Hüni, have introduced Prodotracer. A hand held measuring device for the continuous control of the preparation, mixing and addition of manual products carried out during production by using this equipment. Measurement is very simple and efficient using a barcode label and barcode reader. It can be used to register manual activities within the tannery and measures interventions during processing by the operators providing full traceability throughout the whole process.

Vacuum dryers have been around for just over fifty years but  recent research into vacuum drying processes has shown some disadvantages in vacuum drying techniques commonly used today.

The operation of sammying wet-blue leather is very important to obtain leather of an even thickness, with a good area yield, especially on the flanks and head, as well as an accurate moisture content for the subsequent splitting and shaving operations.

Italian milling and finishing machinery experts, Erretre have upgraded their wet milling Inox range of machines. New types of leather finish and grain effects can be achieved by tumbling wet leathers. The higher moisture content, heat and the mechanical action allows the tanner to achieve special effects such as grain pebbling and other surface effects through a controlled shrinkage.

German tanning drum makers, Dose systems AG have developed a process kit for small loads of 500 feet or less. With the new technology small loads can be processed with a consistent quality. The variances between the orders are reduced and customers are happier with precise deliveries of leather.
The kit contains the new designed Dosemotion process vessel with software to control the process from the desktop.

Italian machinery makers, Camoga launched their own version of an automated leather defect detection machine at the last Tanning Tech. ‘Detect’ automatically searches the leather surface looking for defects such as scratches, cuts, scars and other blemishes.

Italian machinery specialists, Bergi have introduced upgrades to their through-feed ironing and embossing press, Starlux, a model that produces leathers for shoe upper, leathergoods and garment. Starlux ‘S’ which was displayed at Tanning Tech in October features a touch screen control panel compared with an analogue screen on the standard model.

Rudolf Alber, based in Germany, are a leading manufacturer of bandknives for use on splitting machines for a wide range of leather types. This is the result of decades of experience within the leather sector and a close collaboration with steel mills.

During the Tanning Tech Fair in Bologna, Italian machinery specialists, Bergi will introduce their latest through-feed ironing and embossing press, the Starlux S, a model that produces leathers for shoe upper, leathergoods and garment.

Roll-Pack from Italian tannery machinery makers, GER, automatically rolls and bundles leathers and covers them in a film in the warehouse. The machine will be featured on their stand at Tanning Tech this year.

The latest version of the Suprema splitting machine from Alpe allows the tanner to split limed, wet-blue and dry leathers by just making a few simple adjustments. A stainless steel extractor device is fitted for lime splitting. The new machine features a new grinding device and transmission motors for the ring and gauge rollers. Suprema has also been fitted with a new control panel and bandknife safety mechanism. It is available with working widths:
1550 / 1950 / 2350 / 3150 and 3250 mm.

Alpe have launched a new shaving machine called Matrix.
It can be manufactured with the following working widths: 1800 / 2500 / 3000 and 3200 mm. On request it can be installed in-line with an automated stacker, Trinity.
Trinity is positioned at the back of the machine and allows a 30% increase in productivity by automatically stacking hides directly onto either a pallet or flat on a table.

Mosconi have been producing tannery machinery, particularly splitting machines, with a high degree of engineering quality and design since 1946.
Their two latest models bring a high degree of accuracy and productivity to the splitting and shaving operations.

French company, Dollfus & Muller are a leader in endless tannery felts, particularly for sammying machines. They also make felts for ironing, embossing and setting-out machines.
Established in 1811, this manufacturer developed new high performance sammying felts for leather processing. The new design has been created in order to obtain the best performances from the sammying machine in terms of water absorption and the longest possible life from the felt.
Felts are available in black in order to have a good contrast with the skins and for automatic skin surface measurements.
To get more information: www.dollfus–muller.com

Olcina Group are to launch Cangilones Next, the second generation of Cangilones drums featuring patented technology, at Tanning Tech.

Officially established in 1911 as a mechanical workshop, Fratelli Carlessi began specialising in tanning machines in 1953. Carlessi's aim has always been meeting customers' requirements and constant research into new and more efficient technical solutions.

Soraco, Italian manufacturers of accessories and machinery for the leather industry, will be participating in this year's Tanning Tech fair in Bologna.

Infragas Nova Impianti will be showing their Target Dryer and Quadra at Tanning Tech 2008.

This year at Tanning Tech, Alpe will present their brand new shaving machine ‘Alpe Mod. Matrix' complete with automatic stacker for stacking hides on pallets or a horse.

The tanning industry is one of the oldest industries in the world – and the demand for treatment and waste disposal is as old as the industry itself. The environmental effects that have to be taken into account comprise not only the load and concentration of the classic pollutants, but also the use of certain chemicals, such as biocides, surfactants, and organic solvents. The separation technology offered by the German company Flottweg offers an appropriate solution to tannery waste treatment.

After many years of technical trials and experiments, an elastic vibration staking machine conveyor with an endless, seamless, joint was born and trials suggest that its performance is excellent. The innovation has been brought to fruition by Italian company Danese, situated in Arzignano. The conveyors have been on trial since last February in some of the biggest tanneries in Arzignano and according to Danese, test results are very positive.

Feltre have a close collaboration with the Scottish Leather Group. Five years ago, Lang were seeking a more efficient means of processing hides from desalting to fleshing. In conjunction with the tannery management, technicians and operators, Feltre designed and installed a system catering to the specific needs of the client, involving a bridge conveyor to connect the desalting area with the deliming vessels in a separate building.

The UK's leading forklift attachment company, B&B Attachments have launched the T351ES series, a corrosion resistant rotator for fish processing, tanneries, salt mines and environments where acids and alkalis are used. Developed by Kaup GmbH & Co KG, the rotators are painted with a special corrosion resistant finish (RAL 5005), which helps protect them against the effects of seawater, salt and acid.

Flamar Italia, known across the world for the production of shaving machines and buffing and air-dedusting groups, have now launched an updated model of their sammying and setting out machine; the Twister model. The machine is available in the following working widths: 2400, 2700, 3100 and 3300mm.