Split – a quality by-product with many possibilities.
After splitting the higher quality top grain from a hide, the remaining leather is used in a range of applications, e.g., footwear uppers and soles.
Rawhides are reduced to the required thickness by “splitting” them into two layers using a horizontal band-knife. The upper layer – the “grain split” – is used to make the finest quality leather, leaving the lower layer – the “flesh split” – as a by-product. If the lower layer can be removed intact, it too can be used to make a wide range of finished products.
Uses
Flesh split is suitable for a range of uses depending on the quality of the leather and the part of the hide from which it is obtained :
- Whole-hide splits are used in furniture manufacture and upholstery.
- Croupons (hide centres with outer parts trimmed off) are used for belts, bags, shoes and furniture.
- Outer parts such as necks and flanks are used in the production of gelatine and collagen
Precision splitting reduces waste
Thanks to modern splitting techniques, we can use both layers of each hide, i.e., the “grain split” and the “flesh split”