Stahl hold two courses at LGR

Published: 18 April, 2006

Ilona Coremans and Wolfgang Schmälzle from Stahl Europe have recently run two separate intensive, hands-on, two-week courses for Leather Finishing and Wet-End Processing at the Lederinstitut Geberschule Reutlingen (Leather Institute - German Tanners' School Reutlingen). Attended by 32 students from the Institute, the courses were designed to impart as much product, process knowledge and application experience as was possible in the limited time available. In support of the practical work, each student was provided with technical data sheets explaining the product descriptions, specifications and application methods for the range of products being used on the courses. They were also provided with leather samples specific to their individual projects and a leather pattern to which they were expected to match, prepare and apply their own combination of products in making up a suitable wet-end or leather finish formula and process.

The wet-end course also included the preparation of automotive leathers by the application of wet-white and wet-blue technologies.

Both Ilona and Wolfgang spent time coaching each student individually, giving hints to ensure a complete understanding of the products each had selected for their formulations. Progress was monitored to ensure that the crust and finished leathers came close to resembling the patterns and performance specifications.

As part of the leather finishing programme, Schmälzle presented a lecture on colour matching, explaining the pitfalls and difficulties that need to be overcome when preparing shade matchings applied to high performance leathers that are often used in combination with other materials and exposed to differing light sources. Similarly, within the wet-end programme, Coremans gave a lecture on the general background to the Stahl business, focusing on the preparation of wet-white leathers, physical test methods and standards of performance, and providing practical tips on how to achieve them.

Students attending the courses came from Pakistan, India, Sweden, China, Morocco, Austria and Germany. Students felt that the exposure to new wet-end technology and leather finishing had become a very important part of the institute curriculum.

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