At the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai from 31 August to 2 September 2016, speciality chemicals company LANXESS will showcase its products, processes and systems for the efficient and sustainable production of a wide variety of leather articles.
“This year, our trade fair exhibit focuses on new developments for the manufacture of waterproof leather products, a new fluorine-free product for anti-soiling topcoats and a modular system for sustainably produced crust leather,” says Luis López-Remón, head of the LANXESS Leather business unit (LEA).
LANXESS has developed Levotan W, a functionalized silicone-containing micro emulsion for the production of waterproof leathers. It is easily dispersible in the float and can be homogeneously incorporated in the leather to promote even dyeing.
In addition to its fluorocarbon-based anti-soiling additives, LANXESS now also markets a halogen-free product. Aquaderm X-Shield HPS effectively reduces the soiling of light-colored leather and improves its cleanability. It is applied as usual to the leather as a topcoat and adheres to the surface.
Crusts are open-pore, unfinished leathers. A new modular system is now available for so-called “green crust” leather, used to produce sustainable leather products. The system includes products, processes, competent support and on-site technical service. Named “X-Green Crust Technology” it further includes the enzymatic X-Zyme process for the beamhouse steps, developed together with Denmark-based Novozymes A/S, the global market leader in enzymes.
In its Sustainable Leather Management programme, LANXESS offers innovative technologies that more strongly support the production of sustainable, ecologically compatible products and processes in the leather industry, without making any compromises on quality. The company’s products offer measurable advantages when it comes to reduced emissions and a lower CO2 footprint, helping to save energy and protect the climate.
In addition to more efficient production, processing and recycling, the objective is to manage the raw material and the associated waste even more responsibly. In its efforts, the specialty chemicals company already ensures compliance with the Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MSRL) issued by the brand campaign for Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC).
