More Salem products join the Stahl range

Continuing the transitional period during which Salem products are being transferred into the Stahl International range, a raft of over a dozen products used in wet-end and finishing has now been transferred. Many of these are typical of the products used for creating traditional shoe upper leathers and American-type lifestyle pull-up leathers for manufacture in the drum. Salem R is a medium sulfated fatliquor which is a blend of neatsfoot, synthetic sperm oil and vegetable oils. It can be used on a wide variety of shoe upper leather to produce a typically tight grain with a round handle and is particularly suited to leather that is to be vacuum dried. Salem R is non oxidative and is, therefore, suitable for all types of white and pastel shade leathers. Salem X is based on neatsfoot oil and is used to produce a traditional round handle shoe upper leather. It gives excellent filling characteristics and imparts a thorough fatliquoring effect without over-lubricating the grain. Other wet-end products that have been added to the range are products that typically produce pull-ups, oil-offs, crazy horse and stuffed and semi-stuffed leathers: Salem EXP is a concentrated cationic oil based on neatsfoot, lanolin and synthetic sperm oil used to produce stuffed and semi-stuffed aniline leather. Salem ED is a concentrated cationic emulsion of marine oils blended with moellan for producing boot and shoe upper leathers suitable for oil-off effects. Salem 101 is a high melting point (65-75°C) concentrated cationic blend of emulsified, polymerised synthetic sperm oil formulated specially for producing stuffed and semi-stuffed leather. Salem 118 is a blend of petroleum waxes and oils containing lanolin that can be used for both wet-end and finishing. Its high melting point (48-52°C) is suited for producing stuffed and semi-stuffed leather. Salem SSW is a cationic blend of oils and waxes that results in a stuffing compound ideal for producing leathers with a good surface feel and pull-up. Salem 721 is a water-miscible blend of oils and greases which is used on shoe upper leathers to give a hot stuffed appearance. It is used extensively on moccasin type leathers. Salem 87 is similar to Salem 721 in effect but is a softer blend of neatsfoot, marine petroleum derivatives and lanolin. It incorporates less wax and is liquid in form for easy handling. After the drumming process followed by plating of the crust, various types of pull-up leathers are produced. The effects can be further enhanced with Salem topping oils which are normally applied by rollercoater. Four further products have been transferred into the Stahl International range of finishing products: FI-723 Salem is an oil that gives a very uniform colour as a result of good hold-up of the oil, thereby camouflaging grain surface defects. It produces a natural oil handle. Leathers made using FI-723 Salem may be soaked during shoe construction and this has no detrimental effect on those leathers prepared using waterproofing systems. FI-677 Salem is a hot melt mix of petroleum waxes that is completely free of animal fats. Application is by rollercoater using heated rollers at 50°C for uniform application and penetration into the leather surface. This provides a clean pull-up effect characterised by lively colour and no whitening. FI-677 Salem does not destroy the water repellent properties of previously treated leathers. The surface colour of the dyed leather is permanently darkened and this remains to help camouflage surface defects. FI-99 Salem is a hot melt blend of petroleum waxes and is applied by rollercoater using heated rollers at 60°C. It is unique in that dark pull-up effects can be restored with just a slight amount of friction produced by rubbing the surface with a cloth. A very strong exaggerated pull-up effect is produced and this exhibits very good crush properties if the leather is dry milled after application. After milling, the pull-up effect can be easily restored to the original dark colour by simply lightly polishing the surface of the leather. FI-606 Salem is a hot melt wax that is recommended for application on a rollercoater using a heated roller at 50°C. FI-606 Salem is designed for hand-sewn leathers which are exposed to shoe factory soaking and gives a medium pull-up having good levelness and surface lubrication. All four products are compatible and can used together in any proportion to tailor-make desired effects and handle. Customers are advised to ask their local Stahl companies and representatives for further details on the availability of these products and of their methods of application.