The next step will be to develop production-scale processing plants that correspond to tannery requirements as regards size and speed. This will be done in collaboration with the Italian machine manufacturers Fratelli Carlessi S.p.A. The process will then be ready for launching on the market.
“With the new product Levotan X-Cel and our innovative process we can offer tanners a new tool and the technical resources to produce the required quality leather from the increasing amount of lower quality raw material and at the same time maximize the area yield.
Our technology provides a new answer to old, familiar problems such as looseness and veininess. We are confident that this new development for the wet end will arouse considerable interest in the leather industry,” said Tegtmeyer.
The Leather business unit belongs to LANXESS's Performance Chemicals segment, which posted sales of EUR 1.812 billion in fiscal 2006.