Update for Stahl’s range of chemicals for lighter automotive leather
Leather chemicals manufacturer Stahl has launched a new version of its Stahlite range of solutions for automotive leather production.
Stahlite, which the company introduced in 2012, is designed for use in the retanning and fatliquoring stages of leather production and replaces conventional retanning and softening agents with specialty polymers.
These polymers penetrate more thoroughly into the leather fibre structure, Stahl has said, to coat the fibre bundles and fibrils with a smooth layer. The result is a lightweight automotive leather that, compared with traditional leather, delivers weight savings of up to 30%.
In a luxury car with a full leather interior, this would mean a weight saving of up to 8 kilos, the company has calculated, contributing to reduced fuel consumption and an extended range in electric vehicles.
Stahl said another benefit from using the lighter automotive leather that tanners can produce using its Stahlite range is that this would reduce a car’s carbon emissions by up to 0.5 grammes per kilometre compared to a conventional leather interior.
The chemicals manufacturer told leatherbiz that it had changed the product mix for this updated version of Stahlite, integrating technology that it has brought on board since 2012 through its acquisition of the leather chemicals divisions of Clariant and BASF and its exclusive representation of Proviera.
Its new version of the range of automotive leather chemicals also takes into account “today’s needs and requirements”. As a result, it also offers low odour, savings in water and energy and greater efficiency at effluent treatment plants.
Compared to traditional processes, Stahl said use of the new range of products could reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD) by more than 50% and biological oxygen demand by up to 80%.
