How is ECOQARA 100% RECYCLED made?
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
The final manufacturing process of the mixture begins with the addition of a coagulating agent, which is applied under agitation conditions to form the agglomerate that will rebind the collagen fibers, thereby analogously simulating the interconnection structure found in natural leather.
After this initial stage, the prepared mixture proceeds to the sheet formation phase. At this point, it is dosed and poured onto a continuous belt, while maintaining precise control over both the amount poured per unit of time and the speed of the belt’s movement. Both parameters must be adjusted, taking into account the characteristics of the formulation used, especially its viscosity and water content, to achieve the desired sheet thickness by the end of the process.
Subsequently, after dosing, the product moves along the belt, passing through three drying stations.
Finally, the recycled ECOQARA material is wound, to be subjected to a curing process that lasts between 24 and 48 hours, during which the fibers are fully agglomerated and the product is dried.
FINISHING PROCESSES
From this point onward, once the ECOQARA recycled leather material has been obtained in coil form and with the required thickness, the material undergoes two distinct finishing processes, which are selected based on the type of color, texture, and additional surface properties needed.
- The first process is called solid finishing, characterized by a single color that can be either textured or smooth.
- The second process is the flexographic finishing, which is much more complex, as it combines two colors to create richer and more varied tones. This method not only expands the range of possibilities in terms of color and texture but also, although it requires several stages, guarantees a spectacular final result.
