German specialty chemicals group LANXESS will be presenting a comprehensive range of products for the leather industry at the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) in Shanghai from September 1 to 3, 2010, including new products for innovative shoe upper, upholstery and automotive leathers. Jürgen Hackenbroich, regional head of the Leather business unit for Asia Pacific, says: “When developing products and technologies, LANXESS focuses on sustainability. On the one hand, that means doing all we can to minimize waste, maximize product safety and ensure that we comply with REACH. On the other, it means developing modern, energy-saving processes that conserve natural resources and avoiding the use of critical raw materials.”

At the ACLE, which Hackenbroich describes as the most important leather fair worldwide, LANXESS will be showcasing a new generation of eutectic preservatives for wet blues, wet whites and vegetable leathers. Preventol U-Tec A, Preventol U-Tec E and Preventol U-Tec G contain almost 90 percent active fungicidal ingredients. Because of the special combination of ingredients, they cover a broad spectrum of activity.

New Retingan ZF Plus is the second generation Retingan ZF (the first genuine retanning resin without free formaldehyde) with enhanced selective filling. Because of its low astringency, this innovative resin for the retannage gives a smooth, fine and tight grain with high elasticity. The selective filling effect in the loosely structured parts of the hide ensures an excellent area yield. The leathers have high lightfastness and resistance to heat yellowing. Retingan ZF Plus is also suitable for white and non-pigmented leathers and, unlike tanning materials that contain emulsifier, it can be used for water-repellent leather. Retingan ZF Plus gives an excellent, uniform embossing pattern, making it suitable for the production of fashionable upholstery, automotive and shoe upper leathers.

The Baykanol Lickers are a comprehensive range of fatliquoring agents for the retannage. The range includes four new products geared to the very different requirements of the automotive, furniture upholstery and shoe industries. The products are characterized by an excellent softening effect, outstanding fastness properties, a uniform dyeing and a pleasant, soft, round handle.

In the finishing sector, LANXESS’ innovative X-Grade system makes it possible to conceal small to medium-sized hide defects perfectly. Pinholes and scratches are removed with amazing success, resulting in a considerably higher area yield. The technology, which is based on microcapsules, also gives a much more uniform embossing pattern, leading to a very natural surface appearance. The X-Grade system derives its filling effect from special microcapsules which expand when subjected to elevated temperatures during plating or embossing. Euderm X-Grade FF EXP 2027 is a finishing auxiliary with outstanding filling properties that is suitable for all types of leather. Euderm X-Grade MP 2 EXP 2007 was developed specifically for corrected grain leathers and can be expanded even at low temperatures.

The new, silica-free matting agent Aquaderm Matt 102 EXP 2011 can be used in combination with aqueous polymer dispersions in top coats for automotive leathers and satisfies the high demands of the automotive industry with regard to the repolishing properties, for example.

LANXESS offers products for all stages of the leather manufacturing process from the wet end to the finishing and has one of the broadest portfolios of leather chemicals, including inorganic and synthetic/organic tanning materials, preservatives, tanning auxiliaries, fatliquoring agents, dyes and pigments, and finishing products such as polyurethane dispersions, acrylates and auxiliaries.

More than 50 percent of all hides worldwide are made into shoe upper leather. “I would even go as far as to say that there’s a little bit of LANXESS in every shoe,” comments Frank Paus, Vice-President of Marketing & Sales in the Leather business unit.

The Leather business unit achieves over 40 percent of its sales in Asia. It is part of LANXESS’ Performance Chemicals segment, which posted sales of EUR 1,530 million in fiscal 2009.