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We are SÜDLEDER.
and proud of it.
Premium Quality – Made in Germany
For us, a passion for leather means above all treating this valuable material with care and sustainability. SÜDLEDER processes raw materials while they are still fresh to produce premium-quality leather. For us, it's not just about craftsmanship, but also about respect for nature.
We operate up to six days a week in two shifts. This enables us to guarantee speed and adherence to deadlines while maintaining consistently high quality standards. Individual customer solutions are our strength; we offer tailor-made services of premium quality. Our high-quality tanning processes are recognized globally, and thanks to our dedicated team of around 300 employees, we can process up to 3,300 fresh raw hides per day. Modern control systems enable us to respond flexibly and quickly, ensuring the smooth running of production.
Close cooperation with research institutes and industry partners gives us the necessary innovative edge, allowing us to respond quickly to new developments or changing requirements. We always keep our environmental responsibility firmly in mind. We attach great importance to the complete recycling of all waste materials generated in the manufacturing process, and in particular to the careful use of resources and our natural resources, such as water.
Delivery of raw materials
Around 30% of the hides from cattle slaughtered in Germany are processed at our site in Rehau! Every day, a team of 300 employees works together to process up to 3,300 cattle hides into wet blue, wet white, and crust leather.
Preparation of raw materials for tanning
1. SOAKING
The raw materials are cleaned. Dirt and preservative salts are removed.
2. LIMING
Lime and sulfur compounds are added to remove hair, excess protein, and fat from the hides.
3. DE-FLEISHING AND SPLITTING
Removal of flesh and tissue residues using sharp knife rollers.
4. PICKLING AND PICKING
Pickling and picking the hides (with enzymes, acid, and salt) makes their tissue fibers receptive.
Preparation of raw materials for tanning
For us, this includes:
6. DRYING (DEWATERING)
The wet leather is dewatered.
7. SORTING
The leather is sorted according to various quality criteria.
8. FOLDING AND TRIMMING
The leather is brought to a uniform thickness.
9. NEUTRALIZING, FILLING, DYEING, AND GREASING
The acid from the tanning process is neutralized. Depending on the leather, filling and dyeing follow, after which the softness and elasticity required for the finished leather is achieved through greasing.
10. STRETCHING
11. DRYING
Drying is carried out using vacuum, stretching frame, and/or hanging drying.
12. MILLING AND STOLLING
Softening of the leather fibers
Quality inspection at the end
Before the leather is delivered, a final quality inspection is carried out following the ongoing process controls. This final inspection ensures that the individual production batches exactly meet the customer's requirements and correspond to the desired leather.
Aesthetic natural products – high-quality and individual
SÜDLEDER stands for premium quality—from raw materials to finished leather. Thanks to our expert team, which consists of leather technicians, chemists, and highly trained production specialists, we can fulfill virtually any customer request. In close cooperation with our clients, we create unique leather types and exclusive color concepts for various industries—with professionally executed ancillary services as needed.
Flexibility is our strength
Our modern production processes—certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001—enable us to respond quickly to changes and individual customer requirements. Specially developed monitoring systems ensure a consistently high level of quality.
We make your wishes come true
Customer satisfaction is our daily motivation. No challenge is too great when it comes to realizing creative ideas and individual wishes. At SÜDLEDER, every order is handled by a team of specialists, because combined knowledge always leads to first-class results. Experts from different fields contribute their know-how, experience, and craftsmanship to meet or, if possible, even exceed the expectations of our clients.
