Leather and Leather Processing

Besides wool, stone and wood leather is one of the oldest natural materials in human history. It has always been used as protective and decorative clothing but also as technical material. Today, leather has nearly vanished from technical applications. But despite numerous substitutes leather continues to be popular with the automotive, furniture, shoe and fashion industries thanks to its properties and its precious and natural character. And as sustainability and ecology play an important role in particular in these industries, there are consistently new approaches for research topics.

Head of Department

„The topic renewable resources has been accompanying all of my professional life. Leather is a renewable resource, too. Time and again I am fascinated by the variety in which leather can be manufactured with most different properties, by the fact how the tanning and leather industries convert the byproduct hide into a precious and at the same time functional material. And although this natural material is as old as mankind itself, there are always new things to explore and to discover."


Dr. Anke Mondschein

Head of Department Leather and Leather Processing

ONE OF THE OLDEST NATURAL MATERIALS STANDS ITS GROUND TO THIS DAY

Tannery and leather manufacture are the oldest fields of competence at FILK. The forerunners of our institute are the first Deutsche Gerberschule and the Versuchsanstalt für Lederindustrie. We can reflect upon more than 130 years of experience with leather manufacture. Today research activities focus on the whole process of technology for leather manufacture: new technologies for liming, tanning, re-tanning and finishing. Research work comprises both fundamental approaches and optimisation concepts for technologies, formulations and auxiliaries as well as utilisation of byproducts.

Recent discourses about sustainability and ecology in an increasingly critical public brought various initiatives and activities into motion in the leather sector. For many years the industry has been paying special attention to resource-efficient and environmentally friendly technology as well as process chemicals. Also in this connection there are always new approaches for research and development activities.

Our Services

In the field of leather and leather processing we offer the following services:

  • Tests relating to leather and analytics at the leather laboratory

  • Development and manufacturing of historic restoration leathers for the conservation of art work and cultural assets

  • Analysis of tanning materials

  • Tanning experiments in our tannery pilot plant

 

 

Do you have questions about our services? Contact us!


Dr. Anke Mondschein

Head of Department Leather and Leather Processing


Projects that might be interesting for you To Project Library

Alliance for Cooperation on Digital and Circular Economy Skills for the TCLF sector across Europe (METASKILLS4TCLF)

ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO (EU) 101111842 | Laufzeit: 09.2023 – 08.2027

Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal (Coordinator); Anke Mondschein, FILK Freiberg; insgesamt 21 Partner (inkl. FILK und CTCP)

End of project: 08/31/2027

Categories:

  • Leather

Matrixeliminierung bei der Chrom(VI)-Analyse in Leder

BMWK INNO-KOM 49VF220058 | Laufzeit: 09.2023 – 02.2026

Nadja Dittrich, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 02/28/2026

Categories:

  • Leather
  • Methods/Processes

Sensor-Case für die In-situ Messung im Gerbereiprozess

BMWK INNO-KOM 49MF220181 | Laufzeit: 07.2023 – 12.2025

Ulrike Straßburger, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 12/31/2025

Categories:

  • Leather

Identifikation genetischer Marker mit Assoziation zur Hautqualität bei Rindern (SNPs und Lederqualität)

BMWK IGF 22809 BR | Laufzeit: 02.2023 – 07.2025

Sandra Stenzel, FILK Freiberg | Martin Schulze, IFN Schönow

End of project: 07/31/2025

Categories:

  • Biogenic Raw Materials
  • Leather

Analyse tierischer Inhaltstoffe in veganen Lederalternativen

BMWK INNO-KOM 49MF220028 | Laufzeit: 09.2022 – 02.2025

Sandra Stenzel, Ines Stachel, Enno Klüver, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 02/28/2025

Categories:

  • Collagen
  • Leather
  • Test/Analytical methods

Bioabbaubare Beschichtung für Textilien und Leder auf Basis von Polyurethan-Dispersionen (Guinea)

BMWK IGF Cornet 342 EBR | Laufzeit: 09.2022 – 08.2024

Anke Mondschein, Maren Lehmann, FILK Freiberg | David de Smet, CENTEXBEL Zwijnaarde

End of project: 08/31/2024

Categories:

  • Leather

Gerbaktivität von Secoiridoid-Gerbstoffen

BMWK INNO-KOM 49MF210154 | Laufzeit: 01.2022 – 06.2024

Michaela Schröpfer, Anke Mondschein, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 06/30/2024

Categories:

  • Leather

Energetische und stoffliche Verwertung von chrombelasteten Gerbereirückständen in Biogasanlagen (BioChrome)

BMWK IGF 22208 BR | Laufzeit: 12.2021 – 05.2024

Kathrin Leppchen-Fröhlich, Anke Mondschein, Ina Prade, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 05/31/2024

Categories:

  • Biomaterials
  • Leather
  • Methods/Processes

Zukunftscluster innovative berufliche Bildung (CLOU)

BMBF InnoVET 21IV007J | Laufzeit: 01.2022 – 02.2024

Anke Mondschein, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 02/29/2024

Categories:

  • Leather
  • Test/Analytical methods
  • Material Characterization

Untersuchungen zum ultraschallunterstützten Prägen von Lederwaren mit konventionellen Prägewerkzeugen und Prägewerkzeugen aus Kunststoff

BMWK IGF 21665 BR | Laufzeit: 04.2021 – 09.2023

Ulrike Straßburger, Anke Mondschein, FILK Freiberg | André Hofmann, INT TU Dresden

End of project: 09/30/2023

Categories:

  • Leather
  • Methods/Processes

MALDI-TOF-MS für die Analyse von Pilzen

BMWK INNO-KOM 49MF200157 | Laufzeit: 04.2021 – 09.2023

Kathrin Leppchen-Fröhlich, Birgit Voigt, Ina Prade, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 09/30/2023

Categories:

  • Leather
  • Test/Analytical methods

Mikroorganismen-abweisende Beschichtung von Lederoberflächen (SilkRepell) | Teilprojekt: Herstellung Mikroben-abweisender Beschichtungen auf Leder mit Spinnenseidenprotein im industriellen Maßstab

BMBF Biologisierung der Technik 13XP5178B | Laufzeit: 01.2022 – 12.2022

Kathrin Leppchen-Fröhlich, Birgit Voigt, Ina Prade, FILK Freiberg

End of project: 12/31/2022

Categories:

  • Biomaterials
  • Leather

All completed projects can be found here To Project Library


Contact

FILK Freiberg Institute gGmbH
Meißner Ring 1-5
09599 Freiberg

GERMANY

Fon: +49-(0)3731-366-0
Fax: +49-(0)3731-366-130
E-Mail: mailbox@filkfreiberg.de