"Leather Technologist is a professional who works in a Leather manufacturing unit industry and help to synthesis, production and also refining of leather to make commercial goods like footwear, clothing, gloves, belts, wallets, luggage’s, bags and upholstery including automobiles and sports goods. Their job includes supervision of operatives on the factory floor with laboratory work, researching, testing and sampling the chemicals, dyes and products in use. Monitoring of waste and by-products is also important to ensure that they fall within safety limits. Technologists also undertake administrative duties, writing up research and operational reports for managers. Leather technologist ensures before dispatch that leather products are measured and graded according to customer requirements, for instance, softness, color, thickness and finish. Leather Technology Courses in recent times have emerged as a lucrative career option. Until a few years ago, those who happened to be in the industry were there through experience rather than through any formal training.

This handbook details the complete information for a Leather’s technician. The book contains seven chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on role and responsibility of leather technician. The chapter describes the objectives of leather technician, the knowledge for leatherwork, and the working environment for leatherwork. A Leather Technician produces leather for the manufacture of leather goods for a variety of end users such as furniture, clothing and sports equipment. Leather Technicians need expert knowledge of leather properties to ensure the leather meets customer requirements. They take animal hides through a number of processes to soften and dye the skins. Chapter 2 highlights on manufacture of leather furniture that covers leather furniture, cowhide to furniture leather, and raw materials for sofa building. Chapter 3 highlights on degreasing, splitting, cleaning and de-hairing hides. Degreasing and cleaning of metal parts, delicate instruments, textile/leather garment materials, etc. are essential operations which involve large quantities of hazardous materials such as organic solvents, acids, etc. Chapter 4 aims to cover the soaking hides in chemical compounds. Soaking is carried out to allow hides and skins to reabsorb any water which may have been lost after flaying, in the curing process, or during transport. Soaking also cleans the hides and skins (removal of dung, blood, dirt, etc.) and removes interfibrillary material. Chapter 5 intends to cover the pre-tanning and tanning hides. It highlights Pre-tanning operations and process for pre-tanning and tanning skins with organic tanning agent. Chapter 6 sheds light on surface finishing and leather finishing. It focuses on tanning and leather finishing, the animal hides and skins into leather, and the drying of leather in the tannery. Finally, last chapter 7 focuses on testing and grading leather. It covers the purpose of leather grading, physical testing of leather by crude methods, and assess and measure various leather surface defects. This book serves as a valuable tool for students and others dealing with the field."