The provided diagram illustrates the various stages involved in the industrial production of leather goods, starting from raw animal skins and ending with finished products such as shoes and bags.
Overall, the process is linear and involves several distinct phases, including preparation, chemical treatment, mechanical processing, and final manufacturing. The transformation requires a combination of washing, soaking, and physical refinement to turn raw skins into usable leather.
The process commences with the drying of animal skins, which are subsequently transported to a factory. Once at the facility, the skins undergo an initial washing stage in a mixture of water and lime, followed by a further soaking period in lime. After this chemical treatment, the skins are passed through a machine for flattening. Following this, the material is soaked again, this time in a solution of tannin, which consists of water and vegetable matter.
Once the soaking is complete, the leather undergoes a polishing stage. The refined material is then transported to another factory, where it is finally crafted into various leather goods, including shoes, handbags, and balls. This sequence highlights the transition from raw biological material to high-value consumer products.