The characteristics of New Zealand cattle hides are typical of Northern European breeds.

The hides received by Lowe Corporation Limited, are derived from cattle that are pasture fed providing raw stock that is clean and free of any manure related problems. The majority of New Zealand cattle herds are identified by tags providing hides that are free of brands. The low cattle population density and the natural grass nutrition afforded by New Zealand’s temperate climate, assures Lowe Corporation Limited hides are of good inherent quality. Most of Lowe Corporation Limited hides are machine flayed.

Hides at Lowe Corporation Limited’s three tanneries are machine fleshed on arrival. This procedure, allows for substance variation over the neck and butt regions. This important operation removes surplus fat and flesh which assists in the first stage of the tanning process. In addition to this, all wet blue bull hides are
re-fleshed in the lime, which assists flatness.

New Zealand wet salted calfskins are tanned to produce very fine leathers for fashion shoes, bag and garment leathers.

The production of these skins is seasonal from July to October. Following slaughter, the skins are cooled under controlled conditions for transportation to one of our three processing sites.

On arrival the skins are fleshed to remove fat and flesh, which improves flatness in the finished leather. Skins are cured in drums or mixtures by running them with 35% of their weight of dry salt with the addition of boric acid and dichlorophene. The running time is a minimum of 4 hours at 3 rpm or until such time as the brine of the skins is at least 90% saturated. The skins are then unloaded and allowed to drain for a minimum of 24 hours before they are graded and weight ranged.

New Zealand merino sheep and lambskins are selected all year round to service the production of various finished articles but mainly for footwear uses.

New Zealand spring (unshorn) lambskins are selected from October through March to service the production of decorative and bedding rugs, medical rugs, car seat covers, double face garments and paint rollers.

New Zealand shorn lambskins are selected from March through October for the production of garment lining and various footwear end uses. Shorn lambskins and crossbred sheepskins exhibiting coarser wool types are selected for wool separation (fellmongering) producing slipe wool and pickled pelts.

Following slaughter skins are cooled under controlled conditions for transportation to one of our processing sites. Skins are carefully checked for temperature compliance upon arrival and individually fed into the processing area on conveyors.After classification by trained graders skins are placed in processing vessels and processed through to salted skins. The salted skins are counted and packed for distribution to customers.

New Zealand goatskins are mainly produced between March and August each year. While limited in numbers they are finished for variable end uses including the production of shoes, gloves and garments. Goatskins offer good strength even at light substances as well as flat and tight grains.