Leather workers use leather, imitation leather, plastics and other materials to make products such as clothes, handbags and shoes. There are four sections within the leather industry. These consist of tanning; shoe manufacturing, general leather goods and handbags.
Tanning: tanners use chemicals to prepare animal hides. The hides are soaked to remove the salt and treated with chromium salt or vegetable products to remove hair and flesh
Stakers, stretchers and togglers work on the hide to produce a satisfactory shape
Splitters use sharp knives to split the hides
Shavers remove the remaining hair
Sprayers uses special equipment to spray on different colours according to demand
Buffers buff the leather to impart a smooth surface
Footwear Section: employs by far the largest number of both skilled and unskilled labour:
Clickers cut the leather material (the uppers)
Lining cutters cut out the lining
Skivers thin the seam edges
Machinists sew the uppers and lining together
Sole cutters and insole cutters cut out the various parts of the sole
Pull toe lasters fit the uppers to lasts and join them by using lasting machines
Sole attachers apply adhesive and sole stitchers stitch around the soles
Heel attachers fasten on the heels
Sole moulders apply rubber soles where required
Edge trimmers trim the soles and heels and smooth rough edges
Bottom scourers polish the soles
Inkers apply dye to obtain the desired colour
General leather goods section: includes the manufacture of shopping bags, briefcases, saddles, bridles, suitcases and clothes.
Leather tradesmen work mainly indoors in workshops and factories. Depending on the specific trade, working conditions are not excessively noisy or dirty. However, preparing the hides of animals involves processes with chemicals that produce offensive odours, with the result that there is a tendency to locate tanning factories in isolated areas.
People with a tendency to allergies might encounter difficulties in the tanning industry because of the chemicals used. These factors, as well as the variety of sharp tools used, necessitate strict safety precautions.
Satisfying Aspects
- working with your hands
- a variety of work tasks
- the opportunity to specialize
- the satisfaction of applying good workmanship to finish an article
- the chance to become self-employed
Demanding aspects
- offensive odours
- the health hazards resulting from the chemicals used
- standing all day
Requirements
A leather worker should:
- have technical aptitude;
- pay attention to detail;
- pride of workmanship;
- always work carefully and accurately to avoid waste;
- have manual dexterity;
- have steady and deft hands;
- have good eye-hand coordination.
School Subjects
Grade 8 Certificate
Compulsory Subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: None
Training
In-service training takes place according to a syllabus prescribed by the Leather Industries Research Institute and employers in the tanning industry.
The duration of the learnership period varies from 2 years for unskilled work to 4 years for skilled work. This period may be shortened for people with higher educational qualifications.
On successful completion of a trade test a recognition certificate is issued. The Industrial Council controls all the trades and must grant permission to employers before anyone may be employed. Such trainees are supervised to ensure that they are trained properly and thoroughly.
The Footwear Industry Training Board also offers footwear correspondence courses.
Employer
- factories and workshops where leather and imitation leather goods are manufactured
- self-employment, as a cobbler or shoe repairer
Contact
The Director
Leather Industries Research Institute
P O Box 185
Grahamstown, 6140
Tel: (031) 701-4111 Fax: (011) 701-4208