FAQ
Domande frequenti.
What is the minimum production lot?
The minimum lot is 300 square meters. For its customers, ICA Leather offers the possibility — subject to a surcharge — of producing even a single hide.
What fire‑resistance levels do the upholstery leathers have?
ICA Leather leathers can be made with specific fire‑resistant characteristics. The fire resistance to be guaranteed is based on the technical and safety standards required, for example, in the public sector or for specific applications such as aircraft, ship and train interiors. These include BS 5852, EN 1021, TB117, IMO, FAR, classes 1IM, 5.3.
Since different countries (even within the EU) may have different rules and requirements, it is necessary to verify the specific requirements in advance.
What is the average hide size?
The size of bovine hides depends primarily on the origin of the raw material (breed, sex, age of the animals) but also on processing steps that can affect yield. On average, allow roughly 5 m² per finished hide, although this figure may vary depending on the factors indicated above.
What is meant by leather defects?
Leather defects are, to some extent, completely normal and attest to the natural origin of the product. Depending on the required final articles, it is possible to select raw materials in the tannery based on the number, type and distribution of defects and then make a choice.
What is the difference between grain and split?
ICA Leather uses only the grain side to produce its articles. The grain is the noblest, outermost part of the hide, mechanically separated from the split, i.e., the underlying layer, which is more fibrous and less valuable.
The grain can be drum‑dyed to obtain pure aniline articles, or subjected to finishing processes that partially correct appearance and resistance, giving rise to semi‑aniline or pigmented leathers depending on the degree of surface coverage. In these cases, specific mixtures based on pigments, resins, waxes or other components are applied.
Numerous aesthetic variants are also available through processes such as embossing or mottled effects. Contact us for dedicated advice.
How long does it take to produce finished leather?
Producing finished leather is a process that requires, in addition to processing time strictly tied to the steps themselves, adequate resting times between the steps to ensure the success of the article and the required quality.
Pure aniline articles have shorter lead times than pigmented ones because they require fewer processes and finishes before they are ready for delivery.
Must furniture leathers comply with the EU REACH regulation?
Yes. Finished leathers intended for furniture (and other uses) are considered “articles” under the REACH regulation (EC Regulation No. 1907/2006) and must therefore comply with the provisions, particularly regarding the presence of SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) listed on the ECHA Candidate List.
According to Article 33 of the regulation, the use of SVHC is not prohibited, but communication to the downstream customer is mandatory if they are present at a concentration greater than 0.1% w/w (weight/weight) in the finished article.
ICA Leather has chosen a stricter approach: we actively monitor any presence of SVHC along the supply chain and exclude their use in our production processes, while noting that absolute absence cannot be scientifically guaranteed, as it depends on detection limits and the availability of validated analytical methods.
For substances listed in Annexes XIV and XVII of the regulation as well, ICA Leather complies with all applicable requirements. All mixtures used come from European suppliers subject to REACH compliance as they operate in EU Member States.
