If you are seeking a leather for a commercial project, like a Hotel, Casino, Hospital, Airport etc, please consider some of the following guidelines.
1: Most Expensive is NOT necessarily the most appropriate.
80% of the worlds upholstery furniture is covered in "corrected grain" leather.
This is an economical but very durable leather that is suited for nearly every type of environment be it commercial or domestic.
However until recently the main suppliers of this leather to the commercial sector have been supplying "corrected grain" leather at very inflated prices, with the inference that a high price equals to a better leather.
This is incorrect, most specifiers within the Architectural industry simply put this down to the "facts" that they were furnishing these projects with high quality and durable leather that other suppliers did not have or could not provide.
Since there are NO Australian Leather Standards, we rely on the British or EU specifications for upholstery leathers and other bodies for accreditation and standard adherence.
2: International Leather Standards and leather tanning processess are the same when it comes to high quality commercial leathers from Futura Leathers as they are with other leading tanneries in Germany, Austria or England.
We put forward a comparison with other leading brands to give you an idea of what we mean:
"Corrected Grain Leather specs"
Leading commercial leather brand corrected grain range from Austria Germany, England.
Thickness: 1.0 +-.2mm
Tensile strength: >- 800 N/cm2
Tear Resistance 20 Nmm
Light Fastness >- Scale 5 type 3 on the blue scale
Flexometer 20,000 cycles no damage to finish.
PH Value ( Alkaline test )>-3.5
Wet Dry rub Test 500/4 dry, 80/4 wet, 50/4 pH 9 No damage.
Adhesion to finish >- 1.5 N/cm
Flame resistance American Commercial Standard 191-53 ( Revised )
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Avanti Futura Leather
Sierra Range
Thickness: 1.0 +-.2mm
Tensile strength: >- 800 N/cm2
Tear Resistance 20 Nmm
Light Fastness >- Scale 5 type 3 on the blue scale
Flexometer 30,000 cycles no damage to finish.
PH Value ( Alkaline test )>-4
Wet Dry rub Test 500/4 dry, 80/4 wet, 50/4
Adhesion to finish >- 3.50 N/cm
Flame resistance UNI EN ISO 1021-1/2 BS 5852 1990 Sec.4 NI/0-1 US ( California )T.B 117 |
As you can see there are a few variations to the tests, yet Avanti Leathers are the same or above in some cases to the results for the leading commercial leather brand corrected grain range. Futura Avanti Leather Standards Development.
The difference of course has been the supply price, with leading commercial leather brand corrected grain range specified at well over 50% to 60% over and above the world supply price for this type of leather.
So in reality the only difference bewteen these two leathers is the price.
On a large commercial project this could mean the difference between the project blowing out of budget or coming within budget range.
Some Architects and commercial interior designers mistake this price gap for a quality difference, but nothing could be further from the truth as the simple specifications sample above shows.
The processing of tanned upholstery leathers in Italy are as stringent as they are in Germany for example as both have to adhere to EU standards.
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