Adding new life to leather Colorex Chemical

AddiNG NEw LifE To LEAThER

For more than 50 years the Colorex Chemical Co. has been providing high quality cleaning and restoration products to professional cleaners for the care of leather, suede, fur and textile garments. Philip Yorke looks at a highly successful US company that continues to develop innovative, cost-effective products for the leather and fur industries.

Colorex serves a broad range of industries with its highly specialised cleaning products, which are designed for a broad variety of applications. These range from professional garment cleaning companies, to airlines, furniture makers, shoe repairers and furriers. The company has become an industry leader worldwide by committing itself to producing and distributing innovative products backed by quality formulations and cost-effective solutions for its customers. The company’s products are sold throughout the world and have been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

unique combinations

One of Colorex’s flagship products is its well-known ‘Leather Guard’ brand which is safe, easy to use and made up of a unique combination of cleaners, oils, and waxes that bring dried and faded leathers back to life with just one treatment. This product is used extensively in the manufacturing of leather itself to protect the leather from ‘spotting’ and other hazards.

Leather Guard also provides leathers with a high degree of water repellency, as well as excellent surface feel and deep, penetrating lubrication in order to provide superior softness and flexibility. Leather Guard does precisely what the name implies, it guards against a wide variety of threats to virgin leathers that include water staining, scuffing, spotting, soiling, marking, grease and salt. Thanks to these special properties, Leather Guard significantly prolongs the life and beauty of leather.

This product is also safe and easy to use and can be sprayed or rubbed directly onto the leather. After just 60 seconds the substance can be wiped off and the results are then clear to see. Leather Guard is available in both liquid and hand-rub formulas.

Another world-beating product from Colorex is its ‘Next-step Leather Finish’. This was developed and designed for the qualityconscious leather cleaning service. Its unique formula is based on Tannery-Level Performance Standards that offer the highest-grade finish possible. Next-Step is created with the latest chemical technology that provides a finish that is both tough and durable, yet soft to the touch. The special pigments used in this product provide a sharp, deep and distinctive colour that won’t ‘crack’ or peel. one step ahead

When it comes to the preparation and cleaning of furs, Colorex is again a market leader. The company’s ‘One-Step Fur Cleaner & Glazer’ is a revolutionary new product that allows cleaners to clean and glaze furs in one simple step, thus saving time and money in the processing of fur garments. Gone are the days of corncob, pumice and saw-dust and the blowing-out of pockets and seams. With the latest range of One-Step products, garments come out clean and beautiful every time. This highly effective product is non-hazardous, economically priced and easy to use.

Today’s market is full of different types of leathers. Once they are cleaned many of these leather garments will lose their original look and feel. Colorex has addressed this problem by developing another unique ‘Next-Step’ product, which is its ‘Next-Step Feel & Top Coats’ finisher.

Colorex’s Feel Coats, known as Next-Step Waxy, and Next-Step Nubuck, leaves garments with a very special final feel. For topcoats, Colorex’s Next-Step Dull and Next-Step Bright, provide users with complete control on the final look of each garment.

Softer approach

Colorex recently developed a suede and leather softener that outperforms all others. Softene® now allows companies to create an excellent feel and softness for both leather and suede garments. Today Softene® from Colorex is the only non-hazardous, water based, sprayable feel agent on the market.

It is also guaranteed to make a noticeable difference in the softness and handling of any type of suede or leather garment. Further-

more, Softene® is also easy to use, cost-effective and part of the company’s popular ‘Next Step Finish’ product line.

When it comes to the colouring of leather, Colorex is also the clear market leader here, thanks to its ability to create high gloss and deep, consistent colours. The company’s ‘Capeskin Leather Finish’ mixes with LLA to provide an even higher gloss finish and offers a significant reduction in the required pigment load. This special finishing product is designed to offer deep rich colours for every garment. In addition, Capeskin Leather Finish also provides excellent stain coverage, and as a lacquer-based product offers unrivalled durability.

Yet another exclusive product from Colorex is its LLA Clear Lacquer Finish, which is available in 5 gallon, 30 gallon and 55 gallon drums. The LLA’s primary use is for glamorising leather garments that when completed, did not retain their original gloss finish. This product could therefore be used on any smooth-grained leather garment as a topcoat to add to its look and ultimate value. n

For further details of Colorex Chemical’s innovative products and services visit: www.colorexchemicals.com