PRODUCTS
BRIEF INFORMATION ON VALONEA AND VALEX EXTRACT
VALONEA
The Anatolian flora is very rich with different species of trees. The acorn cups of Turkish oak [Quercus Algilops] contains high percentage of hydrolysable (pyrgallol) group of tannin and internationally called as "Valonea". The "beard" (trillo) contains 30-40% and the cup itself contains 20-30% tannin. The oak trees are widely distributed on the Aegean region of Anatolia. The matured acorn cups are collected between October and March, dried and sent to the extract factory. Ground Valonea has been used by tanneries for centuries for the production of sole leathers in dusters-layers.
VALEX EXTRACT
The universal name of the vegetable extract manufactured from Valonea is known as "Valex".
Below a short information is given on the Valex production:
The Valonea brought to the factory is firstly crushed and ground, then treated with hot water for leaching in series of vat-battery extractors.
Afterwards, the tanning solution transferred to evaporators under vacuum. The concentrated tan solution is filtered and sent to spray drying unit.
The dried and powdered extract collected, finally put into the bags.
The general chemical and physical properties of Valex is well known and accepted by all learned sources.
The colour of the Valex is brown and the leather tanned is yellowish-brown. The typical characteristics is in accordance with the other known hydrolysable vegetable tanning extracts.
But, Valex gives better firmness, fullness, together with low water absorption. Valex is widely used in the retannage of shoe-upper, in lining, semi-veg. or full veg.tannges, industrial and sole leathers.
Due to its compatibility Valex is advised in combination with resins, exchange (replacement) type synthetic tannins and relevant agents in the retanning of shoe-upper leathers.
By using Valex the fullness is increased and empty bellies and flanks are filled. The comfort characteristics of shoe linings are increased by vegetable extracts and in this respect Valex is a convenient source.
Valex is seen in the production of different items for leathergoods purporses. For instance, belting leather either pretanned with chrome salt or full vegetable are tanned with Valex in combination with other suitable extracts depending on the conditions and desired properties.
Valex is used alone or with other extracts in sole or relevant productions. Nowadays there are several systems and methodologies, such as, pit-rocker, semi-rapid, rapid, etc. For all systems Valex is applied as alone or in combination with other extracts, such as, qeubracho, mimosa.