The Raw material Cork
Cork is a „natural foam“
For more than 3.000 years cork has been reaped in the Mediterranean region. During the summer (end of June until August) cork is stripped off the cork oaks by manual labour. The first crop will be carried out after 30 years, afterwards the procedure will be repeated all nine to ten years. But only after approximately 60 - 80 years the crop has become economically interesting. Then the bark has reached the thickness so that corks for wine bottles can be produced.
After the scalping and for the stabilisation the cork bark is kept in the cork groves for approximately six months. This process is necessary in order to receive a better quality of the cork.
Production
The first step during the manufacturing of cork is the bubbling with water in big barrels. The cork is cleaned. After one hour of bubbling gas expands in the cork cells. The cork develops its honeycombed cell structure. This process makes the bark units flexible and flat. The volume stretches by approximately 20 per cent. Afterwards the flat bark units are sorted and cut in appropriate bars or they are directly granulated. From thick bars, for example, corks for vine bottles are punched.
Cork leather
Production
The procedure for the extraction and manufacturing of cork leather is very complex and therefore expensive. Only a few percent of the raw cork cuts from the bark are suitable for the manufacturing of the real cork skin or the so-called cork leather. For example, during the manufacturing process corks are received from the inner surface of the bark. From the outer face, for example, bottom covering is generated. Only from the central part cork leather can be obtained if it meets the high quality requirements of the manufacturers.
The cork sheet pieces of 1,5 cm thickness are intrinsically tied and permanently connected to larger cork sheets by using a natural organic adhesive according to the REACH regulation. Then these sheets are swaggered about sharp blades circa one millimeter, prepared and applied on a backing material, mostly of cotton and polyester.
Material properties
Cork is a natural product. Therefore differences in color and structure are a typical feature and give our bags and accessories a visual appearance and optical characteristic. The manufacturing of natural cork is comparable to that of leather and the high quality presents itself of velvety character like tender skin and lightweight. Furthermore the material is easy to clean, surface-impregnated and therefore also largely non-soiling and water-repellent. Meanwhile a great variety of cork leather surfaces is available.
The cork leather manufactured by corklook by Multicork Solutions is applied on a backing material of cotton and polyester. The surface material is solvent-free as well as ecologically compatible according to the REACH regulation.
Maintenance instruction
Taking care of cork leather is simple: Often it is sufficient to wipe the cork leather moistly with a cloth dipped in soapy water.
* Reach Regulation: Regulation for the Reform of Criminal and administrative fines for infringements of
EC or EU regulations in the field of chemical safety.
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