The Predator: A new concept in splitting
Back view of the Predator. Used in line with a through-feed fleshing or samming machine, it doesn’t require operators.
Front view of the Predator.
Arzignano, Vicenza, Italy – Alpe Spak’s new through-feed splitting machine system, the Predator, has been designed to reduce the number of specialised operators, improve worker safety, and improve the quality of the leather.
It operates with a patented concept to split in green, lime and now also wet blue.
It was developed from the need to solve both the problem of having specialised operators, and to improve the safety of operators exposed to the danger of cutting and crushing when loading the hides.
It has retained the system of an articulated roller which acts on the rubber roller and an upper transport roller, but the whole has been wrapped in special belt sleeves.
Moreover, the belts have eliminated the problem of marking of the hides caused by the transport rollers, and the lowering of thickness caused by the various trims that were blocking the articulated roller.
To complete the system, the machine can work, in line, with a through-feed fleshing machine, or samming machine in the case of wet blue, achieving a possible 24-hour, continuous production capacity of between 400 and 480 hides per hour, with two fleshing machine or samming machine operators, only 1 supervisor and no operators on the splitting machine itself, but with an in line trimming table where hides can be trimmed before splitting. The system can be tailor-made to the client’s needs.
The “optional” in-line system includes a long feeding conveyor as follows:
Long connecting special conveyor dimension 2800x4000 (standard measure)
Activated by pneumatic pistons and moving on rails.
Complete with an independent electrical panel placed on fixed bases.
This conveyor can eventually be tailor-made, in case of special hide dimensions or space availability.
The conveyor is an important part of the machine not only for the feeding operation but because its retractile movement allows for the easier opening and maintenance of the splitting machine.
Footwear Industry Articles
- Obituary: Joe McGinley, Conshu (14/04/1936-20/05/2026) He ran an empire, but kept a human touch
Somerset West, W. Cape, SA – Joseph Pascal McGinley, the former Conshu director who died in May, a month after his 90th birthday, was a larger-than-life character who was renowned during his career in SA for his kindness, and who lived life to the full.Born in Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland, to Joseph and Madeline McGinley, both doct ...moreAn industry with distinctive material riches, unable to sufficiently convert them into finished goods in a world class way“The project’s purpose,” said Courtney Grant, “is to be a robust, evidence-based strategy to address the leather and general goods sector’s challenges and unlock its growth potential.”The main headings of her presentation were:Creating the groundwork for a National Leather and General Goods Strategy:Fro ...moreThe showroom pair is not the orderA shoe on a showroom table is wonderfully persuasive. A buyer can flex the forefoot, press the heel counter, check the stitching, compare the two shoes and turn the pair over to examine the sole. Colour, finish and hand feel are all there to judge.The purchase order may then reduce that pair to a short line: one style number, one colour d ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead
Washington, DC, U.S.A. (23 June 2026) — Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorde ...moreOBLIQUITY
Shareholder value is usually the result of running a good business, not a reliable operational principle for running one ...moreWhen communication moves faster than truth: Why credible, evidence-based information matters more than ever.We have never had more information at our fingertips. We have also never had to work quite so hard to determine which information we should trust. Communication today moves at extraordinary speed. Social media platforms, digital news, corporate communications, industry reports and, increasingly, artificial intelligence allow information t ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Biodegradable disposable gloves ‘a growing trend’ in PPE
The poster is available to download in English in both PNG and PDF formats hereCompostable and biodegradable PPE are said to be rapidly growing trends internationally, lead by brands like Showa and HaPPE Earth.The nova-Institut für politische und ökologische Innovation GmbH in Hürth, Germany, has published an updated versio ...moreCONSIDERING A PPE MATRIX
What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) do we need to have on site to reduce and manage the workplace and environmental exposure risks to our employees?Safety and mining legislation place the responsibility on employers to ensure that they provide and maintain working environments that are safe and without risk to the health on employees ...moreIndoor air quality monitoring: protecting people, processes, and productivity in South Africa
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming an increasingly important topic across South Africa as industries place greater focus on occupational safety, environmental controls, and operational reliability. While air quality concerns were once mainly associated with mining, heavy industry, or healthcare environments, businesses across multiple s ...more
