The Predator: A new concept in splitting

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.