Firstly, I should say that Wollsdorf doesn't do anything dramatically different than most other top-tier leather producer. But they've been doing it for an extremely long time - and that always equates to a vast wealth of experience - the kind of experience that yields vital techniques and innovations over time. This is Woldsdorf's stock & trade - and it's what produces some of the highest grade aircraft leathers.

So, when we talk about leather production, we're talking about TWO very distinct and separate aspects; one of course being the raising of the cows themselves and the subsequent harvesting of the hides. The other of course,  is the processing of the hides (the tanning process). Both are extremely important because you 're never going to wind up with high-quality aircraft-grade leather unless the cattle are raised under a strict set of guidelines, not the least of which is no barbed fences and other avoidance practices that ensure against blemishes during the life of the animals. 

Once they are harvested, the preparation process begins. The growers prepare the hide for tanning which consists of curing, soaking, liming, fleshing, splitting, de-liming, bating and pickling. The first step, curing, takes place prior to the tannery to ensure the hides do not spoil prior to arrival at the tannery. The highest quality pure aniline leathers are made from fresh hides which are not cured--requiring quick transport from the raw hide supplier to the tannery. These are the leathers that wind up in VIP and FC commercial aircraft.

​

It's no secret that many regional leather suppliers to the trade found their way to Wollsdorf at various points along the way. They are, in fact, the largest and oldest tannery in Europe - and perhaps the world. But one notable and very familiar supplier to those of us in the western hemisphere, is OmnAvia. According to Mr. Robin Butler, the company's Managing Partner, they began their relationship with Wollsdorf some ten years ago with some project specific smaller orders - always with exceptional results. Three years later, Butler had an idea he thought might make sense to both companies. In the absence of any apparent US distributor, he pitched his proposal for just such a partnership. Barely more than 24 hours later, Wollsdorf's upper management said yes to the idea, and the deal was done! 

Today OmnAvia is the official North American distributor of Wollsdorf leather. Mr. Butler says his company now features four particular Wollsdorf offerings as a permanent part of their offerings - products that are particularly well suited for aircraft, each serving specific applications. "Our four top sellers originating from Wollsdorf," says Butler, "are: Ambassador, Paloma, Mammut and Gaucho."

​

"24 Hours later, they came back with an enthusiastic yes...and the deal was struck. We're proud of our relationship with Wollsdorf - and our customers love the product and color options."

                                                                                      -Robin Butler

The Schmidt family has been producing leather for at least 5 generations. The patriarch and founder of the company, one Alexander Schmidt was born way back in 1896. As a boy, he probably didn't know he would be spending his life as a leather producer, butthat's precisely what he did, not to mention most of his familial predecessors. Sometime prior to 1919, the original facility burned to the ground, an occurrence not that unusual in those days - and even less so in largely rural Austria. That original factory and the one that followed, was in Lederergasse in Weiz, both hydro-powered rosary tanneries.

​

Eventually the name was changed to Wollsdorf and since that time, they have won almost every award and earned almost every certificate bestowable to a leather company - including virtually all ISO-9000 series certifications.

​

While Wollsdorf’s initial focus was on furniture leather, the leather manufacturer now also services the leather needs of the automotive and aviation industries. Wollsdorf is also a pioneer with respect to the production of sustainable and environmentally compatible leather. An overview of the various milestones in the developmental history of the international leather supplier is well-recognized by the industry and it's customers.

​

Wollsdorf's primary factory in southern Austria.

Wollsdorf's expertise during leather production is palpable.

​

For more than 80 years, they have been working with leather as they make they natural product available to their customers. Wollsdorf's experienced staff manage every individual step in the value chain – from tanning as one of the oldest cultural achievements in the history of mankind to cutting all the way to sewing prefabricated leather parts.

​

Over the years they have expanded their leather production in Austria with further production and sales sites in Croatia, the US, Mexico, Uruguay and China. They were able to optimise the entire process – from the delivery of raw materials to prefabricated products. They are by no means satisfied with providing average services and are always striving to get the most out of our natural leather products. Wollsdorf Leather is characterised by this passion and drive, which they invest in each of their products and their customers appreciate this dedication.

NATURAL LEATHER

​

Of course, the hides of cattle constitute the basis of Wollsdorf's leather products. The art of leather-making requires comprehensive expertise and up to 160 manufacturing steps in order to turn the perishable rawhide into a resilient leather product. At Wollsdorf, they combine long-standing experience over decades with highly advanced manufacturing processes and traditional craftsmanship. This allows them to create expertly processed products with a long lifespan that look and feel great and are available in a wide variety of colors.

And yet, there is no such thing as perfect leather since it would otherwise not be a natural product. Thus, the art of leather-making also consists in bringing the benefits of the raw material to bear and creating high-quality leather from this raw material.

ANIMAL WELFARE AS A PRIORITY

Just as every human being, each animal also has its own unique life story. Each bovine hide reflects the living environment and experiences of the animal over the course of its life. Living circumstances such as feed, care and the number of birthed calves leave behind traces on the hides of animals just like a seal of nature. Each animal and therefore each hide is unique.

Only high-quality leather brings out the best characteristics of leather, which is why we conscientiously insist on species-appropriate animal husbandry and the consistent fulfilment of ecological procurement criteria when selecting our suppliers. Only hides from healthy and uninjured animals can be processed into premium leather and other products.

By the way, none of the animals used by Wollsdorf for leather production are butchered on account of their hides as the rawhides are a by-product of the meat and milk industry. Thus, leather manufacturing is a perfect example of upcycling whereby otherwise superfluous materials, i.e. the hides of animals, are processed into sustainable and valuable products.

AVIATION

Even above the clouds, we provide unique comfort for passengers with our lightweight leather. Aviation leather poses numerous challenges with respect to development and manufacturing. At Wollsdorf Leather, we take on the entire production process – from the untreated rawhide to the prefabricated aircraft leather seat cover. We operate in a sense like a one-stop shop as we provide individual leather variations, cut leather parts, sewn seat coverings as well as prefabricated and certified components for our customers. Here as well, virtually no limits are imposed with respect to desired materials, surfaces, haptics and colours. Our Ambassador stock programme for aviation area includes more than 30 leather colours, which are also available at short notice and in small quantities.

Certified quality aviation leather for our aircraft seats

For many years, both international airlines as well as manufacturers of small private planes have relied on our premium light leather for aircraft. No matter whether sophisticated and durable or exclusive and refined leather – customers can feel the quality in all our leather products. We have been certified since 2007 according to EN 9100.

The US's first Air Force 1 - a Boeing 707 (VC-137B), utilized by Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson & Nixon