Quality Control Instruments

Measuring
Equipment

Q: Which instruments do I need to control leather quality?

A complete leather quality-control bench typically covers four properties: thickness (Calati thickness gauge, ISO 2589), softness (Softness Tester ST300, ISO 17235), moisture content (capacitive moisture meter) and finish viscosity (Ford Cup No. 6, ISO 2431). A hide counter is added for accurate piece counting in logistics.

Q: What is a Ford Cup No. 6 used for?

A Ford Cup No. 6 is a flow cup used to control the viscosity of leather finishes, lacquers and spray liquors. The cup is filled and the time in seconds for the liquid to drain through its calibrated orifice is recorded; that flow time corresponds to viscosity, following ISO 2431 / ASTM D1200, ensuring consistent finishing results.

Q: How do I measure leather thickness accurately?

Leather thickness is measured with a dial or digital thickness gauge to ISO 2589. The Calati gauge presses a calibrated foot against the leather under a defined force and reads thickness in millimetres (or ounces). Measuring at several points across the hide gives a reliable average for splitting and shaving control.

Q: Why measure the moisture content of leather?

Moisture content controls drying, conditioning, staking and storage. Too dry and the leather becomes brittle; too wet and it risks mould and dimensional change. A handheld capacitive moisture meter gives an instant, non-destructive percentage reading so operators can release hides at the correct humidity.

Precision instruments that turn craft into data. Kymera supplies tanneries and leather laboratories with the gauges, testers and meters needed to control thickness, softness, moisture and finish viscosity — consistently, at every stage of production.

Thickness · ISO 2589

Softness · ISO 17235

Moisture & Viscosity

Made in Italy

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Ford Cup No. 6 viscosity flow cup for leather finishes — Kymera Group measuring instruments

Trusted by tanneries worldwide

Calibrated · Repeatable · Durable

Why Measurement Matters

Data Behind
Every Hide

Leather is a natural material — no two hides are identical. Measurement is what makes it manufacturable: consistent substance for cutting, the right softness for the article, controlled moisture for drying, and stable finish viscosity for an even coat. The right instruments cut waste, settle disputes and prove compliance with international specifications.

📐

Consistency

Repeatable readings keep substance, softness and finish within tolerance from the first hide of the batch to the last — across shifts, operators and sites.

✓

Compliance

Calibrated instruments referenced to ISO methods give the documented, defensible numbers that automotive, footwear and luxury buyers demand.

⊘

Less Waste

Catching an out-of-spec thickness, a dry crust or a thick finishing liquor early prevents downgrades, reworks and rejected lots downstream.

Softness Tester ST300 measuring leather deflection under a fixed load

In Focus · Softness Tester ST300

Put a Number
on Softness

◎

ISO 17235 Method

Leather is clamped over a defined ring aperture; a pin applies a fixed load and the instrument reads deflection in millimetres. Higher deflection means softer leather — a directly comparable, standardised value.

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Non-Destructive

Measurements are taken on the production piece itself without cutting samples, so graded hides stay saleable and QC can sample at higher frequency.

★

Repeatable & Defensible

Digital readout removes operator interpretation. Record values against batch numbers to prove conformity to automotive, footwear and upholstery softness specifications.

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Bench or Line

Compact and portable, the ST300 works equally well in the QC laboratory and at the point of selection on the production floor.

Full ST300 Page Request Specs

Where They Fit

One Instrument
per Process Stage

Beamhouse / Drying

Moisture Meter

Release crust and finished hides at the correct humidity to avoid brittleness, mould and dimensional change.

Splitting / Shaving

Thickness Gauge

Verify substance to ISO 2589 so every hide leaves splitting and shaving on target — with no over-thinning.

Finishing

Ford Cup No. 6

Hold spray liquors and lacquers at the right viscosity for an even coat and a repeatable finish.

QC Laboratory

Softness Tester ST300

Quantify hand and suppleness to ISO 17235 and prove conformity to customer specifications.

Logistics

Hide Counter

Count hides accurately for inventory, order picking and dispatch — cutting manual error.

Instrument	Measures	Method / Standard	Output
Analog Calati Thickness Gauge	Thickness / substance	ISO 2589	mm and oz (dial)
Softness Tester ST300	Softness / suppleness	ISO 17235	mm deflection (digital)
Moisture / Humidity Meter	Water content	Capacitive	% relative humidity
Ford Cup No. 6	Finish viscosity	ISO 2431 / ASTM D1200	flow time (seconds)
Hide Counter	Piece count	Electronic	units counted

Questions & Answers

Measuring Leather,
Explained

Which instruments do I need to control leather quality?+

A complete leather quality-control bench covers four core properties: thickness (Calati thickness gauge, ISO 2589), softness (Softness Tester ST300, ISO 17235), moisture content (capacitive moisture meter) and finish viscosity (Ford Cup No. 6, ISO 2431). A hide counter is added where accurate piece counting matters in logistics.

How is leather softness measured?+

Leather softness is measured to ISO 17235 with a softness tester such as the ST300. The instrument applies a fixed load through a pin onto leather clamped over a defined ring aperture and reads the resulting deflection in millimetres — a higher value means softer leather. The method is non-destructive and gives a repeatable, comparable numeric value.

What is a Ford Cup No. 6 used for?+

A Ford Cup No. 6 is a flow cup that controls the viscosity of leather finishes, lacquers and spray liquors. You fill the cup and record the time in seconds for the liquid to drain through its calibrated orifice; that flow time corresponds to viscosity (ISO 2431 / ASTM D1200), keeping coatings consistent and spray lines repeatable.

How do I measure leather thickness accurately?+

Use a dial or digital thickness gauge to ISO 2589. The Calati gauge presses a calibrated foot against the leather under a defined force and reads thickness in millimetres or ounces. Measuring at several points across the hide gives a reliable average for splitting and shaving control.

Why measure the moisture content of leather?+

Moisture content governs drying, conditioning, staking and storage. Too dry and the leather turns brittle; too wet and it risks mould and dimensional change. A handheld capacitive moisture meter gives an instant, non-destructive percentage reading so operators release hides at the correct humidity.

Are these instruments calibrated and made in Italy?+

Yes. Kymera sources from specialist Italian manufacturers and supplies calibrated instruments referenced to recognised ISO methods. We also stock original spare parts and can advise on the right model for your process, materials and target markets.

Measuring
Equipment