In Africa, except in the major abattoirs in cities, the majority of cattle hides are recovered by hand from the carcass of the animal, causing extensive damage in the form of deep cuts and holes. Cuts and holes are a factor that reduces the value of a hide or skin on the international market, since they are the major criteria for grading and pricing. The difference between a machine-flayed hide, which presents no cuts or holes, and a hand-flayed hide, with cuts and holes, can reach 20-30% of the hide’s value. Therefore, in a market like Africa, where the quality of the hides is rather low due to climatic and environmental circumstances and where, as a consequence, the value of a hide is relatively low, an improvement, in the form of a hide that is undamaged by cuts and/or holes, would positively reflect on the value of the hides and on the earnings in its leather value chain.

Moreover, apart from the large abattoirs in various metropolis, slaughter takes usually place in the countryside and artisanal shops, and in rather small quantities that can range from just a couple to about 60 heads per day. The small quantity of hides that thus becomes available does not justify the purchase of a hydraulic flaying machine. The Static Flaying Frame is a simple and cheap construction that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of African hides and skins. In the line of its Strategy for Africa adopted in 1998, COTANCE did not hesitate to support the dissemination of this promising technology, thinking that this could contribute to improve the capacity of Africa’s leather sector to heave itself out of marginalisation in the international trade. The greatest appeal of the SFF is that it can be produced cheaply and locally by artisans without external supplies, making the African hides, skins and leather operators the masters of their own development. The SFF could significantly reduce the millions of dollars that are lost year by year in the African hides, skins and leather sector due to the poor quality of raw materials. Developing this project that widely disseminates the SFF in Africa could make the difference and alleviate poverty in the countries that most need it.  The better the African hides are, the more the global industry will take advantage of an increase in the availability of better-quality raw materials and the more the African industry will create wealth and integrate in the global trade. That is why COTANCE is pleased to offer its contribution and help the African leather sector to improve working and living conditions.