Machine operator, hide processing

Fur and leather preparing machine operators operate and monitor various machines for processing hides and skins. They tan, cure, trim, scrape and dye raw animal hides to produce leather goods and processed furs.

• operating and monitoring machines for removing remaining flesh, fat or tissue from hides, and for cleaning and softening them before processing;
• operating and monitoring machines for removing long and coarse hairs from pelts and shearing pelts to even out the length;
• operating and monitoring machines for curing hides with lime solutions;
• operating and monitoring machines for scraping hides;
• operating and monitoring machines for smoothing hides;
• operating and monitoring machines for removing residual wool, flesh or hair from processed hides;
• operating and monitoring machines for splitting raw hides into pieces of uniform size or thickness;
• operating and monitoring machines for treating hides with various solutions;
• treating the surfaces of processed leather with oils and operating machines for polishing and lacquering leather;
• operating and monitoring machines for dyeing leather;
• maintaining and repairing vats and other machines.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Machine operator, tanning
• Machine operator, leather dyeing/colouring
• Machine operator, leather processing