The Quality Assurance Testing Program used by Pelle was developed in conjunction with the New Zealand Leather and

Shoe Research Association (LASRA). LASRA is an IANZ-accredited testing laboratory, with world-wide recognition.

The Quality Assurance Testing Program is designed to provide ongoing consumer reassurance in Pelle products by continuous testing of not only the Pelle Products themselves but the very raw materials that Pelle uses to manufacture its range.

Pelle Raw Materials Quality Assurance Testing

Master samples of the oil, wax and modifiers used to formulate Pelle producers have been characterised by LASRA using sophisticated infra red spectroscopy. This 'fingerprints' the essential materials that make up the Pelle range.

 The quality and consistency of the raw materials used in the formulation of Pelle Care Products is monitored, according to the following test regime.

• Reference Pelle raw materials are held at LASRA as standards
• Production raw materials are tested by LASRA against the standards
• Solids content is determined by gravimetric analysis
• Silicon is determined (where appropriate) by atomic absorbance spectroscopy
• Materials characterisation is done by freeze drying followed by infra-red spectroscopy

Every time Pelle purchases another batch of these essential ingredients, samples are sent to LASRA where they are tested to make sure they match the approved master samples.

In this way, Pelle can be sure that their ingredients are exactly as they should be before starting to manufacture their products.

Pelle Product Quality Assurance Testing

Under this part of the Quality Assurance Testing Program, sample products from every production batch are sent

to LASRA for testing. Remember the raw materials that these sample products have been made from have already been tested and approved. This next step makes sure the formulation of the Pelle Product has been carried out effectively.

The sample product is applied to a standard upholstery leather kept at LASRA. The treated leather is tested to make sure its dry rubfastness, its wet rubfastness and its resistance to perspiration are all maintained.

The performance consistency of formulated Pelle Care Products is monitored according to the following test regime:

• Batch production samples are applied to a standard pigmented upholstery leather held at LASRA
• Applications are according to manufacturer's instructions on the product
• The treated leather is dried for a minimum of 16 hours at ambient temperature
• The treated leather is tested for maintenance of surface colour using methods in BS EN ISO
• 11640 : 1998 (IULTCS/IUF 450)
• Test results are benchmarked against the requirements of ISO/DIS 16131

The testing uses international methodology and the equipment used in this testing was specially developed by the VESLIC Institute in Switzerland. The results are judged against the international standard for upholstery leather.

"No other Leather Care Manufacturer can make these claims"