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News

Jul
22

Sedgwick Investors Purchase New Machine to Improve Production.

Last week Sedgwick & Co saw the arrival of a CM RAL/P240 combined Samming and Setting Machine, manufactured in Italy, supplied by Beamhouse Engineering. This much needed investment is crucial for the production of our hides as it is responsible for removing surplus water, remove growth and increase yield. With the old machine on its […]

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May
13

Why Provenance, Process and Quality Speaks Internationally.

Why Provenance, Process and Quality Speaks Internationally. Over the years, Sedgwick leather has built up a reputation for producing the best heavy leather in the equestrian industry. Our reputation has allowed us to forge relationships with saddle, bridle and harness manufactures across continents including Europe, Asia, Australia and North America and demand for the leather […]

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Apr
05

Sedgwick and Co Acquired by Consortium

Sedgwick and Co Acquired by Consortium Sedgwick and Co are delighted to announce they have been acquired by fellow investors Abbey England, renowned provider of saddlery and associated goods to the equestrian market, Kilger, a German tannery which has supplied Sedgwick with leather for 20 years, and Crawford Leather Company, a UK and Irish hide […]

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Jul
25

A Royal Visit to Walsall

A Royal Visit to Walsall Representatives of the leather trade in Walsall were able to have a few moments with HRH Princess Anne earlier this week. The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company made the trip to Walsall to congratulate successful apprentices this year and to visit some local saddle makers. The students had carried […]

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May
17

Wonderful oil painting from David Bates

Wonderful oil painting from David Bates Since 1975 an impressive oil painting has taken centre stage in the boardroom of J & E Sedgwick, previously purchased from a Tannery in Birmingham called Muskets. The serene landscape of oak bark collecting in Cannock Chase has been a strong focal point of how proud the company is […]

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OUR NEWS
  • Sedgwick Investors Purchase New Machine to Improve Production.

    22nd July 2019

    CM RAL/P240 combined Samming and Setting Machine

    Last week Sedgwick & Co saw the arrival of a CM RAL/P240 combined Samming and Setting Machine, manufactured in Italy, supplied by Beamhouse Engineering. This much needed investment is crucial for the production of our hides as it is responsible for removing surplus water, remove growth and increase yield. With the old machine on its last legs, we were delighted to hear the board had made the decision to invest in some new technology. The Modern Samm Setter machine offers lots of advantages to keep Sedgwick leather ahead of the game.

    Our production Manager, Mark Abraham shares his thoughts on the new machine.

    Mark, what is the main difference between the old and new machine?

    The new CM machine has a more advanced and refined samm/ setting action which is controlled by Hydraulics. This allows the machine to compensate for the slight substance variances in the leather during the samm/setting operation.

    How does this improve the quality of the leather during production?

    Well firstly it reduces the risk of creasing and secondly, it reduces the risk of grain removal. The new machine also produces a more uniform sammying action and a greater setting action.

    What is the sammy action responsible for and what is the setting action responsible for?

    Sammying is the reduction of moisture and setting removes growth, helping to increase the yield.

    How will the new machine improve productivity?

    The new Samm Setter has an automatic roller opening. This means at the end of each samm/setting operation, the rollers open automatically which is controlled by a timer. This saves our operators having to do it manually and therefore speeds up the process. The machine also has a variable speed adjustment for the setting operation. These two combined together will help increase our daily output through the machine.

    The installation of the new machine took over 8 hours and has now been successfully up and running for the last 4 weeks, already we are seeing the benefits of the investment. We look forward to bringing all our customers further update.

  • Why Provenance, Process and Quality Speaks Internationally.

    13th May 2019

    Why Provenance, Process and Quality Speaks Internationally.

    Bridle made with Sedgwick leather.

    Over the years, Sedgwick leather has built up a reputation for producing the best heavy leather in the equestrian industry. Our reputation has allowed us to forge relationships with saddle, bridle and harness manufactures across continents including Europe, Asia, Australia and North America and demand for the leather continues to grow.

    So what makes our leather so unique? While our name is heard in conversation or recommended in passing, perhaps it’s not always clear why our leather is used by so many. For this reason, we thought it would be beneficial to explain the quality behind Sedgwick leather and as with anything, it’s always best to start from the beginning…

    Provenance – From the very beginning we only have the best hides come through our system, we work together with one of our owners the hide merchants to ensure weight, size and traceability, providing us with information such as the age of the animal and its location, before the hides are sent to the tannery.

    Process – Upon arrival from the tannery, all leather is inspected for any defects such as deep flay marks, scars, open damage, growth and cracks. Any leather which does not meet our high quality control standards is returned to the tannery. Once the wet brown leather has passed quality control, it is then cut up into Butts and Shoulders or Backs.

    From the cutting slab it is then conditioned, split and shaved to the required substance and thickness, then tied and weighed, transferred to the cleaning vats prior to drumming. The leather is then drummed in a float where vegetable tannings, fat liquors and dyes are added depending on customer specification for the leather. After the drumming process the leather is washed and horsed up and drained overnight.

    The following day, the hides are then put through a Sam/setter machine to the remove surplus water, stretch and growth. They are then hung and conditioned until ready for the next process. The leather is then dropped, machine set and is then ready for the hand curriering process. Which Sedgwicks believe is essential for the manufacture of high quality Rein and Bridle leathers. After hand setting the leather is hung and dried for 5 days to ensure the leather is completely dry and ready for finishing.

    Once the leather has dried, it then has a second quality inspection to determine if it will be used for dark, medium or light colours. From there the leather is either finished as full grain or corrected grain. Then the colour finishes are applied by hand staining or hand spraying.

    Sedgwicks leather is an open grain finish, which allows the final process to be applied. This is a grease made from natural tallow and oils. It is applied using a hand brush to both the grain and flesh side of the leather. The leather is then hung for 24 hours to allow the grease to penetrate the fibres. This is an important part of finishing the leather as it gives a final lubrication and protection layer to the leather. The leather is then brought down and the grease is then pushed into the grain using a hand pebble. This then gives the traditional shine associated with Sedgwicks leather. The leather is then brushed on the flesh and then the grain prior to the final quality control inspection

    Despite the lengthy manufacturing process, the time invested enables us to produce a premium product which meets the needs of our customers.

    Quality – From the initial stage of sourcing hides, through to the hand finished process, all our hides are individually quality checked during all stages of the manufacturing process.

    The points just discussed, provenance, process and quality are all the reasons that make our leather such an integral part to so many high quality products produced worldwide. With the different types of leather produced, coupled with colour and finish in our Walsall facility, our customers have been able to manufacture and sell high quality tack equipment with the confidence and reassurance using Sedgwick leather and it is this what makes Sedgwick leather so unique.

  • Sedgwick and Co Acquired by Consortium

    5th April 2019

    Sedgwick and Co Acquired by Consortium

    Sedgwick and Co are delighted to announce they have been acquired by fellow investors Abbey England, renowned provider of saddlery and associated goods to the equestrian market, Kilger, a German tannery which has supplied Sedgwick with leather for 20 years, and Crawford Leather Company, a UK and Irish hide and skin processing company with long tradition of delivering bespoke, high quality, heavy leathers into the vegetable tanning trade make up the consortium. On the 4th October 2018, the three companies together invested £1.5m to save the business from going into administration following the collapse of its parent company Clayton Leather Group. As a result, our investors have protected 60 per cent of the company’s jobs and look to take on more employment as the company grows.

    Sedgwick and Co was established in 1900 to serve the equestrian trade with the best British bridle leather. It’s wonderful to see that a century later we are still serving not just the equestrian trade but other industries with highest quality leather. The company is thrilled about the future prospect of Sedgwick & Co and we will continue to deliver premium hand finished leather for its customers both domestically and internationally.

  • A Royal Visit to Walsall

    25th July 2018

    A Royal Visit to Walsall

    Representatives of the leather trade in Walsall were able to have a few moments with HRH Princess Anne earlier this week.

    The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company made the trip to Walsall to congratulate successful apprentices this year and to visit some local saddle makers.

    The students had carried out their Worshipful Company of Saddlers apprenticeships through local saddle makers and their achievements were recognised by the audience as they received their certificates.

    Group Chairman Ian T. Walker and Director of J&E Sedgwick’s Philip Bevington were able to have a few moments with the Princess to mention our rich heritage and explain how we have been contributing to the equestrian industry since the 1900’s.

      

  • Wonderful oil painting from David Bates

    17th May 2017

    Wonderful oil painting from David Bates

    Since 1975 an impressive oil painting has taken centre stage in the boardroom of J & E Sedgwick, previously purchased from a Tannery in Birmingham called Muskets. The serene landscape of oak bark collecting in Cannock Chase has been a strong focal point of how proud the company is to be situated in the West Midlands.

    At the end of 2016, a decision was made that the offices were in need of reorganisation during 2017. The changes will allow several employees to share their working space in what was the old boardroom and their existing offices will be transformed into ‘hot spot’ meeting rooms to accommodate the ever-evolving company.

    Due to the reshuffle of office, this now means that the painting will not fit into the space it once sat and will need a new owner.

    ‘The Woodlanders’, painted by David Bates in 1897 is an incredible piece of artwork measuring 102cm high by 149cm wide, recently restored by Jane Mockett from Jane Maguire Fine Art Conservation in Shrewsbury. Thanks to Jane the oil painting is now, somewhat, back to its former glory showing its previous undecipherable beauty.

    As you can imagine, being held behind the glass frame for the past 40 years took its toll on artwork. Removal and replacement of old dirty varnish and attention to the lifting/cupping of the paint proves to be a common thing with a painting of this age.

    Artist Biography – David Bates (1840-1921) was born in Cambridge and worked as a porcelain painter at the Royal Worcester porcelain works where he came to specialise in painting flowers. His famous ‘open-air’ rural landscapes were mostly inspired by the picturesque UK countryside. Paintings in the Midlands, Lake District, Scotland and Wales noticeably indicates great passion and love for the country he grew up in.

    His artwork is on display in Liverpool Museum, Worcester Museum and other art galleries.