The first-time visitor to the wet end of a tannery might be forgiven for thinking that the building is regularly cleaned by completely filling it with water and then letting it drain out. Everything, it seems, is either damp, wet, or completely covered in water. Furthermore, the water is not clean, fresh and sparkling—dirt, dung and chemicals are liberally distributed, and a nose full of tanyard air will indicate that there are some pretty pungent chemical vapours wafting about as well. In most tanneries, sadly, the results of this are all too obvious etched flooring, peeling paintwork and rust everywhere you look. There are exceptions, however, and corrosion can be avoided and thwarted, if not entirely defeated, but this needs considerable thought long before the first hide is processed in the tannery.
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