Hides can be split at this stage or after they have been tanned.  The decision is made by the technicians based on the characteristics that must be achieved on the final product.  The skins are inserted through a machine equipped with two cylinders in between which a sharp running blade is kept constantly sharp.  The skins are horizontally split to a predetermined thickness evenly throughout the surface.  The top layer also called Top Grain is then ready for tanning.