After leaving secondary school, Ralf Weißdecided easily on his career option as his father and grandfather were already working in a nearby leather factory. Summer jobs in the tannery had confirmed his enthusiasm for leather and his decision to opt for the tanning as a profession.

After completing his basic education at Lederinstitut Gerberschule Reutlingen, he moved to a fine leather factory, where he gained additional experience in the fields of sheep and goat leather intended for the fashion industry.

To progress his career in the leather industry, he enrolled as a student at Lederinstitut GerberSchule Reutlingen, qualified as a leather technician and then passed a masters exam.

For the last 23 years Ralf Weiß has been director of the dye workshop in leather factory HELLER, one of the leading furniture and automotive leather manufacturers in Germany.

His essential duties include the accurate coloursetting of each item as well as the timing of the whole process. In addition, he has taken on the training of apprentices and volunteered as an expert on various committees for State education and training in the tanning.

Mr Weiß values the team work in his job and is passionate about his beautiful leathers", which he can produce from the biological byproduct of cattle hides. He is therefore very proud that the company has been honored with numerous awards for the quality and sustainable production "of his leather".

For his continuing vocational training, he likes to use the seminars and symposia on offer as well as direct contact with colleagues, especially from the chemical industry.