The Northern Co-operative Meat Company operates a tannery as part of its integrated processing service. Casino Hide Traders is devoted to processing the Co-operative's hides from green through to wet blue leather. Established in 1975, Casino Hide Traders (CHT) was one of the first tanneries in Australia dedicated to the tanning of cattle hides for export. Over the years, additions to the tannery have made it one of the largest installations in Australia, with the capacity to convert over 750,000 cattle hides each year.

Being on the same site as NCMC, all hides are received immediately after slaughter and put directly into work. Rapid receipt and prompt processing can mean technically better quality leathers for customers. Each hide is uniquely and individually identified. This enables the tracking of the origin and movement of every hide, from slaughter through to final destination. Sourcing of cattle purchases can be targeted to specific hide qualities and needs.

All hides are fleshed on arrival to the tannery, with weights prior to and after fleshing being carefully recorded. Using twenty-one-tanning drums, hides are then loaded for de-hairing and eventual tanning. Different styles of hides can require different tannages. Each step of each drum's process is carefully controlled and recorded, to ensure that the final product will consistently meet the exacting requirements of CHTs customers in Europe, Asia and South America.

After tanning, hides are graded under optimum conditions by trained and experienced assessors. Damage to the grain of the hide caused by branding, insects, parasites and scratches are all identified and used to determine the final allocation into one of eight quality categories. Casino Hide Traders grading criteria has been carefully designed to provide consistent and accurate hides which are product-specific for their potential end use, but still allow CHT the flexibility to meet a customers specific needs.

Each drum of hides is tested in CHTs own laboratory for its various physical and chemical properties, ensuring that the high standards of its customers can be met and maintained. After grading the hides are packed and labelled ready for shipment throughout the world. Modern computer systems, coupled with CHTs unique identification numbering, allows each customer to have full data about their hides and complete traceability of their raw material.

CHT prides itself on its environmental management practices. Casino Hide Traders is dedicated to customer service and is focused on maintaining its high reputation worldwide.