Wool Strategy Group/industry projects showing positive results

17/11/94

A clear picture is emerging about the processing performance of Western Australian wool due to joint projects undertaken by the Wool Strategy Group in conjunction with industry.

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said the recognition was highlighted by results from initial pilot wool consignments processed in Europe and Asia.

"These results coupled together with information from commercial consignments are helping show the international textile trade that Western Australia does produce wool of a consistent and reliable processing quality," Mr House said.

"The results show WA is a world class supplier of quality apparel wool which, in some cases, even exceeded the expectations of processors.

"The Wool Strategy Group pilot project scheme is now entering its next phase by helping a number of grower groups export bulk consignments of wool produced under rigorous quality management systems."

The first of these consignments was shipped out earlier this week.  Fourteen members of the Woolforce Group at Kojonup supplied wool which was assembled by Standard Wool in Fremantle.

The pilot project involves 391 bales of specially selected merino wool bought by Standard Wool.  It will be processed into tops in France and then into high quality yarn in Germany.

It aims to test the potential for WA growers to deliver wool that meets exact customer specifications and be free of any contamination.

All technical information about the wool in the pilot consignments will be fed back to producers - such as micron, staple length, fibre diameter, and coefficient variation - to assist farmers improve their wool growing performance.

The 22.1 micron consignment has a deliberate mix of wool tensile strength to explore ways of compensating for weak wool fibre related to poor seasonal conditions.

The Woolforce shipment was the first of a number of consignments being produced under quality assurance systems by growers and processed by key mills in Japan and Europe.

Mr House said the success of this approach was demonstrated last week when a delegation from a Malaysian top-making and spinning mill - jointly owned by Kanematsu and Nankai Worsted Spinning (Malaysia) wool company - visited WA.

The Malaysian visitors were so impressed at the developments being made in WA that they agreed to undertake a series of test consignments with woolgrower groups in the State.

Mr House said the visit was part of the Wool Strategy Group's program to increase communication and technical information flow between wool producers, processors and marketers.

"The pilot projects are demonstrating the processing performance of WA wool is equal to, or better than, wool from the Eastern States," the Minister said.

"We are now documenting the benefits of total quality management systems on the consignments to show that the WA wool industry can respond rapidly to international market requirements.

"It is all part of the Wool Strategy Group's campaign to let the world wool textile industry know WA is serious about quality and that we are committed to providing what they want.

"The feedback from international visitors is very exciting and with the pilot projects entering the next phase, WA continues to lead the Australian wool industry in creating closer links between producers and processors."

Media contact:  Will Henwood (09) 481 2044