Information for Wool Growers
Related Links
Links to sites which contain information that is either specific to wool growers of of interest to them are provided via the logos to the right. More information about each of these links is provided in the text below.
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)
AWI is a public, not-for-profit company that is owned by and works solely for the benefit of Australian woolgrowers. It invest funds derived from a levy on wool growers to deliver new and better means to increase the demand for Australian wool, boost the prosperity of growers and protect our Australia's resources.
The corporate site for AWI can be found on www.woolinnovation.com.au
The Woolmark Company (TWC)
The Woolmark Company is a subsidiary of Australian Wool Services.
It has over 60 years experience in the wool industry and expertise in textile innovation, technical research and development allowing it to offer a range of benefits and opportunities to companies at all stages of the textile pipeline and beyond.
It specialises in the commercialisation of wool technologies and innovations, technical consulting, business information and commercial testing of wool fabrics
Through ownership and licensing of the Woolmark, Woolmark Blend and Wool Blend it provides unique worldwide quality endorsement. Its brands and symbols are protected by rigorous and extensive control checks and recognised globally as unrivalled signs of quality and performance. If a wool product carries its brands, it carries our guarantee of product quality.
TWC works with textile processors, designers and retailers in both the apparel and interior textile markets throughout the world. The Company operates globally so you will benefit from our services and specialist support wherever you are.
Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX)
AWEX seeks to add value for the benefit of it's stakeholders by providing services and functions for the effective and efficient trading of wool in Australia. Some of these services and functions include:
- provide and maintain physical and electronic trading facilities in Australia;
- manage wool industry self-regulation through the provision of a framework of business rules governing the trade of wool between buyer and seller members of AWEX;
- supply electronic data communication systems for wool trading;
- maintain recognised quality assurance standards; and
- provide pre- and post-sale market information.
AWEX is responsible for maintaining and supporting a wool classer training and registration.
CSIRO
CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
CSIRO was for many years the most important research agency in Australia and perhaps in the world for the Wool Textile industry. It became heavily involved in wool protein chemistry and wool processing technology just after World Wart II. From 1960 to 1995 CSIRO was heavily involved in wool testing and wool metrology and is responsible for the development of the ATLAS technology and LASERSCAN technology that is now utilised by AWTA Ltd, NZWTA Ltd and WTBSA in providing IWTO Certification of greasy wool produced by wool growers in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Unfortunately, due changes in wool industry funding for research and CSIRO policy changes the organisation, while still active in the Wool Industry, plays a much lesser role than it once did.
Merino Innovation
Merino Innovation is a website developed by Australian Wool Innovation, to inform the users of Australian wool about its characteristics and to inform them about innovations being developed by the industy, and particularly by AWI via its research & development funding.
The site broadly covers the following areas:
- Discover what makes Merino so special;
- See how the world’s top designers are working with Merino;
- Check out the latest trends;
- Source a yarn, a fabric or a knit; and
- See if our marketing tools can help sell your creations.
Wool on The Web
Wool on the Web was developed by AWI as a resource for wool processors.
The conversion of greasy wool into a textile product involves a long processing pipeline. Many of these steps are unique to wool.
A considerable amount of expertise has been developed along the processing pipeline but much of this knowledge is not readily available.
The site provides:
- information sheets that offer technical advice to common problems;
- links to key vendors of processing equipment and supplies;
- information on how to purchase Australian wool;
- a free limited technical support service to processors that can be accessed through links on the right hand side.
Wool Cheque
Wool cheque is free service provided to wool growers. It is simple to use, and allows them to independently price their wool clip based on the latest daily or historical wool prices.
Worm Boss
Worms cost Australian sheep producers more than any other disease. Drench resistant worms are increasingly prevalent and becoming harder to manage. For most sheep producers, sustainable management and control of sheep worms is essential for their future prosperity.
WormBoss was developed by the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) and Australian Wool Innovation Ltd (AWI) to help producers meet these challenges.
WormBoss represents the national knowledge on sheep worms and their management.
Timerite
Redlegged earth mites (RLEM) are a major pest of pasture legumes in the winter rainfall regions of southern Australia.
TIMERITE has been developed byt CSIRO with AWI funding support to provide optimal spray dates for the effective control of RLEM in all areas of southern Australia within the known range of RLEM distribution.