Australian woolgrowers can expect flow-on benefits through technology uptake from Top-Tech ‘96, say organisers of the international best-practice wool processing symposium being held at CSIRO in Geelong.
The Top-Tech '96 symposium, jointly sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat (IWS) and the CSIRO Division of Wool Technology, aims to encourage processors to increase their efficiency and profits by adopting new, improved technologies more rapidly.
According to Mr John Grant, Technical Director of the IWS, Australian woolgrowers will be the indirect beneficiaries.
"Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) studies show that companies which embrace new wool processing technology are more profitable, produce a better end-product and tend to buy more Australian wool as a result," he said.
"Estimates are that about one-fifth of the cost savings from new technology flow back to Australian woolgrowers as profit through increased demand for raw wool.
"A new technology provides cost-saving process efficiencies and produces better wool products, which increases consumer demand for wool.
"Everyone in the industry wins. Currently, each year, about 400 million kilograms of Australian wool is processed to 'top', the stage just before spinning. If new technology saves even a conservative 25 c/kg for processors, this translates to a $100 million saving to the processing industry each year, a higher demand for wool, and an estimated $20 million income boost to woolgrowers."
Mr Grant said that innovation is critical to the future of the wool industry.
"To create higher consumer demand for wool, the industry must give consumers enhanced products ahead of other textile competition," he said.
"These preferred new products are easy-care, wool-rich blends that are soft, comfortable and lightweight."
Dr Brett Bateup, Acting Chief of CSIRO Wool Technology, agrees and adds that it is the use of new, efficient processing techniques that will lead to these enhanced wool products.
"For product innovation to occur, the technologies being researched at CSIRO need to be applied and refined in-line by industry as equal partners in the R&D process," he said.
"Historically, this has not happened across-the-board and there is still need for a shift in thinking by industry towards committing to more co-operative joint venture opportunities.
"While that is true, there are still several examples of successful commercial cooperation in wool R&D. A recent development is a high-speed carding machine researched by CSIRO and developed by Thibeau in cooperation with IWS and G.H. Michell & Sons Pty. Ltd. The high-speed technology has catapulted Thibeau into the market lead for carding machines and has helped G.H. Michell & Sons Pty. Ltd. make their wool top making more efficient.
"Another recent win-win for research and industry is CSIRO's Sirolan CF environmental technology, which removes 95% of dirt and 95% of wool wax from scoured wool and the waste can be transformed into commercial compost. Sirolan CF was evaluated using a pilot plant at Greenfields Woolscour Pty. Ltd. in Melbourne and it is expected that it will save a company hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in waste discharge payments when it is fully installed.
"Top-Tech '96 offers all wool processors this same opportunity; to interact, to commit to research partnerships, and to profit. It involves more than 200 industry delegates from 16 countries and represents the first major forum we've had in 10 years to come together and get it right."
Top-Tech '96 (11-14 Nov 1996) is being held at the All Seasons Ambassador Hotel on Monday evening, the Geelong Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday and Thursday, and at the CSIRO Division of Wool Technology, Colac Road, Belmont, Geelong on Wednesday.
For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact Pat Naughtin, Communication Manager on Ph (052) 275 611 or Mobile Ph 0418 320 787.