Wool Spinning Manufacturer Calls for Identification Process

September 2004 -- G?tz Giebel from Sudwolle GmbH & Co., a wool spinning manufacturer with mills in Germany, China and Poland, addressed the American Sheep Industry Association Executive Board at their quarterly meeting in July regarding the increased amount of contamination found in wool fabric.

?Particularly wools bred for dual purpose, meat/wool, are likely to show such negative effects,? Giebel says.

Sudwolle is the largest service provider for worsted wool yarns and is concerned about this epidemic. Due to the fact that fabrics are frequently produced just in time for the retail business, it is costly and time consuming for spinners to find such contamination in wool. As a result, manufacturers are simply deducting enormous amounts from invoices to pay for the contaminants removal.

A better solution is the adoption of a wool description process in which a vendor would be able to differentiate the wool he or she is purchasing. This method would ensure that producers receive a price protection on the quality of their wool and that buyers receive an accurate description of what they are buying. Such a description would include a ?risk factor? indicator in reflection to contamination.

Giebel says that in order for U.S. wool producers to ?raise the bar,? they must prepare, package and describe wool properly.

?Wool needs to be strictly differentiated to avoid a negative image for the entire wool industry,? he says.

?We are pleased to have G?tz offer information on providing quality wool to the international market,? adds American Wool Council International Wool and Pelt Marketing Director, Rita Kourlis Samuelson. ?His comments on contamination are valuable due to his vast wool processing experience and his familiarity with both international and U.S. wool."