New Integrated Wool Technologies

Photo: Australian Wool Innovation

Three new technologies have been developed by the Sheep CRC to commercial prototype and it is anticipated that they will change forever the way lightweight, trans-seasonal and next to skin knitwear is manufactured and appreciated by the consumer. These involve the Wool Handle Meter to predict individual components of fabric handle so that fabrics can be engineered to have the perfect balance of softness, smoothness and warm/cool feel. Secondly, the Wool Comfort Meter to measure next to skin comfort of fabric and garments, ensuring garments are “fit for purpose” and specific next to skin comfort levels are achieved. And finally, a technology package that enables the manufacture of the brightest whites and brightest pastel colours in wool fabric.

Benefits:

These products will ensure wool’s place in the lightweight, trans-seasonal and next to skin knitwear markets. Manufacturers will be able to develop products that achieve known levels of whiteness, handle and next to skin comfort. Retailers and brands will be able to specify performance criteria for whiteness, fabric handle and next to skin comfort. This in turn will generate product and process specifications back down the wool supply chain to meet these requirements. The application and benefits of the technologies will be seen in quality assurance; the re-badging of existing products and the development of new products.

Recommended users:

• Wool ram breeders and commercial producers, wool buyers (raw wool suppliers)
• Major users: Early stage wool processors (top makers, spinners)
• Major users: Late stage wool processors (knitters, dyers & finishers, garment manufacturers)
• Brand name companies
• Retailers
• Chemical and textile auxiliary manufacturers/suppliers
• Advisors & consultants, teachers & educators.

Quality assurance
Quality-critical aspects of products will be monitored and maintained, including both input material, e.g., yarn, fabric, garment; and in-house processing and manufacturing to ensure consistent performance levels are met.

Re-badging existing products
With no direct measurements for handle and comfort these attributes have been assessed subjectively with little ability to make credible performance claims. Once existing products are measured and performance is known they could be re-badged with the comfort and handle claims, adding significant value.

Product development
The supply chain will be able to quantify the effects of changes in process and product specifications, and thereby engineer products to meet specific consumer requirements. Among these will be, for example, the effects of changes in:

• fibre specifications – fibre type, fibre quality, fibre treatment
• yarn specifications – twist, count, ply, spinning system
• fabric specifications – cover factor; machine gauge, construction
• fabric finishes and finishing - a new or modified surfactant or softener, different finishing process, surfactant dosage.

For further information contact: David Tester, Wool Program Leader / Phone: 02 6040 0544 or 0434 600 164 / Email: david.tester@sheepcrc.org.au
 

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