GWS Fact Sheet

Home Contents Scour with us! Feedback Search

GWS use aqueous scouring techniques to commission scour wool (we scour wool for clients and place a fee on that scouring). GWS has the ability to scour fine to superfine top making and carding wools. GWS traces its origins back to 1982 when a single-scour, Korean owned operation began at Goulburn. In 1984 the Carpet Wool Scourers company assumed Australian ownership, and continued in that frame until 1988, when a French company, Compagnie de 'Importation de Laines (CIL) acquired GWS. 

A second scour line was installed in 1992, along with a major upgrade of water processing facilities. Both scour lines are Australian modified ANDAR scours.  In 1995 an Autefa high density  wool press (capable of pressing bales up to 460kg) was installed. Numerous process improvements, brought about with the help of a major Japanese client - Toabo, allowed GWS to rapidly develop its scouring efficiency and product quality. The concept of continuous improvement has allowed GWS to maintain its position at the forefront of the Australian wool scouring industry, to present day.

Points of interest...

  • GWS is regarded as having exemplary scouring ability, with many wool processors directing their superfine wool to GWS. Toabo set a new standard for the wool industry in 1995, paying a record price for a bale of 'Kadinia' ultrafine wool. At that point in time, this was the finest bale of wool ever produced (13.8 micron fibre diameter). A purchase price of $1.2 million was paid for the bale, which weighed 83 kg after scouring. This prices approaches parity with gold, and remains a world record. GWS scoured this wool under the watchful eye of armed security guards!
  • GWS recently expanded its workforce to 50 employees, placing us in the top 5 private employers in Goulburn.
  • We currently scour twenty thousand tons of Australian greasy wool annually. All this wool is exported.
  • Research  programs in place at GWS, and initiative and insight of staff have developed our plant to the extent that we have won national energy and agribusiness awards.

Click on the sheep to go to the next stage: Scouring Process

Copyright © 2000 Goulburn Wool Scour
Last modified: August 14, 2002