56 | Waitaki: Canterbury Spinners REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT High quality wool yarns from page 54 The Oamaru site processes about 3.5 million kilos of scoured wool each year. Proud to be associated with Canterbury Spinners 24 Hooker Crescent, Twizel 224 Thames St, Oamaru www.hiflo.co.nz Phone: 0800 277 888 Email: info@hiflo.co.nz Russet Engineering Sales Ltd are pleased to be suppliers for Canterbury Spinners Importers & Wholesale Suppliers of: • Geared Motors & Power Transmission Products • Conveyor Belting & Equipment • Industrial Hoses & Fittings • Industrial Products • Conveyor Vulcanising Services Source Supply Service (100% NZ owned) O800 RUSSET “The yarn is then prepared into a twisted yarn which means a number of those yarns are plied together and prepared through to the next processes to suit a certain carpet type.” While the Oamaru site processes about 3.5 million kilos of scoured wool each year, across Canterbury Spinners’ three sites over 7m kilos are processed and despatched for production into New Zealand woollen carpets. While the Oamaru site carries the process through from end-to-end, one of the North Island sites is only involved in blending and preparation, and the other site completes the carding, spinning and finishing of the yarn. “Oamaru’s other advantage is that it has three different processing types. While we produce a woollen yarn, we also produce a semi-worsted yarn and a full-worsted yarn. “The difference between them is the type of fibre used and the processing involved in the early stages. “A full-worsted yarn, which is a longer refined process, utilises merino fibre and creates a yarn for carpet. “The semi-worsted process uses a similar fibre to what the woollen process uses but the fibre is drawn out using a different process. The Woollen process, which is most common uses a standard wool fibre made into woollen yarn. Having all three processes is pretty unique throughout Australasia.” The production of wool has been Bruce’s forte since the mid-‘70s and he says there is a very noticeable return to woollen products, like carpet. “That market is certainly growing and New Zealand farmers are looking for a better return on their fibre. “There is scope for our Oamaru operation to grow but our biggest hurdle is not being able to find staff. “We’ve advertised consistently over the last year for staff but like everyone else in the area we can’t get enough. We have both internal and external training. What we have been able to do is bring local people through the business to the point where it is locals who are running the site.” Valuing its place in the Oamaru and wider Waitaki community, Canterbury Spinners and its management team are heavily engaged in the local business community taking advantage of the many networking opportunities available. “We’ve a great relationship with Waitaki Council and attend to the various Business Hub forums in Oamaru. “We’re involved in the Mayoral Employment Fund, which is about bringing young people into the workforce. We’ve done that very successfully over the last year or so with the Waitaki Council. “We have schools and businesses visit us, and we are looking for opportunities within Waitaki region to showcase the various options there are here for school leavers.”
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