Milspec Manufacturing has worked with the Australian Wool Testing Authority and CSIRO to design and manufacture new technology in wool processing.
The Wool Comfort, Wool Handle meters and Laser Scanner were made available for commercial use to all wool processors, knitwear manufacturers and retailers, as part of a pilot project between the Australian Wool Testing Authority and the Sheep CRC.
By testing a fabric’s physical characteristics, the Laser Scanner, Wool Handle Meter and Comfort Meter measure wool diameter, smoothness, softness, warm and dry feel, hairiness, tightness, perceived weight and luxurious feel.
These instruments are used to accurately predict next-to-skin comfort and can calibrate a garment’s touch, or handle, to the specific requirements of a brand and its target customer.
In contrast, the Wool ComfortMeter analyses the surface of the garment for the attribute known to cause prickle against the skin.
Milspec Manufacturing general manager Neil Morrison said the technology was now being produced in volume for AWTA’s national and international clients.
“As a manufacturer of electro mechanical subsystems to defence and industry, this has been a really interesting project,” Morrison said. “Most Australians simply are not aware that laser technology has arrived to deliver repeatable graded wool to the garment industry. Our part in this project was to take the design and ingenuity of this Australian product and redesign for manufacturing repeatability.”