Belfast, UK, Dec. 8--Details of a new state-of-the-art wool testing center, to be opened in North Wales and planned to service the Northern Hemisphere, was announced at the IWTO (International Wool Textile Conference) in Dubrovnik, according to the Farminglife.com.
The British Wool Marketing Board and the New Zealand Wool Testing Authority, will jointly own the new company, Wool Testing Authority (UK) Ltd, with an allocation of potential shareholding and participation by an appropriate industry body.
With support from the Welsh Assembly Government through the Regional Selective Assistance Grant Scheme, the laboratory will be sited on the Cibyn Estate in Caernarvon. It will create around 17 full-time jobs and provide a full range of certification for greasy and scoured wool.
The Economic Development and Transport Minister, Andrew Davies, said: "I am delighted that the company has decided to base itself in Wales. We have some very successful modern companies in Wales, but it is progressive, research-based organisations, such as this, that we really want to encourage.
"I hope that WTA (UK) will be one of many such ventures that, with the help and support of the Assembly Government and our partners, will benefit from locating in Wales."
Speaking in Dubrovnik, Wool Board managing director Ian Hartley, who has worked closely on the project for some time, acknowledged the excellent assistance from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Development Agency.
"This is a significant development for the Wool Board and the first in what we hope will be a series of partnership projects," he said. "The company aims to offer an independent, cost-effective service which will ultimately service the wider textile and agricultural sector within the UK and throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
"It will also provide management training, technical and quality support to its customer. Much of the European wool clip is not currently tested and there have already been some very encouraging enquiries."
Dr. Alan Folwell, a metallurgist, with wide-ranging senior management experience including in the UK carpet industry, will be chairman of the new company which will initially have four other directors, two from the BWMB and two from NZWTA.
NZWTA, with the assistance from wool research and testing bodies in other parts of the world, is building the equipment for the project to ensure the facilities are the most advanced and efficient in the world.
