Media Release - Stepping Up To The Global Plate
MEDIA RELEASE – July 2007
STEPPING UP TO THE GLOBAL PLATE
Leading Australian Fibre Company Opens Multi-Million Dollar Plant in China
South Australian-based specialist fibre company Michell Pty Ltd has commenced production at its brand new A$10M wool processing plant in China – signalling the start of a new era for the 137 year old fifth-generation, family-owned organisation. The construction of the Michell Suzhou wool processing plant in Wujiang (in China’s Jiangsu Province) - is a milestone achievement and establishes Michell as a truly global wool trader.
Michell Managing Director Peter Michell said the opening of the new plant represents a significant step forward for the company. “The international textile industry has been through many changes over the past few years and the business today is an extremely diverse entity,” Mr Michell said. “In order to remain relevant, Michell has refined its traditional business model to enable the company to evolve with the industry and be primed to seek out and act on new opportunities.”
One of those opportunities was the acquisition in October 2005 of two state-of-theart wool carbonising lines and a shrink proof line from Chuwa Wool Industrial Co (Taiwan) – a wool textile company renown for its technical abilities in carbonising.
“The Suzhou plant formalises the blending of two quality wool carbonising brands - Michell and Chuwa - under the one brand of Michell Suzhou,” said Mr Michell. “It is Chuwa’s first-class machinery which is the backbone of this new facility and, along with it we’ve retained the critical expertise of several key Chuwa personnel - whose input into the development of this facility has been invaluable.”
The new plant will make it possible for Michell to expand its wool supply base beyond Australian shores – a factor which has become vital as the nation negotiates its way through a record drought period and deals with the resulting impact on wool prices and consumer demand. “Access to a global wool supply means Michell can expand its carbonising business in China and – at the same time – add to the capacity of its existing Australian operations,” Mr Michell said. “The Suzhou plant will complement our activity here in South Australia and add new products and services to our customers.”
With an 8 million kg’s capacity, the world-class Suzhou facility will provide employment for 250 people and set the standards for Michell competitors around the world. “I have no doubt this plant will establish new industry benchmarks for quality, efficiency and ingenuity – not only in wool processing but also environmental management,” Mr Michell said.
The Suzhou plant isn’t the first step in the evolution of Michell. Last year, the company invested in a Japanese-built ‘top making’ plant in Nankai in Malaysia. “The Nankai plant is a brilliant asset – the Rolls Royce of its type and it’s enabled Michell to diversify into commission processing,” said Mr Michell. “This plant has the capacity to process 6 million kg’s of wool tops – some of which Michell takes vertically into its own garment range.”
www.michellwool.com
Michell Pty Ltd is a South Australian-based specialist fibre business, with brothers David and Peter Michell as Managing Directors.
Issued for Michell Pty Ltd by Foster Hill PR & Marketing.
For more information, please contact Karyn Foster or Skye Murtagh on
+ 61 8 8231 3555 or email: fh@fosterhill.com.au