Contact:
Rita Kourlis Samuelson, American Sheep Industry Association, (303) 771-3500 x29, [email protected]
Judy Malone (303) 771-3500, x35, [email protected]

DENVER, Colo. – The Sheep Venture Co. (SVC), in association with the American Sheep Industry Association, has reintroduced manufacturing equipment to the United Sates that allows wool products to be machine washed and dried without shrinking. This treatment line, sometimes known as superwash, is in production and processing orders.

The continuous wool-top chlorine/polymer shrink-resistant treatment equipment line alters the fiber in wool products, allowing them to be washed and dried without shrinking and will meet “Total Easy Care” standards for consumers. This type of processing is the most reliable shrink-resistant treatment for wool available on the market. It will not only help fill domestic commercial wool orders but will also maintain and expand the use of American wool in the U.S. military.

By getting this equipment up and running, the Sheep Venture Co. has filled a void that has been in the U.S. wool-processing sector for some time now,” explains Margaret Soulen Hinson, SVC president. “No longer do textile manufacturers have to go overseas for this treatment as they now have the ability to develop washable wool top in the United States.”

The equipment is housed at Chargeurs Wool USA in Jamestown, S.C., the one remaining topmaking facility in the United States, which allows various companies to apply the washable treatment to many different U.S. wool products and is available for spinners and knitters.

This is a big opportunity for us and the U.S. wool industry. Superwash will open new markets and create more demand for American wool,” says Diego Paullier, Chargeurs commercial manager, explaining that some textile manufacturers want to work with American wool and would like to have everything done in the United States.

In addition, having this process available in the United States increases the number of washable wool products the U.S. military can purchase as the Berry Amendment requires all textile processes and products be entirely of U.S. origin.

ASI is a national trade organization supported by 45 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of 82,000 sheep producers.