Wool handler stacks up

End-to-end service provider Australian Wool Handlers is literally stacking wool bales to the rafters at its Spearwood warehousing location.

After its lease at the old location expired 12 months ago, a local Spearwood site was allocated, but limited floor space meant tier racking was essential.

AWH supervisor Neil Haragan said between the two new warehouse facilities, there was sufficient room to handle WA's annual throughput of about 46,000 bales.

"Safety logistics has been progressively improved including infra red beams that can stop core sampling equipment at a blink of an eye," he said.

Mr Haragan said the stacking was done effortlessly with Aisle-Master articulated forklifts.

"We are at our busiest during March and April when up to 1200 bales per day are received," he said.

"By the end of the year, we are nearly full, but my message to woolgrowers is to send more wool - more is better for the industry."

Mr Haragan has worked at AWH for 18 years and knows there is room to grow. "I can understand how some farmers have left the industry, with the ups and downs of the wool industry, but when I see wool stacked to the heights, there is a proud association that is felt all packed inside those bursting wool packs," he said.

Mr Haragan said he looked forward to next-generation wool packs which should provide greater structure for more efficient transport, handling and warehousing.

AWEX chief executive Mark Grave said the new wool pack had a four-seamed base to counter over-width loads of wool on trucks.