Elders’ commitment to the Australian wool industry has only grown since the Elder family first began buying, financing and handling wool in the mid-1800s.
The new Elders Wool site at Ravenhall, Melbourne, which is set to commence operations in early 2024.
Having handled over 350,000 bales in FY23, Elders continues to adapt and innovate in a changing wool industry.
With a key focus on clients and customers, Elders is establishing a world-first automated wool handling business, Elders Wool.
The operation will be based around two centralised hubs, in Melbourne and Perth, supported by an extensive network of receival centres.
The Perth facility, which opened in July 2023, has brought west Australians a quicker and easier wool delivery experience from the farm gate. The facility combines wool sales activities with storage and handling operations, aiming to improve efficiency in the wool supply chain.
The Melbourne facility is set to open in early 2024. The building, which achieved practical completion in August, is targeting a 4-Star Green Star Design and As Built rating. Bales will be moved using Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs), low-energy self-driving vehicles which use significantly less energy than human-driven forklifts. The AGVs, which are a world first for the wool industry, also reduce safety risks to people, and are intended to be powered by on-roof solar.
Alongside these benefits to growers, the two hubs are well-placed to support professional wool marketing. The Melbourne facility is strategically placed one turn off the Western freeway at Ravenhall, creating a link between key regional growing areas and Australia’s largest concentration of buyers. This provides Elders clients with access to the port where over 75 per cent of Australia’s wool on the east coast ships to global markets. The Perth facility is located in East Rockingham, on the doorstep to the port of Fremantle, enabling a quick and seamless transport route for buyers to deliver their wool for export to domestic and overseas destinations.
Elders Wool complements Elders’ existing wool offering, with existing wool selling centres in Yennora, Brooklyn and Spearwood remaining in operation. Clients also continue to have access to a wide range of wool selling tools through Elders, including auction, auction forward, and Wooltrade.
The new business will improve efficiency and outcomes, aiming to get wool to market faster and providing exceptional service. The centralised business model also puts Elders in the best place possible to keep growers’ costs down over the long-term.
Elders Wool will also be underpinned by key sustainability objectives. The business will aim to mitigate scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions through the use of solar power, renewable energy, LED lighting and energy efficient equipment.
Elders National Manager Wool Operations Simon Hogan said the business is set to revolutionise the wool handling supply chain.
“This investment in wool supply chain optimisation is a testament to Elders’ commitment to Australian wool growers, and the future of the whole sector,” Mr Hogan said.
“The business has come about because we recognise that we must adapt and innovate to continue to support our clients in an ever-evolving wool industry. We aim to deliver the best results for the next generation of wool growers across Australia.
“The optimisations coming as part of Elders Wool, including the automated operations, and our very own industry-leading software, will provide significant long-term practical and safety benefits for both our staff and our clients.”
In making this $25 million investment in Australian wool, the largest single investment in wool handling this century, Elders stands with clients, striving to deliver the best, sustainable wool supply globally.
Elders Wool
Hear Dave Adamson, Elders General Manager Agency talk about the benefits of Elders Wool, Elders' new wool handling business.
