Group starts own fellmongery

A consortium of small meatworks has set up its own fellmongery in Hastings to handle nearly two million sheep skins a year.

The $5 million plant, in the old rendering room of the former Whakatu meat works, has been established by Progressive Meats of Hastings, Lamb Packers of Feilding and Progressive Gisborne and their associates.

The consortium set up the fellmongery after it became aware of a process developed by industry researcher Graeme Deans, which delivered skins of a superior quality.

Initially it will pickle - the first of three stages in the manufacture of leather - 1.8 million sheep and lamb skins. But it has the capacity to handle greater numbers of skins and the consortium is also considering expanding its operation to include processing to the second wet blue stage.

Spokesman Craig Hickson said the fellmongery would employ around 30 people but would increase that to more than 60 at the start of the killing season in October.

The fellmongery begins production this week.

- NZPA