What this class covers
ANZSIC class 1311 classifies Australian businesses engaged in the initial processing of wool before spinning. This includes operations that clean, prepare, and transform raw wool into intermediate products for the textile industry. The classification covers both the main processing activities and the production of associated by-products.
Typical businesses in this class include wool scouring facilities that wash raw wool to remove dirt and grease, carbonising plants that use acid treatment to eliminate vegetable matter, and wool combing operations that produce tops for spinning mills. These operations are typically located in wool-producing regions and serve as critical first-stage processors between wool growers and textile manufacturers.
Examples of operations falling under this classification include: a commercial wool scouring plant processing fleece wool for export; a facility manufacturing unspun wool tops for worsted spinning mills; a operation extracting and refining lanolin from wool wash water; a carding service preparing wool for hand-spinning markets; and a carbonising plant treating wool contaminated with burrs and seeds.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses classified under ANZSIC 1311 typically engage in:
- Scouring wool - industrial washing of raw wool to remove dirt, grease and suint
- Carbonising wool - chemical treatment to dissolve vegetable matter like burrs and seeds
- Carding wool - mechanically aligning wool fibres to prepare for spinning
- Combing wool - removing shorter fibres to produce top-quality wool tops
- Manufacturing unspun wool tops - producing continuous bands of parallel fibres
- Producing wool noil - processing the shorter fibres removed during combing
- Extracting and refining lanolin (wool wax/grease) - recovering valuable by-products from scour water
Exclusions and nearby codes
This classification specifically excludes processing of fellmongered or slipe wool (wool removed from skins), which falls under ANZSIC 1320: Leather Tanning, Fur Dressing and Leather Product Manufacturing. This distinction exists because fellmongering is typically integrated with hide processing operations.
Businesses that spin wool into yarn would be classified under ANZSIC Group 131 but potentially in different classes depending on their specific activities. Wool textile manufacturing operations that include both processing and spinning may need to review multiple classifications.
Related classifications include ANZSIC 1313: Textile Finishing, and ANZSIC 1331: Wool Woolen and Worsted Textile Manufacturing, which cover subsequent processing stages in the wool textile production chain.
Practical guidance
When registering your ABN, you'll need to select the appropriate Business Industry Code (BIC), which aligns with ANZSIC classifications. For wool scouring operations, the relevant BIC is 13110. Using the correct classification ensures proper treatment for tax purposes and eligibility for industry-specific programs.
Workers' compensation premiums may vary based on your ANZSIC classification, as wool processing involves different risk profiles than other manufacturing activities. Ensure your insurer has your correct business classification to avoid premium discrepancies.
Manufacturing businesses may qualify for various grants and assistance programs, particularly those focused on regional development or agricultural processing. Accurate ANZSIC classification is often required for eligibility assessments. Keep detailed records of your processing activities as authorities may verify your classification during audits or grant applications.