Small-scale wool production at Xume is marked by diversity in technical features and marketing aspects. This study presents the typology case study conducted at Xume, a rural area of Tsomo in the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality. The objective of the study is to identify traits of the diverse wool production and marketing conditions and to make recommendations regarding development support in areas that need it. The overall goal of the study, as part of the LandCare Programme, is to generate knowledge on wool production by the people of Xume, their practices and conditions that might increase their sources of income. A household classification tree was constructed to differentiate wool producers into those that reared sheep with the purpose of generating income (significant and non-significant) and those that kept sheep with no purpose of generating income. From the classification tree a typology was generated. The typology yielded three types of wool producers namely, sheep keepers, wool growers and commercial woolgrowers. Descriptive statistics were used to explain each type and to see the extent of variability among types. Gross margins indicated that the enterprises had a potential and success was possible for the commercial woolgrowers. Results indicate the following: • sustainability of resource use is the key to successful wool production at Xume. • community involvement is vital in sustaining resource use. • veterinary control is also important in wool production. • wool quality accompanied by skills training is also an important aspect that needs to be given attention after the sustainability of resource use is established. • development initiatives should consider complexity, dynamism, and diversity of farming situation at Xume by continuously reviewing rules and regulations set by the community as part of social capital. • wool production and marketing can create financial stability at Xume through creating jobs. • lastly, it is very important that typology be reviewed regularly in order to commodate changes and developments that take place over time. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

SammanfattningUppsatsen är utformad efter ett förslag från Anders Ryberg vid Länsstyrelsen i Västra Götalands län. Förslaget var att lokalisera användningsområden för den ull som i dagsläget kasseras i Sverige. I början beskriver vi grundläggande fakta om ullfibern för att ge dig som läsare ett bättre begrepp om ullfiberns användningsområden som senare tas upp i arbetet. Detta följs av en beskrivning av de miljöaspekter som ullanvändningen medför, vilket dessutom är viktigt ur en marknadsföringssynpunkt. De ullkvalitéer vi har i Sverige beskrivs därefter kortfattat, följt av en presentation av svenska företag och projekt som arbetar med svensk ull. Därefter beskrivs Australiens, Storbritanniens och Norges ullindustrier. Deras marknadsfringsstrategier och infrastrukturer för ullhantering är viktiga att ta del av om den svenska ullindustrin ska kunna konkurrera i framtiden. Vi har även funnit många intressanta användningsområden för den svenska ullen. Däribland finner vi geotextil, isolering och ull i avfallshantering enklast att producera utifrån de förutsättningar vi har i Sverige. Våra slutsatser är att det krävs en hel del initiativ, framförallt från fårägarna i Sverige, för att skapa en större efterfrågan på svensk ull. Tillvägagångssättet är att skapa infrastruktur för uppsamling och sortering av ullen runtom i landet, sedan marknadsföra ullen med hjälp av information om dess unika egenskaper och positiva miljöaspekter. / <p>AbstractThe thesis is developed from a proposition by Anders Ryberg at the county administration board of Västra Götaland. The proposition was to evaluate new fields of utility for the Swedish wool which today is disregarded. First off we give a basic description of the facts concerning the wool fiber in order for you as a reader to better comprehend how the wool fiber applies in different fields of utility, which is brought up later in the thesis. This is followed by a description of the environmental aspects which comes with the usage of wool, which also is important from a marketing point of view. The different types of wool we have in Sweden are then briefly described, followed by a presentation of Swedish companies and projects who are working with Swedish wool. Thereafter we describe the wool industries of Australia, Great Britain and Norway. Their marketing strategies and infrastructures for wool handling are important to acknowledge if the Swedish wool industry are to be able to compete in the future. We have also found many interesting fields of utility for the Swedish wool. Among many we have found geotextile, isolation and wool in waste management the easiest ones to produce looking at the prerequisites we have in Sweden. Our conclusions are that a lot of initiative will be needed, especially from the Swedish sheep owners, to be able to create a larger demand for Swedish wool. The way to go about it is by creating an infrastructure for collecting and sorting of the wool around the country, then implicate marketing with information about the unique abilities of wool and its positive environmental aspects.</p><p>Program: Textil produktutveckling med entreprenörs- och affärsinriktning</p>

This thesis started with the discovery that in Sweden, about 70% of wool, a valuable material, is wasted in 2017. In recent years, a local value chain in Sweden has gained momentum to increase the use of Swedish wool as a circular and sustainable fibre for the textile industry in the country. This thesis aimed at suggesting a strategic approach to strengthen the Swedish wool value chain. To do so, we used the leverage points framework as a systems thinking lens to uncover system dynamics and assess what is most needed in the system through semi-structured interviews. Then, a systematic literature review was conducted to uncover interventions contributing to sustainable transformations in the global wool value chain and suggest a strategic approach for the Swedish case. The key leverage point that emerged as a result of the research is enhancing the capacity to self-organise as a system, which can happen through increasing collaboration, fostering a structure for learning and flows of information. The strategic intervention that we suggested is to establish a ‘connector’ in the system in order to facilitate underway projects as well as collaboration in a national perspective to develop and expand the use of Swedish wool.

In the thesis researches of overall performance of the polymerization furnace of Uralasbest plant are executed. The existing thermal scheme and a design of the furnace is considered, thermal calculation is carried out and technical solutions on improvement of thermal and ecological characteristics of the furnace operation are proposed. Researches showed that ecological characteristics mineral-wool production doesn't satisfy to requirements to environmental standards, and for decrease in emissions of nitrogen oxides more effective burner system is proposed. On the basis of the executed measurements and balance calculations technical actions on decrease in thermal losses with the leaving gases are offered. / В диссертации выполнены исследования эффективности работы печи полимеризации цеха ОАО «Ураласбест». Рассмотрена существующая тепловая схема и конструкция печи, проведен тепловой расчет и предложены технические решения по совершенствованию тепловых и экологических характеристик работы печи. Исследования показали, что с точки зрения экологических характеристик минераловатное производство не соответствует требованиям к экологическим нормам, и для снижения выбросов оксидов азота предложена более эффективная горелочных система..На основе выполненных измерений и балансовых расчетов предложены технические мероприятия по снижения тепловых потерь с уходящими газами.