Belex Carding is a well-known business in the wool craft world and was established in Palmerston, Otago in 1977 and has since then been servicing spinners and weavers throughout NZ.

Jill and Geoff Taylor bought the business in 1997 and moved the carding machines to Luggate, near Wanaka. As well as the private commission carding, Belex Carding also caters for commercial customers. We are the only business of its type in the South Island and frequently receive orders from many parts of the North Island as well and many parts of the world.

The machines are working museum pieces but have been maintained in excellent working order and can process all types of wool including Merino down to 18 micron.

One machine weighs 7 tonnes, the other 5 tonnes. Both originate in England.

The previous owners would card wool in its greasy form but unfortunately, since moving to Central Otago, we only process washed or scoured wool. This is due to the dry climate causing grease to set on the machines making them difficult to clean.

We card Alpaca, Mohair fibre and Merino/Possum fur which has proved very popular worldwide. Felting batts for duvet inners are also a specialty. In addition we also make Trampers Friend, a product which is making its name worldwide in the prevention of blisters while hiking, use in marathon training and also to assist Arthritis sufferers keeping feet warm in Winter. Furthermore, we will also dye small batches of fleece to meet our customer requirements.

Belex Carding changed hands in 2007. The new owner is PJ Digital Limited, which is operated by Patricia Edwards, previously a textile artist/lecturer at Auckland University of Technology. In addition, with her partner John Carr and Manager Samuel Gonzalez, they run a variety of stock (Alpaca, black and coloured sheep) in conjunction with a lovely bed and breakfast/holiday home on Cornish Point in Cromwell.

In November 2008 Belex Carding was closed down and stored until a new premises on Cornish Point, Cromwell was built. In October 2009 Geoff and Samuel began the arduous task of piecing the machines back together to enable them to be operational again as at the 1st of February 2010. I am pleased to announce Belex Carding is back up and running, please do not hesitate to call in and visit us to see the machines in operation again.