Northern Nevada · Est. 2025
From the Range
to Pure Fiber
We bring industrial wool scouring to the heart of the Great Basin — washing shorn fleeces clean and recovering pure lanolin, right where Nevada's sheep ranchers call home.
About the Facility
Where the High Desert
Meets Clean Craft
Great Basin Wool Scour is Northern Nevada's dedicated wool scouring operation, purpose-built to serve the ranching communities of the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada foothills. We receive raw, lanolin-rich fleece directly from the shearing floor and return it as clean fiber — ready for spinning, felting, or export — while recovering pure lanolin as a valuable co-product.
Our facility brings this critical processing step close to home, reducing transport costs for ranchers and keeping value in Nevada's agricultural economy.
How It Works
Fleece In,
Clean Fiber Out
Our four-stage scouring process removes vegetable matter, soil, and suint while recovering lanolin at each wash stage — maximizing the value of every pound of raw wool we receive.
Receive & Grade
Raw fleeces arrive from the shearing shed, weighed, sorted by breed and staple length, and graded before entering the scour line.
Multi-Stage Scour
Wool passes through a series of hot-water wash bowls with biodegradable detergent, progressively removing grease, dirt, and vegetable matter.
Lanolin Separation
Wastewater from each bowl is centrifugally processed to separate raw lanolin — a premium cosmetic and industrial feedstock — from rinse water.
Dry, Bale & Return
Scoured wool is dried, remaining burr removed, and clean fiber baled or bagged for return to the rancher or onward sale.
Why Great Basin
Built for Nevada Ranchers
Processing wool where it's grown means less hauling, faster turnaround, and a stronger local agricultural economy.
Close to the Source
Located in Northern Nevada, we sit in the heart of Great Basin sheep country — eliminating long hauls to out-of-state scours and saving ranchers time and freight costs.
Keeping Wool Out of the Landfill
Due to long distances and high transport costs most shorn wool ends up in the landfill. Local scouring increases clean wool supply creating opportunities for the development of new markets and products.
Nevada Water Advantage
Our site is selected for access to high-quality water suitable for scouring, with full wastewater treatment and recycling to meet Nevada environmental standards.
Fast Turnaround
No weeks-long wait for out-of-state processing. Proximity means fleeces can be on the scour line within days of shearing, keeping your operation on schedule.
Rancher-First Values
We understand shearing season rhythms, clip variability, and the need for a processing partner you can rely on year after year.
Full Resource Recovery
Efficient Lanolin recovery processes keeps wool grease out of the environment and in productive use, generating economic opportunity.
What We Offer
Services &
Products
Our core business is scouring — washing your raw clip and producing clean fiber for resale. We also produce and sell refined lanolin and offer value-added options for producers who want more from their clip.
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Custom Wool ScouringPer-pound processing of raw greasy fleece into clean, scoured fiber. Pricing based on volume and grease percentage.
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Vegetable Matter RemovalBurr, seed, and chaff removal options for clips with high VM content, improving fiber value prior to sale or spinning.
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Fiber Grading & TestingCore testing for yield and micron count available in partnership with accredited wool testing laboratories.
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Baling & StorageScoured wool bagged or pressed into standard bales. Local, domestic and international logistics & distribution available.
Co-Product
Pure Lanolin Recovery
Every pound of greasy wool yields lanolin — a naturally occurring wax secreted by sheep and one of the most versatile natural emollients known to industry. We recover raw lanolin from the scour bowl effluent via centrifugal separation, producing a high-quality feedstock for cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets.
Find Us
Located in the
Heart of Nevada
Strategically sited in Northern Nevada to serve sheep operations across Washoe, Humboldt, Elko, Lander, and surrounding counties — and within easy reach of ranchers in northeastern California, southern Idaho, and northern Utah.
Get in Touch
Ready to Scour
Your Clip?
Whether you're a first-time caller or a returning rancher, we'd love to talk about your clip, your operation, and how we can work together.