The textile factory at Wynyard sorts and packs second-hand clothes that St Vincent de Paul, Red Cross, City Mission, Lifeline or Salvation Army retail stores haven't been able to sell and prepares them for export to Africa and India.

The business has been operating since 1976 and over the years has employed hundreds of people with a range of disabilities.

There are now more than 70 staff that together keep the factory's wheels turning five days a week, that is equivalent to 60 full-time workers. Some have been working at the factory for more than 30 years.

These men and women work in a range of roles from sorting to packing clothes ready for export. Others cut up clothes that are not suitable to send overseas and the rags are sold to businesses.

Last financial year Vincent Industries exported about 550 tonnes of recycled clothes, which is the equivalent of about 26, 40-ft containers. During that same financial year Vincent Industries sold about 60 tonnes of rags in Tasmania, which is the equivalent of 4000 15kg bags.

Over the past two years this Australian Disability Enterprise, which receives some funding, has run at a significant loss.

Last year the Vincent Industries volunteer board employed a new general manager, Andrew Power, who had spent eight years as the CEO of Corumbene Nursing Home in New Norfolk.

Mr Power helped the home go from financial strife to profitability and he hopes to do the same thing at Vincent Industries.

Last month the board employed operations manager Nellie McKenna, who had spent 30 years with the Australian Weaving Mills. Now she oversees the day-to-day running of the factory at Vincent Industries ensuring that the containers get out.

Mr Power said he would look at transitioning the business away from the old sheltered workshop model to a more business-style model so it was more sustainable.