Programming for better management

The demands of industrialised markets – Western Europe, North America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan – for increased productivity and profitability and reduced operating costs, are helping to drive washer-extractor design into the next generation.

To satisfy these goals while delivering performance that keeps in line with developments in textiles and workwear, customers are seeking more automation, customisation of washing parameters and more programming possibilities via on-line communication.

The increased use and continued development of microprocessors is opening up the range of programmes with increased customisation and also more methods of programming.

This is a common theme, but each company has its own slant on control developments.

Electrolux offers a fixed programming control – with up to 28 choices, but has also developed its own electronic system – Clarus – with nine fixed settings plus free programming for up to 192 different options, set via the control panel or a pc. Programmes are stored on a smart card and can be transferred between machines. The smart card system can also be used to restrict programming choice where appropriate.

Miele product manager Malcolm Martin says that his company is about to enter the next development stage of its Profitronic control, fitted to all machines from 10 – 32 kg, so that users will have greater programming flexibility.

The first stage allowed the production of special programmes in line with the continuous development of new fabrics, particularly in the workwear market . As just one example, it provides programmes to handle the complex structure of fire-fighters’ protective clothing – designed by nature to protect the wearer from heat and water.

While microprocessors bring programming sophistication, keeping machine operation simple is still key. For the US-based ELX Group, an important development has been the introduction of standardised controls that will take the range all the way from its smallest unit up to a fully automated system. This format makes life easier for the operator and simplifies servicing and spares holding requirements.

Heinz Kirstein, director of export sales at Pharmagg Export says the development of highly efficient controls has been essential to match the need of modern extractors. This has been a major development area.

However, the company still retains a keep-it-simple philosophy, using the same type of control on all machines, whether large or small, so that operators only need to learn procedures once. Programmes set for a 30kg machine can be transferred to a 150kg unit without additional software.

Mr Kirstein says that controls must allow all machine parameters to be customised, but also points to another area of control development – data feedback. All consumption and production details must be available on the computer display, and in the company’s own view, downloading to a central management database is as essential for washer-extractors, as it is for tunnel washers.

It meets these requirements with its DIAS I control, and an upgraded version, DIAS II with monitoring screen rather than digital display.

Pharmagg provides additional support in the form of its data logging system DATA Focus comprising hardware and software for Favorit and Futura washing machines and allowing management and machine data to be stored in-situ for up to 3 – 4 days.

At Ipso ILG, vice president of corporate sales, Jean Baptiste Van Damme, believes that over the past three years microprocessor control has taken over 90 per cent of the market. The next trend will be serial communication, where machines are controlled from a distance. In Orlando, it showed the Sigma system which is designed for use across the market sectors – OPLs, coin launderettes and industrial laundries. It has nine standard programmes, plus a wide range of customising options. Sigma also allows machines to be networked and programmed centrally. Fault diagnosis and correction can all be handled on line.

Options

Girbau has aimed to develop control systems to suit the major sectors and provides three microprocessor options: programmable, standard, and coin-op.

The market in general, and specifically the OPL sector, says Girbau requires maximum data on the machine operation to evaluate and make efficient use of laundry resources.

In the OPL market, Primus export sales manager Stefan Van Vooren also sees a movement towards central control and this is being offered with the new generation control that allows both on-line communication with other washers and 99 free programming options.

UK-based control specialist Anderson Products has a slightly different perspective, supplying systems to machine manufacturers. MD, Dennis Livingstone believes that remote control, data collection and performance monitoring will be required on next generation machines. APL-Net monitors machines via the internet from any location in the world. It can monitor not only machine operation, but also the efficiency and productivity of individual laundry units within a group – for instance, checking on takings.

The development of microprocessors applies right across the board including industrial operations. D’Hooge is in this sector with machines with loadings from 20 to 300 kg. Product manager Etienne Criel says that the company already meets its customers programming requirement in terms of rotation speed, start/stop times, extract time, water level, temperature etc.

More feedback

It is now looking for a more sophisticated PLC, connected to a weighing system and also to a centralised computer system. This development, available within the next year, increases data feedback and by centralising programming, reduces the risk of operator error.

Swiss manufacturer Schulthess operates in three sectors, below 10kg, 10 – 30 kg and 40 – 90 kg. Starting to export around three years ago, it is developing more hi-tech features to meet the needs of these markets. Controls offer standard programmes, but with the options for dealers and end users to change parameters. Via cut cards programmes can be transferred to other machines.