Flat out at ExpoDetergo

9 January 2019



With high productivity and greater innovation key themes at ExpoDetergo in Milan, Kathy Bowry examines just some of the ironer developments on show


INTERNATIONAL

Visitors to the Lapauw stand were able to see the company’s latest update to its range of steam ironers with the proven IronMAX concept. Identical to the gas heated ironers, the steam version is designed with ease of maintenance and maximal accessibility in mind.

The IronMAX Steam retains the hinged, 2-part thick chest design that has become signature of the Lapauw steam ironer. It is now available in as 2-roll and 3-roll with 1,200mm roll diameter and will be expanded to other sizes and models also.

Like with the gas variant, the chest and bridge respectively have 8 and 4 independent steam channels and adheres the parallel flow principle. This assures fast filling times and maximises the total steam volume without violating the limits set by the steam directives. The steam circuit is also designed in such way that the condensate return is evacuated efficiently.

All Lapauw ironers come as of now with a full colour touch screen and PLC, which puts them really in the driver’s seat of the ironing part of flatwork finishing. The new control system gives them space for up to 100 different ironing programs and pre-programmed macro’s, like a chest cleaning program or automated felt baking, keep maintenance and installation costs in check.

The touch screen comes in two sizes: the 4inch touch-screen comes with the IronPro and Classic ironer ranges, while the IronMAX range gets a 7inch touchscreen.

With the IronPro, Lapauw has expanded its ironer range to the OPL laundries and small capacity ironing lines that require a high finish quality finish. Lapauw has added a 600mm roll diameter ironer to its IronPro range, available in working widths from 1,750mm up to 3,300mm. Until now, the IronPro was available in 500mm roll diameter only.

The IronPro 600 standard features include feeding belts, Hi Temperature Amarmid multiwrap padding, PLC control with touch screen and an exit table.

The IronPro 600 is now available in gas and electric heating and is equipped with the well-known indirect thermal oil heating unit. A steam heated version is set to come on the market at the beginning of 2019.

Texfinity was present on the booth of Skema, its dealer for Italy, with the life upgraded T.towel folder which was demonstrated live at the stand. Texfinity’s Erwin Vanspauwen told LCN: “We have recently improved it to reach the fastest feeding speeds in the market. Until recently the maximum amount of towels that could be fed in any towel folder was between 13 to 16 pieces per minute (850 to 950 pieces per hour). Due to intense development Texfinity succeeded in increasing this speed between 22 and 27 pieces per minute (1300 to 1600 pieces per hour), which means the operator does not need to wait anymore for the machine. We also promoted our gas heated ironer with flexible chests with our new feeder and folder.”

Texfinity has introduced, after its gas and steam heated ironer presented at Texcare in Frankfurt, a feeder and folder to complete the offering of complete ironing lines for high capacity industrial laundries.

The Girbau Group supplies both the industrial laundry sector and the OPL/commercial markets, with divisions for each. Its ironer strategy recognises this and with the PB/PBP series, the Compact series and the PC series, Girbau has covered the varying needs of each sector in terms of production and technical advances.

ExpoDetergo was the platform for Girbau to present its Industrial laundry system with TBS50 batch washer, Compact+ ironer, ST2700 dryer, DRBS feeder and FR+ sheet folder.

Girbau has seen consistent growth across all the OPL ironer models it offers. The Compact+ 5-in-One – which brings together feeding, drying, ironing, folding and stacking in a single machine – is said to be ideal for laundries seeking to boost the efficiency and quality of their ironing process without needing large spaces or extending their premises to fit the machines in. Girbau’s Compact Laundry Solution includes the latest E-Series 80-pound capacity washer-extractor, the new 85/95-pound capacity CG85/95 Dryer and, when automation is cost-justified, the Compact+.

The Compact+ is capable of handling cross folds in items up to 900mm wide, making it possible to work with items in all measurements up to king size.

Compact+ can make 2 or 3 cross folds on 1 lane or else 1 or 2 cross folds on 2 lanes. It also features a new gas burner and ironing consistency is achieved thanks to an autospeed system that controls ironing speed to ensure the right temperature. Girbau’s GHelp allows the machine to be monitored and controlled remotely.

The heavy-duty flatwork ironers from Stahl, the German laundry systems company have been joined by the Master range with roll diameters of 121cm – 201cm available in gas, thermal oil electric and steam based options. The Stahl Master ironers use a heated band design, which is said to increase the contact area by up to 20%. The “super trough” design optimises heat retention and allows even distribution.

Stahl has developed the Boulevard ironing line for a complete high-performance finish. The line consists of the Servant automatic feeder, a Stahl flatwork ironer and the Domestic or Starfold folder. Together, these components provide the perfect finishing line, says Stahl.

The Servant provides automated feeding, quickly and conveniently and it can be paired with a rotary ironer, Stahl’s mid-sized MC 400 - 800 flatwork ironers, the large Master flatwork ironers and all the multiple-roll ironers.

Domus, part of the Onnera Group, unveiled updated models of its flatwork ironers as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to developing high-tech features in each of the its Eco-Energy range of washers, dryers and ironers.

It produces wall ironers, Mural front feed and return ironers, and the Cepheus and Cygnet ranges of compact flatwork ironers. The compact Sextans flatwork ironer offers 600, 800 and 1,000mm roll diameters for laundries, hotels and hospitals processing up to nine tons daily. Other features include roll length of 3m30, which allows ironing, and folding of linen 3,300 x 3,300mm.

Wim Opsomer, speaking to LCN on the Laco Machinery stand, said uncompromisingly: “Any operator choosing cylinder ironers over chest models is living in the past. Chest ironers may be more expensive to buy but the savings on running cost, their quality and dependability means they are so much better. The trend for chest ironers is ramping up and we see that in volumes and that projects that we do.”

H J Weir has formed a working partnership with Laco Machinery, enabling H J Weir to offer customers a complete ironer line combining H J Weir flatwork feeding and folding working with Laco ironers. The King Ironer by H J Weir and Laco Machinery is to be available globally.

In the OPL sector, Electrolux Professional has launched a new steam ironer to complement its popular range of myPRO washing machines and dryers. The myPRO IS185 steam ironer can increase productivity for a range of small businesses, thanks to its flexible program options.

Able to process a variety of fabric types, the myPRO ironer offers five temperature settings, and features a wide 85cm roller and a flexible foot-controlled pedal to determine the roller speed. It can also be used to complement a broader range of Electrolux Professional equipment, including its Line 5000 washers and dryers.

GMP serves the OPL market and small-to-medium size industrial /commercial sector. The Italian company has presented a new portfolio of tools specifically designed for its partners: an innovative video tutorial showing installation and use of GMP ironers, covering all the aspects in delivering an excellent ironing finish. GMP has also unveiled maintenance video tutorials to assist service centres in providing customer support.

Visitors were able to see the next ‘evolutionary’ stage in interactive user interface and remote troubleshooting, and discover how GMP’s “G” ironer line, fitted with the latest generation of electronics, provide precious information to service engineers and operators for the maximum efficiency and safety.

GMP also showed its latest upgraded version of its Tenax professional roller padding. Unlike traditionally used steelwool, Tenax remains unaltered over time, guaranteeing identical productivity and perfect contact surface along the whole ironer life.

TO THE MAX


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