Specialist show delivers much

The Clean UK exhibition fulfilled its promise to deliver a large array of the latest equipment and sundry products for operators of drycleaning and launderette businesses, and for those responsible for running on-premises laundries.

Exhibitors reported how noticeably discerning many of the visitors to their stands were—people considering buying equipment were interested not just in price but in after-sales service and spare parts availability.

The exhibition was bright, the stands—some of them large—were often impressively constructed and showing off the most recent technology to advantage.

Organised on behalf of the Society of Laundry Engineers and Allied Trades by DMG Trinity, and held over two days, the event attracted about 2700 visitors.

Duval, with a prominent stand, was showing a pre-production, compact 14.5kg hydrocarbon drycleaning machine from AMA Universal. This has a 35 minute dry-to-dry cycle time, a high spin speed of 600 rpm, and a heavy-duty catchment tray—the weight of which means no special foundations for the machine are required.

Duval has installed some 50 hydrocarbon drycleaning machines in the UK and found operators’ preference is to buy them without distillation units. These units are easily retrofittable if required. Duval considers distillation is not necessary with general processing but is a requirement if classifications with a heavier than usual degree of soiling are to be handled.

Promoted by Duval were the latest AMA Universal Mito perc machines. The Mito 332 has 32 lb capacity, computer control, ecological filter, 100% heat pump drying, continuous distillation, high capacity still, three working tanks and high volume solvent catchment tray. The Mito 222 has a similar specification but takes loads of 22 lb and has two tanks.

The latest Mito perc machines are designed to run with extremely low solvent and energy consumption. Access to components has been made particularly easy for servicing.

CPT also had a prominent stand at the show, underlining its growing prominence in the UK market. It was also displaying a new corporate logo, a strong image which goes with the company’s expanded sales and technical support operations.

CPT is the UK distributor for Firbimatic drycleaning equipment, and among its machines shown was the 912S 12 kg slender perc model which has two tanks with self-cleaning sight glasses, computer control with manual override, an ecological powderless filter, a carbon filter to cope with colour bleeds, still with ecological automatic cook out, steam or electric heating, still heat recovery system on the electric version, automatic still cleaning, hermetically sealed refrigerated recovery with heat pump, and button trap drying circuit.

The machine also has digital thermostats to measure hot air in and hot air out of the drum during the drying phase of the cycle, built-in air compressor, automatic drum backplate washing, and solvent cooling.

Demand for hydrocarbon equipment is growing, CPT affirms.

Böwe caused some controversy by deciding to have a modest stand and no equipment displayed. The company was implementing a straightforward marketing policy, it explained. Less money spent by it at the exhibition meant it could further enhance deals for customers.

Böwe said the idea worked—customers could talk to staff without the “distraction” of equipment, and appointments were made for them to visit the Böwe premises at Maidenhead.

“The object this year has not been to save money, but to use it in another way,” a spokesperson said.

Böwe reported that it did as much real business at the show as at previous events.

Promoted by Satec was advanced hydrocarbon drycleaning equipment which incorporates Drylogic technology. The equipment features particularly efficient extraction and its suspension is designed to eliminate vibration. Importantly, large-volume airflow allows rapid cooldown of work. The computer control has a diagnostic facility, and programs can be tailored to the use of specific chemicals. The button trap is self cleaning. Machine load capacity is currently either 15 or 22 kg. Satec is looking for distributors worldwide.

Shown by Renzacci UK was the Speed Mater perc drycleaning machine which produces, because of its fast cycle time, two 14 kg loads per hour. A two-bath cycle time is put at 24 minutes. The slim machine, which features continuous distillation, has inverter drive and is said to be particularly economic to operate.

Renzacci were promoting the KWL 18 hydrocarbon machine which will process an 18 kg load, with two baths, in 42 to 45 minutes. Distillation is continuous. Extremely high vacuum pressure means faster drying and faster distillation. Renzacci believes a distillation unit, in addition to carbon filters and powderless ecological filtration, is essential to ensure solvent is clean.

By having a distillation unit, Renzacci says, the cleaner can handle a considerable variety of classifications, including suedes and leathers, without worry. The unit eliminates bacteria build-up and unpleasant smells, and it means filter powder does not have to be bought or disposed of, states Renzacci.

Parrisianne, distributor of Union drycleaning machines, was explaining that a patented distillation system prevents a foaming problem occurring in Union hydrocarbon equipment. The system permits only a limited amount of solvent to be present in the still at any one time and so solvent expansion and foaming is safely contained. Introduction of vacuum to the still lowers the boiling temperature.

Parrisianne considers that distillation with hydrocarbon processing need not be necessary, and points out that bacteria can be present in a machine even if distillation is being carried out. Bacteria live in moisture in the drycleaning section of the machine and can be present if not all the moisture is flushed to the still where thermal disinfection is effected.

A bacteria problem is more likely to arise if lint accumulates in the cage or the recovery head.

One hydrocarbon machine installed by Parrisianne without a distillation unit had been running for 17 months without any bacteria problems arising. Good standards of housekeeping are essential with drycleaning machines, Parrisianne underlines. Dane Realstar was promoting the latest Realstar drycleaning machines, including a hydrocarbon model with solvent chiller, large capacity distillation unit, mini filter, computer control and inverter controlled fan and drive motors.

Equipment supplier CCS was drawing attention to how it has taken on the sole UK distributorship for Italian-made Sovrana drycleaning machines which are designed for both ergonomics and style. Microprocessor control is standard and a customised, card-based pre-programming service is available. Perc machines are available in slimline format, 8 to 18 kg capacity; in wide format, 10 to 19 kg; and in industrial size, 24 to 75 kg. Hydrocarbon machines are available with or without distillation and in 10 to 32 kg sizes.

A stream of visitors inspected drycleaning equipment on the Multimatic stand. Featured was a BW320 KWL hydrocarbon solvent machine with an inert gas blanketing safety system, and displayed was the Vantage 240 perc machine and the Slimline 240 perc model.

JLA’s bulldog mascot was much in evidence—depicted on posters, key rings and badges rather than in the flesh. The bulldog, attired to be unmistakably British, goes with JLA’s own descriptive phrase “The largest distributor of commercial laundry equipment in the world.” The Aquatex system of JLA was being promoted as a system with which cleaners can add to their portfolio of services—by handling suedes and leathers, wedding dresses and other delicate classifications, wax jackets, duvets, shirts and contract laundry.

An Aquatex washer was shown together with a multi-finisher and a trouser finisher. The multi-finisher, for shirts, jackets and coats, can be heated by electricity or steam. Items are taken straight from the washer and positioned on the multi- finisher for drying and finishing in one operation. The items are held under tension and are subjected, if required, to blown hot air and steam injection.

JLA says the multi-finisher is the static drying option for the smaller operation. Where volume is substantial, a drying cabinet, which can handle a batch of garments simultaneously, is recommended.

JLA has been a long-term distributor for Maytag and Ipso washers, and for ADC tumblers, and it was promoting these at the show.

Sapphire, previously known as G Spinks Laundry Services, was exhibiting for the first time under the Sapphire banner. In addition to commercial laundry equipment, the company showed a trio of Aquawave-branded machines designed to cover all the cleaning options required in the drycleaning business.

The Aquawave washer provides a professional, microprocessor controlled wetcleaning system using biodegradable additives — and it can also be used for normal washing.

The line-up also included a hydrocarbon drycleaning machine with full computer control. It uses continuous filtration and is currently supplied without a distillation unit. To complete the line, the company showed a tumble dryer that could be used for both drycleaned and washed items and includes state-of-the-art moisture sensing.

The business systems companies exhibiting at Clean UK had one clear message for visitors. This was that the use of a full computerised p-o-s system has the potential to boost turnover and improve efficiency. It can even open up the way to more effective marketing. Specialised technology was promoted by DryStream, T P Data, Infopos, Spot Business Systems and Dry Cleaning Computer Systems.

Other show highlights included: • Shirt-shaped pressing table from Speedypress.

• Announcement that the Argentinean-made Blanca Press is coming to Europe, thanks to a joint sales and marketing venture between Orchard Commercial Services and Fast Systems. The press is designed to fill a market niche between the small, hand operated press and the smallest roller ironer. Distributors are being sought in the UK and in Continental Europe.

• New Pressing Solutions: consultancy from finishing equipment specialists Centre Service. Advice on equipment choice and finishing methods is available.

• Debut of BMM Weston 500 mm roll diameter ironer with fully heated chested. The machine is designed to provide quality flatwork finishing results usually associated with larger ironers.

• Comprehensive display of BMM Weston shirt finishing equipment, including the compact All-In-One unit and, for larger volume, the trio of double buck press, collar and cuff press and sleever.

• Portable, folding finishing tables and small steam iron units from Clean Chemicals and Supplies.

• Small but extremely effective drycleaning contact water separator from Clean Chemicals and Supplies.

• Wire hanger recycling bin from Clean Chemicals and Supplies—placing a bin in a unit shop lets customers dispose of hangers sensibly and cuts the drycleaner’s hanger costs.

• Smart card technology from Electrolux. The technology allows “cashless” operation of machines together with comprehensive equipment monitoring.

• PT6 drycleaning finishing table having vacuum and blowing, and the option of base steam, from Electrolux Orton which announced it was launching an Apollo shirt finishing unit.

• UniMac washer-extractors shown by Armstrong. Rapid spray rinse technology is claimed to improve production rates significantly as a thorough rinse takes just 1.5 minutes.

• Extra durable hydro-extractors from Mistcroft.

• Distinctive Expressions premium packaging from Alex Reid.

• Introduction of Shift, a detergent designed for launderette coin-op dispensers, from Brookford.

• Promotion of DMA wire coat hangers.

DMA, a French company, is supplying Alex Reid.

• Launch of Grand Union kitchen collection, including glass cloths, waiters’ cloths, and oven cloths, by linen specialist Tonrose.

• Promotion of ‘partnership with the customer’ concept by Warner Howard, a company which offers comprehensive laundry planning and installation services.

• Imager RA 135 photographic micro-lab from Photo-Me.

• Promotion of ironer paddings, feeder and folder banding, press clothing, ironer maintenance products, laundry bags and hampers by Severnside Fabrics.

• Energy-saving CFB 4VT range of vertical steam boilers from Controlled Flame Boilers. A Boiler Lease Purchase scheme is available for customers who wish to spread costs.