Nine partners, led by German research institute Wfk and including chemicals specialist Christeyns, equipment manufacturer Kannegiesser, and Cinet, as well as the University of Marabor, TZU textile testing institute, and the Polytechnika of Lodz have put together six modules providing a detailed look at the various aspects of the laundry operation.
Public workshops have been held in Brussels, Vlotho and Bradford. At this last meeting, the partners also agreed the programme for converting the presentations to a Powerpoint format for the internet.
The modules are:
the usage of water in the wash process, waste water treatment and regulations (TZU textile testing institute, Czech Republic and Cinet Belgium);
machine technology – washer extractors, tunnel washers, dryers and finishers (Kannegiesser);
wash processes (Polytechnika Lodz department of textile finishing);
usage of energy and detergents – chemical ingredients, dosing systems, the impact of chemistry on water and energy consumption (Christeyns);
water and energy recycling – heat exchangers, presses and dryers, and the use of different heat sources (University of Maribor faculty of textile care); and
special aspects of sustainability – water contaminants and micro-organisms, monitoring and management systems (Wfk)