A flexible approach

he movement towards flexible chest ironers has meant that the whole subject of producing springing and padding has had to be reconsidered.

Flexible chests are made out of two sheets of metal plates of different thickness, which have been laser welded, continuously at the edges, and using spotwelds for the whole surface.

After having been pressurised at very high pressure, the thinnest sheet “blows up”, forming the cavity for the steam.

This affects the surface of the inner chest, leaving marks and dents at every spotweld. The chest can no longer maintain firm contact with the linen and the uneven surface creates nests where residues will gather.

Using abrasive cleaning cloths at regular intervals is not a satisfactory solution to the problem, but high temperature waxes with cleaning agents are now available and these will prevent and/or remove most of the residues that form, if not all.

With solid chests, the main purpose of the spring was to take up the wear of the padding and to cope with the expansion of the chest. The second purpose was to flatten uneven patches – for instance, in areas containing buttons or seams.

However, flexible chests can adapt to patches of wear in the padding and maintain perfect contact.

Therefore modern springs have a very different construction and, in combination with good needlefelt padding, will expand to fill every laser spotweld to avoid production loss or deposits.

It is therefore important that when laundry managers are considering buying a flexible chest ironer or changing the springs on such an ironer, they make sure they buy springs specifically designed for the purpose. They should also make sure that they buy proper waxing or lubricating agents with built-in cleaners.