Expo Detergo review

Lively and international

1 January 2007



Expo Detergo 2006 proved a lively event with plenty of innovation on show, and it is becoming more international in nature. Janet Taylor reports


The drycleaning market has been good this year, says Valerio Gatti of Firbimatic. In the exhibition’s Italian home market, the Solvent Emissions Directive is helping sales. The company is ready for all regulation and can offer technical solutions.

The company’s Trio provides washing/wetcleaning, drying and hydrocarbon drycleaning in the same unit. Many cleaners, says Gatti, will wash/wetclean then dryclean for better stain removal and the Trio offers a combined 1hour 20minute cycle – wash, wetclean, dry and dryclean.

But perchloroethylene still dominates in much of Europe and the company had a new design, initially in 18 and 25kg sizes. The company was also introducing touchscreen programming.

The Renzacci stand displayed innovations that illustrated future drycleaning trends. The Progress Platinum machines are equipped with Videotron, a management system that manages the machine like a computer. Marco Niccolini highlighted another important detail, a filtration system with a special disc which increases the speed of draining, keeping the filter continually at peak performance.

The Puraclean has wetcleaning, washing, drying and dryclean functions and will appeal to the USA market, says Niccolini, especially to those cleaners who need to make better use of limited space.

Renzacci’s laundry display featured high-speed washers with a structure designed to increase performance and stability.

At Italclean, Eugenio Boni was showing two perc machines, plus a hydrocarbon model, as well as a high-speed washer-extractor and tumble dryer.

Boni said he was at the show to provide the customers with more confidence, and to reinforce Italclean’s international presence. The company already sells to Australia, Middle East, Ukraine and USA. UK agent Ian Bush has sold the machines for two years and says their strength and construction are perfect for the English market.

Union was focussing on both the Italian home market and a broader European audience. The Nova is a hydrocarbon/GreenEarth, non- distilling machine. But Italian drycleaners do not have a natural reason for switching from perc, says sales director Gabriele Cuppini.

Union is promoting hydrocarbon’s advantages in cleaning delicate garments. The Nova is effectively two machines in one, as solvent for cleaning light colours is kept separate from that for dark, with solvent regeneration for each type by absorption and decolouring.

Perc machine capacities have been extended to 25kg and Union also demonstrated touchscreeen programming, which is easy to use and also helps maintenance.

Highlights on the Böwe stand included a modular industrial machine which provides automated loading and unloading; the SuperDry intelligent drying system developed for its Premium line range, and the first multisolvent models for its StarLine series.

It also showed soft-mount multisolvent machine where both the drum and surrounding element are soft-mounted, allowing spins up to 1,000rpm.

Realstar was showing both innovative perc and hydrocarbon ranges, but also the Multi-wash 50, a machine that works with hydrocarbon or water. Capacities are 18kg or 35kg for washing. It also showed a development in its machine computers.

Fresenius, the specialist in measuring and monitoring equipment was showing equipment for the drycleaning sector on a stand that also featured the EasyClean hydrocarbon machine.

Olaf Altenkirch, Fresenius sales manager, had an interest in both sides through a joint venture. He admitted the machine had been more of a focus for visitors, and one had been sold to a Texan company. EasyClean was being shown with a monitor mounted on top, and Altenkirch said such equipment could control any potential risks associated with hydrocarbon solvents in general.

Drycleaning finishing specialist Trevil, was targeting commercial laundries and textile rental for the first time with machines for workwear. They result from a co-development project, explained Corinna Mapelli. The design stems from a shirt finisher, but can cope with long or short styles and has specific features for garments such as lab coats, theatre and surgeons’ gowns. These include clamps for side vents and plates for the front pockets. The shoulder area is designed for garments that slip over the head rather than button.

The company also showed re-styled boilers designed to save both water and energy.

Mapelli sees positive market trends emerging. Industrialised countries are increasingly demanding more automation to cut labour costs for end users and also because skilled staff are becoming difficult to find.

Developments at Ghidini are aimed at filling a market gap. Sales manager Roland Fleischman explained that in certain markets, distributors and customers needed a lower cost solution to garment finishing and a former that could handle jackets, coats and shirts.

This is not easy, but the company has produced a universal model which will handle around 25 – 30 shirts/hour with a slightly higher rate on jackets. This uses a more powerful fan, a longer body to cope with workers’ coats, as well as jackets and shirts and air-operated sleeve stretchers that can be positioned to suit both jackets and shirts.

Turkish company Malkan had a range of finishing equipment, including 15 different types of laundry iron, and a jeans finisher. The company has always had these in the range, said Mutlu Alkan, but jeans fashions change and different finish effects are required. Another development on the stand was a spotting machine, with a carbon filter to protect the operator.

Japanese company Sankosha’s complete range of shirt finishers and presses was being displayed for the European distributors. The company currently deals with about 12 countries and expected to sign up more, following an exclusive dealer strategy for each country.

Lines being introduced to Europe included a double legger press and a trouser topper, which provide a complete trouser finishing system capable of handling 40 – 45 trousers per hour. In shirt finishing the LP570 represents an upgrade, with features such as side expander, tuck press and sleeve tensioner.

Idrosmack showed a range of spot removal equipment and was featuring a mini-spotter on wheels that should appeal to those with limited space. Osvaldo Langkraer said that despite the compact size, suction was as powerful as that found in large machines.

Exhibiting at Detergo provides a very concentrated audience, said Dominique Suttheimer of chemicals specialist Büfa. Attending reduces the need to travel to meet contacts old and new.

The core business has always been drycleaning and leather cleaning and this year’s display aimed at encouraging drycleaners to extend their services to include duvet cleaning. Clean feathers treated with Büfa washing and disinfectant products were demonstrably better than those washed in standard products.

The company also supplies commercial laundry products and now offers houskeeping lines to export and home markets, allowing hotels, especially those in the Middle East, to buy all chemicals from one source.

Kreussler’s launch of the latest generation of Clip Comfort detergents proved a highlight on the stand. The revised formula results in greatly improved odour absorption to remove tobacco smoke, body odours, restaurant smells and even fire or flood damage smells, in normal cleaning.

Two other innovations, Derval Energy, a booster for use on heavy soiling and Derval colour were being introduced to the Italian market. They have already been marketed successfully in Germany where they have proved their advantages of providing thorough cleaning and fabric protection at low wash temperatures.

Seitz produces both laundry and drycleaning chemicals but was concentrating on its Pure White system for polyester and synthetic materials. Optical brightening agents do not work well with these materials as they do not adhere. The solution is to put small particles into the transparent polyester fibre to make it look “milky” and therefore white. The system is being introduced first in Mega Polis, a powder detergent.

The Ipso stand highlighted three areas, the WFF hard-mount washers: medium-spin 145 – 160G, with frequency inverter as standard; the CD dryer range, extended with 22.5kg, 22kg and 28kg models; and the family of Cygnus microprocessor controls with variations for different sectors.

General manager Jean-Marc Vandoorne sees little external change or impact on daily business, since the change of ownership to Alliance Laundry Systems. Alliance has always focussed on brands rather than its own name.

Looking at the market in general he saw the European market focussed on innovation, and on niche markets. The WFF range had been launched for those looking for medium-, rather than high-spin machines.

He sees more consolidation resulting in stronger distributors, stronger suppliers that have an advantage over smaller producers who cannot invest in innovation.

Ipso’s Cygnus professional control is a good example of the innovation needed by soap suppliers and end users because of its use of symbols rather than text.

Schulthess divided its display into three segments. For the industrial sector, it was showing 22 and 30kg dryers with an airflow system directed from the back of the machine and going through the linen. Wetcleaning is also important and is being relaunched. Hans-Peter Stamm, head of the laundry division, explained that Schuthess is the only company with a wetcleaning machine with water recovery system. This is especially important in applications such as fire fighter uniforms where the system allows the special finishes to be recovered and reused. The third sector is 5.5 – 6.5kg washers and dryers for small laundries.

Schulthess, based in Switzerland, exports to 20 countries and Stamm says one of its strengths is just-in time production, delivering to the home market in 24 hours and to export markets in a week.

Italian company GMP, best known as an ironer specialist, now provides a laundry range under the Airon brand. This includes 6 – 90kg high-spin washers, 8 – 30kg low spin washers and 12 - 125kg dryers.

Maurizio Tormena says GMP will use its reputation both in the Italian home market and internationally to allow its dealers to offer washers and dryers as well as ironers. GMP will provide the service back-up.

The company has introduced PLC (programmable logical controls) to its drying ironer, which allows them to be programmed for different materials, such as cotton, silk or polycotton. The programs are preset but the choice can be adapted to a customer’s needs. Settings can be displayed in the language of the country where the machine is sold.

A further advantage of PLC is that it offers self-diagnosis of problems which simplifies maintenance.

Primus had designed its stand as a comfortable environment for discussions rather than one crowded with machines.

Nevertheless it did have examples of machines on show. Jean-Baptiste Van Damme highlighted in particular the company’s barrier washers, a category which is attracting increasing attention as a result of more stringent regulation of medical environments. Primus covers 16 – 180kg sizes, and the barrier range now incorporates the Optiload function which weighs each load and adapts parameners accordingly. Recognising the importance of keeping detailed records, the Tracetech system tracks and records wash parameters for future reference.

The rigid mount washers range has been extended with13kg, 18kg and 27kg sizes, while huge doors fit with the well-established “Think Big” theme. A 13kg dryer, large enough to handle duvets was aimed at the drycleaning sector.

Most shows have a crowd-pulling exhibit with a novelty value to get visitors talking. At Detergo, this was found on the Biko stand where its folders were demonstrated by a robot feeding items into the machine. The robot itself is not made by Biko but has been integrated into Biko machinery.

At Alliance Laundry Systems, vice president Lee Wilson confirmed company’s focus on its brands - Speed Queen, Unimac, Heubsch, and the recent family additions Cissell and Ipso. The USA-based Cissell had been consolidated with the Alliance operation.

Wilson was in the process of regionalising. Ipso would have its own sales force for Europe, and Middle East and Africa, while its Latin America and Asian sales would move over to Wilson’s responsibility. This makes Ipso unusual in the family in having two sales organisations outside North America.

Wilson highlighted an 8kg front-loading washer, available singly and as a stack unit. This would get a redesign this year to increase the door opening from 10.2inches to 15inches, making it the largest for this style. Front-loading machines are now accepted in the USA, so these machines will have a worldwide market.

Imesa marked an important stage in its development at Detergo by showing a 500mm drying ironer with folder. It can now provide for both small and medium laundries and supply a full range of drying ironers to complement its washers and dryers.

It is already working on four projects for Texcare 2008 – a110kg front- loading washer, a 100kg dryer, and a drying ironer with both feeder and folder and a double-stack dryer.

Imesa was ready to launch its certified partner scheme for qualifying distributors at the show, and plans to establish partners in each country it serves, says Carlo Miotto. Those that are signed will get Imesa’s commitment to technical and sales training, priority production, a bonus on sales and payment facilities. In turn they would commit to Imesa and to developing a common strategy for improving its market and their service to it. The company had also developed a slogan - Imesa, a life by your side, summarising how the company will meet people’s needs from infancy to old age.

Electrolux continues its heavy promotion of its Lagoon wetcleaning system. It sees the concept as a real alternative to drycleaning and one which is capable of handling the most delicate garments. The Lagoon system is certified by Woolmark. Several systems have been installed.

The stand also had a heavy duty area with the next generation of barrier washers.

Competitiveness is essential to success today, said Danube International’s Bernard Jomard and the company launched high-spin front-loading washers claimed to be the most competitive on the market. The company also has a policy of regular innovation and in 2007 it will extend the capacities in its barrier range to 100kg macnine. We sell a lot of equipment to China and they need big machines. The machine will be launched there and then in Eastern Europe.

Jomard feels the market is generally booming. In Eastern Europe, former communist countries are seeing economies improve and are willing to invest.

Turkish company Tolkar has been established for more than 30 years and claims to be the best known laundry equipment producer in its home market. It produces both laundering and finishing equipment and has two ranges one for industrial laundries, the other for the textile trade. The company has been exhibiting at international exhibitions for the past three to four years and was showing at Detergo for the first time.

Ecolab showed a pre-assembled station for dosing liquids with built-in software to provide data at each stage of the wash.

Other highlights included Oxybrite which the company is using to replace peroxide bleaches.

The company has also developed the turbo pump, a hybrid design for use on washer-extractors, which will replace peristaltic types and be backed by a two-year guarantee.

Marco Sansini said there was also much interest in energy and resource saving systems. To date, it had installed more than 500 Energy Optimisers throughout Europe.

Christeyns enters the second phase of its take over of JohnsonDiversey laundry business as 2007 starts (see news) and preparation had begun. Its aim at the show was to demonstrate how it could help customers maximise their business.

Energy saving products included Heat-X heat recovery systems and now Steam-X for recovering and re-using boiler condensate in tunnel washers. Lint-X water recycling systems were also highlighted as was the well established Sanoxy water and energy saving wash system

The Jensen stand mirrored the company’s recent in-house exhibition which introduced several innovations (see LCNi November 06). These included the Evolution automated towel handling system in which “magic hands” within the machine eliminate manual feeding; and the Logic Plus, high-speed large flatwork feeder capable of up to 1,050pieces/hour in one lane or 1,800 in two lanes.

The Highline tunnel washer with dual action was seen on a video presentation, but Kathrin Scheffel said that in the Italian market the focus was more on the Universal machines.

The show had been good and had brought a chance to meet a lot of distributors and their customers including those from the Middle East, Russia and Denmark.

Smartex from Turkey introduced its patented balancing system for washers to a wider range of sizes. This allows extraction over 400G and was originally built into high-capacity machines but is now available on 50 – 500kg sizes. Aimed largely at the garment trade, it can also suit bulky loads such as mops and dustmats, which will take the machines into Northern Europe’s commercial laundries, says managing director Akin Rota.

At the Kannegiesser stand Horst Löffler, managing director of host Kannegiesser Italia, said the group was seeing many visitors from the rest of Europe, reflecting Detergo’s growing international nature.

Much of the innovation had been previewed at Kannegiesser’s in-house 2005 show. For instance the EMT high-speed feeder which can handle 900 –1,000 hospital sheets/hour. Turbo versions of the centrifugal press improve efficiency in the tunnel washer line. Extraction is less costly than dryer or ironer and most of the cycle is used for extracting water. A standard 40 bar press operating a 120 minute cycle on terry towels, would give a residual moisture of 53%, but the turbo version would produce 43%RSM.

“We are here presenting products for specific markets,” Girbau president, said Pere Girbau. He added the most important exhibits were the HS6, high-spin soft-mount, and MS6 hard-mount medium spin washers.

Girbau improved the features and introduced additional sizes. The gas ironer was another highlight.

“We are a company which is growing and is vital, and full of high technology. My daughter and nephew, representing the next generation, have joined the company, ensuring continuity,” said Pere Girbau. Looking at global trends, he observed that Europe was stable, but beyond there were a lot of dynamic markets. Girbau aimed to be represented in all countries, sometimes by a distributor, sometimes directly by specially trained people who can provide service and spares.

Girbau is also investigating the Indian market. It already has a distributor, Tessla Technologies and Oxidation, based in Mumbai but with branches throughout.

Special advisor Leonard Kafer said that it was also planning to register and establish its own company as India is one of the most important emerging world markets.

Identification and tracking are becoming increasingly important in the laundry industry. Datamars, the specialist in radio frequency identification (RFID) had two developments to show. The first, a tunnel antenna could scan over 100 pieces in one go with 100% accuracy and included a software package which showed details of the laundry bag contents.

The second, a chute antenna, which had a screen display showing pictorially the items that were being delivered.

In the flatwork finishing market gas-heated ironers have been much to the fore, and so Lapauw executive director Geert Braeckman was highlighting the gas version of the 4000XXL ironer and also the company’s ability to offer a complete gas-heated range.

Gas was energy efficient as shown by a survey comparing the 4000XXL gas ironer with a standard 2-roll steam-heated model with the same ironing width. The gas model was found to be 20% more efficient and ran 15% faster.

Braeckman was pleased with the show and had seen many end-user customers from Belgium and from Italy. 2006 had been a very good year with sales up 20%. He felt many companies are investing in equipment and predicted that 2007 would continue at a similar level.

Lapauw had now completed its showroom and could demonstrate a feeder, ironer folder line.

Feeder and folder specialist H J Weir, was also represented on the stand of Italian distributor Setel, which acts for both companies. The machines on show were core to the UK manufacturer’s range and included the Multistation, Vac feed 29, the foldmaker 55 and Airspeed 43 towel folder. These lines had, said Ross Weir, a totally universal appeal. In Europe, he saw the main trends as automation. His own role at the show was to meet distributors from European countries such as Greece, and beyond, for example New Zealand.

Flatwork finishing was the centrepiece of the Stahl stand. A Servant feeder had been improved with a clamp which allowed pieces to be fed by a single operator.

The company also showed 80kg and 110kg additions to its Atoll washer-extractors and the Divimat D range of hygiene washers which are designed for installation into the wall dividing clean and dirty sides of the laundry.

Setricefradue specialises in flatwork ironers with integrated folder. To date it has produced cylinder types but now has a multi-roll chest ironer, available in 800mm and 1,000mm diameter, with one, two or three roll and 3m and 3.3 metre lengths and in steam or thermal oil heating options.

The company had had a good show, making lots of contacts. Half of its production is for the Italian market but its export markets include Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Poland, Greece, Israel, Australia and South Korea.

Kaan, the laundry equipment manufacturer, specialises in drying ironers and was introducing the GVR, designed to cope with varying levels of staffing as it can switch from standard to return feed mode via the control panel.

It has used its specialist experience with gas to develop high speed washers with a gas heating module which can be switched on as needed to substitutes for the machine’s electric heating. The technology is now going through TUV certification.

De Vlieger exhibited alongside its Italian partner La Tecnica. Hermann Van de Voorde stressed that De Vlieger’s base is international and he was pleased the exhibition now attracts a more international audience. He added that all machines are rebuilt to incorporate the latest technology and he had recently equipped a hospital in Chile.

Fanafel, specialist in ironer clothing and acessories, introduced a 100% needled felt belt with a non-slip siliconised surface, of food industry standard, on one side. This surface improves adherence, while the felt backing ensures a long life.

The belt can be supplied in different forms to suit specific applications, for example to provide uniform pulling on a feed belt, or to improve transport on folders, stackers and transporters. It is also more stable and will stretch less than cotton belts.

San-ai highlighted the Tape-matic ultrasonic tape fastener, which has several advantages over more traditional methods as, unlike knots, it creates a long-lasting smooth join that does not risk marking the linen. It is also easier to apply than stitching and can be adjusted to right- or left-hand use. It operates without heat and is therefore safe for employees. The company has also changed the caps on its spring padding to overlap so giving appearance of coil spring with the advantages of laminated types.

Schneider showed a range of accessories and spares for the drycleaning sector. This included boilers, ironing tables and packaging. It had recently introduced a range of wire hangers, an area of the business which was less well known than the spares and parts. In addition to the hangers themselves, this section of the display include guards, tubes and specialist lines such as a hanger for heavy curtains.




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