Modular design can provide a solution

Böwe Textile Cleaning launched its industrial modular drycleaning system, InduLine, to an invited audience at its headquarters in Augsburg, Germany.

The system is intended for factory-style operations such as central processing units.

It will be marketed under the banner of “You have the challenge? We have the solution!”.

Heiner Rademacher, Böwe managing director, explained that the most innovative and significant feature of the InduLine is its construction.

The company held a week of demonstrations of the InduLine system in June to give visitors a good understanding of its applications.

These include cleaning of workwear (including protective clothing), degreasing of furs and leather, machine cleaning of cloths (if they do not contain combustible solvents), the cleaning of leather gloves, milling of wool and cleaning of carpets. The InduLine will take loads of 100 – 200kg depending upon the type of application. It is divided into four main module areas – the drycleaning machine, still, solvent tank and dryer.

The InduLine draws on the proven technology of Böwe”s PremiumLine system for the retail drycleaning sector. The company says the industrial machine can be used with perc, as well as hydrocarbon and other alternative solvents.

Rademacher explained that perc has been the leading drycleaning solvent for many years, since it is ideal for removal of fats and oils. But increasing legislative control on solvents led to a move towards alternative solvents and water, while the technology of modern drycleaning machines has continued to develop.

He said that HC solvent is increasingly used for industrial drycleaning, despite having a lower fat dissolving ability than perc. “Very good results can be obtained by good process engineering and use of optimised detergents. The modules are designed to make optimum use of all current solvents.” Solvent consumption is below 1% thanks to integrated adsorption units that ensure that the system complies with the strictest regulations.

He highlighted the loading and unloading system. The InduLine’s cage tilts 70degrees upwards for loading, and 30degrees downwards when unloading.

The loading door is automated and swivel-mounted and is driven and locked electro-mechanically from the machine control. The cage unit is set up on a spring damper unit, which reduces the dynamic force during the extraction process by as much as 85 – 90%.

The 1,000mm door provides greater access, making it easier to load and unload bulky and hard-to-handle goods like carpets. The cage can be rotated for more efficient loading. When unloading, goods can be deposited on a conveyor belt for further processing.

Because an operator is rarely needed, the system can be more easily integrated into new and existing processing lines.

Rademacher says design features of the InduLine can be summed up in four key words – noise, emissions, economy and water.

The flow-optimised airshaft and improved positioning of the refrigeration unit reduce noise.

Emissions are avoided by means of closed machines with over-pressure control and an integrated carbon unit.

An air cooler that operates during drying, with an integrated carbon unit and the closed circuit design helps to reduce water and wastewater costs.

A small carbon unit provides parallel adsorption, whilst two adjustable compressors reduce electricity costs.

An adsorption unit can be integrated for operation with perc and this can be either the Consorba one-cycle system or the Polysorba multi-cycle system.

Other cost-saving features include an adjustable steam valve at distillation to reduce steam consumption. The machine is also easier to maintain. Thanks to the modular design, the height can be reduced to 3m.

This also means that important maintenance points (such as a button trap, and lint filter) can be reached easily, and that platforms and ladders are not necessary.

To make cleaning the lint filter easier, the cage can be swivelled to the loading position so the filter bag can be reached easily. This is another feature that helps maintenance.

The InduLine is the ideal solution for all industrial applications, says Rademacher. Each process can be realised by adding water and detergents. Features include a frequency converter for continuous adjustment of the drum speed; solvent cooling and/or solvent heating; sludge distillation with stirrer; side heating of still; and up to two spinning filters. The separate and vertical solvent tanks have a round top with an overflow to minimise condensation water.

Each tank has two large sight glasses for checking the solvent.

The system operates without a dirt tank, as dirt separated from the garments is carried directly to the still. The still holds up to 1,000litres of solvent.

A large round water separator ensures efficient separation of water and solvent. For perc, this is done by means of an integrated secondary separator and for the MultiSolvent version, by a Hydro Balance System (HBS).

The proven technology found on the PremiumLine series is used for drying module of the InduLine.

The optimised airflow of the PremiumLine’s SuperDry PDS+ system is combined with the InduLine’s perforated cage backplate to create a diagonal flow of drying air that reaches all garments even those at the bottom of the cage.

MODULAR: The InduLine’s modular design makes it highly suitable as a high capacity drycleaning machine for industrial use Induline UNVEILING THE INDULINE: (main picture) At the Böwe Textile Cleaning launch of InduLine are (from left) Heiner Rademacher, managing director; Reiner Wittendorfer, deputy managing director (formerly technical director); Walter Mueck, marketing; and Dieter OInduteam BAG: Loading by means of a bag (bottom picture) for example for gloves or cleaning cloths indubag UNLOADING: Front view of the InduLine unloading (centre picture) with the cage tilting 30degrees downwards indu unloading LOADING: Front view of the InduLine loading (top picture) shows the cage tilting 70degrees upwards indu loading