The debate, chaired by Chris Tebbs, executive director, International Drycleaners’ Congress, will examine the benefits of the main solvent options and speakers include representatives from ECSA on perc, JCUK on GreenEarth, Lewis & Wayne on hydrocarbon, Electrolux on wetcleaning and R R Streets on the Solvair system.

A varied conference programme will also include Satra’s Christine Antrobus on the top ten drycleaning customer complaints and problem garments; Carole Brown of Persil Services on effective marketing; Peter Hunt from Waste Care; Robin Rhodes and Gareth Draper on the implications of an increasingly immigrant workforce; and Geoff Brown from the Health and Safety Executive on the government’s simplified approach.

Murray Simpson (TSA) and Adrian Redgate (The Guild) will give an update of their association’s activities on behalf of the industry and Parker Hobart will update on its drycleaning PR campaign.

The conference will be supported by an exhibition.

In addition to the business programme the weekend will include social events on both Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March.