National Clothesline

CARLSTADT, NJ — European Finishing Equipment Corp., the exclusive distributor of Hi-Steam pressing equipment, is introducing its PND-2500AB vacuum and blowing board

A blowing board is a self-contained vacuum board that gives the option of switching the air flow from strong vacuum (for sharp creases) to blowing upward to press garments on a cushion of air. Pressing on a cushion of air is gentle to the fabric, so it is perfect for pressing delicate garments and finishing garments without making seam impressions or pocket impressions. It also prevents shine on dark-colored fabrics.

Like its cousin, the PND-2500A vacuum board, the PND-2500AB vacuum and blowing board is a professional strength, mid-size, medium duty pressing board. It has heated pressing surface and optional heated sleeve buck with vacuum and blowing.

The machine requires no assembly, no special wiring and no installation. It comes out of the box and ready to be plugged in anywhere. A self-contained pressing station can be created when used in conjunction with a Hi-Steam SVP-24 mini boiler with iron.

This machine can be used for touch-ups at the plant away from the central boiler, at a drycleaning storefront, a drop-off store, in a coin laundry, and for tailoring and alterations, clothing stores, and tuxedo, bridal shops and valet service.

WEST BABYLON, NY — ILSA Machines Corp., manufacturer of Columbia drycleaning machines, has received New York State Department of Environmental Conservation certification.

Columbia’s models Pronto, MEC 2F, TD Mach and TD Mach 2 have passed testing and are now certified perchloroethylene drycleaning equipment under 6NYCRR Part 232.13.

Machine certification is one of the requirements set forth in rules adopted in 1997 that govern drycleaning operations in New York state. A certified laboratory has to do the testing and prove that the equipment is in compliance. Under the rules, only certified machines will be allowed to be installed in New York after June 26, 2003.

Steven Langiulli, president of Columbia Drycleaning machines, said he had been confident that his company’s products would meet the certification protocol and the delay in doing so was primarily due to verifying the accuracy of all data submitted to the department.

“Our experience in Germany is vast and the history of reduction in perc emission is proven over the past 15 years by the German rule. Complying with the equipment rule in New York State did not add to the degree of difficulty.

Every machine in Germany must be a fourth-generation machine and is required to have an analyzer that confirms the ppm concentration of perc at the loading door, activated carbon adsorption bed and within the workplace.

The analyzer prints the time and date of each cycle processed with the machine. When the machine is in standby, the analyzer will read the took concentration and post the value every 15 minutes. This is like having an inspector at the machine at all times, Langiulli said.

DRAPER, UT — Westgate Software has released SPOT2000 version 3.33, the newest version of its business management software for Microsoft Windows2000.

The new version includes more than 30 new features and hundreds of enhancements.

New features include an advanced Home Page design, assisted assembly, automated lot management, central cashiering and marketing tools such as mail merge, mailing labels and a customer relations manager.

The company said that the new version has also undergone significant performance optimizations and that idle CPU utilization has been reduced by as much as 70 percent and that the database size is dramatically smaller.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Coin Laundry Association has released its 2002 Official Results Report of the nationwide coin laundry industry survey. Readex, an independent research company, conducted this sixth annual survey and CLA has published the results.

Since 1997, CLA and Readex have worked together to gather industry-specific information and compose a profile of coin laundries in the United States.

Questions for randomly selected laundry respondents are intended to paint a picture of the typical coin laundry. The questions are also deigned to point to future trends and serve as a benchmark of comparison for future surveys.

The report also serves as a reference for anyone researching the coin laundry industry. For anyone who is operating a coin laundry, it can help in making comparisons to others across the national.

Questions included total gross revenue, average vend prices, equipment mix breakdowns and ancillary services offered. Average employee wages, bonus and commission structures, gross revenue spent on utilities, average rent per square foot and others are also covered.

The publication is free to CLA member and available for sale to non-members.

MAMARONECK, NY — Trevil American, the North American distributor for Trevil products, has introduced the TreviStar finisher.

The TreviStar is designed to provide a hand-finished look to shirts. Its flexibility lets it fit into a variety of operations, from large plants needing a specialty high-end shirt finisher to small ones that do not have the volume of business to justify the cost of ore expensive finishing units.

Combined with Trevil’s new cuff and collar press with self-contained vacuum, the TreviStar with one operator can produce quality shirts at a pace similar to a traditional single-buck shirt unit.

The machine has been ergonomically designed for easy loading and unloading. A single pedal controls the operation. The photocell on the rear of the machine identifies the proper position for most sizes of shirts. Automatic side clamps and expanders hold the shirt under tension during the steam and air cycles. A heated front clamp provides a hard finish on the placket area.

Technical features include a voltage regulator that prevents problems caused by voltage surges and drops. All switching inside the machine is done in low voltage (24V or 5V) except for the motor. Also, all air valves are of the high temperature variety and require no additional lubrication. The Treviform is ETL listed.

TULSA, OK — Royaltone’s Prosuede Wet Detergent Plus Conditioner is made for wetcleaning of suede, leather and cloth trimmed with suede and leather without causing color bleeding or stiffness. It can be used with any laundry washer, added to the wash cycle at the ratio of two ounces per garment.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Kaeser Compressors has a new energy saving dryer series available with a choice of dual control or demand manager options.

With rated capacities of 800 to 3000 scfm and a maximum working pressure of 200 psig, the dryers provide consistently dry compressed air. Smooth surface, densely packed tube-in-tube copper heat exchangers resist fouling and provide good heat transfer. All units use R-404a refrigerants and contain no CFCs.

All dryers include a filtered separator equipped with Kaeser’s new filter monitor to provide optimum filter change-out intervals. The new KRD dryers also feature a redesigned filtration system that allows the user to add an optional oil removal filter if desired.

SKOKIE, IL — Foster-Stephens has its 2003 year-at-glance calendars ready to shop. This calendars offer a choice of two pictures: the patriotic “United We Stand” and the peaceful “Island.”

The calendars are designed to fit over hangers or can be mailed with the company’s specially sized envelopes.