National Clothesline

e all know that this economy is hurting everyone. All retail establishment— travel business, airlines, restaurants, stock market banking — and just about every service industry suffer and unemployment is high. Drycleaners have not been spared, but fortunately they are now acting creatively, expanding their services, but before doing so, taking full control of their quality. (See my article in the March issue on how to diversify.)

We have also been blessed with another creative part of our industry and that is our machinery manufacturers. Here creative engineering has been making a diligent, all-out effort to produce time-saving features and benefits, at the same time improving quality.

If we just glance through the ads of some of our major manufacturers, we see a list of amazing improvements that don’t cost money — they make money! Let me give a few examples, and the names appear to be “Who’s Who” in American business, names we all know as Ajax, Hoffman, Unipress, Cissell and some excellent foreign manufacturers.

Go to the finishing and pressing part of our business and consider that pants, trousers, and slacks take in over 50 percent of our production. Yet less than 15 percent of the drycleaning plants I have inspected are still doing trousers on a 42" utility press! Some are even on foot-operated units where the production seldom ever exceeds 25 to 30 pants an hour, with an inordinate amount of double creases.

When I say that upgrading doesn’t cost money, I want you to carefully examine the cost. You’ll see that production and consistent quality far exceed the outlay of money. Example: a pants tension blower topper does a far better job of topping the pants even with pleat paddles. While the operator is putting on the second pants for topping, he or she is now legging the first pair. One lay and one leg and both front and back crease are done in one shot, steamed, pressure and vacuum — all automatically on a timer release.

Production sets at 50 pants per hour with consistent, uniform quality and, more important, it can be accomplished with inexperienced high school help, piece work and minimum training.

You don’t need to be a math genius to count the savings and see the payback time in space, labor, steam and energy, all with faster production, but most important, with superb quality.

Where can you buy such equipment and get a free estimate with finance terms? Just go through your National Clothesline.

Pants are 50 percent of your business. How about jackets and coats? Here again there are steam-air finishers that take care of all your silk needs, and with a steam electric hand iron on the press. Hoffman has joined forces with Pony, a leading European equipment manufacturer, and offers the latest innovations in up-air tensioner equipment, making for high quality and consistent production. You can now return a jacket with the collar and lapel set with the same piece of equipment that was used in the garment’s original manufacture, which shrinks and molds the collar. It’s called the Coat-a-Matic. The cleaner can even offer a few hundred button tags to be placed on each jacket announcing “See and feel the difference. Your jacket was finished on the new Coat-O-Matic!”

Again you get custom quality with high production because motion study was taking in consideration — one operator with two pieces of equipment and no more ceiling gazing.

Considering a new drycleaning unit? There is nothing wiser than “Investigate before you Invest” and where better than your the National Clothesline, where page after page of information is available, from Green Earth, petroleum, hydrocarbon, CO2, Rynex and the latest in perc-approved fifth generation units, all with free demonstration.

Thinking of a new high production shirt unit with special vacuum drying? I am reminded of my Dad, who borrowed a line from the old Packard car advertisement: “Ask the man who owns one!”

You have to remember that when times are tough the buyer has to be more informed and the seller equally prepared to give the customer the best deal possible. The best time to buy is now, and you know it’s time to upgrade your plant.

As I said, everyone benefits. The economic times force us all to do the smart move now and capture this sleeping market. The wake up call is upon us!

Ray Colucci, a consultant to the fabric care industry, has revised and made available three timely pamphlets: “Up Front Is Where It Counts” for counter training; “Pressed for Perfection” for finishing techniques; the popular “Route to Success To the Home of Office” for complete route training. The pamphlets are $20 each or all three for $50. Immediate delivery with all postage paid is promised. Send requests and payment to to R. Colucci, 410 Warren Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543.