National Clothesline

A new Wet Cleaning Demonstration Center has opened its doors at Southern California Edison’s Customer Technology Application Center (CTAC) in Irwindale.

The project is the result of a partnership by Southern California Edison (SCE), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Miele USA, Veit Incorporated and the California Cleaners Association.

The center was designed to allow small- and medium-sized business customers of SCE, particularly drycleaners, view wetcleaning demonstrations. SCAQMD considers wetcleaning a viable alternative to drycleaning with perchloroethylene..

“SCE’s Wet Cleaning Demonstration Center is geared toward helping businesses make the transition to meet SCAQMD’s regulation to be perc-free by 2020,” stated Myn Kim, SCE Account Executive.

SCAQMD’s Rule 1421 requires all perc-using businesses in the California counties of counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside to phase out perc use completely by the year 2020.

Estimating that approximately 90 percent of drycleaners use perc, SCE believes that more than 3,900 of its drycleaning customers will need to comply with the regulation.

By its own calculations, SCAQMD figures that two-thirds of all cleaners will need to purchase new machinery by Nov. 1, 2007.

In order to help industry members with compliance, SCAQMD is funding $2 million in grant monies for cleaners making a switch to an alternative cleaning technology.

Grants up to $10,000 are available for each approved professional wetcleaning or CO2 cleaning system. Hydrocarbon solvent drycleaning equipment is also considered a viable alternative to perc. Each approved hydrocarbon system may receive a grant up to $5,000.

When SCE constructed its Wet Cleaning Demonstration Center, energy efficiency was one of its primary concerns.

The center utilizes state-of-the-art Miele Professional equipment, which, by some estimates, can produce a decrease of 20 to 48 percent in electricity usage, or about $840 less in annual utility bills.

SCE is encouraging its business customers to make appointments to visit the center, which is located at 6090 N. Irwindale Ave.

For more information or to make appointments to visit the site, call (626) 812-7530 (English), or (626) 812-7577 (Korean).

Cleaners residing in Northern California will have quite a few educational opportunities in the coming months.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the California Cleaners Association will present a seminar on “Pressing and Finishing” at Snow Cleaners, Inc., located at 38 West Sonora St. in Stockton, CA.

A second seminar is planned at the same location on Saturday, Nov. 8. It will cover “Leather and Speciality Goods.”

Cost for each seminar is $75 for CCA members and $125 for non-members.

Discounted registration is available for cleaners who send two or more employees.

For more information or to RSVP, call the CCA office at (800) 390-8409.

Also in the northern part of the state, CCA Instructor Marti Russell will offer upcoming California Air Resources Board certification and re-certification courses for Air Toxic Control Measure Training (Title 17, Calif. Code of Reg. Section 93110).

First-time certifiers will have an opportunity on Saturday, Oct. 11. The class will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Villa Hotel in San Mateo, CA.

Re-certification courses will be held at the same location on Wednesday, Sept. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 19. Class will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. For pricing call Marti Russell at (650) 743-8191.

Southern California cleaners will also be able to obtain their CARB certification.

Dallons Environmental Services offers classes on the last Saturday of every month in Long Beach, CA. Upcoming dates include: Oct. 25, Nov. 29 and Dec. 27.

Class size is limited to 30 people and pre-paid registration is required. The cost is $150 for initial certification and $75 for a three-year re-certification. Call (800) 347-6551 for more information.

The Rocky Mountain Fabricare Association has announced its schedule of educational programming for the coming months.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, plant owners and managers can take a refresher course on the technical tools and training necessary for their employees to perform their jobs more effectively.

The session will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and take place at Mountain High Cleaners, located in Denver, CO.

Later, RMFA will offer a stain removal course in Utah. It will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The association will also present a third seminar catered toward teaching Spanish-speaking cleaners.

It is planned for Saturday, Nov. 1 and it will focus on drycleaning and finishing.

For more information, contact the RMFA office by calling (303) 433-4446.