Renzacci UK – Pony

Drycleaning and laundry businesses looking for a revenue boost, whilst at the same time responding to increasing consumer demand for more environmentallyfriendly solutions, should consider introducing energysaving finishing equipment into their facility, says Jason Alexander, managing director at Renzacci UK.

“The latest finishing machines reduce costs, increase productivity, generate more profit and have a significantly reduced environmental impact.” “At the vanguard of this movement is best-in- class finishing equipment manufacturer, Pony,” says Alexander.

As the UK’s Pony distributor for the past 48 years, Renzacci UK have been instrumental in introducing their extensive range of state-of-the-art shirt machines, complete with exciting automated features, into the market, to ensure their clients are best placed to thrive in a fiercely competitive industry.

A prime example of Pony and Renzacci UK’s innovative spirit, is the development of the upgraded Pony Eagle 2.0, says Alexander. Proven to save up to 30 per cent on energy costs, the Eagle 2.0, now available as an electric model, boasts a unique design which allows the shirt machine to operate on a three phase electricity supply and air compressor only, with no need for an additional steam generator or complex installation.

“As with many of Pony’s shirt machines, the Eagle 2.0 can be supplied with three different buck sizes, allowing garments from large shirts, to small blouses to be finished. Its ergonomically designed features allow for a very rapid rate of production and incorporate the HARS (Hot Air Recovery System), which enables faster drying times, higher productivity and reduced energy consumption; thus reducing costs. It also has a touchscreen operating system, automatic shirt tensioning and new sleeves tensioning system, and is height adjustable.”

Pony hasn’t held back on the release of energy-saving shirt machines. The Pony Angel 2.0 system recycles hot air released during processing and reuses it to help reduce energy costs. Utilising up to 24kg of steam per hour, with the combination of the hot air flow and two steam-heated finishing bucks, a beautifully finished garment can be achieved in less than 30 seconds. Similar to the Eagle 2.0, it has a touchscreen operating system, incorporates the Hot Air Recovery System and its compact size allows for installation in the smallest of sites. Again, with the Eagle 2.0, the system can be teamed with the Pony collar and cuff press, allowing a single member of staff to process up to 60 shirts per hour.

Alexander continues: “A slightly older machine, but nonetheless incredibly energy-efficient, is the Pony DB 360 shirt pressing unit. Many exciting features have been incorporated on this system to make it as energy-efficient as possible, like the steam circuit which acts to reduce heat loss during processing, the electric-based rotary engine and energy recovery system. “Similar to the Angel 2.0 system, it is compact in size allowing for easy transportation and installation, and can be simply dismantled to fit through standard-sized door frames.” Pony released a new addition to their shirt finishing range in 2019 – the Pony Kite machine series. Also available in both steam and electric versions, it’s a highly efficient machine and is capable of producing 36 shirts or blouses per hour. It can be supplied with three different buck sizes, boasts an incredibly rapid rate of production and reduces energy consumption using the Hot Air Recovery System.

As technology continues to reshape the world, Pony has enabled internet connectivity on every machine, to enable maintenance and quick-fix repairs to be achieved remotely, even before the operator becomes aware of a problem.

Alexander said: “Pony continues to roll out some incredible pieces of equipment, which are very competitive in pricing and incorporate all of the low running costs you would expect, and we’re always really eager to make our clients aware of them.

“Considering the situation we currently find ourselves in, it’s never been more important for manufacturers to release machines that incorporate energy-saving features to cut costs, as that’s what we find to be real selling points for our clients. Thankfully, Pony is doing a great job already!”

Dane Realstar – Fimas

“With a combination of manufacturing technical innovation and our many years of experience with high quality finishing equipment, it is inevitable that we would supply outstanding shirt finishers!” said Sheila Higgs of Dane Realstar.

Fimas has been producing high quality, robust equipment since 1986, the founders having significant experience of the industry before that, adds Higgs. “Fimas produce a complete range of shirt finishers for everyone’s needs and budgets. Now part of the Macpi Group, Fimas continues to constantly develop and improve its products as a dynamic leading manufacturer.”

She describes the range starting with the Fimas 379 shirt form finisher: “This rotating, elevating and stretching form finisher is a great shirt finisher for drycleaners who need a piece of equipment capable of finishing wetcleaning garments and laundered shirts. “Fitted with pneumatic side arms which clamp the cuffs and tension the sleeves of the shirts, this machine gives a lovely blown finish to the garment. “This model gives superb value for money. Designed with the operator in mind, it is easy to use and gets a great result every time.”

Higgs continues: “The versatile Fimas 317 blown universal shirt and form finisher can also do jackets, coats and raincoats. It is very versatile for a busy drycleaning shop wishing to finish a variety of garments. This model is available with or without its own steam boiler. A touchscreen display on the control panel with fully automatic control makes life easy for using this machine.

“A telescopic body form and constant vacuum for loading, along with a front pressing plate which moves to one side for ease of loading makes this a user friendly machine. Automatic vertical tensioning on the body, adjustable shoulder width and pneumatic adjustable sleeve clamps ensure an optimum finish. Adjustable airflow also accommodates more delicate garments.” The top of the range Fimas 389 blown shirt finisher is the perfect blown shirt finisher for drycleaners, said Higgs, combining ease of operation with the high level of technology expected of the Fimas range giving superb value for money, and many energy eff icient features. “Designed with the operator in mind, it is easy to use and requires the minimum of training and fuss,” she said.

This is a blown shirt finisher for wet or dry shirts. An air operated sequence simultaneously clamps the collar, presses the front panel of the body with a heated panel, the shoulders and sleeves (short or long) and rear tail and lower traction plates tension the body stretching the shirt body and tightening the seams: combined with a steam injection and powerful hot blowing function the complete shirt is finished within the set cycle.

With relatively compact dimensions, for access this machine will fit through a standard doorway. And it is now available as a four-station rotating buck machine. The Fimas 387 collar cuff press, with a steam or electrically heated polished head top buck and safety rail, is timer controlled, has full vacuum, and push button controls for closing. Two models are available: 387.50 standard scissor press and 387.60 vertical compact press, with a smaller footprint if size is an issue. The 387.60 also offers an extra 20 per cent greater pressing power. These are for connection to central steam services, or with a range of integrated boilers which are capable of producing sufficient steam for both this unit and all the Fimas shirt units.

Higgs continues: “The Fimas 296 single buck pressed shirt finisher is the best on the market for the finishing of wet and dry shirts, giving a high quality crisp firm finish to the body, yoke, shoulders, long and short sleeves and sleeve placket.

“Combining ease of operation with the high level of technology expected of the Fimas range it gives superb value for money with many energy efficient features. Designed with the operator in mind, this machine will give you between 45/60 shirts per hour with one good operator, processing shirts of any size. Paired with a collar cuff press and a second operator, productivity is increased significantly.”

The Fimas 298 double rotating pressed shirt finisher is a double buck machine that also gives a high quality finish to the shirt. “It’s our flagship, cutting-edge technological ly advanced machine for high volume shirt finishing, the machine has considerable production capacity. “An automatic unit for pressed shirt finishing, as the 296 but with two 180° rotating body formers. “Our customers using these machines are amazed at the finished product. One customer, who has been processing shirts for many years, was even heard to chant ‘it’s beautiful’!” said Higgs.