Service Machinery Limited

Stephen Pick of Service Machinery Limited (SML) knows that shirts have “proved to be an excellent opportunity for drycleaners to drive additional turnover.” Of course, to take advantage of this means buying new equipment.

Pick explains that shirt machines are based on one of two technologies – ‘plate press’ or ‘blowing’ and each has its advantages: “Plate press machines have greater heat capacity therefore they can dry a shirt quicker; they press a shirt against a polished ironing surface which on some fabrics gives the glazed finish some customers are looking for.” But he warns that they need careful loading as a crease left when loading takes a lot of correcting later, and quite possibly a re-wash. Blowing machines, on the other hand, “cope better with smaller shirts and the shirt is available to the operator to adjust and form while finishing.” Of the machines he supplies, he talks first of VEIT, a German manufacturer.

The first he mentions is the Universal Finisher 8319, “an ideal machine for small and medium-sized laundries… spin-dry shirts, blouses, smocks or chef jackets are finished quickly without creases by a hot-air fan.” He adds that drycleaned garments, such as jackets and coats, can be finished on this machine.”

Next is the “high performance” shirt finisher SF26 which Pick says is utilised mainly in laundries and textile care plants with higher shirt volumes. It features a low construction height and a retractable front clamp, and it’s quoted as handling up to 45 shirts per hour of different sizes, materials and shapes and requires only one operator. The unit comes with a colour touchscreen display to access the SF26’s many programmes. In describing how it works, Pick says that “the operator can select pre-programmed settings or make adjustments to the steam and air times, select long or short sleeved and change tensioning settings as required, or select the fully automatic dry sensor which makes sure the shirt is dry before completing the cycle and, perhaps more importantly, will not over-dry.”

There is an optional 2157 hand finisher iron for the 8319 and SF26 which can be used for ‘touch-up’ during the finishing cycle. Another option is the VEIT 8900 shirt press which Pick says is designed for laundries and textile care plants handling high volumes. Of this he says that “moving transversely from above the press plate with fused heating system, it provides temperature distribution, saves energy and achieves a stretching effect downwards.” It can handle 60 shirts per hour. And then there’s the VEIT collar and cuff press 8905 with vertical closing and built-in suction that holds the shirt in place during loading. Says Pick: “One operator can process shirts on both the collar and cuff press and shirt machine at the same time. This overlap of functions is key to efficient processing.” Not everyone wants a VEIT product in which case, Pick suggests the Böwe SP-20 shirt press which, he says, is new for 2021. “Developed by Böwe, the SP-20 offers ‘press and blow’ hybrid finishing. It uses a hot plate to the front and shoulder area, with high pressure hot air forming of the sleeves and back.” He says that the hybrid approach provides “quality finishing at a more affordable price.”

Overall, Pick reckons that “Böwe’s innovations reduce steam consumption and heat and noise for an improved working environment.” Further, the SP-20 features a tall-slim body form that allows the finishing of shirts from XS to XXL. Also, the hot plates are Teflon coated for reduced shine on dark coloured shirts. A matching collar and cuff press is also available.

Ultimately, Pick says that SML has “experience of supporting customers during the decision-making process, selecting the right machine and technology for their needs and also after the sale when it is key that technical support, service and spare parts are easily available and affordable.”

Dane Realstar

Nicholas Higgs, partner and sales and service manager at Dane Realstar, says that Fimas produces “outstanding” shirt finishers.

In talking about the products, Higgs talks first about the Fimas 379 shirt form finisher: “This rotating, elevating and stretching form finisher is a great shirt finisher for drycleaners who need equipment capable of finishing wetcleaning garments and laundered shirts.” It’s fitted with pneumatic side arms which clamp the cuffs and tension the sleeves of the shirts “to give a lovely blown finish to the garment.”

Next is the Fimas 317 blown shirt and form finisher which Higgs says is universal and can also handle jackets, coats and raincoats. He says that “it is very versatile for a busy drycleaner wishing to finish a variety of garments; a touchscreen display on the control panel with fully automatic control makes life easy when using this machine.” It also features a telescopic body form and constant vacuum for loading, along with a front pressing plate which moves to one side for ease of loading – “making this a user-friendly machine.” There’s also automatic vertical tensioning on the body and adjustable sleeve clamps “to ensure an optimum finish” while an adjustable airflow also accommodates more delicate garments.

Following on is the Fimas 389 blown shirt finisher which Higgs describes as “the perfect blown shirt finisher. It combines ease of operation with the high level of technology expected of the Fimas range giving superb value for money, and many energy efficient features.” He adds that its suitable for wet or dry shirts, although dry shirts will need extra finishing.

It’s relatively compact and so will fit through a standard doorway. Also, it has the option of a heat recovery hood and thermal exchangers and is now available as a four-station rotating buck machine. For collar work Dane has the Fimas 387 collar cuff press. This unit comes with a steam or electrically heated polished head top buck and safety rail, a timer control, full vacuum, and push button controls for closing. Higgs says that there are two models available: 387.50 standard scissor press and 387.60 vertical compact press, with a smaller footprint. The 387.60 is said to offer an extra 20 per cent greater pressing power.

It’s notable, that, says Higgs, “these can be connected to central steam services, or a range of integrated boilers, which are capable of producing sufficient steam for both this unit and all Fimas shirt units.” Something else for laundries to consider is the Fimas 296 single buck pressed shirt finisher. Of this, Higgs says that it’s suitable for the finishing of wet and dry shirts and can “give a high-quality crisp firm finish to the body, yoke, shoulders, long and short sleeves and sleeve placket.”

With energy efficient features, Higgs claims that it can handle between 45 and 60 shirts per hour and can process shirts of any size – “paired with a collar cuff press and a second operator, productivity will be increased significantly.” It also has a touchscreen display on the control panel and is fully automatic. Loading and starting is by foot pedal. Higgs adds that “the front and rear press plates are constructed from highly thermal energy efficient aluminium and stainless alloy.”

The last item Higgs mentions, is the Fimas 298 double rotating pressed shirt finisher. He says that it “is the best double buck machine on the market for the finishing of wet and dry shirts.” It features an automatic unit for pressed shirt finishing, just as with the 296m but with two 180° rotating body formers.

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