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DRY-CLEANING, THE INNOVATION OF A WASHING TECHNIQUE

edited by
MARZIO NAVA

Once synonymous with luxury and formalwear, dry-cleaning is experiencing a profound evolution. What does this transformation involve, and where is it leading? Propelled by technological innovation and shifting fashion trends, the industry is adapting to an increasingly dynamic and casual way of dressing. New generations are embracing a more casual style, mixing technical and natural fabrics, sportswear, and tailored pieces, even high-end garments. In this evolving landscape, garment care must keep pace. Modern laundries now manage far more than jackets and formalwear; they rely on ecofriendly solvents, energy-efficient machines, and customized programs engineered to protect even the most delicate and high-performance textiles. Dry-cleaning has evolved into a truly tailor-made service, one that extends the life of garments while responding to the growing demand for sustainability. Today, “dry cleaning” no longer means simply cleaning — it means preservation. It is a practice that combines advanced technology, environmental responsibility, and respect for clothing, embodying a new fashion ethos that values not only aesthetics but also durability and responsibility.

FIBIR ITALIA

In the industrial laundry sector, innovation is driven by process optimization, environmental safety, and the quality of textile treatment. FIBIR ITALIA’s Suprema range of soft mounted dry-cleaning machines exemplify this evolution, providing a range of advanced technical solutions for professional dry-cleaning. Available in perchloroethylene and multisolvent configurations, the Suprema machines combine versatility with full regulatory compliance. The perchloroethylene system, long valued for its stain-removing effectiveness, is integrated into a soft mounted structure designed with shock absorbers that reduces mechanical vibrations, enhances operational stability, and protects internal components from dynamic stress. The result is a longer machine lifespan and gentler care for textiles. The multi-solvent version is engineered for maximum energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Its closedcircuit steam recovery system, automatic distillation, and touchscreen control of washing parameters enable precise monitoring and optimized management of each cycle.

Fibir Italia dry-cleaning machines are designed with the drum suspended on springs and industrial shock absorbers, with automatic load balancing for smooth operation. The digital control panel enables custom cycle programming, remote diagnostics, and seamless integration with management systems. Built with AISI 304 stainless steel, the structure provides excellent corrosion resistance, while the compact design allows installation even in limited spaces. These features make Fibir Italia dry-cleaning machines ideal for laundries, hotels, and textile laboratories, where precision, reliability, and sustainability are critical aspects. With Suprema, Fibir Italia delivers an advanced approach to dry cleaning: a system that combines intelligent mechanics, precise chemical control, and automation to address the demands of an increasingly quality-focused market. •

FIRBIMATIC

It is clear that the dry-cleaning sector is undergoing a significant transformation, adapting to increasingly diverse washing requirements driven not only by evolving fashion trends but also by innovations in textile technology. As a result, today’s dry cleaners handle a much wider variety of garments than in the past, from technical fabrics to casual wear, and from sports apparel to luxury tailored pieces. In the professional laundry industry, from traditional dry-cleaners, hotels, and textile service companies, selecting the right system is essential to achieving superior performance, efficiency, and sustainability. At the core of FIRBIMATIC technology lies the use of third-class aliphatic solvents, which are odourless, eco-friendly, and gentle on fabrics. These innovative solvents are distinguished by their mild action on garments, significantly reducing the risk of shrinkage or colour fading. As a result, they offer an ideal solution for fabric care that combines quality preservation with the growing demand for sustainability.

The F AS Energy Saving Series has been specifically engineered to operate with these eco-friendly and delicate alternative solvents. It incorporates a series of innovations that make the washing cycle faster, more efficient, and more sustainable: • A new washing system designed to optimize solvent distribution; • A new insulation system that enhances thermal efficiency; • A new low-consumption distillation system that ensures a more economical and ecofriendly operating cycle.

The Energy Saving models distinguish themselves through their sustainable design and outstanding energy efficiency, reducing consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional systems. In addition to energy savings, faster washing cycles and optimized use of solvents and detergents help lower operating costs while supporting environmental protection. Equipped with an intuitive touchscreen interface, these machines enable users to easily customize washing programs based on fabric type, ensuring simpler operation, greater precision, and faster maintenance. The JET models offer a practical solution for those looking to take a step forward, achieving the perfect balance between performance, cost savings, and environmental responsibility.

Completely distillation-free, the JET system drastically reduces electricity consumption. Its innovative single-tank design requires a smaller volume of solvent, further lowering operating costs and making the entire process simpler and more sustainable. What truly sets the JET model apart is its Spray-Jet Duo technology, an advanced filtration and nebulization system that enhances the performance of the latest ecosolvent washing solutions. This innovation ensures a gentle treatment that protects fabrics, minimizes wear, and extends the lifespan of garments. With a wide range of washing programs and shorter cycles, JET not only reduces solvent consumption but also increases productivity, establishing itself as a new benchmark in the industry. Compact, easy to install, and simple to operate, it eliminates the need for distillation residue management while consistently delivering high-quality results. •

ITALCLEAN

Evolving dress habits and the rise of a more dynamic, informal style have transformed garment care practices. The spread of remote and hybrid work has further accelerated this shift - leading some to predict the decline of dry-cleaning. Yet, this prediction could not be further from reality. Dry cleaning remains the most effective method for removing certain types of stains and continues to offer clear advantages in terms of cost-efficiency and speed compared with alternative systems such as wet cleaning. Naturally, as manufacturers we had to adapt to society changes — an evolution that has driven the development of hydrocarbon machines, essential for cleaning garments containing rubber or plastic components that cannot be treated by other methods. Yet navigating the expanding landscape of new solvents, each with its own specific characteristics, is no simple task. Each solvent demands highly advanced equipment: machines capable of achieving high spin speeds, equipped with inverters that regulate speed variations according to fabric type, and, most importantly, featuring fully programmable control systems that enable operators to maximize the machine’s performance.

For Italclean, this has meant a strong focus on mechanical design, refining the drum’s shape, dimensions, and holes pattern to further enhance both performance and long-term reliability. We have also optimized spin speed control to ensure that dirt and stains are removed as efficiently as possible, even at low temperatures, minimizing fiber stress and preserving garment quality. Extensive testing has fine-tuned washing times and drum movement sequences, including pauses, shaft motions, spin cycles, and solvent discharge phases. One machine that has seen remarkable success, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the alternative-solvent model without a distiller. This technology has long proven effective, further enhanced by the ability of these solvents to achieve thorough cleaning through simple filtration only. Eliminating the distiller not only significantly reduces production, and consequently sales, costs, but also substantially lowers electricity and water consumption, delivering both economic and environmental benefits.

For more than a decade, ITALCLEAN has been designing and distributing these machines worldwide. The most popular models, DT200NS and DT300NS, offer capacities of 11 kg and 15 kg respectively, and are available with either powder or cartridge filtration systems. The offer contains also larger models, designed with shock absorbers capable to complete the full washing and drying cycle in less than 45 minutes. •

MAESTRELLI

Is dry-cleaning really changing? And are its customers changing too? From the perspective of MAESTRELLI, Italy’s first manufacturer of dry-cleaning machines, founded in 1935, the answer is undoubtedly yes. As industry professionals are well aware, the market has been steadily shifting away from perchloroethylene, the solvent traditionally used in dry-cleaning, toward so-called alternative solvents, primarily hydrocarbonand silicone-based. This transition is driven not only by environmental considerations, though these new solvents do have a somewhat lower ecological impact, but also by their ability to treat a broader range of fabrics safely. While perchloroethylene remains an excellent solvent for removing grease and oil stains, it can be overly aggressive on certain materials.

Garments with bright colors, decorative inserts, or delicate fabrics such as leather, silk, and suede require gentler treatment. These newer solvents help preserve colors and prevent damage to embellishments, a crucial advantage, since a plastic insert, for example, would not withstand a traditional perchloroethylene cycle. For such items, dry-cleaning remains the preferred method over wet cleaning, as it ensures easier and faster finishing during the ironing phase.

To meet these evolving needs, Maestrelli has expanded its portfolio with a wide rangeof multi-solvent machines, from 10 to 45 kilograms loading capacity. Available in both hard and soft mounted (designed with shock absorbers) versions, the latter reducing spindrying times, the machines can be equipped with or without distillation units. The nondistillation models, in particular, deliver notable savings in both water and electricity consumption, addressing the industry’s growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. •

RENZACCI

We can certainly state that today there is a silent but very effective revolution underway called biodrycleaning, which sees the combined innovative action of RENZACCI biodrycleaning machines and natural solvents, to offer results never achieved in the garments maintenance industry. We are therefore talking about a new service, made possible by machines offering high quality cleaning results, well-being, biocompatibility and biosustainability.

But there is much more involved in this innovation: in fact, biodrycleaning allows the treatment of a very large array of garments that were not possible to be treated with perc, preserving their natural softness and colors and enormously reducing the times necessary to carry out the ironing phase. In a moment when water shortage and microplastic pollution represent one of the most important issues for humankind, biodrycleaning combines the profits increase with the sustainability and wellbeing of everyone.

These are the reasons why the new BIODRYCLEANING machines Renzacci of EXCELLENCE 2.0 and NEBULA 2.0 series were born, which use the new "COMBICLEAN SYSTEM™" technology, the exclusive natural cleaning system with multi-combined and personalized washing techniques in relation to the type of garment treated. To better follow this important change, Renzacci has also created the biodrycleaning machines equipped with the exclusive “SENTINEL™” system, which exploits a natural generator in a simple and innovative way for a deep and effective action against viruses and bacteria. •

SURFCHIMICA

Long recognized as the birthplace of dry-cleaning, Italy has also had to contend in recent years with a profound and radical shift in the way people dress: formal attire, once common in all offices, has now been almost completely replaced by casual wear. This has led to the integration of dry cleaning with professional washing in water, and today a large percentage of clothing is treated with systems ranging from traditional to wet cleaning. But many of the fabrics used today are derived from plant or man-made fibers, often very delicate to clean. It was therefore necessary to search for dry cleaning solvents that were more gentle on fibers and colors than perc. The research led to the identification of hydrocarbon solvents that could effectively meet this new need. However, it was quickly realized that the hydrocarbon solvent itself had an insufficient cleaning effect compared to perc.

However, it was quickly realized that the hydrocarbon solvent itself had an insufficient cleaning effect compared to perc. The next step was therefore to increase the hydrocarbon cleaning power. At SURFCHIMICA, research has allowed us to develop the HORIZON solvent, which combines hydrocarbon with amplifying agents (glycol ether) that intensify its cleaning action. HORIZON is a solvent designed to work with existing multi-solvent and hydrocarbon machines and can replace the solvent previously used.

It is compatible with all filtration systems and achieves excellent cleaning results, being effective on both water-soluble and greasy dirt. It leaves fabrics with a soft, full feel and relaxes the fibers, making ironing easier and quicker. Its gentle action does not alter fibers or colors, keeping them looking new. It does not leave unpleasant odors on garments. It is not classified as ADR for road transport. •

TINTOLAV

The world of dry-cleaning is undergoing a profound transformation, evolving from a service once reserved for luxury garments into a modern, sustainable solution aligned with the needs of today’s fast-paced fashion industry. Chemical formulations are advancing in parallel, becoming gentler yet equally effective, engineered to protect and preserve fabrics and fibers while minimizing environmental impact. TINTOLAV S.r.l. reaffirms its position as a leading partner for professional laundries, offering a complete range of detergents, additives, and stain removers specifically formulated for dry-cleaning applications. Among its most notable innovations are Jolly Smak, a concentrated booster suitable for both in-machine use and pre-brushing, and Activ Superstat, two products that exemplify the ongoing commitment of the company’s R&D laboratory to research, innovation, and performance. Activ Superstat provides protective and antistatic action across all types of fibers.

Its advanced formulation, enriched with specialized surfactant complexes, forms a barrier that shields fabrics from breakage and stress during washing while preventing fibres transfer between garments. The result is a smoother, safer cleaning process that significantly reduces, or even eliminates, the need for post-brushing, a step that could otherwise further weaken delicate fibres. Thanks to this innovative formulation, the lifespan of fabrics can be extended, enhancing the overall sustainability of professional cleaning processes. In this way, dry cleaning evolves beyond simple washing to become true garment care, a process supported by the reliability of Italian technologies designed for the professional laundry of the future. •

UNION

Dry-cleaning is undergoing a subtle yet profound transformation. Today’s new generations dress fluidly, blending technical and natural fabrics, sportswear and tailoring, street-wear and vintage. In response, drycleaning is evolving into a personalized service, one that goes beyond simply “cleaning” to focus on care and preservation. Driving this shift are innovations such as eco-friendly solvents, smart technologies, and low-impact, energy-efficient processes. Together, they’re redefining the very meaning of textile care. Wash less, wash better, wash consciously. This is the new philosophy shaping the future of dry-cleaning. With 50 years of experience, we have developed extensive expertise in environmental and sustainability practices. For many years, we have placed great emphasis on reducing our carbon footprint, not only in the design and performance of our machines but also within our company operations. Equipped with photovoltaic panels, our facilities have achieved near energy independence.

Building on this foundation, we have introduced a new generation of dry-cleaning machines featuring a continuous distillation system capable of cleaning all types of garments and effectively removing any kind of dirt. The “Eco Concept” project was conceived with a clear objective: to minimize energy waste by retaining energy within the system and reducing losses to an absolute minimum. We have introduced an advanced washing system designed to significantly reduce solvent consumption while maintaining consistent mechanical action and optimizing the entire drum volume.

During the spin cycle, the system separates the solvent, which carries away up to 90% of the dirt, and directs it to distillation, effectively cutting energy use. The process then continues with a precise rinsing phase, ensuring thorough cleaning, followed by drying, during which the energy typically required by the distiller is no longer needed. This innovation results in over 50% less electricity consumption, making the entire cycle more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective. This innovative “Eco Concept” method implemented in machines with electric heating, is compatible with nearly all major cleaning solvents. All washing residues are treated through advanced recycling systems, ensuring efficient waste management and minimizing environmental impact. For the most advanced machines, we have developed the DIALOG TOUCH computer, a next-generation control unit featuring a 10-inch touchscreen and an intuitive, user-friendly interface. This system gives operators complete control over the machine, enabling real-time monitoring of every stage of the cleaning process. •

DETERGO MAGAZINE # NOVEMBRE 2025

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