/ Magazine / MACPI, style and efficiency Made in Italy arrives in the U.S.

MACPI, style and efficiency Made in Italy arrives in the U.S.

by
MARZIO NAVA

Clean Show, the biggest North American trade fair dedicated to laundry, dry-cleaning, and textile care services, supplies, and equipment, will open its doors from August 23 to 26, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Among the key exhibitors, MACPI is set to make a strong impression, ready to take center stage on the North American market. A dynamic and forward-thinking company, MACPI specializes in the design and manufacture of professional ironing presses, industrial laundry equipment, stitch free machines for garments and accessories, and logistics solutions for the apparel industry. Its extensive product range is designed to meet the needs of both large-scale industrial laundries and smaller laundry businesses.

Beyond Europe and across the Atlantic: what kind of market awaits, what are the challenges and growth opportunities? What is the typical laundry model found in the United States?

We asked Eleonora Cartabbia, the Marketing Manager of the company based in Palazzolo sull’Oglio, near Brescia. “In the U.S., the typical laundry facility is a large-scale laundry lab, often located at the outskirts of major metropolitan areas. These businesses frequently offer direct home delivery or rely on locker systems, similar to the Amazon model, allowing customers to collect their cleaned garments at any time, bypassing the parking challenges of busy urban centers.

Distribution methods vary. Some providers still rely on more traditional models, with staffed drop-off and pick-up points in city centers during standard business hours. Others adopt a hybrid approach, offering automated access during evening or off-peak hours via secure credentialing systems. What’s often missing in this business model is the human interaction between customer and operator. However, in the U.S., this kind of “efficient depersonalization” is widely accepted. Apps, QR codes, barcodes, and “digital key fobs” have all become hallmarks of a system that has gained significant traction in recent years across the American market.

For large-scale laundry labs, the primary requirement is highcapacity finishing equipment with advanced automation capabilities. This is essential to maintaining productivity and efficiency, especially in light of the chronic labour shortages that continue to affect the industry, not only in Europe, but also across North America.”

High volumes and automation, which finishing solutions are you going to showcase at Clean Show 2025?

“Among the highlights of MACPI’s offering at Clean Show 2025 will be the tunnel finisher, a flagship solution and an essential tool for automated garment finishing in apparel logistics. Designed to meet the needs of high-volume operations, the machine delivers exceptional productivity, with models capable of processing between 500 and 2.200 garments per hour. One of the tunnel finisher’s standout features is its ventilation chamber, equipped with a radial system and proportional airflow distribution across the entire garment. This innovation significantly reduces the risk of falling from the hanger during the drying phase. Another key innovation is the steaming chamber, divided into three independent zones. This unique configuration allows for selective steaming, in only one or two zones, depending on the fabric type. This not only ensures optimal treatment of delicate garments but also contributes to significant energy savings”.

In addition to the tunnel finisher, MACPI will also present its latest shirt finishing technologies at Clean Show 2025, including the innovative automatic unit for shirt's finishing Model 291, where automation remains the key feature. Designed around four integrated workstations (loading, steaming, blowing, and automatic unloading) it ensures perfectly finished, wrinkle-free shirts with minimal operator intervention. User-friendly and highly efficient, the system features an active blowing system that continues even during the rotation of the dummy, optimizing every phase of the finishing cycle. This advanced design not only boosts overall productivity but also significantly reduces downtime, enabling a single operator to process up to 150 shirts per hour.

“The tunnel finisher stands out as the centerpiece of our product line, particularly in the apparel logistics sector”

When it comes to trouser finishing, MACPI’s Model 320 sets a new benchmark in productivity and efficiency. Equipped with four rotating heads, the system enhances throughput and maximizes productivity. Each head features an automatic unloading system that places the pressed trousers directly onto a conveyor belt, either individually or in grouped stacks, streamlining the entire process. Thanks to this configuration, a single operator can press up to 400 trousers per hour, representing a significant leap in performance compared to conventional single-topper or table-pressing methods. The result is a fully automated system that meets the industry's highest standards for quality, performance, and energy efficiency, core values in today’s professional laundry sector”.

What are the key requirements and expectations of the American market in trouser finishing equipment?

“In the United States, while casual fashion trends are on the rise, there remains a significant segment of business professionals who maintain a preference for formal dress. Therefore, trousers with a sharp crease continue to be in strong demand. To meet this need, at our booth we will showcase the Model 509, a classic trouser finishing machine designed specifically for crease pressing. It features two lower forms that rotate 180° alongside a vertically descending upper form. Each lower form is equipped with a pivot system that includes pneumatically adjustable tension, tension regulation, and a fabric recovery system to ensure optimal pressing quality. Thanks to its automatic unloading system and dual-form design, it enables a single operator to press approximately 90 trousers per hour, significantly outperforming traditional single presses, which typically achieve around 50 to 60 pieces per hour.

Moreover, the workstation is designed for enhanced ergonomics and safety. The garment is placed on the front form, keeping the operator’s area “cool” and secure throughout the process. Once the cycle begins, the form moves to the rear station, where pressing is performed using steam. This setup not only doubles productivity but also ensures the operator’s workstation remains safe and ergonomic at all times. The automatic unloading system further boosts efficiency, allowing the operator to focus solely on positioning the garment”.

“At Clean Show, we will be showcasing the classic pleated trouser pressing machine, MOD 509”

Do you plan to exhibit compact or smaller machines during the event as well?

“The machines we have highlighted share a common focus on high automation and the ability to process large garment volumes efficiently. In addition to this core range, we also offer auxiliary equipment designed as “stations for the pursuit of perfection” or for detailed touch-ups. These include stain removers, pressing tables, and electro-pneumatic rotating dummies with steaming and blowing functions, such as our Model 379, specifically engineered to address minor garment issues and enable customized finishing”.

What are your expectations for Clean Show, and more specifically, for the American market?

“We are facing a fluid and unpredictable situation. The 10% customs taxes imposed on machinery have been absorbed by the market, thanks to the added value our machines provide through innovation and energy efficiency. We hope to avoid further tariff shocks, especially since we are talking about capital goods, purchases that customer often delay in uncertain times.

We are now waiting for the July 9 deadline for the critical 90-day customs taxes negotiations between the United States and Europe. There is hope for a productive agreement, especially in light of the existing 50% taxes, already in effect since June 4, on raw materials such as aluminium and steel. While we remain vigilant, the market continues to respond positively to our products, as they address key challenges in automation and productivity,” concludes Cartabbia. •

MACPI SpA
Via Piantada 9/d
25036 Palazzolo sull’Oglio (Bs) – Italy
T. +39 030 74 03 611
info@macpi.com macpi.com

DETERGO MAGAZINE # JULY/AUGUST 2025

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