Murray Roberts talks about the need for migrant workers in hospitalit Murray Roberts talks about hospitality and the nee | Page 33
PRODUCT
NEWS
GIRBAU UK INTRODUCES AGUA
SMART WET CLEANING SYSTEM
H Girbau UK has launched Agua Smart, its
complete professional wet cleaning system
for dry cleaners, laundry businesses and
hoteliers. Agua Smart comprises all the
equipment needed to start a wet cleaning
service including expertly formulated
spotters, high tech washers and dryers,
biodegradable detergents and specialist
finishing equipment.
“There is a growing desire to offer
customers more environmentally-sensitive
cleaning options and wet cleaning is the
green alternative to the traditional dry
cleaning process,” says Peter Marsh,
managing director of Girbau UK.
“Agua Smart wet cleaning offers better
quality cleaning of water-soluble stains and
odours and is ideal for 90% of articles that
are normally dry cleaned,” he continues. “It
is particularly good for wedding dresses,
sequined and other delicate fabrics, leather
coats, suede items and footwear such as
trainers and UGG boots.”
The new Agua Smart system comprises
a full range of award-winning wet cleaning
finishing and pre-treatment detergents
from Ideal Manufacturing and equipment
including washers and dryers, spotting
tables, steam generators, finishing tables,
presses, garment formers, trouser
toppers and shirt machinery. The finishing
equipment ensures garments have the
correct amount of tension to provide
customers with excellent finished results.
Girbau’s 6 Series INTELI washers are ideal
for wet cleaning and its ED Series energy
efficient dryers are designed to dry delicate
items safely, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Both include a full range of wet cleaning and
laundry programs, giving them the flexibility
to use for general laundry and wet cleaning,
helping to ensure maximum productivity
from all types of work.
A full range of Agua Smart wet cleaning
chemicals is offered with the process which
has been formulated and manufactured for
Girbau by award winning laundry detergent
experts, Ideal Manufacturing.
“We are delighted to be working in
partnership with our friends at Girbau to
produce a simple, eco-friendly, transparent
and fairly priced wet cleaning solution,”
says Philip Kalli, Managing Director of
Ideal Manufacturing. “Like us, Girbau is a
proud, family-owned manufacturer with
a strong history of innovation, expertise
and experience in the professional laundry
industry. Together, through extensive
development and a lengthy period of
field testing in the UK we have perfected
complementary products for the Agua Smart
Wet Cleaning Machine.”
Agua Smart was formally introduced to the
trade at The Washeteria, a new wet cleaning
demonstration and training centre at Ideal
Manufacturing in Finedon, Northamptonshire.
Washeteria visitors can see the complete
Agua Smart system in use including garment
pre-treatment, washing, drying and specialist
finishing. As well as receiving guidance and
instruction from laundry experts, there is
also the opportunity to use all the equipment
and process sample garments, providing
invaluable hands-on experience.
“It was encouraging to see that Girbau
and Ideal have teamed up to bring two great
products together and to actively promote
Wet Cleaning within the industry and more
so to the high street customer,” said Kevin
Farrell of Farrells Dry Cleaners, who was one
of the specially selected guests at the event.
“Wet Cleaning is an easy-to-use system.
We find it works well for everything from
standard suits to intricate stage costumes,”
said Malcolm Jenvey, Director of Pressing
Needs in Southampton, who also attended.
“The gentle action protects the fabric,
colours appear brighter and customers
comment on the feel and fresh smell.”
“Wet Cleaning is very versatile and we’ve
found there is nothing we can’t successfully
wet clean rather than dry clean,” added Steph
Wilkins, Director of Home & Dry in Chichester.
“In fact we take in work from local dry
cleaners that they cannot process and would
otherwise have to send away, such as leather,
suede, sheepskin, UGGs and trainers.”
“Wet Cleaning does not require you
to apply for a licence from the local
authority and there are no solvent residues
requiring safe disposal,” pointed out Lee
Groves, Operations Manager, Drycleaning
& Laundry Services. “Wet cleaning is
very popular with new entrants to the
professional cleaning sector, but we are also
seeing dry cleaning companies adopting
wet cleaning more and more now. It is much
better for modern fabrics with technical
treatments such as sports clothing, or fire
resistant garments as the treatments are
unaffected by the cleaning process.”
Whether an experienced operator or a
new start-up, Girbau offers advice on the
best choice and right size of equipment,
along with productivity and running costs.
This planning process considers the unique
factors of each individual business in terms
of the types and volumes of textiles to be
cleaned. The company also offers a range
of competitive finance and rental packages
for existing businesses and new start-ups,
including maintenance and servicing to suit
customer needs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
www.girbau.co.uk/wet-cleaning/c/27
Housekeeping management
33