1. Water:
a. Water is the most important solvent for soil removal. It has to have certain parameters like pH, TDS, TSS, hardness, iron under specific values. No other impurities like heavy metals to be present. If the values deviate, quality is likely to be affected to that extent.
b. Supply: @20kl/tonne for batch water extractors & @8-10 for CBW.
c. Drain: Certain specifications need to be adhered to for draining in sewage like TDS/BOD/COD etc. It is best to treat effluent with ETP before letting off in drain.
d. Pollution: We need to use minimum quantity of detergent and other chemicals for soil removal so that minimum water can be used for rinsing & pollution will be lesser.
e. Recovery: Water can be recovered by using ETP RO or using 2nd and 3rd rinse for 1st wash by choosing certain machines/CBW.
2. Chemicals:
a. Chemicals & constituents are to be eco-friendly, bio-degradable.
b. Effective for soil removal.
c. Correct dosing: Auto-dosing system is recommended so that exact stipulated quantity is added at correct time.
d. Fabrics/dyes to be least affected by chemicals.
e. Easily soluble in water/dry cleaning solvent as the case may be.
f. No deposits or scales with water hardness/TDS reaction with chemicals on wash-goods/ machines or baskets.
3. Machinery:
Washing:
a. Material of construction: compatible with dry chemicals from pH =1.0 to pH=13.0.
b. All parts to be compatible with chemicals, including drains/rubber sealing/gaskets.
c. Perforations on baskets to be smooth.
d. No burrs or protrusions.
e. Well balanced.
f. Easy to go into hydro-extraction.
g. Programmable and capable of including dosing programme.
Drying:
a. Material of construction – compatible with water or pH up to 8.5 to 9.0.
b. Perforations to be smooth.
c. Door closing such that no drying material to get stuck in the door and shell opening.
d. No leakage of air.
e. Insulated
Pressing:
a. To have proper padding – flexible and resistant to heat for hot press.
b. To have perforation besides being flexible for steam and vacuum to pass for steam press and steam vacuum table.
Dry-Cleaning Machine:
a. To be dry-to-dry.
b. To be with refrigeration cycle.
c. To have chilling for cooling hot refrigerant.
d. Adequacy of distillation tank.
Flat work Ironer:
a. Preferred to have chest heated ironer.
b. Vacuum for each roll.
c. Smooth chest and synchronization of speeds.
4. Soil Removal / Stain Removal:
To remove as much soil as possible and stains totally, if possible with proper chemicals and formulae.
5. Electricity:
AC – 415 V – Phase to Phase, 50 hertz with power factor very near to 1.0.