Optimisation of the ironing line was carried out in two countries: the ironing unit was optimised by Girbau Spain, and optimisation of the other 3 units was performed in France. In both cases, Girbau was able to rely on the unconditional support of SMC.
Girbau, a world leader in comprehensive professional laundry solutions renowned worldwide for its firm commitment to innovation, energy efficiency and sustainability, has collaborated with the industrial supply company SMC in optimising the energy efficiency of its ironing lines.
These lines consist of 4 units: a front feeder that leads to the ironing unit, followed by the folder and stacker. These lines, which may measure as much as 15 metres long and 4 metres wide, are able to iron and fold up to 1,200 articles per hour.
The ironing unit is based on a rigid steel bed which is heated internally, on which a perforated roller with a textile coating turns. The turning of the roller slides the item being ironed over the interior face of the bed, and the item is dried and ironed due to evaporation of the water in the linen as a result of the temperature of the bed and the pressure that the roller exerts on it. Process optimisation was therefore based on introducing 6 pressure levels in the ironing rollers. Applying the correct pressure on each fabric guarantees customers that the various items will suffer less, thus increasing the quality of their finish. Moreover, in energy terms this translates into a reduction in consumption of up to 30%.
Large pneumatic actuators were installed in the flatwork ironer, capable of handling heavy loads up to as much as 2,400 kg and ensuring correct movement of the item through the different modules as the residual humidity is eliminated until it is perfectly ironed.