Compressor for dry cleaners and dry cleaning shops

A high-street dry cleaner with one ironing press, a form finisher, a trouser topper and a spotting table uses around 350 l/min at busy times, or about 530 l/min once the configurator's margins are added. A 5.5 kW screw compressor such as the S 55 (0.6 m³/min at 8 bar) or a 7.5 kW 4-in-1 such as the K 75 (1.1 m³/min) covers that need. The air must reach the spotting gun and the press dry and filtered, and the compressor has to stay quiet if it sits close to the shop counter.

What is compressed air used for in a dry cleaner's?

In a dry cleaner's, the steam comes from the steam generator and the cleaning itself from the solvent machine or the wet cleaning machine. Compressed air is what makes things move:

• The pneumatic ironing press: a cylinder closes and opens the press head onto the buck.
• The form finisher and the topper: pneumatic clamps and tensioners hold the shirt, jacket or trousers while steam and hot air pass through.
• The spotting gun on the spotting table: it blows onto the stain to drive off the chemical and dry the area.
• The pneumatic valves on some dry cleaning machines and some steam generators.
• The clamps and blow guns in the alterations room.

The air touches the garment at the spotting gun and, often, at the press. A drop of water or a trace of oil on a white shirt shows straight away and costs you a re-do, sometimes a customer.

If you run an industrial laundry, with tunnel washers, folders and flatwork ironers, see our page on the compressor for textiles and laundries instead: the flows and the machines there are on another scale.

How much air does a dry cleaner's need?

The need is worked out from each machine's manual: the manufacturer gives the air consumption in l/min and the working pressure. The figures below are indicative only.

Tools used intermittently are counted at 50%, because the air receiver supplies the peaks. Then add a 25% safety margin, followed by 20% for one more machine, just as our configurator does.

Example of a high-street dry cleaner:

1. Ironing press: 200 l/min, counted at 100%.
2. Topper with clamps: 80 l/min, counted at 50%, so 40 l/min.
3. Spotting gun: 120 l/min, counted at 50%, so 60 l/min.
4. Valves on the dry cleaning machine and steam generator: 50 l/min.
5. Total: 350 l/min.
6. With a 25% safety margin: 350 × 1.25 = 437.5 l/min.
7. With 20% for one more machine: 437.5 × 1.2 = 525 l/min, or about 0.53 m³/min (roughly 19 CFM).

The compressor is set at 8 bar to keep 6 bar at the far end of the network, after the dryer and the filters. Our flow and pressure converter turns l/min into m³/min or CFM if your manuals use other units. The detailed press calculation is in our article pneumatic ironing press: air consumption and pressure.

Which compressor for a dry cleaner's?

A dry cleaner's is open all day, and its machines call for air in waves: a variable speed screw compressor follows those waves without constantly starting and stopping. Our article which compressor for a dry cleaner's compares the cases in detail.

• High-street dry cleaner, one press and one spotting table: the S 55, a 5.5 kW screw compressor, 0.6 m³/min at 8 bar, 65 to 68 dB(A). It covers the example above. Supplied without an air receiver, it is completed with an air receiver, a dryer and a fine filter.
• Dry cleaner with two pressing stations, or if you want a single machine to set down: the K 75, a 7.5 kW 4-in-1, 1.1 m³/min at 8 bar, with a 420 L air receiver, refrigerated dryer and filtration built in, 66 ± 2 dB(A).
• Central finishing plant for a dry cleaning chain, with several presses, form finishers and spotting tables: the K 110, an 11 kW 4-in-1, 1.7 m³/min at 8 bar, with a 340 L air receiver.

An example of a central plant: three presses at 200 l/min (600 l/min), two toppers counted at 40 l/min (80 l/min), two spotting guns counted at 60 l/min (120 l/min) and the valves on two machines (100 l/min). Total: 900 l/min, then 1,125 l/min with 25% and 1,350 l/min with 20%. The K 110 and its 1,700 l/min cover this need.

All our compressors run on 380 V three-phase. In a shop, check the electrical supply with your electrician before ordering.

What air quality for spotting and pressing?

Our screw compressors are lubricated. As it leaves the screw element, the air contains water, particles and a few ppm of oil (3 to 5 ppm according to the S series data sheets). For a dry cleaner's, the treatment chain is as follows:

1. A refrigerated dryer: it removes the water, the main cause of stains and water marks.
2. A general-purpose filter followed by a fine filter: they stop particles and oil aerosols.
3. An activated carbon filter at the point of use on the spotting gun, which blows straight onto the fabric.
4. Automatic condensate drains on the air receiver, the dryer and the filters.

The air class to aim for under ISO 8573-1 is defined with our technicians. Our guide to ISO 8573-1 air quality explains these classes, and our article on the spotting gun covers the most sensitive station in detail. If stains are already appearing, follow the method in our article stains on garments at the dry cleaner's.

Where should a dry cleaner's compressor go?

The shop floor, the back room and the basement each bring their own constraints:

• Noise. A canopied screw compressor is quieter than a piston unit, but it can still be heard at the counter. A partition and a door between the machine and the shop do more than a few metres of distance. Our article quiet compressor in a shop or basement sets out the rules.
• Heat. A dry cleaner's is a hot place: steam generator, presses, tumble dryers. Put the compressor away from these heat sources, in a ventilated room. Intake air that is too hot makes the dryer work harder.
• Solvent vapours. Do not let the compressor draw its air from the area around the dry cleaning machine. If your machine uses a flammable solvent, have your installer check the zones where the compressor must not be placed.
• Condensate. It contains oil: it has to be collected and treated, not poured down the sink. Our condensate volume calculator estimates the quantity.

What maintenance does a dry cleaner's compressor need?

First service at 500 hours, then every 1,500 hours: the controller displays the reminder. Lint and steam quickly clog the intake filter and the cooler, so check them more often. Replace the fine filter cartridges when they are due: a saturated filter no longer protects the garments. The service kits bring together the parts for each model. 2-year warranty, spare parts available for 15 years.

To choose your compressor, enter your machines in the configurator, then send the list of your presses, form finishers and spotting tables with a quote request.

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