The "Green" Machine
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Eliminating potentially toxic emissions from the drycleaning process necessitates the use of materials
that will resist the corrosive effects of the new generation of drycleaning solvents. Steiner-Atlantic's new
"Green Earth" drycleaning machine, pictured here, makes extensive use of corrosion-resistant nickel stainless
steel. |
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New, non-toxic drycleaning solvents are hard on old equipment
Nickel magazine, Dec. 00 -- The amount of stainless steel used in drycleaning machines
is on the rise as manufacturers grapple with the challenge of eliminating potentially toxic emissions from
the drycleaning process. Traditionally, manufacturers have built machines using galvanized steel components
and until recently, New Jersey-based Multimatic USA was the sole supplier of predominantly stainless steel
machines in North America. Its "Shop Star" machine consists almost entirely of
S30400 stainless steel, though components that are more exposed to heat and corrosive elements, such as
the still condenser and some of the fittings, are made of
S31600.
But Dryclean USA, one of the largest franchise and license operations in the drycleaning industry, has shaken
up the market by announcing production of an environmentally friendly machine that is mostly stainless steel.
Manufactured by Miami-based Steiner-Atlantic, a division of Dryclean USA, the "Green Jet" is designed to make
use of a new, non-toxic solvent developed by General Electric.
About 15 years ago, closed-system, dry-to-dry technology became popular -- and eventually will become mandatory by regulation -- in the North American drycleaning industry. Although the closed system cut solvent vapour emissions significantly, the vapours stimulated by heat and moisture broke down and formed hydrochloric acid within the machine. The acid then corroded the galvanized steel.
Rather than replace major components every few years, manufacturers started using austenitic stainless steels for components that were subject to corrosion, says William Becker, vice-president of Steiner-Atlantic.
From that point on, the market for stainless steel components grew. The corrosion-resistant material became particularly attractive to some manufacturers at the time that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed perchlorethylene, the solvent used in more than 85% of the drycleaning shops in North America, as a possible carcinogen and a hazardous ground and air pollutant.
The ruling encouraged manufacturers to investigate alternative solvents that were gentler on the environment. But the new solvents did not always work well in conventional machines.
For example, Exxon developed a synthetic hydrocarbon solvent called DF 2000. But because the new solvent was flammable and the galvanized black iron used in the outer shell of the machine was porous, Steiner-Atlantic responded by replacing the black iron with stainless steel in its first line of Green Jet machines.
The latest generation of Green Jets uses the "Green Earth Cleaning System" developed by General Electric. The solvent is a non-toxic, chemically inert modified liquid silicone, similar to a substance used in deodorants, shaving creams and cosmetics.
But although the Green Earth system is easy on the environment, it is hard on equipment. The solvent must be stored in stainless steel tanks to maintain purity. Steiner-Atlantic has also incorporated a stainless steel front panel, which eliminates the concern associated with bumps and scratches common on machines with painted surfaces.
"We use various grades of stainless steel, with varying percentages of nickel and chromium, depending on exposures and appearance," says Becker.
Steiner-Atlantic has developed a prototype to test the Green Earth technology. Production was expected to begin in November, 2000.
"These new machines will allow drycleaners throughout the United States and the world to comply with all environmental regulations while efficiently producing environmentally friendly products for the consumer," the company said in a press release.
Photo: Steiner-Atlantic
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William L. Becker |
