FORM PRESSING

• Form-pressing equipment is used primarily for the final pressing in garment production or for renovating garments in dry-cleaning plants.

• Form presses are made in the approximate shape of the finished garment.

FORM PRESSING

• Expandable/collapsible bags made in the approximate form.

• Steam is forced from the inside of the form through the garment.

• This gives the garment its final form and shape.

FORM PRESSING• Form presses are designed to reduce the

amount of positioning and repositioning time. • The entire garment is pressed with one surge

(rise and move as wave) of steam.• This type of press smoothes garment fabric, but

it does not set creases.

STEAMERS• Steamers are pressing machines that use only

steam to mold and smooth the garment.• The major type of steamers are steam jets,

steam guns, steam puffs, and steam tunnels or chambers.

• These devices may be used either to form and stabilize garment shape or to smooth the surface of the fabric.

STEAM TUNNELS• Steam tunnels or chambers are used for finish

pressing. • Garments are dewrinkled within a chamber

by the average pressure of the circulating steam.

• Steam chambers may operate intermittently, as racks of garments are loaded and unloaded, or continuously, with garments carried by rail or conveyor.

STEAM TUNNELS

• In some conveyorized systems, garments may be carried over the nozzle of a steam jet, for the garment to receive the full force of the steam pressure.

• Some steam tunnels have drying chambers that use dry heat to extract moisture from the garment before packaging.

STEAM TUNNELS• Steam tunnels are used for pressing finished

garments that do not need creasing or molding of any kind.

• Steam tunnels drastically reduce labor costs and process garments at a rate of 1,200 to 3,600 units per hour.

BOILERS/STEAM GENERATORS• Boilers, steam generators, and/or vacuum

systems are essential parts of any pressing system because they generate the steam and air pressure required.

• Quantity of steam has a major impact on production cycle time and the appearance of the finished garment.

• These systems are available in various sizes and capacities and for use with various power sources.

BOILERS/STEAM GENERATORS

• Safety controls and efficiency of these units are major considerations when purchasing equipment.

• The cost and time required for producing steam contribute directly to the cost of operating the pressing equipment and the rate of production.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

• Advancements in finishing technology focus on several areas:

(1) Greater versatility. (2) More precision in determining exact pressing

requirements of fabrics and finishes.(3) Improved quality.(4) Energy savings.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

• Microprocessors with a wide variety of settings, can control factors such as conveyor speed, steam and air volume, and temperatures.

• Computers determine settings and control the processing so that each garment can be treated in exactly the same manner.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

• Carousel pressing combines several pressing operations under direction of one operator at one workstation, minimizing handling.

• Energy costs are high, and many equipment manufacturers have concentrated their efforts on improving the energy efficiency of pressing systems.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS• They have increased the insulation to prevent

heat loss. • Developed self-contained systems so the

source of heat and steam is closer to the pressing unit.

• Included vacuum systems to reduce the amount of heat and steam needed the effective pressing.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS• In some new pressing equipment, the steam

generator and pressing devices are included in a self-contained unit, which makes the equipment portable.

• Advancements in buck pressing include more automation, with less operator handling and control.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

• Automated buck presses control the amount of time, temperature, and pressure for the steam application and the vacuum cycle.

• The head releases automatically when the determined amount of time lapses.

• This guarantees each garment equal exposure to steam and extraction.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

• With manually operated presses, the operator control the time of exposure, which leads to variability in garment treatment.

• Steam tunnels may be automated, too.• The steaming, drying, and degree of exposure

may be controlled by microprocessors to provide consistency throughout the operation.

TYPES OF TABLES• There are three types of iron tables available. (1) Vacuum table(2) Up-steam table(3) Blow up table• In vacuum table, the vacuum is sucked

through the table surface to lay the garment flat on the surface as well as suck the residual moisture and heat from the garment after ironing.

TYPES OF TABLES• In up-steam table, steam comes up from table

surface through garments thus moistening the garment.

• This is used for knitted garments, where ironing is not advisable as the movement of the iron deforms distribution of steam and suction over the whole surface.

TYPES OF TABLES• Inclination of the surface is possible by 6°,9° or

12°. • All parts contacted by steam are made of

stainless steel. • This prevents spots from corrosion and

guarantees a long working life and trouble free operation.

TYPES OF TABLES• Blow up table is unique for any garment

pressing, without leaving any marks.• The upward thrust of air from the table

prevents ironing marks on the garments.• Air blowing is used in combination with

vacuum to assist in finishing the garment, without leaving marks.

TYPES OF TABLES• When a vacuum is used, the garment is drawn

towards the pressing surface. • On multiple plies, it leaves impression marks

(due to seamlines). • Using air blowing, the garment is expanded

and pressed on a cushion of air where ironing is possible without putting in marks.

• This is especially good on lined garments and silks.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• The table surface with proper vacuum suction

system helps keep the garment cool and dry in a minimal time.

• To maintain proper suction, it is very important to have a proper cover system which should not be too hard or too soft.

• The cover cloth should be porous to be able to draw the vacuum through the garment to dry and cool it.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• Conventional pressers sometimes use other

materials. • They make a very soft surface but it has a

tendency to cause the iron to dig into the fabric and leave marks.

• Cloth-cover should also be heat-resistant and processed for anti-static electricity.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• Proper combination of cover systems assists in

achieving better and uniform suction across the suction table.

• There are Five layers:(1) Top Cover.(2) Intermediate Layer.(3) Adjusting Fiber.(4) Base Layer.(5) Ironing Surface.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• The Top Cover may consist of:(a) Synthetic fiber, which has long life, short-

term heat-resistance up to 180° C and hand washable in soap water (30°C),

(b)Polyester fiber, especially for fabrics that are subject to sheen and mostly used with hard covers (seam ironing).

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• It could also use synthetic coarse fiber, which

is slide resistant.• Keeps the garment as positioned, has a long

life and short-term heat-resistance up to 190°C.

• The Intermediate Layer consist of 5 or 10 mm of foam as cushion for covers.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• The Adjusting Fiber guarantees the complete

splitting of the condensate drops and reduces the humidity in the cover system.

• The Base layer is generally a patented silicon mat for long-term good suction/blowing result.

• This distributes strong airflow evenly over the entire surface/form buck, can be cleaned easily by compressed air, ensures long lifetime with unchanged performance.

CLOTH COVER SYSTEM• The Ironing Surface of table and bucks, consists

of a corrosion-resistant perforated plate or a bored casting mould with an additional light metal grid for an evenly spread suction and blowing airflow (avoids wet covers).