National Clothesline

How garments are drycleaned has always been a bit of a mystery for consumers, but cleaners know there is no big, elusive secret. Having and maintaining the proper drycleaning equipment is a large part of the “magic” of cleaning.

But some cleaners might not be aware of a deeper mystery: what all is involved in the making of the remarkable equipment that cleans their customers’ garments?

This November, the International Drycleaners Congress is inviting attendees of its annual convention in Bologna, Italy, to tour a state-of-the-art Firbimatic factory and witness firsthand the manufacturing of modern closed circuit machines — all the way from the design stage and cutting the metal through to the finished article.

Because Firbimatic manufactures a wide range of perc, hydrocarbon and GreenEarth machines, there will also be discussions during the tour on the merits of the different types of machines and processes.

The 2006 “Italian Adventure” conference will be held from Nov. 2-5 at the Hotel Jolly de la Gare. The tour will take place on Friday, Nov. 3.

Delegates can spend an entire day at a local Firbimatic factory in Bologna, which exports equipment to over 130 countries around the world.

The company utilizes a lot of advanced machinery, including: four automatic laser cutting stations, numerous computer and digitally-controlled machine tools, six automatic robot welding stations and a highly automated machine painting robot.

Prior to the tour, IDC will kick off the conference on Thursday evening with a traditional welcome reception. Earlier in the afternoon, the association will also host a board meeting.

On Saturday, the educational sessions begin. The morning session from 8:40 to 10:30 a.m. will be devoted to the topic of “New Processes and Solvent Developments,” which will include a panel discussion on “Best Idea, Worst Idea.”

From 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the same day, IDC will present a second session on “International Reports.” Guest speakers will offer updates on the status of the industry in their region of the world.

Marcia Todd of Fabricare Canada will offer a closer look at the state of things in Canada. Valerio Gatti, export manager at Firbimatic, will discuss the status of cleaning affairs in China.

Speaking on the U.S. cleaning industry will be Carol Memberg, publisher of National Clothesline.

Other experts will be present to discuss drycleaning issues going on in Japan, mainland Europe and the United Kingdom.

In addition to the educational programs on Saturday, IDC will host its annual general meeting from 12: 45 to 1:15 p.m. In the evening, the association will host a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a gala banquet where they will present a flag ceremony and distribute the IDC awards.

The convention will come to a conclusion on Sunday with its longstanding tradition, the Sayonara breakfast. IDC deliberately timed its convention to end in time for attendees to be able to attend the Expo Detergo Exhibition in Milan the following week.

The headquarters hotel for IDC’s convention will be the Jolly Hotel de la Gare, centrally located in the heart of Bologna.

A special discounted rate of 114 euros per night for a single room, or approximately $142.50, is available to convention-goers. The nightly cost for a double room is 134 euros, or $167.50. Those rates include a buffet breakfast, service charge and value added tax.

Prior to the convention, IDC will be offering a tour of Rome, Sorrento, San Casciano Dei Bagni, Florence and Bologna from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1.

On the first leg of the journey, visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of ancient Rome, home of the Colosseum Forum Circus, Maximus Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.

Stops on that guided tour will also include a visit to St. Peter’s, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

The group will additionally take trips to Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi Coast, and spend time relaxing at the Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort.

On the way to Florence, participants will tour the Castello Banfi winery in Montalcino, which features over 2,400 beautiful acres planted with vines. Afterward, the group will visit the nearby medieval castle, Poggio alle Mura.

As the tour heads to Florence, there certainly will be no shortage of sights to see as the city is home to the famous Renaissance Palazzos, the Duomo, and Michelangelo’s David.

After two nights in the city, the caravan of cleaners will move on to Bologna, making a stop on the way for a guided tour of the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production facility located in the heart of Emilia Romagna.

The pre-convention tour costs $3,537 per person for the “land” portion of the trip. That fee is for those sharing a double room. Anyone who wishes for single room accommodations must pay an additional fee of $715. Trans-Atlantic airfares are not included in the land costs.

Following the convention, there will be another optional short tour that will end in Milan just in time for the international exhibit, Expo Detergo.

The tour will depart from Bologna on Nov. 5 and head to Venice to tour the city and visit the glass producing island of Murano. A walking tour will include such landmarks as the Piazza San Marco, which houses the Basilica de San Marco, and the Rialto Bridge, once the only crossing of the Grand Canal.

Next up is Verona, which is famous for being the setting of William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet.

After spending an evening in Sirmione on Lake Garda, IDC members will head west to Milan, site if Expo Detergo and home to luxury shopping in the “Golden Quadrangle” around Via Montenapoleone.

The “land” cost for the post-convention tour is $1,634 per person, sharing a double room.

Those who wish to have their own room can pay a supplemental fee of $397. Trans-Atlantic airfares are not included.

For more information on the convention and tours and a registration form, call Yamato Travel Bureau, (800) 334-2825.