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A free Expo that will focus on alternatives to perchloroethylene in drycleaning will be sponsored by the Institute for Research and Technical Assistance (IRTA) next month in Irwindale, CA.

The event will be held at Southern California Edison’s Customer Technology Application Center (CTAC) in Irwindale on Sunday, May 18 from 9:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Southern California Edison, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and U.S. EPA Region 9 are co-sponsoring the Expo.

The Expo will provide cleaners with information on water-based and carbon dioxide cleaning alternatives. Speakers from government agencies will discuss perc regulations in California and the grant programs that are available for purchasing water-based and carbon dioxide systems. Speakers from CARB, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will provide information on their programs.

CARB regulations call for a statewide phase-out of perc in drycleaning by 2023. A SCAQMD regulation phases out even sooner — by 2020. Many cleaners will need to retire their perc equipment even sooner. Under the CARB phase-out, perc machines must be replaced with a non-perc alternative when the machine becomes 15 years old.

The Expo will also include speakers from four textile cleaning facilities who have successfully converted to water-based and carbon dioxide processes. Cleaners and government representatives who attend can ask questions about the how the technologies perform and their costs.

The Expo will include a demonstration of wetcleaning equipment.

IRTA recently held showcases at the four textile cleaning facilities and analyzed the performance and cost of the options. Case studies on each of the facilities — Mastercraft Cleaners in Fresno, Hangers Cleaners in San Diego, Royal Cleaners in Santa Monica and Legacy Cleaners in Tustin — will be available at the Expo.

Vendors who sell water-based and carbon dioxide supplies and equipment will be on hand to give out information on their processes. Vendor tables will be provided for exhibitors to give out information on conditioning agents, detergents and equipment.

Spotting chemical alternatives will also be featured at the Expo since many paint, oil and grease spotting chemicals contain trichloroethylene. A BAAQMD representative will discuss a proposal to phase out the use of perc and TCE spotting agents in the Bay Area. Alternatives that can be used are water-based and soy-based materials.

The Expo is free but attendees must register with IRTA by calling (818) 244-0300. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided.

Vendors who would like to participate should also contact IRTA to reserve a table. Space is limited so early registration is important.

IRTA is a technical nonprofit organization that demonstrates new and emerging technologies. Katy Wolf, IRTA’s director, has been involved in the textile cleaning industry for 30 years. IRTA received a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to showcase water-based and carbon dioxide technologies and the EXPO will bring together cleaners, government agency representatives, suppliers and equipment distributors involved with water-based and carbon dioxide systems.

The California Cleaners Association will host the final two segments of its three-part spotting series in the coming weeks, with classes planned in both the southern and northern region of the state under its Cleaning Science Instruction name.

The educational series emphasizes the importance of achieving a basic understanding of fibers and fabrics and how those fibers and fabrics respond to various stain removal techniques in the drycleaning plant.

Instructors will focus on fiber content, yarn construction, dyes and pigments in an attempt to take the guesswork out of the cleaning process.

The first part of the series took place on Saturday, March 8 at Perfect Cleaners in Los Angeles and on Saturday, March 15 at Prestige Cleaners in Sacramento.

A second installment is scheduled to take place on the final Saturday in March in the northern part of the state.

The final offerings of the series are scheduled for Saturday, April 5 in Los Angeles, and on Saturday, April 12 in Sacramento.

CCA hopes to continue utilizing both Perfect Cleaners and Prestige Cleaners for those classes, provided the plants are available on the designated dates.

Fees for each class are $95 per person for CCA members and $145 per person for non-members.

Lunch will not be provided to attendees.

Those who register three or more employees for the same class are additionally eligible for a $20 discount for those registrations.

In May, CCA plans to offer a course on “Understanding Care Labels.”.

The first course will be Saturday, May 3 and be in Los Angeles; the second offering will be Saturday, May 10 in northern California.

More information on any of CCA’s upcoming classes can be obtained by calling the association’s office at (916) 924-7323 or by visiting them online at www.calcleaners.com.

The web site also has information on CCA’s upcoming Fabricare 2008 trade show and convention.

The event will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA, from Aug. 22-24.The association anticipates over 3,000 drycleaners from more than 30 states and five countries to attend.

Thie headquarters hotel will once again be the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, located at 200 South Pine Ave., literally steps away from the convention center.

CCA has negotiated a discounted room rate of $185 per night for single or double occupancy for those who make reservations prior to July 29.

Cleaners should call (800) 233-1234 and mention their affiliation with CCA’s Fabricare 2008.

Though the convention is still months away, CCA has already sold over 30 booths. An up-to-date floor plan is available via a link on CCA’s homepage.

The association will offer more information on the convention, including a brochure, a schedule of the weekend’s events, and a registration form for cleaners who want to sign up early.










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						Expo will highlight cleaning alternatives A free Expo that will focus on alternatives to perchloroethylene in drycleaning will be sponsored by the Institute for Research and Technical Assistance (IRTA) next month in Irwindale, CA. The event will be held at Southern California Edison’s Customer Technology Application Center (CTAC) in Irwindale on Sunday, May 18 from 9:45 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Southern California Edison, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and U.S. EPA Region 9 are co-sponsoring the Expo. The Expo will provide cleaners with information on water-based and carbon dioxide cleaning alternatives. Speakers from government agencies will discuss perc regulations in California and the grant programs that are available for purchasing water-based and carbon dioxide systems. Speakers from CARB, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will provide information on their programs. CARB regulations call for a statewide phase-out of perc in drycleaning by 2023. A SCAQMD regulation phases out even sooner — by 2020. Many cleaners will need to retire their perc equipment even sooner. Under the CARB phase-out, perc machines must be replaced with a non-perc alternative when the machine becomes 15 years old. The Expo will also include speakers from four textile cleaning facilities who have successfully converted to water-based and carbon dioxide processes. Cleaners and government representatives who attend can ask questions about the how the technologies perform and their costs. The Expo will include a demonstration of wetcleaning equipment. IRTA recently held showcases at the four textile cleaning facilities and analyzed the performance and cost of the options. Case studies on each of the facilities — Mastercraft Cleaners in Fresno, Hangers Cleaners in San Diego, Royal Cleaners in Santa Monica and Legacy Cleaners in Tustin — will be available at the Expo. Vendors who sell water-based and carbon dioxide supplies and equipment will be on hand to give out information on their processes. Vendor tables will be provided for exhibitors to give out information on conditioning agents, detergents and equipment. Spotting chemical alternatives will also be featured at the Expo since many paint, oil and grease spotting chemicals contain trichloroethylene. A BAAQMD representative will discuss a proposal to phase out the use of perc and TCE spotting agents in the Bay Area. Alternatives that can be used are water-based and soy-based materials. The Expo is free but attendees must register with IRTA by calling (818) 244-0300. A continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be provided. Vendors who would like to participate should also contact IRTA to reserve a table. Space is limited so early registration is important. IRTA is a technical nonprofit organization that demonstrates new and emerging technologies. Katy Wolf, IRTA’s director, has been involved in the textile cleaning industry for 30 years. IRTA received a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to showcase water-based and carbon dioxide technologies and the EXPO will bring together cleaners, government agency representatives, suppliers and equipment distributors involved with water-based and carbon dioxide systems. Spotting, care label courses set by CCA The California Cleaners Association will host the final two segments of its three-part spotting series in the coming weeks, with classes planned in both the southern and northern region of the state under its Cleaning Science Instruction name. The educational series emphasizes the importance of achieving a basic understanding of fibers and fabrics and how those fibers and fabrics respond to various stain removal techniques in the drycleaning plant. Instructors will focus on fiber content, yarn construction, dyes and pigments in an attempt to take the guesswork out of the cleaning process. The first part of the series took place on Saturday, March 8 at Perfect Cleaners in Los Angeles and on Saturday, March 15 at Prestige Cleaners in Sacramento. A second installment is scheduled to take place on the final Saturday in March in the northern part of the state. The final offerings of the series are scheduled for Saturday, April 5 in Los Angeles, and on Saturday, April 12 in Sacramento. CCA hopes to continue utilizing both Perfect Cleaners and Prestige Cleaners for those classes, provided the plants are available on the designated dates. Fees for each class are $95 per person for CCA members and $145 per person for non-members. Lunch will not be provided to attendees. Those who register three or more employees for the same class are additionally eligible for a $20 discount for those registrations. In May, CCA plans to offer a course on “Understanding Care Labels.”. The first course will be Saturday, May 3 and be in Los Angeles; the second offering will be Saturday, May 10 in northern California. More information on any of CCA’s upcoming classes can be obtained by calling the association’s office at (916) 924-7323 or by visiting them online at www.calcleaners.com. The web site also has information on CCA’s upcoming Fabricare 2008 trade show and convention. The event will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA, from Aug. 22-24.The association anticipates over 3,000 drycleaners from more than 30 states and five countries to attend. Thie headquarters hotel will once again be the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, located at 200 South Pine Ave., literally steps away from the convention center. CCA has negotiated a discounted room rate of $185 per night for single or double occupancy for those who make reservations prior to July 29. Cleaners should call (800) 233-1234 and mention their affiliation with CCA’s Fabricare 2008. Though the convention is still months away, CCA has already sold over 30 booths. An up-to-date floor plan is available via a link on CCA’s homepage. The association will offer more information on the convention, including a brochure, a schedule of the weekend’s events, and a registration form for cleaners who want to sign up early.