ABC in Germany
Getting a heads up from the top
A contingent from America’s Best Cleaners (ABC), the independent drycleaning accreditation organization, were among the
thousands of visitors from more than 80 countries at the recent Texcare
International trade show in Frankfurt, Germany.
In addition to taking in the trade fair, the ABC group visited some of the top
garment manufacturing plants in the world where garments and embellishments are
created for names like Hugo Boss, Willy Bogner, and Swarovski Crystals. They
also toured the Hohenstein Institutes, of which ABC is the sole certifying
representative in the United States and Canada.
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Topics included the future development of high grade synthetic materials,
nanotechnology and its impact in improving the quality of life for sufferers of
allergies and illnesses, UV protection finishes for textiles, and the
development of synthetics to reduce the ecological footprint of the wool
market.
In these presentations, the ABC group learned how to care for these new fabrics.
New testing standards for garment comfort and the influences textile care has on
the comfort level were also highlighted.
“It’s amazing what’s going on in the textile world these days,” said Brian Neighbors of Parkway Cleaners in Oklahoma City, OK. “I don’t think that most drycleaners are aware of these things, let alone how to care
for such garments.”
ABC affiliates also fraternized with fellow affiliates overseas, as certified
representatives from World’s Best Cleaners — ABC’s international sister organization — congregated at Texcare. Among them were Michael Porsmose of Kymi Rens of
Denmark, Michael Schleich of Reinigung Stark of Munich, and Shaun Mason of
Jeeves of Belgravia of London England.
“An important aspect of our organization is to share cutting-edge information
from some the best sources in the world — our affiliates,” explained Christopher White, America’s Best Cleaners’ director of business development. “While this takes place on a daily basis in our online forum, nothing can take
the place of real interaction between our global resource of affiliates, and
our industry-leading corporate partners.”
Metalprogetti, the Italian-based, automated conveyer manufacturer and a platinum
level sponsor of ABC, unveiled its new Auto-Bagger, which includes an automatic
labeling system. Along with automatic assembly and loading to the storage
conveyor, Metalprogetti has created a complete IAB system that can produce
close to 500 pieces an hour. The bagger will be available in the US this fall.
Another ABC platinum level sponsor, Kreussler Chemical, were hosts to the ABC
contingent for several days. After a visit to the corporate headquarters, ABC
was treated to a wine tasting at the Kloster Erbach winery, complete with an
authentic German dinner. They then toured several of the regions castles at St.
Goar and Burg Rheinstein.
“The hospitality of Kreussler has been unreal, yet wholly consistent with their
usual treatment of us here at ABC,” said Michael Maloney of Nu Yale Cleaners of Louisville, KY.
Fred Butler welcomed ABC to a tour of its Frankfurt CO2 central processing
facility. Executives and affiliates discussed the future of CO2 cleaning and
its impact in the US and European markets, while the groups shared ideas on
processing efficiency, quality control, management programs and staff
development.
Hugo Boss, the high-end suit and sportswear manufacturer, gave ABC affiliates
and staff a full tour of its facilities in Metzingen, Germany, where they
received a preview of the 2009 line for spring/summer and had a discussion on
the future of wetcleaning in their new wetcleaning testing facility.
ABC also visited the headquarters of Willy Bogner, one of the top skiwear lines
in the world and one of ABC’s fashion affiliates, which recommends that customers only service their
garments at affiliates of America’s Best Cleaners or World’s Best Cleaners.
Guided by Anna Neiss of Bogner and the DTB Consortium, discussions on new
product developments and investigations into various care processes were held,
and sample fabrics were provided for testing and sharing with the entire
affiliation.
Neiss praised affiliates and staff on the development and growth of ABC/WBC, and
pledged continued support of the organization.
Finally, the group trekked across the border to Wattens, Austria, home of
Swarovski Crystals. In addition to a tour of the Marie Haus, including the
history of the company, philosophy, and an overview of all of the separate
divisions, complete presentations were given by several product managers on all
of the products and applications of the Crystallized – Swarovski Elements product line.
Executives from the technical design division shared new product developments,
and discussed the care and handling of the products, as well as the impact of
new cleaning technologies on the current and future product line.
ABC’s White also gave a presentation on the history of ABC/WBC and its focus,
developments and trend reporting on quality control to the staff at Swarovski,
concluding with a review of tests done for Swarovski.
“The involvement with the fashion industry is perhaps the most vital aspect of
our organization, ” said White. “It is essential for us to talk about key problems and solutions to the newest
technology — we can share our data, ensuring that we are as knowledgeable as possible in the
top tier of the garment care industry, all while helping them to prevent
creating future difficulties for the service end.”
