National Clothesline

A federal and state backed program to encourage drycleaners to switch to 100-percent wetcleaning has been launched in New Jersey.

Under the guidance of the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, the program got underway Sept. 12 with a workshop that attracted about 100 cleaners and other industry people. A second program is scheduled for Oct. 24. Ed Kurocka, who is administering the program for NJSBDC, said he hopes to have up to six workshops over the next year.

In addition to the workshops, NJSBDC will provide information and support to cleaners who want to make the transition to wetcleaning. No direct grants are available, but Kurocka said several machinery companies have agreed to offer discounts of up to 30 percent on equipment to cleaners who enter the program.

NJSBDC also hopes to assist cleaners in arranging financing, perhaps finding a dedicated lender who would specialize in making loans for wetcleaning equipment purchases.

Kurocka said the program originated with the federal Environmental Protection Agency which would like to see more drycleaners take up professional wetcleaning as an alternative to perchloroethylene. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection received a grant from the federal agency to start up the program.

Personnel from all eleven NJSBDC centers attended an informational session with DEP officials in August to discuss aspects of wetcleaning, current drycleaning techniques and how to educate communities and the industry about the environmental impacts.

Kurocka said the program is ideally suited for a cleaner who has aging equipment that needs to be replaced and who is located in an area where customers have a high awareness of environmental issues. He noted that unlike other drycleaning solvents, no special permits are needed to install and operate wetcleaning equipment in New Jersey.

Companies that have agreed to offer equipment discounts to cleaners in the program include Aqua-Solo, Miele, Wascomat, Imesa, Trevil and HiSteam. The discounts, ranging from 20 to 30 percent, apply to tensioning equipment for wetcleaning finishing as well as wetcleaning washers and dryers.

The September workshop was held at the headquarters of Aqua-Solo in New Jersey, but Kurocka said the ideal location for such events would be an operating cleaning plant. That will be the case Oct. 24 when the second program in the series takes place at Custom Cleaners in Hopewell, NJ, a plant that uses Miele equipment.

The downside of holding the program in a cleaning plant is that fewer people can be accommodated, but those who come will be able to see the entire process. The program will begin at 2 p.m. and will include discussions of wetcleaning techniques, equipment, detergents, sizing and conditioners.

Invitations will be sent to cleaners in the area. Information is also available on the program’s web site, www.njsbdc.com/njwetcleaning.




						NJ program aims to boost wetcleaning



						A federal and state backed program to encourage drycleaners to switch to 100-percent wetcleaning has been launched in New Jersey. Under the guidance of the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, the program got underway Sept. 12 with a workshop that attracted about 100 cleaners and other industry people. A second program is scheduled for Oct. 24. Ed Kurocka, who is administering the program for NJSBDC, said he hopes to have up to six workshops over the next year. In addition to the workshops, NJSBDC will provide information and support to cleaners who want to make the transition to wetcleaning. No direct grants are available, but Kurocka said several machinery companies have agreed to offer discounts of up to 30 percent on equipment to cleaners who enter the program. NJSBDC also hopes to assist cleaners in arranging financing, perhaps finding a dedicated lender who would specialize in making loans for wetcleaning equipment purchases. Kurocka said the program originated with the federal Environmental Protection Agency which would like to see more drycleaners take up professional wetcleaning as an alternative to perchloroethylene. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection received a grant from the federal agency to start up the program. Personnel from all eleven NJSBDC centers attended an informational session with DEP officials in August to discuss aspects of wetcleaning, current drycleaning techniques and how to educate communities and the industry about the environmental impacts. Kurocka said the program is ideally suited for a cleaner who has aging equipment that needs to be replaced and who is located in an area where customers have a high awareness of environmental issues. He noted that unlike other drycleaning solvents, no special permits are needed to install and operate wetcleaning equipment in New Jersey. Companies that have agreed to offer equipment discounts to cleaners in the program include Aqua-Solo, Miele, Wascomat, Imesa, Trevil and HiSteam. The discounts, ranging from 20 to 30 percent, apply to tensioning equipment for wetcleaning finishing as well as wetcleaning washers and dryers. The September workshop was held at the headquarters of Aqua-Solo in New Jersey, but Kurocka said the ideal location for such events would be an operating cleaning plant. That will be the case Oct. 24 when the second program in the series takes place at Custom Cleaners in Hopewell, NJ, a plant that uses Miele equipment. The downside of holding the program in a cleaning plant is that fewer people can be accommodated, but those who come will be able to see the entire process. The program will begin at 2 p.m. and will include discussions of wetcleaning techniques, equipment, detergents, sizing and conditioners. Invitations will be sent to cleaners in the area. Information is also available on the program’s web site, www.njsbdc.com/njwetcleaning.