Washing, reproofing and drying with new Miele laundry technology

Speed and special-purpose programmes are of the essence when the protective apparel worn by fire-fighters need washing, drying and reproofing after an emergency call. Washing machines and tumble dryers from Miele ensure the thorough reprocessing of multi-ply textiles with retro-reflective strips whilst preserving their value – now with a new range of load capacities.

Washing machines from the current 'Benchmark' series are available with load capacities of 11-12 kg and 14-16 kg. Depending on the model, between one and three complete firefighters' suits can be reprocessed in a single cycle. With the new and patented door lock, opening and closing the door is child's play: The mere touch of a finger is sufficient to activate the automatic lock and start a wash cycle. A door opening with a diameter of 415 mm makes for simple loading and unloading – and considerably improves ergonomics at the same time.

The new, patented honeycomb drum 2.0 goes a long way towards ensuring economical energy consumption. Its modified shower ribs repeatedly transport around 30 l of water in the sump to the top of the drum. This new arrangement of perforations in the shower ribs makes for particularly thorough wetting and drenching, with up to 500 l of water showering down onto the load. Furthermore, the sculptured body of the Miele honeycomb drum lets garments glide gently on a thin film of water. The combination of the two features allows thorough washing whilst at the same time ensuring exemplary gentle fabric care.

For larger fire brigades and plenty of apparel to wash, there are, as previously, still the proven Miele washing machines with load capacities of 24 or 32 kg in the range. On request, these and a 16 kg model are available as two-door barrier machines. These are required when working to the DIN 14092 standard covering protective clothing which is potentially highly contaminated.

All Miele washing machines thoroughly remove soot particles from protective suits so as not to pose a threat to fire-fighters during their next emergency call. The contaminants contained in soot can enter the human body through the skin. Miele special-purpose programmes can, for instance, wash followed by reproofing, but, if required, washing and reproofing can be run separately. Further special programmes are available for rescue blankets, breathing masks and smart uniforms.

Reproofing agent applied in a washing machine is then activated in tumble dryers which are available with matching load capacities. In the dryer, SoftLift ribs with their smoothly rounded edges reduce the mechanical strain on jackets and trousers. Sensors integrated into the ribs measure the residual moisture content of laundry as it tumbles and uses this information to determine when the desired degree of dryness has been reached. Miele tumble dryers with their patented Air Recycling Plus system also guarantee that impermeable jackets and trousers are fully dried – even including multi-ply garments. Within only two and a half hours, everything is ready for the next emergency call.

Breathing masks can also be gently reprocessed in Miele laundry machines: Depending on the model, capacities range between 4 and 25 masks, each in upholstered bags to protect visors against scratches. During the wash phase, the drum rotates at only 20 rpm – and a temperature of only 60°C is sufficient for disinfection. Later, in the tumble dryer, special braces hold up to 16 masks in place, depending on the drum size, during a drying programme lasting only 45 minutes. The benefit of this approach is that the masks do not need to be taken apart for reprocessing.

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Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Professional Business Unit). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has eight production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2017/18 turnover amounted to approx.
EUR 4.1 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of around 20,100, 11,200 thereof in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.