Research and Development in the Field of laundry Technology (2. strana)

REGION–PŘÍBOR Do you focus also on decreasing the ecological footprint during the development and SOP of innovation technologies? Our dedicated engineers work continually to reduce water and electrical consumption and increase the efficiency of our machines. When we introduced our current range of small washers, we managed to reduce both the water and electrical consumption by 25 %. We also have an optional additional extension for our machine so our customers can recycle the water. In our Pribor plant, advanced waste management is applied in our production process. There have been vast investments in more efficient heating, lighting, insulation and water savings. To which countries do you export your products? Alliance Laundry is the largest producer of industrial machines in the world, so the Pribor products are shipped all over the world including very remote destinations like the Fiji Islands or Jamaica. The majority is shipped to European countries, especially to Western Europe, but also to Eastern Europe where Alliance Laundry has a very strong market position. In Asia, a lot of Pribor machines are sold in Korea, Japan and Indonesia,and also in Australia and many other countries. Of course we have plenty of machines installed in North America, as this is the headquarters of Alliance Laundry, and we also have dealers in every country in the Middle-East, Africa and Latin America. Milan Janíček to minimize the cycle of product development while maintaining high quality and safety. We use 3D print. In terms of connectivity, a high-quality connection to wifi and other hardware features are crucial as they allow the implementation of “Data Post Processing” and the collection of important data on the operation and efficiency of a machine. Generally, the aim of virtual testing is to create the so-called “Digital Twin,” where the computerized simulation of the machine truly represents the physical machine in its features and operations. This is where we are moving most testing: into virtual reality. Head of Alliance Laundry engineering How far have developments in industrial laundry technologies come since Alliance Laundry entered the Czech market? Our company entered the Czech market in 1991 when laundry technologies started shifting towards the digital environment. We have implemented numerous novel technologies enhancing efficiency and safety in our product portfolio, and many solutions in communication. Our customers’ requirements have influenced the design of the machinery, its intuitive control, uniformed components, and complex modularity. We have implemented the digitized verification of products via strength analyses, thermodynamic and mechatronic simulations, and we have introduced quick product testing with full-quality CAE simulations as part of our innovation processes. Which direction do you want to focus your development on in the future? Our development has turned into virtual reality and digitization. We have started turning the physical checks of our products to numerical simulations. Our aim is Can you sum up how many innovation steps a single product goes through? Product development starts with an original idea: its preparation and evaluation to check if everything corresponds with our business goals. A definition of the concept comes next, evaluating the aesthetics, principal features, compliance with legislation, virtual calculations and simulations. A physical prototype follows along with validation, optimization, and the introduction in batch production. The product innovation cycle is anywhere from three to five years, especially as regards electronics and ergonomics. Text: Dagmar Revendová Foto: archiv Alliance laundry www. alliancelaundry.com POSITIV 4/2020 ǀ 89