H2O dryer and other innovations slash consumption

Washing, drying and ironing large volumes of laundry in the shortest of times in an operation scaled to the individual needs of clients: In many laundries, this is already the job of the latest laundry technology from Miele Professional – machines which also reduce costs through energy efficiency and low water consumption – in part through the use of new heating systems on tumble dryers and through low-consumption wash cycles.

Alternative heating methods such as solar-thermal heat, district heat and the use of co-generation plants are gaining significance worldwide. To service this market, Miele Professional is offering specially designed tumble dryers which drastically cut energy costs. These H2O dryers can be heated by an economical alternative central heating source. If the water used to cool a co-generation plant is used, for example, dryer operation is virtually cost-free. These dryers are available in a variety of sizes with drum volumes ranging from 325 l to 800 l and load capacities between 10 and 32 kg. Hot water is used to heat process air in a heat exchanger on H2O dryers, with programmes specially designed to take gentle care of laundry at lower process air temperatures.

In contrast, heat-pump dryers from Miele operate using a closed air circuit and therefore do not require any vent ducting. Waste heat is recuperated thanks to the use of heat exchangers. These dryers are available in 3 sizes with load capacities ranging from 6.5 to 16 kg. They reduce energy consumption by up to 60% and offer extremely short cycles: 10 kg of laundry is dried in no more than 44 minutes.

Hot water as a source of heat is also available for washer-extractors, where specially designed programmes improve the energy balance even further: The 'Cottons 60°C' programme for a 13 kg machine reduces water consumption in a hot-water cycle to below 10 l per kg of laundry, without entertaining any compromises whatsoever in terms of wash performance and rinse quality. The new 'Eco' programme requires even less water: Specific consumption is as low as 7.5 l and 0.03 kWh per kg.

Switching to gas heating can also reduce operating costs. Miele Professional offers washer-extractors, tumble dryers and flatwork ironers which run on this most advantageous source of primary energy. As the price of gas is considerably lower than that of electricity – in Germany it costs only around a third – a switch to gas can result in considerable savings.

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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 (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2013/14 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.22 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for around 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 17,660, 10,411 thereof in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.