Green machine will dry clean

By BEN HIGGINS, The Border Mail, Sat. 13th January 2007

ALBURY’S Gouge Dry Cleaners has introduced a new environmentally friendly cleaning system that has the latest technology for safe garment care.

Business owner David Thompson imported the Greenearth system from the US 12 months ago and said it could change the face of the Australian dry cleaning industry.

Greenearth uses liquid silicon instead of the carbon-based solvents that older machines use.

Mr Thompson said silicon was gentler on garments as well as being a safer and more environmentally friendly cleaner.

He said his was the third business in Australia to import the technology and the only one in Albury-Wodonga with a licence to use the machine.

“The equipment conditions clothes as well as cleaning them and it’s safe enough to use on fragile garments such as hats and wedding dresses; the new technology cuts the risk of damage and is also odour free,” Mr Thompson said.

Since Mr Thompson imported the system, more than 40 other dry cleaners Australia-wide had employed the technology, one Queensland business helped by a $45,000 grant.

The parent company in the US recently won an Environmental Protection Agency award.

Mr Thompson hoped that using the technology would help his business as well as the dry cleaning industry.

“We hope to get busier in the next few months as the community learns about what we do and the equipment we use to promote environmental protection.”

Business name: Gouge Dry Cleaning

Contact: (02) 6021 3705.

http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/business/610513.html