The dry cleaning drum machine
The enclosed drum machine is the defining piece of equipment in a professional dry cleaning unit. Without it, there is no dry cleaning — only laundry or MTO-based open cleaning. The drum machine has three functional components:
The drum: a stainless steel rotating cylinder that tumbles the garment through the solvent. Drum capacity is measured in kilograms of garment load — typical capacities for a commercial unit are 8kg, 12kg, or 16kg per cycle.
The solvent circuit: the pump, filter, and recovery tank system that circulates solvent through the drum, extracts it after the cleaning phase, filters it through activated charcoal, and returns it to the tank.
The drying circuit: warm air circulation within the sealed drum that evaporates residual solvent from the garment after extraction. The garment exits fully dry.
European-specification enclosed machines: Rs 15 to 20 lakhs. Indian-assembled machines: Rs 8 to 12 lakhs. Second-hand professional machines: Rs 4 to 8 lakhs but requiring full service before use.
The steam boiler — essential not optional
A professional dry cleaning unit without a steam boiler is like a kitchen without a stove. The boiler generates the steam that powers all pressing and finishing equipment. A boiler-fed press operates at 130 to 180 degrees Celsius with regulated steam pressure — the conditions that properly set creases in wool, restore the drape of silk, and give cotton its sharp finish.
A commercial steam boiler costs Rs 1.5 to 4 lakhs depending on output capacity. It requires a licensed installation and regular safety certification.
Pressing equipment — where quality is finished
Professional pressing equipment connected to the boiler includes:
Shirt body press: a form-fitting clamp press that presses shirts consistently in 20 to 30 seconds. Significantly faster and more consistent than hand pressing for volume operations.
Hand-iron stations: boiler-connected hand irons for garments that require individual handling — sarees, embroidered pieces, unusual shapes. These operate at pressures and temperatures not achievable with consumer irons.
Trouser topper: a press specifically for trouser leg creases and seat pressing. Produces the sharp crease that distinguishes professionally pressed trousers from home ironing.
Spotting table and pre-treatment equipment
The spotting table is where individual stains are pre-treated before the drum cycle. A professional spotting station has: a flat padded stainless surface with drainage, a spotting gun for applying targeted amounts of spotting agent, a steam gun for loosening set stains, and an air gun for flushing solvent through the fabric.
The spotting table is where the skill of the operator most determines outcomes. A well-equipped spotting station with a skilled operator can remove stains that a poorly equipped operation cannot — because of the precision of pre-treatment, not the machine.
Total setup cost — what a professional unit actually costs
| Equipment | Cost range | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Drum dry cleaning machine (8 to 12kg) | Rs 8 to 20 lakhs | Essential |
| Steam boiler (commercial) | Rs 1.5 to 4 lakhs | Essential |
| Shirt and body press | Rs 80,000 to 2 lakhs | Essential |
| Trouser topper | Rs 60,000 to 1 lakh | Essential |
| Spotting table and guns | Rs 50,000 to 1.5 lakhs | Essential |
| Boiler-connected hand irons | Rs 80,000 to 2 lakhs | Essential |
| Initial solvent fill | Rs 1.5 to 3 lakhs | Essential |
| Installation and electrical work | Rs 2 to 5 lakhs | Essential |
| Total minimum | Rs 18 to 38 lakhs | Without premises |
The Swiss Laundry has operated enclosed automatic dry cleaning machines from our Kasba facility since 2013. The machines run sealed hydrocarbon solvent cycles with full recovery. No open-vat process. No MTO. The same equipment standard as professional dry cleaners in Europe and Japan — operating in Kolkata since before the organised sector conversation began.