Industrial irons: what they are, types and selection guide

Industrial irons are an essential component in large-scale textile production, because they allow you to make impeccable finishes on any garment in a short time.

The first models of these tools appeared during the Industrial Revolution, when the need for a fast and efficient finishing process became apparent. Industrial irons have evolved over time, moving from rudimentary steam models to sophisticated machinery equipped with advanced technologies.

The first attempts to automate the ironing process date back to the eighteenth century. At that time, the introduction of mechanized textile machines led to large-scale textile production, but the process of finishing fabrics, including ironing, was still largely manual and laborious.

During the nineteenth century, the first models of industrial irons powered by coal or gas were developed, which allowed enough heat to be generated to iron large quantities of fabric more quickly than traditional household irons. However, these early models were still rudimentary and did not guarantee even heat distribution.

With the advancement of technology and the introduction of electricity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the first electric industrial irons were developed. These new models offered greater power and control over temperature, allowing for more effective and uniform ironing of fabrics on a large scale.

Throughout the twentieth century, industrial irons were continuously improved with the introduction of new technologies, such as steam, which made the ironing process even more efficient and helped to achieve high-quality finishes on fabrics.

The iron was born as a domestic tool to remove creases in fabrics resulting from washing by hand and – after its invention – in the washing machine.

The first tool vaguely comparable to an iron dates back to the time of the Han dynasty, which ruled China from 206 BC to 220 AD, and consisted of a bronze container inside which incandescent embers were inserted. A wooden or ivory handle allowed the transport and use of this rudimentary and far from practical tool. The ancient Romans, on the other hand, used incandescent bronze plates and passed them over fabrics to eliminate creases using special handles.

The name “iron” comes from medieval times (about 1200) and is due to the use, in fact, of wrought iron to obtain the ironing tool that always worked through the insertion of coal embers to be constantly fed through a bellows. Making a substantial leap in time, we have to go back to 1891 to see the official birth of the first “modern” type iron, while the patent for the steam iron dates back to 1926.

Although we still continue to call it iron, the current models – as well as being decidedly lighter and easier to handle – have plates made mainly of aluminum subjected to a further treatment to make them non-stick, thus facilitating sliding on fabrics. Heat generation shifted from coal to gas, and then to the use of electricity to heat the soleplate and transform the water in the tank into steam, which is essential to loosen the intermolecular bonds between the polymer chains within the textile fibers and facilitate ironing.

Required to withstand a huge amount of work and much more complex and delicate tasks than traditional domestic use, industrial irons are characterized by high power to generate enough steam, evenly heated soleplates to ensure even heat distribution over fabrics, and precise temperature controls to suit a variety of fabrics and finishes.

The applications of industrial irons range from the clothing industry to textile production in general, finding use in factories, industrial laundries and textile finishing plants.

Thanks to their ability to work on large quantities of fabric quickly and efficiently, industrial irons are essential in order to guarantee the quality necessary for the packaging of textile products destined for the global market.

There are different types of industrial irons, each with peculiar characteristics to meet specific professional needs and work effectively on any type of fabric. Generally, professional irons have a high tank capacity and very high pressure, so as to obtain a good result even on the most hostile sores.

Below is a selection of the types of industrial irons most used in the professional field.

Boiler irons: These are equipped with a separate boiler that generates high-pressure steam. Steam is delivered through the soleplate of the iron, for effective and fast ironing.

Direct steam irons: with an integrated boiler that generates steam directly in the soleplate of the iron, they are characterized by greater compactness and practicality compared to separate boiler models.

Press irons: specially designed to apply pressure and steam (up to 7-8 bar pressure) to fabrics via a press plate, they are the ideal choice when you need to iron large quantities of fabric quickly and efficiently.

Automatic irons: equipped with automatic features, such as temperature control and steam regulation, they are widely used in large activities precisely because they minimize the need for human intervention during the ironing process.

Roller irons: These models use a heated roller to iron fabrics continuously. They are particularly suitable for ironing flat fabrics such as sheets and tablecloths.

Irons for delicate fabrics: these are special models designed with special characteristics for ironing delicate and heat-sensitive fabrics, such as silk and chiffon, ensuring damage-free results.

There are also some special models, intended exclusively for ironing some garments.

Outerwear machines: these are very bulky machines equipped with special mannequins to wear jackets, which are ironed directly with a pressure of about 8 bar.

Shirt machines: also equipped with a mannequin, they have a structure very similar to the outerwear model, it is organized into four work stations (loading, steaming, blowing and automatic unloading)

Trouser machines: called trouser presses in jargon, also in this case they are bulky machines equipped with various auxiliary systems, such as pneumatic tensioning of the pelvis and legs to obtain a perfect ironing and crease of the garment.

The choice of an industrial iron depends on several factors. It is important, in fact, to define objectives, investments and characteristics of your business in advance in order to select the most suitable products. In particular, it is necessary to understand the frequency of use of professional irons, the space available and the skills of the staff who will be employed.

Even if the latest generation models are increasingly compact, professional irons are quite bulky, therefore not suitable for small spaces; In addition, boiler models are designed to be running at all times to maintain adequate pressure, so they cannot be stored in a utility room after use.

With reference to costs, it must be considered that professional models have specific features and functionalities that make them much more expensive than common irons for domestic use. The range varies from 300 euros for the cheapest models, up to several thousand euros for the most complex and high-performance industrial ironing machines.

In addition, the impact of energy consumption must also be taken into great consideration. The high power required to release the steam necessary for ironing operations and prolonged use over time contribute significantly to the increase in electricity consumption. Therefore, those models equipped with Eco mode are recommended for energy saving.

If you need in-depth and professional advice to guide you in choosing the professional iron model that best suits your needs, we at Fitex are at your complete disposal.

Specialized in the trade and production of spare parts, mechanical parts, accessories and complex solutions for the textile sector and with a warehouse of over 50 thousand items, we have a wide range of state-of-the-art industrial irons in our catalog for perfect ironing on any fabric. All the models we offer are made with high quality materials and are certified by strict production standards for exceptional durability.

Speed of delivery, constantly updated catalog, maximum quality of materials, support and dedicated advice have been our strengths for half a century. Contact us for a personalized quote!

Andrea Ferroli
Nadia Leonarduzzi