Steam iron: what it is, operation and applications

As a fundamental tool, especially since the Industrial Revolution, the iron has gone through a long evolutionary process. The first “modern” models date back to the late nineteenth century, while the first patent for a steam iron dates back to 1926, with the legendary Eldec.
Although equipped with an innovative technology (steam, in fact) that would determine the fate of home and professional ironing, the Eldec was not very successful given its decidedly bulky size and its weight that was anything but practical for daily use.
It was only in the 60s and 70s that steam irons definitively conquered the market, thanks to the introduction of ergonomic, practical and efficient models. A boon for home and professional ironers all over the world.

Boiler irons are dedicated ironing appliances that use a boiler to generate high-pressure steam, which is then dispensed through the soleplate of the iron to facilitate ironing of fabrics.
Boiler irons differ from traditional irons precisely because of the presence of a separate or integrated boiler that has the specific task of heating the water in order to produce steam. In modern ironing, in fact, steam is an essential condition, because it is able to loosen the intermolecular bonds between the polymer chains within the textile fibers, thus facilitating the ironing process.
As already mentioned, the boiler can be integrated or separated. In the first case, there is a water tank inside the body of the iron, the same one that is held and passed over the clothing. Due to capacity and practicality of use, the tank of an integrated boiler cannot accommodate large quantities of water.
For this reason, the most popular models on the market, even for domestic use, provide a separate boiler. This solution, in addition to the possibility of accommodating a significantly larger quantity of water, significantly lightens the operator’s work and guarantees a continuous and lasting flow of steam at high temperatures.
Boiler irons also generate high-pressure steam, which penetrates fabrics more effectively than the steam generated by traditional household irons. This allows for faster and more effective ironing of fabrics on a large scale.
Finally, a further advantage is that the temperature and pressure of the steam can be adjusted through special sliders, so as to select the correct flow of steam and the heat of the plate according to the type of fabric and the desired finish.

The operation of a boiler iron is quite simple. The water inside the boiler is heated through a resistance activated by the connection with the mains. Depending on the power of the model (some reach up to 2,700 Watts), the steam will be ready to be delivered more or less quickly, generally the range varies from 2 to 5 minutes.
Steam aside, the quality of the soleplate of the iron, i.e. the part that comes into contact with the fabrics, is decisive for an excellent ironing success. The soleplate of the iron can come in different shapes and materials, generally steel, aluminum, ceramic or Teflon. The so-called precision irons, for example, are characterized by more pointed plates on the head to better perform the finishes in the most critical points.
The most modern models of irons for home use, as well as all professional ones, have appropriate technological equipment capable of controlling the temperature of the soleplate and the delivery of steam. If there are no automatic fabric detection systems, in most cases the temperature selectors have the same dot notation as on clothing labels. By placing the thermostat on the correct dot, any negative eventuality on the treated fabric is avoided.
Finally, boiler irons are equipped with safety devices that prevent overheating and protect the user from any risk of burns or accidents. In fact, many models have a safety thermostat that automatically turns off the iron in case of overheating.

Due to their ability to provide high-pressure steam for effective and fast ironing of fabrics, steam irons are very useful in a variety of industries.
Excluding for a moment the home sector, certainly a very important component of the reference market, we can find models of irons with boiler in all professional contexts that involve a finishing treatment of fabrics.
In particular, in the textile industry, where garments are produced on a large scale, the ironing department is very important, because it allows raw or semi-finished fabrics, such as cotton, linen, silk and synthetics, to be transformed into smooth and wrinkle-free products ready for an adequate final packaging. Tailors and fashion ateliers, on the other hand, use irons with boilers for the creation of tailor-made clothing and for the finishing of ready-to-wear garments. These irons allow you to achieve precise and professional finishes on high-quality fabrics, guaranteeing a flawless result. Similarly, in the furniture industry the need to finish perfectly through ironing is applied to curtains, cushions, upholstery and upholstery fabrics.
In industrial laundries, on the other hand, the primary need is to treat large quantities of fabrics of various kinds, such as clothes, sheets, towels, tablecloths and various accessories, in the shortest possible time. Before returning the fabrics to the customer, after washing and sanitizing, they must be ironed impeccably. For this, it is necessary to equip yourself with high-performance professional ironing models.
The same goes for hotels, restaurants and – in general – the entire hospitality sector. The ability to deliver high-pressure steam allows you to quickly remove creases and achieve consistent, high-quality ironing results.

If you also operate in one of the professional contexts just mentioned and are looking for an effective and high-performance iron model, we recommend that you contact a reliable manufacturer or retailer with great experience in the sector. Only in this way will you be able to receive adequate advice and all the necessary assistance in choosing the boiler iron that best suits your needs and business objectives.
In this regard, we at Fitex have been specialized for over 40 years in the trade and production of spare parts, mechanical parts, accessories and complex solutions for the textile and professional ironing sector.

With a warehouse of more than 50 thousand items, we have a wide range of boiler irons in our catalog, made with high quality materials and 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