“These industries have been through a lot these last two years,” said Greg Jira, Show Director for The Clean Show, “and Clean’s goal is to serve as a global platform for knowledge and idea sharing so that companies may walk away with the tools they need to recover and ultimately, thrive. With the feedback we are receiving from this year’s event, it is clear that we were able to accomplish that and so much more.”
This year, the 216,400 sq. ft. exhibit hall brought together 347 exhibiting companies from across the industry spectrum, showing the latest technology, machinery, equipment and other products and services. This Show had 51 first-time exhibitors, a record for any edition of Clean Show to date.
People in attendance certainly did not want to waste a minute of the first opportunity to mingle and communicate in 3 years. There was a very good turnout from the opening day, and more than 30 educational seminars were very well attended.
Most exhibitors agreed that there were a lot more “serious enquiries” at this show. David Kim, CEO of DK Machinery, the exclusive distributor of Bowe said “in the past, we had more people casually stepping in the booth and asking typical questions. But this show was different.”
“These people have survived the pandemic and I can feel their commitment to adapt to the changing market.”
Jake Kim, CEO of KCW Financial Services agreed. “I don’t think I had a better show. This Clean Show has brought more ‘real buyers’ than before.”
One fly in the ointment, though, was the lack of new products and ideas at the Show. It is understandable since the pandemic literally put a stop to almost all development of new products. Almost all the exhibitors showed their existing product lines and a new product was hard to find.
One exception. UMC from NJ showed Isopure, a new alternative solvent. Unlike most new alternative solvents that combined hydrocarbon solvent with glycol ether, Isopure is 100% hydrocarbon. The difference is its flash point of 218℉, compared to 146℉ for DF-2000. That puts this solvent in the Class III(b), one above all the other alternative solvents on the market. It is not only non-hazardous, it’s not-flammable and not-combustible. It is also HAP’s Free, no Prop 65 reportables required, VOC exempt for consumer goods and meets NSF purity standards.
The next edition of The Clean Show will take place in Orlando, Florida. While specific dates are to be announced, the event is slated for mid-August, 2025.
The Clean Show is produced in collaboration with five industry-leading associations: Association for Linen Management (ALM), Coin Laundry Association (CLA), Dry-cleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), and TRSA – Association for Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry.
