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BERKLEY, Mich. — CRDN, an international organization of textile restoration experts serving the insurance industry, and Esporta Wash Systems Inc., inventors and manufacturers of a patented washing system and detergents, have come to an agreement to discontinue the use of Esporta’s CCRN brand name.

The CCRN (Certified Contents Restoration Network) brand was created by Esporta to represent a certification standards council responsible for establishing and monitoring standards for soft contents restoration throughout their member network—those restoration contractors who have purchased and been certified in the Esporta Wash System for soft contents restoration.

The Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network, known by the acronym “CRDN,” is the oldest and largest franchise network of textile restoration operators, having built the first network of its kind in 2001, and serves the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

FRANKFURT, Germany — Energy and resource efficiency are key factors in the professional textile care sector, and sustainable and efficient technology and processes for dry cleaners, laundries and textile service providers were on display as Texcare International opened its five-day run on Saturday.

There are 264 exhibitors hailing from 26 countries in Hall 8 and the adjoining Galleria. “The mood in the sector is very good,” says Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, who accompanied media members during a guided tour of the show floor. “Hall 8 is fully booked up. All international market leaders have registered and will present their cutting-edge technologies. They expect the world’s leading trade fair for their sector to generate powerful business impulses.”

Marzin likened Texcare to the “Olympics of textile care,” referencing the show’s every-four-years cycle.

PULASKI, N.Y. — Fulton Companies, a manufacturer of high-pressure steam boilers and thermal fluid heaters used by dry cleaners and industrial laundries, has received a $221,000 Capital Investment Incentive grant from National Grid for infrastructure improvements that will support the company’s 112,000-square-foot expansion and $13.9 million capital investment plan.

The grant will offset costs associated with construction of a new 82,000-square-foot manufacturing floor, 10,000-square-foot research and development center, and 20,000-square-foot office space. The grant also supports Fulton’s capital investment in projects that include expansion of thermal fluid heating product lines, creating lower-emissions products, and manufacturing a wider range of large boilers.

WASHINGTON — When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene—also known as perchloroethylene, or perc—to its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database in February, it deemed the chemical to be a “likely human carcinogen.”

The assessment replaces the 1988 IRIS assessment for perc and for the first time includes a hazard characterization for cancer effects. The assessment underwent several levels of rigorous, independent peer review including: agency review, interagency review, public comment, and external peer review by the National Research Council, according to the EPA, and all major review comments were addressed.

The Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance says 70% of U.S. commercial dry cleaners use perc; EPA estimates the total number to be 27,000. So what does this development mean for the future of the industry’s preferred solvent?

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada — The Government of Canada has decided that siloxane D5—the liquid silicone used in the GreenEarth drycleaning process—is not harmful to the environment, Canada Environment Minister Peter Kent announced.

Kent received the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report last fall. He convened his country’s Board of Review in August 2010 with the mandate to consider information in the original Government of Canada 2009 siloxane D5 screening assessment, as well as new scientific information subsequently available. The Board concluded that siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.

“This decision follows a thorough analysis of the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report, all existing available scientific information, and ongoing international regulatory activities,” says Kent. “It underlines our commitment to reach fact-based conclusions to protect Canadians’ health and the environment.”

Tim Maxwell, president of GreenEarth Cleaning, Kansas City, Mo., says his company has always applauded Canada’s measured, fact-based approach to the bioaccumulation issue.

DENVER — The cost of repairing and expanding U.S. drinking water infrastructure will top $1 trillion in the next 25 years, an expense that likely will be met primarily through higher water bills and local fees, an American Water Works Association (AWWA) report asserts.

The report, Buried No Longer: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge, analyzes many factors, including timing of water main installation and life expectancy, materials used, replacement costs and shifting demographics, the association says. Nationally, the infrastructure needs are almost evenly divided between replacement and expansion requirements.

Water systems that were built in the latter part of the 19th century and throughout much of the 20th century have, for the most part, never experienced the need for pipe replacement on a large scale, the AWWA report says. “The dawn of an era in which the assets will need to be replaced puts a growing stress on communities that will continue to increase for decades to come.”

There is still time to register for the GreenEarth Affiliate workshop in Savannah, Georgia on April 20th and 21st.

Savannah was the named the "destination of choice" by our Affiliates who participated in our recent workshop survey and we know you will love Savannah! This historic city is known for its charm and beauty; a city famous for its role in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars, for being the birthplace of the Girl Scouts and the setting for John Berendt's book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil.

LAUREL, Md. — As of April 2, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s Encyclopedia of Drycleaning will be open to most DLI members as another new, free member benefit, the institute reports.

“We’ve very pleased to present this information to our members at no additional cost,” says DLI CEO Mary Scalco. “Members identified DLI’s technical bulletins as the greatest benefit to membership in every survey we’ve ever conducted. When Fabricare [DLI’s magazine] arrives in the mail, members turn immediately to the bulletins. By taking advantage of online technologies, we were able to reduce our production costs. Now we’re able to open the information to most of our members free.”

The term “most” refers to all U.S. operating plants and their associated sub-plants registered as current DLI members in good standing. International memberships still require an additional online subscription.

CHICAGO — JANUARY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE dropped to 8.3%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the lowest since February 2009.

“The economy added 257,000 private-sector jobs last month, exceeding expectations,” says Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “These numbers show that the labor market continues on a positive trajectory.

In response to the positive numbers, the Dow Jones jumped the day after the announcement while the Nasdaq index reached a level that hasn’t been seen since December 2000.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICTS reported modest growth for December, indicating ongoing improvement in the country’s economy. Consumer spending increased in most of the 12 districts, showing strong holiday sales compared to that of 2010, and activity expanded in the travel and tourist sector as well.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – Ownership and administration of the Certified Rug Specialist (CRS) certification program has shifted to the Association of Rug Care Specialists (ARCS). The board of directors of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) recently voted unanimously to make the transfer.

“Given the RIA’s focus on the restoration sector, our board unanimously agreed that it is in the best interests of the rug care industry to transition this program without cost from our organization to the Association of Rug Care Specialists,” says Timothy Shaw, RIA executive director. “We know the CRS will be in good hands with ARCS, and we eagerly anticipate seeing the certification program grow under ARCS’ leadership.”

The CRS is the nation’s only certification program to focus on the study of Oriental and specialty rugs with an emphasis on the history of handmade rugs, rug identification, cleaning and repair techniques, and potential cleaning problems based on a rug’s origin and construction, according to the associations. Only 65 U.S. rug care specialists hold the CRS certification.

COLD SPRING, Ky. — Two valued Fabritec International employees and veteran contributors to the dry cleaning industry have died in recent months, the company reports.

Retired Vice President Bob Knippling died Jan. 12 at age 85. Knippling, a U.S. Army veteran who served during World War II, graduated from college with degrees in chemistry and biology. He joined then-Emery Industries in 1951 as a chemist.

While with Fabritec, he was in charge of the Stamford distribution and Emerbrite divisions, and he worked closely with Fabritec’s salesmen. Knippling made major research contributions during his 50 years in the industry. He served as Fabritec vice president for 20 years before retiring in 2001.

Retired Sales Support Manager John Geer died Oct. 22 at age 78. After receiving a physics degree, Geer began his dry cleaning career with his family’s business in Marion, Ohio. In 1976, he joined Fabritec (Emery Industries at the time), where he became director of technical services.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — North American Restoration Dry Cleaners (NARD), a national group of textile restoration professionals, has welcomed three new members in expanding its national coverage.

Urban Valet Cleaners, Buffalo, N.Y., has been in the restoration business for more than 10 years and services western New York and northern Pennsylvania.

Bobby Page’s Restoration in northern Nevada has been working restoration dry cleaning for almost 50 years.

Fabricare-Restoration by Margaret’s is recognized as Southern California’s premier dry cleaning institution and as one of the nation’s top cleaning establishments, NARD says. The business recently added a separate division focusing solely on insurance restoration cleaning.

“We are one step closer to our goal of providing national coverage with the finest restoration dry cleaning professionals in the country,” says NARD President Mark Folzenlogen.