"The Beast", a custom designed dry cleaning machine that uses a 100 per cent biodegradable corn-based solvent to help clean heavily soiled garments at the Coverall Shop in Red Deer. (The Coverall Shop)

By Sheldon Spackman

corn-based solvent

Local coverall cleaning company goes environmentally-friendly by unleashing “The Beast”

Feb 10, 2020 | 3:25 PM

A local coverall cleaning and repair company is now employing what may just be the largest dry cleaner on the continent.

“The Beast” is now up and running at The Coverall Shop in Red Deer. The massive machine is said to use 100 per cent biodegradable solvent to ensure the cleanest, greenest, finished product in the market.

“We were aware of the technology in terms of the new, modern cleaning solvent for a number of years,” says Jeremy Jablonski, president of The Coverall Shop. “But through about three trips to Europe (Germany and the Netherlands, Italy twice) to research this particular technology and then couple the solvent with a machine that was custom designed to be able to meet our specific needs, took a fair bit of time for us to coordinate that and make sure that we had all the bugs worked out before we were ready to move ahead.”

After arriving at The Coverall Shop on Jan. 29 at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars, Jablonski says The Beast has been up-and-running since Jan. 31.

“We’re very impressed,” he admits. “The machine is custom designed to be able to accommodate the particular types of soils that we get, as well as the insoluble material like mud and clay that traditional dry cleaners aren’t able to accommodate.”

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

5h ago

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

5h ago

Prevention, Access, Recovery, and Coordination

Safe Harbour officially hands over shelter keys, establishes accessible navigation hub

23h ago

Jablonski says the bio-certified solvent used with The Beast is the only bio-based solvent for textile cleaning in the world and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The solvent is a huge departure from traditional dry cleaning solvents,” he explains. “Which makes this without question, the most ethical and sustainable process for dry cleaning that we can present to a client.”

Jablonski says the solvent used by The Beast is made largely from corn.

“The degreasing capability is quite mind blowing for a product that is literally biodegradable, so we’re very thrilled with the results so far,” he explains. “The solvent and the machine pair perfectly to give us the results and both are very, very important parts of the equation. There is some technology with the machine that was produced specifically for us by the world’s foremost dry cleaning manufacturer. So we’re definitely confident that we’ve taken the lead on this initiative to go greener with the cleaning of heavily soiled, greasy, grimy types of garments.”

At the end of the day, Jablonski says the change makes for a much safer, more sustainable process.

“You need to be innovative, you need to find ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors,” he suggests. “Wherever you can make an investment in your business that’s better for you, better for your customers and better for the environment, I think that’s a key message here for us.”