Pressing
Elements of pressing
Pressing Equipment
Types of pressing
Pressing techniques
Advancements in pressing equipment
Pressing
“ The application of heat, moisture, and pressure to shape, mold or crease
fabrics, garments, or garment parts into the geometric forms intended by
their designers”
May be done during assembly or as a final finishing process
In-Process Pressing (under-pressing):
To shape, crease and/or smooth components for more accurate seaming
Finish Pressing (off-pressing):
Adds the final shape to seams and garments
Time, temperature, pressure and types of mechanical devices used for
pressing depends on;
1- types of material used
2- desired shape or form
3- the degree of permanency needed
Elements of Pressing
Heat:
To soften fibers, stabilize, and set the desired shape. Must be according to fibers, yarns
and fabrics
Steam:
The means of transferring heat into the fabric
Created by heating water in a pressure/boiler
Higher the pressure, the hotter and drier the steam
Different fabrics require different amounts of moisture and heat
Excessive moisture may cause shrinkage and color bleeding
Pressure:
To alter shape and increase permanency of the molding or creasing
Too much pressure may distort fabric surfaces, flatten textures, and create permanent
garment and/or fabric damage
Note:
The amount of pressure and time can be minimized by drying and rapid cooling the
Factors Effecting Pressing Equipment Selection
The time, temperature, pressure and other types of
mechanical devices that are used for pressing depends on;
The types of materials used.
The shape or form that is desired in the final garment.
The Degree of permanency needed.
Types of Pressing Equipment
• Buck Pressing
• Iron Pressing
• Block or die Pressing
• Form Pressing
• Steamers
• Steam Tunnels
Buck Pressing
Used by manufacturers of slacks, skirts,
and jackets and most of the dry cleaning
plants
A lower buck and a complementary
moveable head with a linkage system,
buck padding, steam and vacuum
systems, frame and table, gauges and
manual/automatic controls for steams,
vacuum, heat and pressure
May be used for in-process pressing and
finish pressing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qEv2YOQ4Q
Iron Pressing
Manual molding operation with pressure
and heat application with a flat contact
surface
Consists of an iron, power line, bed buck,
and an iron support system
Irons vary in weight and plate dimensions
and characteristics depending on the type
of pressing operation, fabric, area to be
pressed and quality specifications of the
operation
Mostly used for under-pressing and are
more versatile and mobile and
are most common in our daily life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPMRh-CNDJQ
Block or Die Pressing
To establish a product’s conformance
to a form
May change the surface characteristics
and dimensions of a product
An operator positions the component
over a die and engages the machine,
and folding blades fold and hold the
edges to the underside for creases to
be set
May also be used to mold collars,
collar stands and cuffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I6p8EfkZ6k
Form Pressing
Used for final pressing or for
renovating garments in dry
cleaning plants
Formed in approximate shapes as
the finished garment
Designed to reduce the positioning
and repositioning time
Just smooth garment fabric
but does not set creases
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZmhJR_j8I
Steamers
Uses only steam to mold & smooth the garment
Major types include steam jets, steam guns, steam puffs,
and steam tunnels or chambers (used to form and
stabilize garment shape or smooth the surface of the
fabric)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtm5E0WfsEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgGvo3cQ-rY
Steam Tunnels / Chambers
Used for finish pressing
Garments are de-wrinkled within a chamber by
the average pressure of the circulating steam
May also use conveyors to carry garments from
one place to other while steaming and pressing
those garments
Mainly used for pressing finished garments that
do not need creasing or molding of any kind
Boilers, Steam Generators and/or Vacuum
Systems:
Generate required steam and air pressure
Cost and time required for producing steam
contribute directly to the cost of operating the
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfDskB3rlIo
pressing equipment and the rate of production.
Technological Advancements in Pressing
Main focusing areas are:
1. Greater versatility
2. More precision in determining exact pressing requirements of
fabrics and finishes
3. Improved quality
4. Energy savings
Microprocessors with a variety of settings can control factors such
as conveyor speed, steam and air volume, and temperatures.
Equal treatment to each and every garment according to
computerizes settings and controls
Automated buck pressing and automated steam tunnels could be
the examples
