The manufacturing process involves the use of various chemicals, and when the latex material comes out of the ovens it has a very strong and unpleasant smell. In order to get rid of the smell, and to improve the colour of the finished items, parts are washed, using ordinary washing powder, in a Schulthess 7kg washer-extractor.

According to Mark Brown, manufacturing maintenance engineer at Limbs & Things, who works in the engineering department, the machine is in use every day, often three times a day: He says: “The material is poured into the moulds, goes into the ovens and from there the production line operators put it straight to the washing machine to get rid of the smell.”

Brown has been very pleased with the machine: “It is reliable and easy to use and does exactly the job we want it to – a very good buy.”