LEANDER, Texas — DL Expo West 2026 is adding a behind-the-scenes plant tour of three Dallas-area facilities — two drycleaning operations and a state-of-the-art laundromat. The guided tour will take place Friday morning, March 27, right before the three-day Expo starts.

“We’re excited to showcase some of the best cleaners we have in the Dallas area,” says Fran Stone-Beale, Southwest Drycleaners Association president and owner of A-Town Cleaners in Abilene, Texas. “This tour offers attendees a rare opportunity to see high-performing plants in action and learn directly from industry leaders.”

Participants will visit:

Avon Cleaners — Founded in 1968, Avon Cleaners operates a 20,000-square-foot facility serving customers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with delivery service. The operation leverages Spot software to connect directly with customers and utilizes Union drycleaning machines with K4 solvent, a Garment Management System Quick Sort Assembly System, and finishing equipment from Sankosha and Hi-Steam.

Sunshine Cleaners — Sunshine Cleaners operates a 16,000-square-foot facility designed for maximum reliability, featuring redundant systems such as dual boilers, air compressors and chillers to ensure uninterrupted production. Equipment includes Columbia and Union drycleaning machines; a MacPi steam tunnel; Sankosha, Forenta and Hoffman presses; Metalprogetti conveyors; Sankosha double-buck shirt lines; Continental washers; clean-chem soap injection, flatwork ironers and more. With 85 years in business, Sunshine credits its success to first-class customer service, attention to detail and a dedicated, low-turnover staff.

Tide Laundromat — Attendees will also visit a Tide Laundromat to see how the operation generates five-star reviews while moving DIY customers through efficiently and processing commercial and campus laundry behind the scenes. Tide highlights its autodosing systems, build-out, and staffing model as key differentiators from the competition. Equipment includes Electrolux 400G washers with autodosing pump systems and Electrolux dryers.

While attendance at the conference and equipment show at the Irving (Texas) Convention Center is being offered free, there is a nominal fee to participate in the plant tour. Those interested in taking part may visit www.dlexpo.org/dl-expo-west to register.

Out of courtesy to the facilities hosting the tour, participants must ride the official tour bus to attend.

The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas will serve as the host hotel, located next to the convention center. A special hotel rate for convention attendees and exhibitors is available through March 10 on the DL Expo West website.

The DL Expo West is produced by the Southwest Drycleaners Association and the California Cleaners Association.