A shirt-ironing machine from Siemens

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It might look like a dress dummy, but it could be the ironing lady of your dreams - it's an ironing machine designed to iron shirts and it has just gone on the market in Germany for EU' 1.029,00. Apparently, it works VERY WELL! Research shows it takes the average person eight minutes to iron the average shirt according to Seimens, the makers of the Dressman, the world's latest attempt at building a machine to iron shirts. For those busy professionals amongst us, that represents a saving of at least 40 minutes a week, not to mention the opportunity to avoid one of man's least favourite chores (again according to research from Siemens). The 'dressmann' irons completely on its own and has a number of other attributes which make it worthwhile - it can 'freshen up' jackets that have not been worn for a while, and can actually dry a freshly washed blouse.

To operate the 'dressman', you pull the spun-dry shirt over the dummy where it is then clamped and smoothed out. You then select the right ironing program and it's away. Hot air flows through the dummy which inflates during the procedure. There are twelve programmes to enable exact setting of the time required so that every shirt is reliably dried and smooth. At the end of the procedure, which lasts approximately six and a half minutes, cold air is applied to set the job done. The shirt ironing appliance is suitable for shirts and blouses of silk, viscose, cotton, linen, flannel and all other non-stretch materials.

One of the major advantages of the 'dressman' is that it is very gentle with the laundry. In comparison with the classic iron and it's hot temperatures, the dressman's low temperatures apply less stress to the fabric, buttons remain where they should be and shiny spots and ironing disasters are a thing of the past.

Siemens has calculated the running costs of the 'dressman' at approximately. EU'0.05 (AUD$0.08) for each shirt, and with no chemicals, the appliance is also eco-friendly.

The Dressman is suitable for all shirts sizes from 35 to 50 (XS to 4XL) and blouses of sizes 38 to 52 (S to XXL). It compacts to a space of 45 x 36.5 x 119 cm for easy storage, and weighs 28 kg. The cost is more than an iron, but less than an ironing lady: EU' 1.029,00 (AUD $1689).

Oh, and it's only available in Germany at this time.