Due Effe professional irons, by family
Eleven Due Effe models that share a soleplate, a handle or a control system with a sibling, catalogued here side by side rather than on a page each. Every figure below is the manufacturer's specification for that model.
Due Effe of Cadriano, Bologna, has built professional irons since 1969, and Unicorp is the authorised distributor for South Africa. The eleven models on this page are variants: the same iron with an open handle, a control board in place of a thermostat, or a stainless body in place of an electric one. They are catalogued together so the differences are visible side by side rather than spread across eleven pages that say almost the same thing.
The models that stand on their own keep their own pages: the JOLLY, JOLLY DRY, JOLLY SILK, IRON MASTER CE, DUBLO, DUBLO MAX, KISS, MALE, OPEN, OPEN ELECTRONIC, ALL STEAM, APRIPIEGA OPEN and THERMOGLUE. All of them, with the Silver Star and Silter irons, are listed under industrial steam irons.
Choosing between them
Weight first. The APRIPIEGA ALL STEAM at 0.92 kg is for detail work on a soleplate shaped to open seams; the IRON MASTER at up to 3.00 kg is for trouser creasing, where the weight sets the crease. Then how the iron is heated: every model here takes steam from an external generator, but the ALL STEAM models have no element or thermostat at all, the standard models heat their soleplate with an armoured resistance and a mechanical thermostat, and the ELECTRONIC models replace that thermostat with a control board. Then the handle, closed or OPEN, which is a comfort decision for whoever holds it for eight hours.
What Due Effe makes for this
APRIPIEGA
Specialist steam iron for crease-opening in industrial garment finishing. A lower 600 W element and a monolithic alloy soleplate shaped to reach into creases, seams and edges before final pressing, with gentler heat for sensitive fabrics.
- 1.30 kg
- 600 W armoured resistance built into the monolithic alloy plate
- Cork handle
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz
- Thermostat with integrated thermal fuse; front core monoblock with microswitch
ELECTRONIC APRIPIEGA
The APRIPIEGA with an electronic temperature control board in place of the mechanical thermostat, so the set temperature holds without the cycling of a bimetallic switch.
- 1.30 kg
- 600 W built into the patented monolithic plate
- Cork handle
- Electronic control board, thermal fuse, watertight monoblock housing
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz
ELECTRONIC APRIPIEGA OPEN
The electronic APRIPIEGA with an open handle for a natural grip angle on long crease-opening sessions. Control, soleplate and 600 W construction are identical to the closed-handle model.
- 1.30 kg
- 600 W built into the patented monolithic plate
- Cork handle, open configuration
- Electronic control board, thermal fuse, watertight housing
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz
APRIPIEGA ALL STEAM
The lightest iron in the Due Effe range at 0.92 kg: the APRIPIEGA soleplate profile in full stainless steel with purely mechanical steam delivery and no electrical components.
- 0.92 kg
- No electrical components
- Stainless steel soleplate, APRIPIEGA profile
- Cork handle
- External steam generator, maximum operating pressure 8 bar
- Precision mechanical steam valve
APRIPIEGA ALL STEAM OPEN
The APRIPIEGA ALL STEAM with an open synthetic handle and a single pipe that carries steam to the iron and returns condensate to the generator.
- 0.92 kg
- No electrical components
- Stainless steel soleplate, APRIPIEGA profile
- Synthetic handle, open configuration
- Single pipe for steam and condensate
- External steam generator, maximum operating pressure 8 bar
ALL STEAM OPEN
The ALL STEAM's mechanical steam delivery with an open synthetic handle. Steam through a precision mechanical valve at up to 8 bar, no electrical components, one pipe for steam and condensate. The standard ALL STEAM, with its cork handle, keeps its own page.
- 1.20 kg
- No electrical components
- Stainless steel soleplate
- Synthetic handle, open configuration
- Single pipe for steam and condensate
- External steam generator, maximum operating pressure 8 bar
ELECTRONIC
The highest-wattage standard iron in the range: a 1000 W patented monolithic soleplate coated in Nickel/Teflon, with electronic temperature control for fast heat recovery on high-volume runs.
- 1.60 kg
- 1000 W built into the patented monolithic plate
- Monolithic soleplate with Nickel/Teflon coating
- Cork handle
- Electronic control board, thermal fuse, steam protection standard, watertight monoblock housing
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz; balance arm compatible
TULIPANO
Anti-limescale filtration built into the monolithic soleplate, extending service life where steam volume is high. Waterproof design with a front microswitch housing, in single-tube or electric-cord versions.
- 1.30 kg
- 800 W armoured resistance built into the plate
- Monolithic plate with integrated anti-limescale filtration
- Cork handle
- Quick-release thermostat with integrated thermal fuse
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz; single tube or electric cord versions
TULIPANO OPEN
The TULIPANO's integrated anti-limescale filtration with an open handle, for full-day pressing with less operator strain.
- 1.35 kg
- 800 W armoured resistance built into the plate
- Monolithic plate with integrated anti-limescale filters
- Cork handle, open configuration; synthetic alternative available
- Quick-release thermostat with integrated thermal fuse; customisable steam protectors
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz; balance arm compatible
IRON MASTER
The multi-weight professional steam iron, supplied at 1.80, 2.00, 2.50 or 3.00 kg so the weight matches the work. The heavier versions are preferred for trouser creasing, where weight sets the crease without hand pressure. The CE version keeps its own page.
- 1.80 kg, 2.00 kg, 2.50 kg or 3.00 kg
- 800 W armoured resistance
- Patented monolithic plate in special aluminium alloy
- Cork handle
- Quick-release thermostat with integrated thermal fuse; front core monoblock with microswitch
- External steam generator, 230 V / 50–60 Hz; optional steam protection; balance arm compatible
3500 AMERICA
Built for dual-voltage markets: 230 V and 120 V versions, ETL certified for the United States and Canada as well as CE, with a dual thermal fuse safety system. The 230 V version is the one for South Africa.
- 1.40 kg
- 800 W resistance built into the monolithic alloy plate
- Cork handle
- 230 V and 120 V versions
- CE and ETL certified; dual thermal fuse; steam protection standard
- External steam generator; front core monoblock with microswitch; balance arm compatible
Where these models are listed
Which weight, which handle?
Tell us the garments, the hours a day the iron is in hand and whether steam is already on the bench. That narrows eleven models to one or two.
Answers before you enquire
- What does OPEN mean on a Due Effe iron?
- An open handle. The standard irons have a closed cork handle; the OPEN versions have an open handle, cork or synthetic depending on the model, which gives a more natural grip angle and less wrist strain over a long shift. Soleplate, heating and control are the same as the closed-handle sibling.
- What is the difference between an ALL STEAM iron and an electric one?
- An ALL STEAM iron has no electrical components. Steam from an external generator is delivered through a precision mechanical valve at up to 8 bar, so there is no element, no thermostat and nothing electrical to fail. The electric models heat their own soleplate, 600 to 1000 W depending on the model, and take steam from a generator as well.
- Why choose an ELECTRONIC model over a mechanical thermostat?
- A mechanical thermostat cycles on and off and the soleplate temperature moves with it. The electronic control board holds the set temperature, which matters on delicate fabrics and on long high-volume runs where heat recovery counts.
- Are spare parts held locally?
- Yes. Unicorp stocks soleplates, thermostats, thermal fuses, handles and steam hose connections for Due Effe irons in Johannesburg. Quote the model when you ask.
Which weight, which handle?
Tell us the garments, the hours a day the iron is in hand and whether steam is already on the bench. That narrows eleven models to one or two.