Our Brands — Premium European Equipment Partners
Universe Corp is the authorised South African distributor for Europe’s most respected dry cleaning, finishing, and garment care equipment manufacturers.
For over 40 years, we have partnered with leading European brands to bring South African dry cleaners, hotels, hospitals, and laundry operations the best equipment available. Every product we supply is backed by factory warranties, local installation, operator training, and genuine spare parts stocked in South Africa.
Browse our brand partners below to learn more about each manufacturer, or contact us for expert advice on the right equipment for your operation.
Our Brand Partners
BÖWE
Germany — Est. 1945
World-leading manufacturer of professional dry cleaning machines. BÖWE’s PremiumLine, Black Forest Edition, and iLine models support multi-solvent operation including PERC, hydrocarbon, and eco-friendly alternatives. Connected app technology for remote monitoring and diagnostics.
Key products: Dry Cleaning Machines
View BÖWE Range →
VEIT
Germany — Est. 1951
Premium German manufacturer of professional finishing and pressing equipment. VEIT produces form finishers, shirt finishers, trouser toppers, vacuum ironing tables, and industrial finishing systems used by dry cleaners and garment manufacturers worldwide.
Key products: Finishing Equipment
View VEIT Range →
Barbanti
Italy
Italian specialist in industrial finishing equipment and garment presses. Barbanti manufactures shirt finishers, trouser toppers, vacuum ironing tables, steam generators, spotting units, and the innovative FinishBox automated finishing system.
Key products: Finishing Equipment
View Barbanti Range →
Reverberi
Italy
Leading Italian manufacturer of industrial steam boilers and generators for dry cleaning plants, commercial laundries, and garment finishing operations. Available in electric and gas models from 15 kg/hour to 100+ kg/hour. ISO 9001-certified manufacturing.
Key products: Industrial Steam Boilers
View Reverberi Range →
Thermopatch
Netherlands
Global leader in garment identification and labelling systems. Thermopatch provides heat-seal labelling machines, RFID tracking solutions, sew-in tags, laundry markers, and temporary marking systems for dry cleaners, hotels, hospitals, and uniform rental operations.
Key products: Labelling & Marking Systems
View Thermopatch Range →Silter
Turkey
Established manufacturer of steam ironing systems, semi-industrial boilers, vacuum ironing tables, and pressing equipment. Silter provides reliable, cost-effective steam solutions for dry cleaners, tailors, hotels, and medium-volume garment finishing operations.
Key products: Semi-Industrial Boilers, Steam Irons
View Silter Range →BÜFA
Germany
Professional dry cleaning solvents, wetcleaning detergents, spotting agents, and textile care chemicals from one of Europe’s most trusted chemical manufacturers. BÜFA products are formulated specifically for professional garment care and commercial laundry operations.
Key products: Detergents & Chemicals
View BÜFA Range →Silver Star
South Korea
Professional steam irons, vacuum ironing tables, steam generators, and pressing equipment from a leading Korean manufacturer. Silver Star delivers reliable, high-performance steam ironing systems trusted by dry cleaners, laundries, garment manufacturers, and hotels.
Key products: Electric & Steam Irons, Finishing Equipment
View Silver Star Range →Need Help Choosing the Right Brand?
With over 40 years of experience, our team can recommend the best equipment from our brand partners for your specific operation, capacity requirements, and budget.
How to Choose the Right Brand for Your Operation
With eight specialist brands in our portfolio, the right choice depends on what you do, how much volume you process, and what your facility needs. This guide helps you match the right European manufacturer to your operation.
| Brand | Origin | Primary Application | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| BÖWE | Germany | Dry cleaning machines with MultiSolvent® technology | Dry cleaners, hotel laundries, industrial garment processing |
| VEIT | Germany | Professional finishing and pressing equipment | Dry cleaners, garment manufacturers, shirt and suit finishing |
| Barbanti | Italy | Industrial ironing systems and garment presses | Commercial laundries, dry cleaners needing high-output pressing |
| Thermopatch | Netherlands | Textile marking, heat-seal labelling, RFID tracking | Hotels, hospitals, uniform rental operations, dry cleaners |
| Silver Star | South Korea | Professional garment steamers and ironing systems | Boutique dry cleaners, tailors, hotels, garment retail |
| Silter | Turkey | Steam boilers, semi-industrial irons, ironing tables | Medium-volume finishers, tailors, dry cleaners on a budget |
| BÜFA | Germany | Dry cleaning solvents, detergents, spotting agents | Any professional dry cleaner using chemical-based cleaning processes |
| Reverberi | Italy | Industrial steam boilers and generators | Large dry cleaning plants, commercial laundries, industrial finishers |
Matching Your Operation Type to the Right Equipment
If your business is primarily dry cleaning — accepting garments from customers and returning them cleaned — your first priority is a reliable dry cleaning machine. BÖWE machines from Germany are our flagship dry cleaning brand, with the PremiumLine (12–30 kg) suitable for high-street dry cleaners and the iLine (12–18 kg) a strong entry-level choice for newer operations. Pair your machine with BÜFA chemicals for optimal cleaning results, and a VEIT or Barbanti finisher to complete the workflow.
If your focus is finishing and pressing — either as part of a dry cleaning operation or as a standalone garment care service — VEIT offers the widest range of specialist finishing equipment including shirt finishers, trouser toppers, form finishers, and vacuum ironing tables. Barbanti is an excellent Italian alternative, particularly for operations that require high-output pressing at competitive price points. For individual iron-based finishing, Due Effe steam irons and Silver Star systems provide reliable daily-use solutions.
Volume, budget, and available service support should all factor into your decision. As the authorised South African distributor for all eight brands in our portfolio, Unicorp provides installation, training, and genuine spare parts regardless of which brand you choose. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation — we will match the right equipment to your operation, facility size, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What brands does Unicorp supply in South Africa?
Unicorp is the authorised South African distributor for eight European and Asian brands: BÖWE (German dry cleaning machines), VEIT (German finishing equipment), Barbanti (Italian ironing systems), Thermopatch (Dutch labelling systems), Silver Star (Korean garment steamers), Silter (Turkish steam boilers and irons), BÜFA (German dry cleaning chemicals), and Reverberi (Italian industrial steam boilers).
Are these brands available nationwide?
Yes. Unicorp serves customers throughout South Africa, with primary coverage across Johannesburg and Gauteng, Cape Town and the Western Cape, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, and surrounding regions. We also supply equipment to 10 countries across Southern Africa. Contact us to discuss delivery and installation at your location.
Does Unicorp provide warranty and after-sales support for all brands?
Yes. As the authorised distributor for all eight brands in our portfolio, Unicorp provides manufacturer-backed warranties, local installation and commissioning, operator training, and genuine spare parts support. You deal with one local contact for all your equipment needs — no navigating overseas manufacturer support lines.
How do I choose between BÖWE and other dry cleaning machines?
BÖWE machines are engineered in Germany and carry one of the longest warranties in the industry, with local spare parts stocked in South Africa by Unicorp. Key advantages include MultiSolvent® technology (supporting PERC, hydrocarbon, GreenEarth®, and other solvents with a software update), advanced ConfoTronic control systems, and remote diagnostics via BÖWE Direct Connect. For any dry cleaning machine, the most important factors beyond the machine itself are local distributor support, spare parts availability, and installation quality — all of which Unicorp provides as standard.