Abstract: A multi-roll calender ironing machine for laundry flatwork comprises a plurality of heated ironing beds, each defining a concave ironing surface which cooperates with a padded ironing roller, whereby a laundry workpiece is fed into the nip between the roller and ironing surface in order to perform the ironing operation. Pneumatic actuating cylinders urge the ironing bed towards the roller in an adjustable manner so as to vary contact roller to ironing surface pressure. Micro-switch units determine the presence or absence of laundry workpiece en route to the ironing roller and operate the actuating cylinders whereby a relatively high roller to concave surface pressure is provided when a workpiece is present and a relatively low roller to concave surface pressure is provided when a workpiece is absent.