American Laundry News - January 2015

Cintas to relocate Northeast operations to Yonkers, N.Y.

YONKERS, N.Y. — Cintas Corp. has received preliminary approval for an incentive package from the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA) to build a $25.1 million regional service facility here. The new facility will be located on the northwest side of the city, in the South Westchester Executive Park, the City of Yonkers reports.

With the 60,000-squarefoot facility, the company will consolidate operations in Yonkers from several other locations in the Northeast, including Boston, Philadelphia, northern New Jersey, Port Washington and North Salem.

In addition to space for sales, service and maintenance, a 13,000-squarefoot laundry is planned that will supply uniforms and related services for 30,000 people in the New York City metropolitan area and other counties in the southeastern portion of the state.

“This is a strong addition to the city’s economy, and jobs that we can count on for the long term,” says Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, who chairs the YIDA. “At least half of these jobs will be new hires from Yonkers and surrounding communities, and all of the jobs will add to the city’s tax base and expand our business community.” ALN

Worker safety: diligence, training crucial for employees’ well-being

By Theresa Boehl, ediTor

CHICAGO — As 2015 begins, many laundry/linen managers are focused on the common goals of improving operational efficiency, decreasing costs and producing quality products. Of course, ensuring that employees stay safe and healthy is also a permanent fixture on the priority list.

For this story, American Laundry News sought the advice of professionals with knowledge of fire safety, chemical safety and ergonomics in laundry environments, and also spoke to some operators who serve the safety cause through their roles on the safety committee of the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA).

ERGONOMICS

A work injury is always an unpleasant occurrence, but sometimes aches and pains take a more insidious approach, sneaking up on workers after a prolonged period of time.

That’s where ergonomics comes into play. W. Gary Allread, Ph.D., CPE, program director of the Institute for Ergonomics at The Ohio State University, defines it as “designing work [around] the capabilities and limitations of people.”

Common tasks like sorting laundry can require repetitive use of several parts of the

Infection Control:

body, Allread explains, putting stress on the body’s soft tissues and causing fatigue. Awkward body positions, handling large amounts of wet or bulky laundry, and reaching or pulling are some actions that can lead to eventual injury.

“From an ergonomics perspective, the focus is typically on preventing cumulative trauma from tasks performed frequently over a significant

period of time,” Allread explains.

Aches and pains that don’t go away after a few days could be symptoms of some kind of tendonitis; a “pins and needles” sensation at night is another sign that something is wrong. But in the case of lower-back damage, Allread says,

Protecting workers from threat of Ebola

By Theresa Boehl, ediTor

PLAINFIELD, Ill. — Nobody wants to get Ebola—not healthcare workers, infection control specialists, nor the professionals who process linens for hospitals. So, how do individuals protect themselves in the event that they come into close contact with a patient who has or may have Ebola, or are charged with handling their soiled textiles?

Aaron Gersh, Ph.D., CHESP, MACHE, Healthcare Division

vice president at Superior Linen Service, and Rocco Romeo, CS, CPA, CEO of HLS Linen Services, presented a webinar hosted by the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) titled Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness for Healthcare Linen Service Providers. The presentation aimed to answer some of the questions that the Ebola situation presents for those who process healthcare textiles.

EBOLA BASICS

Though the presenters were

inside

Panel of Experts

Newest members ready to comment on the industry’s hot topics.

eager to share advice on precautions that healthcare linen service providers can take, they assert that they are not medical professionals, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), should be consulted with specific questions about the virus, its spread and proper protocols and precautions.

The only cure for the fear that grows through speculation and uncertainty, according to Romeo, is education. Some facts: Ebola is a contagious, potentially fatal virus “when not properly treated or diagnosed in a timely manner,” Romeo says, and is spread through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. The virus can also spread through absorbent or porous materials, including bedding and clothing.

Report on New York’s Annual IHMRS

The recent Hotel, Motel show served as a platform to highlight the latest in laundry-related products.

Atlanta

Sneak Peek

There’s plenty to see and do in Atlanta, home of Clean 2015.

(Photo: ©iStockphoto/Moncherie)

Survey: 2014 poundage increased or held steady for most laundries

CHICAGO — Looking back, 2014 was a good year for the majority of laundry/linen managers who took the latest American Laundry News Your Views survey. More than half estimate that they processed more poundage in 2014 than in 2013, with a small percentage (3.9%) stating that their throughput last year was “much higher” than the previous year.

Business was steady in 2014 for 21.2% of respondents, who say that “virtually the same amount” of linens were processed at their facilities when compared to 2013. Nearly a quarter of respondents, however, report that throughput was “somewhat less than 2013.” No one taking the survey reported 2014 throughput being “much less” than in 2013.

Individual estimates on total poundage for 2014 ranged from 28,000 pounds to 50 million pounds.

“We have been working with our customers to reduce utilization based on pounds used per patient day. This is a benefit to them, but difficult for us, as poundage will likely drop as a result,” says a respondent.

For the vast majority of respondents who experienced an increase in production (72.2%), more institutional business or increased total accounts was chief among the factors responsible for this increase (respondents were directed to select any or all from a group of possibilities). Smaller shares report that adding, replacing or rebuilding production equipment accounted for the swell in production (5.6%), while others attribute it to redesigned workflow (8.3%), facility expansion or relocation to a larger site (8.3%), or the addition of production workers (2.8%).

Nearly 20% pointed to “other” reasons for increased poundage, including improved efficiencies that lowered expenses, higher occupancies in the hospitality market, and a surge in inmate population.

“Our industry is a volume-driven industry,” writes a respondent. “The closer we get to a laundry’s capacity, the lower the overall cost.”

And when asked what factors may have caused their operations to fall short of their annual goals or expectations, those polled point to a range of issues. Chief among them is the slowing or loss of business (38.4%).

Equal shares of 15.4% blame the capabilities of equipment and maintenance efforts, while 11.5% say administration indifference or lack of support could be the reason. Staff productivity is seen as the culprit for only 3.9% of respondents. (Respondents could choose any or all from among a list of six factors.)

Outsourcing, the sale of a member hospital, and new, lighter-weight fabrics are among the causes for the 38.4% who also cite “other” reasons that goals went unmet.

While the Your Views survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific; due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100%. Subscribers to American Laundry News e-mails are invited to take the industry survey anonymously online each month.

All managers and administrators of institutional/OPL, cooperative, commercial and industrial laundries are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and identify industry trends. ALN

Publisher

Charles Thompson

Phone: 312-361-1680

E-Mail: cthompson@ ATMags.com

Editorial Director

Bruce Beggs

Phone: 312-361-1683

E-Mail: bbeggs@ ATMags.com

Digital Media Director

Nathan Frerichs

Phone: 312-361-1681

E-Mail: nfrerichs@ ATMags.com

Editor

Theresa Boehl

Phone: 708-280-1750

E-Mail: tboehl@ ATMags.com

Advisory Board

Jim Buik • Richard Griffin

Greg Gurtler • Phil Hart

Michael Kirsch, CLLM

Janice Larson • Tom Marks

Atisha Mireles • Gerard O’Neill

Richard Warren

Production Manager

Roger Napiwocki

National Sales Director

Donald Feinstein

Phone: 312-361-1682

E-Mail: dfeinstein@ ATMags.com

Main Phone: 312-361-1700 Fax: 312-361-1685

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American Laundry News (ISSN 1091-9201) is published monthly. Subscription prices, payment in advance: U.S. 1 year $39.00; 2 years $73.00. Foreign, 1 year $89.00; 2 years $166.00.

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POSTMASTER, Send changes of address and form 3579 to American Laundry News Subscription Dept., 440 Quadrangle Drive, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Volume 41, number 1. Editorial, executive and advertising offices are at 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Charles Thompson, President and Publisher. American Laundry News is distributed selectively to qualified laundry and linen management and distributors in the United States.

BEACON FALLS, Conn. — Following a Sept. 4 bench trial establishing Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc. (LLT) as the exclusive owner of the “Lavatec” trademark, a judge has ordered a preliminary injunction preventing the company formerly known as Lavatec Inc. from use of the “Lavatec” name or logo as part of its corporate name, trademark or domain name, as well as in the manufacture, sale, advertising or promotion of products.

The company is prohibited from using the Lavatec.com website, “or any variation thereof,” writes U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in the Memorandum of Decision and Injunction Order signed Nov. 13 in Bridgeport, Conn.

“This is another important step in the process and we are pleased with the ruling,” says Mark Thrasher, president of LLT. “It defines for our industry and customers that we will protect the integrity of our trademark and that they can continue to have faith in the commercial laundry equipment purchased from the true Lavatec company.”

Lavatec Inc.’s name has been changed to Voss Laundry Solutions, Bruce Burmann, vice president of sales at Voss, tells American Laundry News

“Our group is obviously disappointed in the decision of the judge,” he says, and adds that while the company’s name has changed, “the corporate entity, management and employees all remain in place.”

“We will continue to serve the industry professionally as we have for the past 27 years, supplying machinery, parts and service to a variety of customers worldwide,” Burmann says. “We invite you to our future website, www.vosslaundrysolutions.com, now under construction, for further details and our story.”

© Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2015. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher or his representative. American Laundry News does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any article, product, service or information found within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of American Laundry News or its staff. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents at time of publication, neither the editors, publishers nor its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom.

Judge sides with Lavatec Laundry Technology, prohibits use of trademark by competitor

“ Only Milnor“

could offer the combined technology ”and support we expect.”

– Rick Hamlin, Crown Health Care, Columbia, MS

When Crown Health Care Laundry Services opened its fourth plant, it enlisted the help of longtime partner Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company to design, equip, and install the most efficient laundry possible. The end result was a state-of-the-art laundry featuring two 76039 PulseFlow® Technology 10-module tunnels that creates a continuous workflow by integrating an E-Tech rail system to transport linen through the plant. Their Milnor 6464 dryer pod with GreenFlex™ Dryer Mode accepts new loads immediately after the discharge of the clean goods. This facility is designed to process over 25,000,000 lbs. of healthcare linen per year in a single shift operation, while consuming less than 0.5 gal/lb. Hamlin notes that “the project was seamless thanks to the combined efforts of Pellerin and Milnor.”

To find out how Milnor’s PulseFlow® Technology and GreenFlex™ Energy Mode can reduce your laundry’s utility consumption, contact an authorized Milnor distributor or call 504-712-7656.

To see how Crown Columbia’s state-of-the-art laundry works, scan this code.

New year, fresh start

i

t’s 2015, and time to jump head-first into yet another busy year. What better way to start it than with careful consideration and review of your approach to worker safety, a subject that touches every operation?

Our cover story on worker safety discusses some of the hazards employees may encounter, and offers advice on ways to minimize the risks.

Speaking of safety, Ebola is increasingly on the minds of those who process linens for the healthcare market. Luckily, the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council recently presented a webinar that addresses some of the concerns regarding infec-

The Editor’s Chair

TheResA boehL

tion control and keeping laundry workers protected from the virus. Take a look at our report, also on the cover, and be sure to catch the suggested resources listed there,

which outline proper protocols in more detail.

Before we know it, Clean Show 2015 will be upon us. It will be a hectic time, no doubt, but I’m sure attendees will be able to squeeze in some playtime, too. Check out Carlo Calma’s account of his recent visit to Atlanta, a bustling metropolis that has changed a lot since Clean was last held there in 1987. He highlights some of the city’s biggest draws, such as museums, activities and mouth-watering culinary options.

Tackling a new year isn’t always easy, but it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what works and what could use improvement in your operation. ALN

TSA chief executive Simpson remembered for industry impact, accomplishments

The major lesson from ebola

ihave watched the unfolding Ebola crisis— and the few transmissions of the Ebola virus in the United States—with concern for what I should do to protect my employees. Current protocol calls for all patients who have traveled to a West African nation and who present themselves to a healthcare facility to be quarantined immediately until proper tests for the virus can be performed. The linen used to treat that patient is to be held in a soiled state in the room with the patient, and if the patient is found to have the virus, the linen should be incinerated.

In a perfect world, linen contaminated with Ebola would therefore never reach the laundry. But we all know we do not live in a perfect world. The normal wash process will effectively remove and destroy the Ebola virus, but it is so highly contagious that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants to err on the side of caution and burn any potentially contaminated linen.

of the Textile Services Association (TSA), has died in a car crash, the UK association reports. The accident, which reportedly involved multiple vehicles, occurred on Nov. 25 near Leicester, England.

LONDON — Murray Simpson, chief

Simpson joined TSA as CEO in 1998. From that point, he “worked tirelessly to steer the industry in the right direction,” TSA says.

Some of his key accomplishments include uniting the UK market on an international scale, coordinating the 2001 World Textile Rental Congress in London, and continuing efforts to safeguard the industry from “aggressive legislation.” TSA describes him as a “well-loved man with many friends” who developed a network in the industry and inspired many through his presentations and public speaking.

“Murray was always equipped with the right skills and knowledge to tackle any public scenario,” TSA says

in a statement to American Laundry News. “He was always able to provide a piece of insight about a person or company, and that knowledge of the industry was second to none.”

Simpson formerly served a brief stint with TSA before his time as CEO, and his background also included seven years at the Scottish Motor Trade Association and time as a civil servant.

According to the Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA), Simpson spoke at several TRSA events and at the Clean Show, and was working with the association to plan an international textile services industry conference to be presented in 2016 in Belgium.

“With Murray’s passing, the textile services industry lost a leader and supporter, and many of us lost a friend,” says TRSA CEO Joseph Ricci.

Simpson’s impact was also remembered by the European Textile Services Association: “ETSA pays tribute to Murray for his many astute contributions to our industry and for his legendary good humor, both within the UK and throughout Europe. He will be sorely missed.”

ALN

In the past few weeks, I have seen various groups offering presentations to educate managers and employees about the Ebola virus. While many of these programs are well-meaning, I think they have missed the key shortfall in our current system of handling infectious linen.

iN A peRfecT woRLd, LiNeN coNTAmiNATed wiTh eboLA woULd TheRefoRe NeveR ReAch The LAUNdRY. bUT we ALL kNow we do NoT Live iN A peRfecT woRLd.

In my opinion, the most certain cause for several nurses coming down with Ebola after treating a patient in Dallas does not revolve around whether or not they wore the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

I would humbly suggest that the flaw in the system is the lack of training and follow-up regarding ways to remove the prospective apparel after use in a way that protects employees from contamination.

I am not an expert on nursing care or infectious diseases, but I am very knowledgeable about the laundry business. We deal with mountains of soiled linen on a regular basis. In some cases, linen from infectious patients is being sent to the laundry for days before the patient is properly diagnosed. As laundry managers, we ensure that our employees wear the proper protective apparel at all times.

whAT we Need is … A simpLe video To show The pRopeR Use of ppe iN The soiL-soRT AReA of The LAUNdRY.

The key question to be asked is: How much training is given in the proper removal of the PPE to ensure that employees and their clothing are not contaminated in the process? How do you remove your gloves without contaminating yourself? What is the technique employees should use to remove their protective gowns?

Several companies have rushed to distribute videos dealing with the professional bedside staff and the extensive PPE that should be worn when treating Ebola patients. These videos are way over the top when it comes to laundry soil-sort employees.

What we need is for an organization to put together a simple video to show the proper use of PPE in the soil-sort area of the laundry. This video should show the proper PPE to be worn, the best way to put it on, and the recommended way to take it off.

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Ebola is extremely scary and has caught the attention of the media and healthcare professionals. I strongly recommend that we drill down to the simple procedure of putting on and properly taking off PPE as the single most important thing our industry can do in reaction to this situation.

Eric Frederick is director of laundry services for Carilion Laundry Service, Roanoke, Va., and a past president and manager of the year of the Association for Linen Management. You can reach him by e-mail at efrederick@carilion.com.

COLUMNIST AT LARGE Eric L. Frederick, RLLD

From

Simpson

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The average fatality rate is approximately 50%, and the incubation period is up to 21 days, with the majority of symptoms showing up in the 8-10-day period. The most recent outbreak has primarily affected the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, and more than 6,300 deaths from the virus have been reported, according to the CDC.

Those with the Ebola virus aren’t infectious until they start developing symptoms, the first of which are fever, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. Then comes vomiting, diarrhea, symptoms of impaired liver function, and even internal bleeding.

“There is, as of yet, no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus, and currently no licensed Ebola vaccines are available, although this is being worked on,” Romeo says.

He adds that the virus is not airborne, and can be killed on solid surfaces using a hospital-grade disinfectant.

Gersh warns that failure to take part in proper hand hygiene and to wear personal protective equip-

ment (PPE) puts people at “maximum risk.”

And while images on television show people who are “basically hermetically sealed in a hazmat suit,” Gersh says, there’s good reason for that: Since the Ebola virus disease so virulent and, as of yet, not much is known about it, “overprotection is the minimum expected need.”

“And with the massive media coverage, no one wants to be caught not taking the maximum precaution,” he adds.

The presenters advise healthcare workers to avoid aerosol-generating procedures, and to be diligent about environmental cleaning and disinfection, as well as the handling of potentially contaminated materials.

HEALTHCARE’S LEADING ROLE

Though the anxiety brought on by the thought of Ebola is common in many industries that serve the public, Gersh says healthcare is at the forefront of the battle.

“No other place besides the airline industry is being faced with the issue as head-on as healthcare, of course,” he says, adding that healthcare organizations are the rightful “wall between everybody and this disease.”

“Hotels, restaurants, health clubs and so on, where the virus

INTRODUCING EVOLVE

could actually spread just as easily, if it were introduced in the environment, are not being challenged with the scrutiny that healthcare services are,” he says. “And hopefully, if we really do what we need to do, they won’t have to be.”

Healthcare workers have standard precautions to deal with patients with presumed diagnoses, such as proper hand and respiratory hygiene and PPE, including N95 respirators and any gear that could block splashes. In the case of Ebola, there are some extra precautions healthcare workers can take to protect themselves.

Romeo says when in close contact with Ebola patients, workers should wear masks, goggles, a face shield and long-sleeve barrier gowns and gloves, in accordance with guidance from the CDC. Most importantly, full-body coverage, leaving no skin exposed, is recommended to reduce the risk of contamination, and employees should be trained on proper donning and doffing of PPE.

If a hospital is treating a patient confirmed to have Ebola, the items in that patient’s room, such as linens, textiles, cleaning cloths and wipes, any single-use

microfiber cloths or PPE, etc., should be placed in leak-proof containment and discarded appropriately. The CDC advises professionals to use a rigid waste receptacle specifically made for this use, and incineration or autoclaving are also recommended as ways to eliminate viral activity.

The CDC has deemed potentially infectious linen as a “Category A” infectious substance, according to Romeo. This can even include nonpermeable pillows and mattresses,

as well as textile privacy curtains.

“Red-bagging and incinerating absorbent materials is the best practice, and that’s what we’re telling our hospital clients to do,” Gersh says. He says communication with healthcare clients has been important, and they should be informed not to send to a laundry any linens that have been used in cases of confirmed or suspected Ebola.

“We don’t want it, and it’s not

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symptoms often do not present themselves until a damaged disc pinches a nerve running along the spinal column.

To avoid such malaise, he recommends several actions:

• Sort laundry on tables, not from the floor.

• Handle smaller loads of laundry at one time (handling heavy weight is a bigger stressor than taking repetitive actions).

• Find a way to bring items closer to the body before lifting.

• Push carts with two hands; avoid pulling them with one hand.

Considering the positioning of machinery and the laundry’s overall setup can help reduce the likelihood of worker injury, Allread says.

“Is the equipment adjustable in some way, so that workers do not have to bend and reach as much?

That is, is it easy to use for people of various sizes?” he asks rhetorically.

Remember, too, that keeping carts in good condition and sticking to a preventive maintenance program can help ensure that the tools workers use to do their jobs are in proper working order and do not present any unnecessary challenges.

Tony Long, director of risk management at Angelica Corp., names ergonomics as one of the top safety issues facing laundries today. Automation and designing or modifying workstations around workers’ capabilities has helped reduce work-related injuries over the years, he says, as well as holding management at all levels accountable for safety performance.

CHEMICAL SAFETY

According to Karl Schultz, training and safety manager in Ecolab’s Textile Care Division, there are two primary categories of chemical hazards that workers should be aware of: health and physical. Descriptions related to both can be found on product labels as well as the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) specified for the particular product. Each SDS (formerly called Material

Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS) should be studied and any recommendations that are given should be followed.

Wash chemicals can cause damage to eyes and skin, and lung irritation and breathing difficulties can occur during the mixing of chemicals, according to Keith McLeod, corporate sales manager at U.N.X. Inc.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) goes a long way to protect workers from such hazards, Schultz and McLeod say. Eye protection, gloves and an apron should be worn when handling washroom chemicals, and in the case of pow-

take to minimize risks.

“Lint control is probably No. 1,” says Jim Everitt, a code consultant and owner of Everitt and Associates. Also, be sure cooking oils and other plant-derived substances are completely washed out of linens before they’re dried, he says. Otherwise, the oils could oxidize and give off heat, and on a hot day or in a hot environment, conditions could be ripe for spontaneous ignition or combustion.

Know your customers and what substances could be in the linens, advises Everitt; that way, you can take precautions, such as letting oil-impregnated linen soak in water, which will act as a heat sink.

And if the linens will be left sitting in carts, be aware that carts made of high-density polyethylene can have “more Btu per pound than regular gasoline,” Everitt says, which means they can burn easily and even “flow as a liquid” while they burn, increasing the chance that nearby items will catch fire.

“So you start out with a mild problem, but then because [of] what you put the material into, you just created a bigger problem,” he says.

workers of the importance of PPE and proper handling of laundry.

“There are a lot of material-handling management issues in our industry, resulting in both acute injuries and cumulative trauma injuries, which are a constant battle best fought first with elimination through automation, or if not that, then through job rotation,” Holt adds.

Sprains and strains due to material handling, lifting, repetitive motion and overexertion are a threat to worker well-being, and so are the dangers associated with failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures, says Caleb Paige, safety manager at Faultless Linen.

Trip-and-fall injuries are also common in laundry settings, Long adds.

Much progress has been made in the last several years in reducing many of the potential dangers facing industrial laundry workers, in part through the sharing and greater awareness facilitated by an open community, which includes efforts by TRSA through education and other resources, Holt says.

result in better, more feasible solutions and greater acceptance of any changes that take place, especially if those resulted from input given by them,” he says.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to train their workers on chemical hazards they might encounter as part of their duties, Schultz says.

Chemical providers should be active partners in any regular training schedule, McLeod adds. Both they and laundries’ managers should observe employees as they handle products to help them improve and make safety recommendations. It’s important, too, that Safety Data Sheets are kept in an easily accessible area.

“Right to Know and chemical safety and handling training should be conducted quarterly or semiannually,” McLeod says. “A list of attendees should be logged.”

ders, a mask is an important protective accessory.

An eye-wash station and shower should be available to any worker who might have been exposed to chemicals, McLeod says.

A few other tips: Call your chemical representative right away if you notice a leak in the chemical pump system, and always set a new drum full of chemicals in place before opening it to prevent spills or splashes. Refer to the SDS for information on proper cleanup if spills do occur, and be sure the sheets are updated anytime a new product is introduced in the washroom, McLeod says.

Pay close attention to products’ labels, Schultz advises, and “heed all signal words, hazard statements, precautionary statements and pictograms” therein.

FIRE HAZARDS

Those who have been in the industry for any length of time know that fires are an ever-present threat to laundries. Fortunately, there are actions that workers can

To combat lint buildup, stick to a regular maintenance schedule. There are fans on the market that are designed to prevent combustible dust and lint from accumulating on overhead structures. A sprinkler system, even if it’s just confined to areas where linen is stored in carts, will help minimize or extinguish fires if they do start in that area.

“The human nose is much more efficient at smelling smoke than a smoke detector,” Everitt explains. “But the issue is, those laundries aren’t occupied 24/7.”

Invest in equipment that has built-in precautions against fire hazards, such as commercial dryers with sprinkler systems or cooldown and sensing technologies, he adds.

OTHER HAZARDS

Russell Holt, SPHR, chief compliance officer, Superior Linen Service, and chair of TRSA’s Safety Committee, says that in the healthcare segment, the heightened awareness surrounding the recent Ebola scare helps remind laundry

EDUCATION

Though potential hazards will always be present, they can be greatly minimized through educating and training employees.

Paige says such action “must be impactful in order to be meaningful and achieve desired results.”

General ergonomics awareness training for laundry workers can serve as a way to identify simple steps toward easier, safer working practices, and can help motivate workers to report symptoms sooner, according to Allread. And any work evaluations and discussions on improvements should involve the workers themselves.

“Empowering these workers will

Those polled have plenty of advice to share in the unfortunate case of a worker injury: First and foremost, attend to the individual and make sure he or she gets proper medical treatment. Then, remove any obvious hazards, follow preestablished protocols, and preserve evidence for a proper investigation, which can help determine what corrective actions need to be taken and what updates should be made to the safety program.

In case of chemical exposure, refer to the appropriate SDS for next steps, and be sure the sheet accompanies the employee if he or she is taken to a medical facility, McLeod says.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR LAUNDRIES

The OSHA Web page dedicated to laundry-worker health and safety is a good place to start for learning more about potential dangers. For infection control related to Ebola, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Chemical providers can offer informational videos on chemical safety and Right to Know laws, McLeod says, and industry associations can also offer similar resources.

“SO YOU START OUT WITH A MILD PROBLEM, BUT THEN BECAUSE [OF] WHAT YOU PUT THE MATERIAL INTO, YOU JUST CREATED A BIGGER PROBLEM.”

—JIM EVERITT, EVERITT AND ASSOCIATES

“RIGHT TO KNOW AND CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HANDLING TRAINING SHOULD BE CONDUCTED QUARTERLY OR SEMIANNUALLY.”

—KEITH MCLEOD, U.N.X.

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PANeL of exPeRts

2015 Panel ready to share expertise

that processes laundry 12 to 15 hours per day, seven days a week. This year, we will do well in excess of 12 million pounds and employ about 90 full-time workers.

iam the founder and owner of Laundry Plus, located in Bradenton, Fla. We are an industrial laundry founded in 1989 that primarily services the customerowned-goods hospitality industry. Laundry Plus recently entered the linen leasing business, also primarily in the hospitality segment. We provide upscale linens complete with RFID technology.

I completed my formal education at Mankato State College, now called Minnesota State University, Mankato. I then secured a position with Medallion Kitchens, one of the largest kitchen cabinet manufacturers in the United States. I moved up the corporate ladder and achieved the position of vice president of manufacturing. In 1989, the privately held company was sold to a publicly traded group, and I found myself looking for a new challenge.

Having been born in Miami Beach, Fla., I was starting to find the Minnesota winters somewhat long and exceptionally cold. I relocated back to Florida and chose the Gulf Coast for its weather as well as its business climate.

I started in the Laundromat segment of the business, first opening one store and eventually adding many more. During my education in that business, I learned of the industrial side, and with my background in manufacturing, I found the industrial segment to be more in tune with my skill set, as well as my ideology of providing the ultimate in quality service.

Upon opening Laundry Plus, it became obvious that I had found a business that could provide a service to the hospitality industry that was severely needed. My formal education in this business is lacking, but the “school of hard knocks” has proven to be an exceptional venue for higher learning.

Laundry Plus has evolved through the years into a facility

We have always tried to stay at the front of our chosen field, whether it be through our selection of the most technologically advanced machinery or our interest in RFID research. It is with great enthusiasm that we enter this new leasing segment of the laundry business. We’re advocates of the word “accountability,” and with this RFID technology, we will continue to provide the utmost in service and quality.

It is with great honor that I accept this position on the Panel of Experts, and I hope that my thoughts and ideas will add some new light to the various topics.

site. We have linen distribution and soiled pickup for more than 300 linen rooms between both resorts. I also serve as a consultant as needed for other hotels and resorts within the larger Starwood Hotels company.

In 2014, one of our biggest accomplishments was our involvement in the community. We replaced the bedding in many of our rooms and donated the old items to local and international charities to help the needy. To date, more than 2,000 items have been donated for these causes.

The biggest challenge I face involves a change in guests’ stays at the resorts—they are moving away from weeklong stays to a higher degree of rentals that require daily, instead of weekly, service. The poundage processed has steadily increased over the last few years and has put our operation very close to 100% capacity, so we will need to look at how we will be able to process the required linen in the future.

ers, hydraulic pressing machines, automatic rail systems, automatic dryers, single-pocket washerextractors and boilers. Also, in the finishing department, I worked with high-efficiency flatwork ironers and automatic folding machines. In my years at Queen Quality Laundry, I was involved with plant operations as well as maintaining and repairing all equipment.

In 2006, I resumed my education to keep up with the everchanging demands in our industry. I was given an opportunity to take boiler operating classes at Local 547 I.U.O.E. I completed a degree in high-pressure boilers and received my high-pressure boiler license. This degree, along with my experience in this field, allowed me to receive my firstclass stationary engineer license for the City of Detroit.

along with several other responsibilities, to ensure a 100% safe working environment. I love that I am a part of a company that strides for the better wellbeing of people at home and at work. Cintas is also involved with numerous activities that contribute to the community we serve. At this point in my career, I am glad I am a part of that.

ihave been in the laundry industry for almost 20 years, starting in the Walt Disney World Textile Services Division. Within this operation were three types of laundries—linen, food and beverage, and costuming—and I had the opportunity to manage in all three facilities.

About nine years ago, I was hired as the director of laundry operations for the Sheraton Vistana Resort, a large vacation ownership resort in Orlando, Fla. The laundry at that time was processing around 6 million pounds in a 5,000-square-foot facility, and 30% of that was being outsourced. Through partnerships with various equipment companies, I took on the challenge of redoing the operation without using any additional space, and currently the laundry is producing 12 million pounds per year with minimum outsourcing.

I added our sister property, Sheraton Vistana Villages, during that time, and also took on all of its linen distribution, as the resort was outsourcing 100% of its linen and had no laundry on-

It is my pleasure to serve on the Panel of Experts this year, and I look forward to providing any helpful insight I can to all of the readers in the laundry industry.

Over the next several years, I was exposed to various laundries that produced an average of 20 million pounds a year. These facilities had much more hightech equipment to meet such large capacity demands. My contact with this equipment prompted me to further continue my education and pursue a degree in electrical/electronics engineering technologies at the local community college.

iam honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the Panel of Experts for 2015.

More than 30 years have breezed by since I started managing at a healthcare laundry in Saginaw, Mich. I have gone on to manage in New York and Ohio and assist in many more.

my laundry career started in 2004, and during the past 11 years, I’ve held various positions such as supervisor, production manager, plant manager and maintenance engineer. These positions have allowed me to accumulate a great deal of experience and knowledge.

In the beginning, I worked for a company called Queen Quality Laundry, which operated a facility 51/2 days a week with two shifts. An average of 13.5 million pounds of linen a year was processed for hospitals in the Detroit area and throughout Michigan.

This company exposed me to equipment such as tunnel wash-

In 2014, I was able to take advantage of a great opportunity to accelerate my career by working for a top company, Cintas Corp., in Westland, Mich. The stakes are high, just as in my other positions. I work as part of the engineering team, which consists of myself, another engineer and our supervisor.

At our location, we maintain and repair nine 450-pound washers and a bank of 500-pound dryers. We operate two conveying shuttles that are programmed to carry the linens to their respective locations for drying. We also utilize an automatic overhead soil-storage area and various pony washers and dryers. In our finishing department, we have overhead conveying systems to process the linens accurately for our customers, and we also make use of a steam tunnel for a quality finished product.

As well as working in the engineering department, I am also involved in a safety program,

I was a general manager with Sodexo for 26 years in each of these states. In October 2012, I became the CEO of Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, an employee-owned cooperative laundry in Cleveland, Ohio, where the goal was to grow the business, add jobs for the community and empower individuals. This was a great opportunity, until Standard Textile afforded me the chance to offer my professional peers more communication, cooperation and service from a textiles perspective.

My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. I also studied at the Laundry and Linen College at the University of Guelph in Canada.

I recently finished my studies at Standard Textile’s rigorous training program, where I became more familiar with the company’s roles as manufacturer, supplier, seller and distributor to the healthcare and hospitality markets. Standard Textile also provides decorative products (through the company’s Interiors Group), workwear apparel and consultative services.

Our new panelists introduce themselves and their operations, share their accomplishments and discuss the challenges of their industry segments

commercial Laundry

Rick Rone

Laundry Plus, Bradenton, Fla. Hotel/motel/ Resort Laundry Phil Jones

Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando, Fla.

textiles

Cecil B. Lee Standard Textile, Cincinnati, Ohio

WE WERE GOING TO DO AN AD COMPARING UNIMAC ® TO OUR NEAREST COMPETITOR.

BUT WE COULDN’T FIND THEM.

UniMac ® has been leading the industry for more than 60 years. With the all-new UW45 & 65 hardmount washer-extractors, that leadership has been taken to another level. These industrial-strength workhorses are the first in the market to offer an astounding 400 G-Force extraction speed while our competitors now have 300 G-Force — something we accomplished two decades ago. The result is more money in your pocket due to superior water removal, which reduces dry time and maximizes throughput. Innovative features like UniLinc ™ and OPTidry™ offer complete laundry room control, optimize efficiency and minimize operating costs. These cutting-edge machines are part of our full line of versatile products designed to deliver the industry’s absolute lowest cost of ownership to hotels, motels and inns of any size. Contact an authorized UniMac distributor today to run a laundry operating analysis and see how you can cut costs and save money. Visit UNIMAC.COM/LEADER or call 1-800-587-5458.

CUSTOMIZED FINANCING designed specifically for on-premises laundry.

experts

Historically, I have been a hands-on manager providing training to our associates and excellent service to our customers. I continue to be a believer in sharing knowledge and developing the individual. I am a staunch believer in laundry and linen fundamentals and using that as a springboard for growth.

I am excited to be able to share a unique point of view regarding the laundry business. Like many of you, I have enjoyed a full career which has allowed me to manage and develop people, structure and recreate plants, manage businesses, travel to Germany to assess laundry equipment and meet the diverse breadth of people in our laundry world. Past job assignments have allowed me to attend all but two Clean Shows since 1985.

Throughout my professional career, I have been enhanced personally by being involved in the communities my family has lived in. Serving on school, business and church boards has been fulfilling.

In my role with Standard Textile, I am the director of healthcare laundry marketplace. I serve as a resource to aid and assist customers and Standard Textile’s textile consultants alike, serving central, cooperative and commercial laundries. Just as I did on the operations side, I continue to work hard in my efforts to help customers understand what we do with the products we make and why—only now, from the textiles point of view.

Through all of this, what remains in me is my hunger and thirst for knowledge, and my desire to provide assistance to others and just make things and people work better. I hope something I write will help and encourage you.

amount of machinery and personnel involved in the industry I had just joined. I have enjoyed a rewarding career in laundry ever since.

Shortly after graduating from college, I began my profession in the laundry industry. In January 1987, I accepted a position with FH Bonn Co. as a factory representative supporting its wholesale distributor network in a 12-state Southwestern region based in Oklahoma City. Within a few years, my territory expanded to include Texas. I relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 1989, where I still call home today.

My 231/2-year tenure with FH Bonn Co. provided me the opportunity to market the company’s complete line of industrial textiles/ finished retail press pad and cover products. I also gained much experience and exposure within all segments of industrial laundries, as well as from their complete line of flatwork ironer-related textile products. Over the years, my responsibilities at Bonn expanded to include supporting sales in the western half of the U.S., Mexico, and all countries within the entire Pacific Rim region.

I made the decision to make the most of the industry experience I had garnered over the years and apply it to a continued laundry industry career when I joined Kannegiesser USA four years ago on Nov. 1, 2010. I am based out of KUSA headquarters located in Grand Prairie, Texas, where we support sales, service and spare parts of our full-line of industrial laundry equipment in North America.

My career here began as a regional sales manager responsible for market support and development in the Southeast region of the U.S., from Texas to Florida, where I have appreciated the opportunity to assist many laundry facilities with new equipment solutions.

tunity to meet with a first-time attendee just like I was so many years ago.

I appreciate the invitation to participate in, and look forward to the opportunity to be a part of, the 2015 Panel of Experts for American Laundry News; I trust my 28 years of industry experience will offer valuable feedback and insight for the chosen discussion topics throughout this coming year.

ed, improving costs and results.

I have been fortunate to attend every Clean Show since it was hosted in 1981 in Chicago, meeting customers and equipment manufacturers. I enjoy working with our laundry customers, learning what they want from their vendors, and working to solve their problems.

of cutting my teeth and honing my skills in the apparel industry, I moved back to Pennsylvania to join forces with my father in running our family cut-and-sew operation.

Fond memories are coming back for me as we are all in fullswing planning and preparing for the upcoming Clean Show 2015 in Atlanta next April. Clean 1987 was my very first national industry trade show, and that was when it was last held in that great city.

Thinking back to those days, I had only been involved in laundry operations for a few weeks, and when I walked into the convention center on that first morning of the show, I was afforded a bird’s-eye view of the entire exhibition floor from an elevated mezzanine level. I’ll never forget how impressed I was with the extensive

It seems apparent that one set of challenges facing industrial laundries today involves an increasingly competitive marketplace environment. At the same time, there is more and more emphasis for laundries to ensure optimal energy and productivity efficiencies; proven hygienically clean washing and rinsing processes; ever-increasing ergonomics and safety requirements for machine operators; and proper levels of production automation to help streamline labor expenses.

It is now very gratifying for me to have the opportunity to be involved with introducing owner/operators to the many new technological advances in engineering and equipment design to help them identify and meet each of these growing operational requirements they encounter today. I look forward to returning to Atlanta next April for Clean 2015 in my new role within the expansive Kannegiesser exhibit. Hopefully I will have the oppor-

chemicals supply David Barbe

U.N.X. Inc., Greenville, N.C.

if someone had asked me how large laundries washed clothes when I graduated from college, I would have guessed they use a huge row of home-style washers. I had never seen anything else. Soon after that, I had an entirely new understanding of laundry operations.

I started working for U.N.X. Inc. in 1978. At that time, the majority of businesses used powdered chemicals. Over the past 36 years, I’ve seen the industry transition to primarily liquid chemicals. Just as washing machines have changed from paper-chart controls with lots of relays and motors to programmable machines with variable speed drives and/or hydraulic functions, the technology to use these chemicals has changed from scoops and pails to highly automated, microprocessor-controlled systems. Formula counts, classes of chemicals and the number of chemicals per classification have increased.

I still work for U.N.X., now as director of engineering. I have designed and installed numerous chemical systems in plants all over the United States. I’ve been involved with new laundry design, upgrading existing plant systems and wholesale replacement of equipment in entire facilities, and have had the pleasure of working with some of the finest chemical representatives in the industry.

From small motels to plants with multiple tunnel washers, the focus is the same: to get the maximum usage out of the goods at a reasonable cost. To this end, we manufacture systems of all types.

I hold multiple patents for laundry chemical injection systems, and am constantly designing more equipment to meet customer needs. Some of our equipment has been so well-received that it has remained in production for decades. Recently we modified the programming on one of our dispensers to enable a customer with a large number of locations to control their operators’ access to formula selection and other functions. Managers with a key can override those limitations as need-

I am excited to be participating in the Panel of Experts. I have met some of the past members and enjoy their insights and advice. I hope that I can contribute some ideas that will help our industry and perhaps spark some more changes in the future.

Fashion Seal Healthcare Seminole, Fla.

First and foremost, I would like to thank American Laundry News for selecting me to serve on the 2015 Panel of Experts. For me, it is a real honor to be named a member of an elite group of laundry/linen managers.

Having more than 35 years of experience in the textile and laundry industry, I have been fortunate to meet a lot of knowledgeable people who have taught me a lot about our industry, as well as kindled some cherished long-term friendships.

Growing up in the coal region in northeast Pennsylvania, I first got involved in textiles while working in my family’s factory, cutting and sewing ladies sportswear. Upon graduating from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, where I got my degree in apparel management, I packed my bags and all my worldly possessions into my orange Chevy Monza and moved from Philadelphia to Gaffney, S.C.

While there, I worked for Oxford Industries, a leading manufacturer of ladies sportswear, locating and developing cut-and-sew factories in the South to manufacture Oxford’s line of women’s apparel. After four years

As the imports started to increase and apparel production moved offshore, we decided to close the doors, and a new chapter in my life started. I then jumped from one frying pan (working with my father) into another one (working for my father-in-law, Max Stettner) at Penn Linen & Uniform Service. It was there where I found my passion for the industrial laundry business, as we processed linen for industrial, hospitality and, of course, healthcare markets. In fact, at one time, we processed and rented linen to all the major hospitals in the Philadelphia market, as well as parts of North Jersey.

After Penn Linen was sold, and after a short stint with Unitog, my passion for this industry continued to burn. I was fortunate enough to land on my feet as a territory sales manager with Fashion Seal Healthcare, based out of Seminole, Fla. Today I am proud to represent Fashion Seal Healthcare as vice president of sales, where I utilize my 30-plus years of experience in the laundry arena developing successful uniform programs for laundries and hospitals.

I currently serve as a standing board member for TRSA, a member of the TRSA Healthcare Committee, an active member of the board of directors of ARTA, and an active member for the HLAC advisory committee. ALN

American Laundry News is still seeking 2015 Panel of Experts candidates to represent healthcare laundry, equipment supply/distribution and institution laundry (prison, military base, etc.) segments. If you think you would be a good fit, or can suggest someone who is, please contact Theresa Boehl, editor, at tboehl@ atmags.com, 708-280-1750.

American Laundry News Thanks members of the 2014 Panel of experts for Their contributions

• Carrie Armstrong, Ecolab

• Brian Barfoot, St. Francis Health Center

• James Brewster, RLLD, The Resort at Glade Springs

• Michael Brock, Monarch Textile

• Sam Garofalo, Technical Consulting Associates

• Hal Herweck, Phoenix Textile Corp.

• Michael Kirsch, CLLM, HCSC Laundry

• Justin Oriel, Garment Machinery Corp.

• Gary Ostrum, G.A. Braun

• Richard Warren, Linen King

The magazine welcomes back these former panelists who have agreed to serve on the Panel again in 2015:

• Scott Delin, Fashion Seal Healthcare

• Phil Jones, Sheraton Vistana Resort

• Rick Rone, Laundry Plus

equipment manufacturing

Kelly Outram Kannegiesser USA, Grand Prairie, Texas

Uniforms/ workwear manufacturing Scott Delin

worth the cost of the replacement linen to mess with it,” he says. He adds that facilities should familiarize themselves with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) special handling and licensing regulations for potentially contaminated linens.

If a patient is confirmed not to have the virus, then any waste materials they generate can be handled per the usual protocol, and not under the same strict guidelines as in the case of Ebola.

IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING

How are workers expected to keep up on any changing regulations and protocols? Gersh says it starts with frequent training and observation.

“Over time, focus on strict practices can easily be lost, and bad habits will creep in,” he says. “This refers not only to PPE, but hand hygiene, cleaning practices and more.”

And precautions aren’t just something the soil-sort workers need to be trained on and reminded of. Drivers, washroom staff and “anybody who comes into contact” with potentially infected linens also need training and education.

Romeo says the PPE precautions for workers who do not have direct contact with patients should be familiar to most: gloves, masks, face shields, goggles and impervious gowns.

“It’s the same precaution utilized for protection of laundry personnel from pathogens spread by blood,” he says. But if the PPE precautions for Ebola are so drastic at the hospital, why wouldn’t they be at the hospital’s laundry?

“The intent, of course, is that no contaminated Ebola linen should make itself to the laundry since it should be disposed of at the hospital,” Romeo explains.

Nevertheless, any educational session for workers should include directions for what to do in case a red bag does mistakenly make its way to the laundry. For starters, workers should don enhanced PPE for additional protection and place the contaminated linen in a secured area (not in a dock area) in a 55-gallon drum with a lockable lid that is clearly labeled as biohazardous waste. Arrangements should be made for a waste disposal company to incinerate the linen under the DOT’s hazardous materials regulations.

“Absolutely never open it,” Gersh advises. “Don’t try to squeeze it, don’t try to feel maybe what’s in it, or take a guess.”

Workers should also contact hospital staff, including security and environmental services, immediately. The CDC and the local health department should also be notified.

“We’ve talked to all of the hos-

pitals and asked them, ‘Who do we call if we see a red bag that needs to be pulled out of there?’” says Gersh. “Do whatever’s necessary to document and record where the red bag came from, [and] when it was received, so that you can be a good partner to your hospitals, because when you tell them that you got their red bag, they’re going to want to know, ‘Can we track it back to where it came from?’”

It’s important that all laundry staff members are in the know about what to do if a red bag “hits your back dock.”

And those worried that a cart might also be contaminated are

advised to err on the side of caution and treat it as if it is.

“If in doubt, don’t take any chances. With the CDC recommendations on the discarding of linen, the basic thing is, don’t take any chances with that,” Romeo says.

He adds that a detailed, written action plan for steps to take if this occurs is very important, and should be shared both with employees and with customers. He adds that management at textile service companies should keep up with any status changes from the CDC, and that a letter should be distributed to customers about

Ebola processes and precautions, asking hospitals to inform laundries if they end up with any suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola.

This letter should also reference the CDC’s recommendations for discarding potentially infectious linen.

In such situations, with so many players involved, communication is of the utmost importance. Gersh says management should continue to educate staff, and hold them accountable for the information as well.

“Remember: they’re protecting themselves,” he says. “They’re also protecting their families at home. We’ve seen on the news what a lot

UPGRADE

of these folks have gone through with these quarantines and things like that. This is sheer misery.” Extra precautions include training employees on utilizing enhanced PPE, showing them protocols for the donning and doffing of PPE, and posting notices on the correct procedures for wearing PPE.

To stay current with changing regulations, managers are encouraged to review the websites of the CDC, WHO and the PHMSA, which provide more detailed information and recommendations on Ebola than what are provided here. ALN

New equipment, products debut at Hotel, Motel show

BY RichARd meRLi

NEW YORK — Manufacturers of laundry machinery, textiles and chemicals made use of the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show® (IHMRS) here to exhibit a wide variety of energyefficient, environmentally friendly and upscale products for the hotel industry.

The show was presented Nov. 9-11 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side. A total of 15,122 people attended the show this year, down from 15,996 in 2013. Show management did not offer a reason for the decline in attendance.

G.A. Braun, a manufacturer of washing, drying, ironing and folding equipment, recently modified its popular Sigma Series small-piece folders. Braun’s new Precision Series® small-piece folders now process even heavier terry items for the hotel industry.

The company also offers improved insulation on the inner panels of its Precision Series ironers to reduce energy usage by up to 30%, according to Gary Ostrum, Braun’s East Coast regional vice president. The improved insula-

tion forces more heat through the ironer’s rolls, thus resulting in higher roll temperatures and higher production in the laundry, he explains.

The show produced quality international and domestic leads for Braun, according to Pam Simonetti, director of marketing for the company, based in Syracuse, N.Y.

UniMac, a brand of Alliance Laundry Systems, offered hotel managers “more value” for its washers by increasing basket or load sizes, according to Scott Peregoy, regional sales manager for the company, based in Ripon, Wis.

The company recently increased the load sizes of its washers: from 80 pounds to 85 pounds, from 100 pounds to 105 pounds, from 125 pounds to 130 pounds, and from 150 pounds to 160 pounds. The company enjoyed “good activity” at its booth during the show, Peregoy says.

ALN_Tab_half 10/9/12 2:40 PM Page 1

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“There is a lot of new building going on among higher-end boutique hotels,” he says. “Projects are being funded by banks.”

Pellerin Milnor Corp., a manufacturer of washers and dryers

based in Kenner, La., teamed with Chicago Dryer Co., a Chicagobased manufacturer of flatwork finishing systems, to share booth space at the show.

Milnor exhibited its 30022 V8Z model 60-pound-capacity, openpocket washer, equipped with the MilTouch touch-screen control, while Chicago® exhibited its Comet Executive, a compact cylinder ironer.

The booth exhibits generated

some “valued, quality leads,” says Wayne Costabile, sales representative for PAC Industries, a distributor of laundry equipment based in Harrisburg, Penn.

The show also generated traffic for B&C Technologies, a manufacturer of washers, dryers, ironers and folders, according to Al Adcock, vice president of sales and marketing for the company, based in Panama City, Fla. B&C exhibited a soft-mount washer at the show.

Energy and water savings are playing an important part in the decision-making processes of many hotel managers who have become more environmentally conscious, according to Tony Johnson, senior marketing manager for the Institutional Division of Ecolab, a major chemical and detergent manufacturer based in St. Paul, Minn. The company exhibited its Aquanomic laundry system, which enables laundry managers to wash

For over 50 years U.N.X. INCORPORATED has been involved in the development of products that not only solve quality problems that exist at the moment, but also provide long term benefits to the customer and the environment in which we live.

For over 50 years U.N.X. INCORPORATED has been involved in the development of products that not only solve quality problems that exist at the moment, but also provide long term benefits to the customer and the environment in which we live.

For over 50 years U.N.X. INCORPORATED has been involved in the development of products that not only solve quality problems that exist at the moment, but also provide long term benefits to the customer and the environment in which we live.

U.N.X.

industry

U.N.X. was built on the foundation of improving the industry in which we participate. U.N.X. prides itself on being an industry leader with state-of-the-art products and dispensing equipment, and our plans for the future are extraordinary.

U.N.X. was built on the foundation of improving the industry in which we participate. U.N.X. prides itself on being an industry leader with state-of-the-art products and dispensing equipment, and our plans for the future are extraordinary.

which we participate. U.N.X. prides

With a Research and Development team second to none, U.N.X. is in a position to provide the industry with the most technologically advanced products and dispensers as possible.

With a Research and Development team second to none, U.N.X. is in a position to provide the industry with the most technologically advanced products and dispensers as possible.

U.N.X. INCORPORATED

U.N.X. INCORPORATED

707EArlingtonBlvd Greenville,NC27858 (252)756 8616 www.unxinc.com

707EArlingtonBlvd Greenville,NC27858 (252)756 8616 www.unxinc.com

us

See us at the Clean Show •

The Hotel, Motel show was presented Nov. 9-11 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, N.Y. (Photo: IHMRS)

at temperatures as low as 100 F, reducing energy and water consumption by up to 40%.

“Water and energy savings and sustainability have been a focal point of this show,” says Johnson. “In today’s environment, hotel managers are always looking for ways to reduce the impact of their properties on the environment. What we are offering them is another complementary technology to achieve that sustainability.”

Johnson says he was “encouraged by a lot of good traffic” at the company’s exhibit.

Hotel managers were also drawn to P&G Professional’s environmentally conscious exhibit, featuring its Tide® Professional Coldwater System, which aims to reduce energy use by 75% and water use by 40% in laundry operations. Washing in cold water requires fewer fills of washers and conserves water resources for hotels, according to Joe Davis, senior account executive for the company, based in Cincinnati.

“We’ve been busy at this show,” he says.

Xeros has built “greater brand awareness” among hotel managers at the show over the past two years with its patented, environmentally friendly laundry system, according to David Kaupp, vice president of the company, whose U.S. headquarters are based in Manchester, N.H. The system combines a proprietary polymer bead technology with a proprietary detergent solution to use 80% less water, 50% less energy and 50% less chemicals compared with traditional laundry operations, Xeros says.

“The show has been busier for us this year,” says Kaupp. “This year, there has been a different level of interest. Last year, there was curiosity about our system. Now that we have numerous installations to show, there is much more credibility. So, we have had a different level of conversation with hotel managers this year. We can demonstrate the savings on water, chemicals and utilities. So, they require less convincing.”

Textile and uniform manufacturers at the show also took a page from the sustainability playbook.

Cintas, a uniform and apparel company with headquarters in Cincinnati, was recently honored by Marriott International with its 2014 Supplier Sustainability Award in recognition of the “significant impact” Cintas had in helping Marriott meet its environmental goals, including reducing water and energy consumption.

Nearly 2.5 million plastic bottles have been diverted from landfills around the world, thanks to Marriott’s use of 96,000 ecofriendly Cintas garments, which are composed of recycled polyester and flakes of post-consumer plastic bottles.

“Cintas has been a true partner in helping us reduce our environmental footprint,” says Denise Naguib, vice president of sustainability and supplier diversity for Marriott International.

In all, the worldwide use of Cintas’ eco-apparel programs by all Cintas customers resulted in the diversion of more than 19 million plastic water bottles from landfills in 2013.

Standard Textile took the opportunity to launch two new product offerings to the hotel industry at the show: Vidori luxury sheeting, offering extended durability, and a stylish new robe collection by New York fashion designer Heidi Weisel.

In Vidori sheeting, long-staple, combed cotton yarn encapsulates synthetic microfilament bundles. Therefore, the surface of the sheet consists almost entirely of 100%

cotton yarns, according to Richard Stewart, corporate vice president of product development and sustainability for Standard Textile, based in Cincinnati.

“Essentially, Vidori has the look and feel of cotton, which many hotel guests desire,” Stewart explains. “However, the hotel manager will experience significantly higher tensile strength and product service life with Vidori. Both we and the hotel industry recognize the high operational costs associated with cotton linen. That’s why we engineered Vidori specifically for the hospitality market. Its additional strength makes it more cost-effective in the

laundering process.”

The company attracted traffic and generated interest at its exhibit by using fashion models to display its new collection of terry robes.

It was a banner show for Cuddledown, maker of down-filled and blended-fill pillows, according to Ryan Scott, a hospitality sales associate for the company, based in Yarmouth, Maine.

“On Sunday, we enjoyed great traffic and got many solid leads,” says Scott. “This could be our best year ever at the show.”

ALN

Richard Merli, who resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., is a former editor of American Laundry News.

Models show off Standard Textile’s new terry robe collection. (Photo: Richard Merli)

Setting the stage for Clean 2015

A sneak peek into the city of Atlanta and what to expect from this year’s show

BY CARLO CALMA

ATLANTA — Nearly 30 years have passed since the Clean Show, formally known as the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning, last set its stage here at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC).

Clean 1987 was held in what is now the “A” building of the Congress Center, which has a total exhibit space of 340,000 square feet, according to show organizer Riddle & Associates.

After nearly three decades, the Clean Show returns to Atlanta April 16-19.

As part of its efforts to re-familiarize the industry with the city, Riddle & Associates, in conjunction with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), hosted a two-day “media familiarity tour” here in early November.

It was my first time venturing into Atlanta. The tour not only provided a small sample of the Southern hospitality attendees can come to expect, but also a sneak peek of what’s in store for Clean 2015.

GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER

Officially opened in 1976, the

GWCC has undergone numerous expansion projects since it last hosted the Clean Show.

Today, the 3.9-million-squarefoot convention center houses 1.4 million square feet of exhibit space, making it one of the “top five largest convention centers in the country,” according to the GWCC.

Clean 2015 will take up nearly half of the facility’s total exhibit space square footage, with the exhibition taking place in halls 2 through 5 of building B, encompassing a total of 518,000 square feet, according to Riddle & Associates.

To accommodate many Clean Show exhibitors’ need for steam power, a new steam system was recently installed at the center and is now fully operational, explains John Riddle, president of the show’s management firm.

The steam system covers approximately 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to the company.

Riddle and Brian Wallace, Coin Laundry Association president and CEO, and Clean 2015 chairman, express excitement about the upcoming show. At press time, more than 90% of space on the current exhibit floor plan was

under contract, and the Clean Show website listed 332 exhibitors.

The overall space at the GWCC can be overwhelmingly expansive, so plan to wear comfortable walking shoes, or take time to relax in atrium-style indoor seating or outside on the patio.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Those looking to venture outside the halls of the GWCC will have plenty to see and do. Various attractions are within walking distance, while some are only a short cab ride away.

Here are a few locales the ACVB treated me to during the media familiarity trip:

Centennial Olympic Park

Just across from the GWCC is Centennial Olympic Park, built as part of the Centennial Olympic Games Atlanta hosted in 1996, and what the ACVB calls the “heart of [downtown Atlanta’s] tourist hub.”

Attendees can stroll the 21-acre park and have a sweeping view of the city’s skyline, as well as learn the history of the Centennial games, or cool off by the park’s interactive fountain, The Fountain of Rings.

Center for Civil and Human Rights

Located across from Centennial Olympic Park, and housed in a bright, modern, new building, the recently opened Center for Civil and Human Rights highlights the history of the American Civil Rights Movement, bridging it with contemporary human rights movements around the world. Historic moments, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, come to life through archived photos, videos and artifacts, and through touch-screen informative displays.

Georgia Aquarium

The ACVB also took me on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Georgia Aquarium, known as “the world’s largest aquarium.”

Opened in 2005, the aquarium features a variety of aquatic animals housed in more than 10 million gallons of water.

In one of its exhibits, the Ocean Voyager, visitors walk through an acrylic tunnel, which provides a nearly 360-degree view of the aquarium’s 6.3-million-gallon tank.

College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame just opened in August, and has plenty of unique exhibits and interactive displays that provide fun for all. Upon entering, visitors are given an “All-Access” pass equipped with an RFID chip, which they can digitally personalize by selecting their favorite college football team.

Guests will have a unique, customized tour as they navigate their way through the museum’s exhibits.

SERVING UP COMFORT

The media tour was packed with plenty to see, and for me, trekking between one point of interest to the next can easily build up my appetite.

Thankfully, the ACVB present-

ed plenty of unique local eateries suitable for foodies (like yours truly).

TWO Urban Licks

A 15-minute cab ride from the GWCC will lead visitors to TWO Urban Licks. Situated on the Eastside BeltLine Trail, and housed in a restored warehouse, TWO Urban Licks serves up a fusion of both traditional dishes and unique eats, like salmon chips, lobster tostada and the addictive pimento cheese hush puppies.

Glenn’s Kitchen

Set in a modern, upscale dining room, Glenn’s Kitchen is just minutes away from GWCC.

Despite its posh atmosphere, its lunch menu provides accessible favorites, like grass-fed beef hamburgers, short-rib sandwiches and daily tacos. Prosciuttowrapped Georgia trout, sautéed sea scallops or Scottish salmon give those with a more refined palate even more options, while the restaurant’s warm bourbon bread pudding and spread of various truffles can easily satisfy those with a sweet tooth.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room

Considered an Atlanta institution by many, Mary Mac’s (just two miles northeast of the GWCC) has been serving both locals and visitors stick-to-yourribs favorites, like pan-fried cube steak, chicken potpie and chicken fried chicken, which also come with side dishes, like collard greens, cheese grits and macaroni and cheese.

A true Mary Mac’s experience would be incomplete without Georgia peach cobbler for dessert, which can be ordered with ice cream on top. ALN

Calma is editor of American Coin-Op, a sister American Trade Magazines publication.

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Downtown Atlanta skyline with views of Centennial Olympic Park and the new SkyView Ferris wheel. (Photo: Gene Phillips)

Gurtler

Industries

adds Story to staff

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Gurtler Industries reports that it has hired Doug Story as vice president of corporate support. Story joined the company in June. He earned a degree in biology/chemisty from Western Carolina University, and has an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago.

Story has more than 25 years of experience in the laundry industry, Gurtler reports.

ARCO/Murray promotes Dannegger to president

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Brad Dannegger was recently promoted to president of ARCO/ Murray, the company reports.

Dannegger was an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Midwest finalist, and he originally opened the company’s Chicago office in 2003. He previously served as vice president of the company. ARCO/ Murray says Dannegger was chosen for the role “as a result of his vision and leadership.”

Lynch new senior industrial technician at Girbau Industrial

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Girbau Industrial has hired Michael Lynch as senior industrial technician, the company reports. Lynch has 16 years of electromechanical experience, nine of which were spent focused on industrial laundry systems. He most recently served as a field service technician for a major industrial laundry system manufacturer, and also has experience as an avionics electrician and supervisor for the U.S. Marine Corps, according to Girbau Industrial.

Lynch earned his associate degree in general studies from

Columbia College in Fort Worth, Texas.

In his new role, Lynch is responsible for training customers and technical service personnel on various technical aspects of Girbau Industrial­branded laundry systems, as well those from Continental Girbau and OnePress.

“I like the idea of joining an emerging industrial division with a family­oriented atmosphere,” says Lynch.

Diamond Chemical, Starco welcome new managers

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Diamond Chemical reports the addition of Robert Devitt, and the

hiring of Barbara Riehle at Starco Chemical, a division of Diamond.

Devitt has joined Diamond Chemical as maintenance manager. Devitt has more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, according to the company.

Riehle has been hired as Midwest regional manager at Starco Chemical. She has more than 14 years of experience in the industrial and institutional cleaning products industries, according

to Diamond, and has worked with both manufacturers’ representatives and distributors. ALN

Devitt Riehle

Dannegger Lynch

LOVELAND, Colo. — AmeriPride Services has taken delivery of its first fuel-efficient, hydraulic hybrid system, which will be put into service at one of the company’s Canadian Linen branches in Toronto. Featuring a 2014 Ford F59 chassis with a Morgan Olson Route Star walk-in van body, the vehicle is the first of its kind in AmeriPride’s 1,900-vehicle North American fleet.

Lightning Hybrids was chosen to provide the hybrid systems that the company says are “expected to significantly reduce fuel consumption, reduce brake maintenance costs and cut emissions for cleaner air.”

The new vehicle will achieve better fuel economy through its storage and reuse of braking energy, a feature not found in conventional, non-hybrid vehicles, according to AmeriPride.

“Testing this hydraulic hybrid is a part of a larger company initiative to reduce energy consumption and our carbon footprint,” says Brian Keegan, senior vice president of plant operations and supply chain for AmeriPride Services and Canadian Linen.

The company says it has replaced many of its cargo vans with fuel-efficient sedans, and has also reduced mileage through rerouting “a majority” of its service routes. Other efforts include reducing idling and speeding, implementing better training and increasing driver awareness.

SanMar Corp. opens new distribution center near Phoenix

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — SanMar® Corp., a supplier of apparel, workwear and accessories, has opened a new warehouse in Avondale, Ariz., outside of Phoenix.

The new, 326,000-square-foot distribution center is the eighth in the company’s network and stocks a variety of new and best-selling styles, according to SanMar.

It also includes a showroom for customers to see products and to place orders at on-site kiosks, the company reports, and offers will-call pickup hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

“We pride ourselves on offering the most on-hand inventory in the industry, with the quickest ship times to our customers,” says Jeremy Lott, president of SanMar. “The addition of the Phoenix warehouse allows us to be even more efficient in fulfilling customer orders throughout the Southwest, while offering later ship times for one-day shipping to our customers in Southern California.”

SanMar Corp. supplies apparel brands including Nike Golf, OGIO®, Eddie Bauer® and Red House®, among others. In total, the company has more than 4.4 million square feet of inventory space.

Penn Emblem Co. raises money for breast cancer research

PHILADELPHIA — Employees of Penn Emblem Co. raised more than $2,600 in October for Susan G. Komen®, an organization dedicated to breast cancer research and education.

According to Penn Emblem, the fundraiser was organized by Karen Krug, human resources manager, and gave employees the chance to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by “dressing down” on the days of their choice and donating $3 a day for the privilege.

“We wanted to do something fun for a good cause with our employees,” Krug tells American Laundry News

She adds that a majority of employees participated in the fundraiser, including management and administrative personnel.

Employees also took part in “Get Your Pink On” day, during

TRSA introduces new Web portal with linen loss reduction resources

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) has added a new resource to its website: a portal featuring tools to help healthcare organizations reduce linen loss. The costs of such loss add up to “an estimated $840 million annually” for the healthcare industry, according to the association.

“Linen loss is a critical issue for healthcare organizations trying to balance patient care with regulatory and financial priorities,” says Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA. “It’s a costly but correctable problem every healthcare organization faces.”

Among resources at the new portal are industry best practices for better linen management, information on textile cleaning, and details about certifications for hygienically clean laundries, according to TRSA. A short animation video on the site delves into these topics and describes available tools.

One can visit the linen loss prevention portal at www.trsa. org/linenloss

AmeriPride adds fuel-efficient, hydraulic hybrid to fleet

which they dressed in pink to show support for breast cancer research.

The company says it has been donating to Susan G. Komen for several years, and will likely have a similar fundraiser this year.

In October, employees of Penn Emblem donated money and wore pink to show support for breast cancer research. (Photo: Penn Emblem Co.)

A new hydraulic hybrid has been added to AmeriPride’s North American fleet of delivery vehicles. (Photo: PRNewsFoto/AmeriPride)

safety

Professional ergonomics and/ or safety consultants are another resource for guidance on safety issues, according to Long.

Operators who want to ensure they’re complying with regulations should conduct an assessment of potential hazards in their facilities, Holt says. This can involve state OSHA consultation visits and insurance company assessments.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offers many online resources, and through its local chapters, professionals from other industries offer quid pro quo safety assessments, Holt adds.

TRSA is a resource for ongoing training, videos, webinars and workshops. Its annual Safety Summit serves as a platform for informational sessions and speakers, as well as for networking and sharing advice on solutions to common safety problems. The next Safety Summit will be presented May 13-14 in St. Louis.

Operators can also rely on the insight and information of workers themselves, as they “typically have the best understanding of existing hazards and strategies for eliminating hazards,” Paige says. ALN

Calendar

January

15 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Influencing with Impact Info: 859-624-0177

February

10-11

Textile Rental Services Association Leadership and Legislative Conference Washington, D.C. Info: 877-770-9274

19 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Results-Focused Training for Laundry Technicians Info: 859-624-0177

March

18-19 Textile Rental Services Association Production Summit and Plant Tours El Segundo, Calif. Info: 877-770-9274

19 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Financial Cost Analysis Info: 859-624-0177

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20 Textile Rental Services Association

CEO/Executive Roundtable— Hospitality Los Angeles, Calif. Info: 877-770-9274

April

12-16 Textile Rental Services Association

Production Management Institute Atlanta, Ga. Info: 877-770-9274

15 Textile Rental Services Association Clean Show Kick-off Tailgate Atlanta, Ga. Info: 877-770-9274

16-19 Clean Show 2015 Atlanta, Ga. Info: 404-876-1988

May

13-14 Textile Rental Services Association 4th Annual Safety Summit St. Louis, Mo. Info: 877-770-9274

18-22 Association for Linen Management American Laundry and Linen College Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177

28 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Labor Relations 101 Info: 859-624-0177

August

9-13 Textile Rental Services Association

Executive Management Institute College Park, Md. Info: 877-770-9274

September

9-11 Textile Rental Services Association Annual Conference Isle of Palms, S.C. Info: 877-770-9274 ALN

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