American Laundry News - May 2016

IES changes

name to SonicAire

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) has changed its corporate name to SonicAire®, effective immediately, the company reports.

The name change is part of a rebranding initiative designed to clarify the company’s commitment to producing an engineered solution to fugitive combustible dust through its line of SonicAire fans, the company says.

“Our fans have strong reputations in the marketplace for keeping plants continually compliant with OSHA [Occupational Safety & Health Administration] standards by eliminating overhead fugitive combustible dust buildup,” says SonicAire President Brad Carr.

“Ensuring that SonicAire fans are at the core of our corporate identity is important to us as our company continues to expand. We like to keep it simple and let our SonicAire fans speak for themselves.”

The company says its fans offer a full range of cleaning capability: a 140-degree vertical oscillation radius with a full 360-degree rotation.

The comprehensive rebranding efforts reach across all aspects of the company and include a new logo, according to SonicAire. ALN

Do dollars spent on new equipment really pay off?

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — Success in the laundry room for Judy McCollough, director of environmental services for Ramsey Village, a continuing care retirement community in Des Moines, Iowa, means keeping pace with all of the soiled underpads, diapers, sheets, blankets, comforters, table linens, towels and personal items that come through on any given day.

That’s a lot of textiles, which means a lot of wear and tear on the equipment.

Recently, the laundry retired an 18-year-old, 75-pound hardmount washer. Ramsey Village made an investment in smaller soft-mount replacements, rather than hard-mounts, for significant gains in extract speeds, dry times, efficiency and overall productivity.

“We went from a bigger machine to a smaller machine and we get more productivity out of the smaller machine,” says McCollough.

Every laundry operation reaches a point where it has to make the investment in new equipment and technology. Most, if not all, manufacturers today highlight the efficiency and savings their equipment will provide.

American Laundry News spoke with four laundries, including Ramsey Village, to find out how investing in new equipment and technology translated into better efficiency in relation to water, energy and overall production.

HIGH-SPEED SOFTMOUNT WASHERS BOOST PRODUCTIVITY, EFFICIENCY

Ramsey Village allows mature adults to “age in place” without ever having to move for health reasons, says McCollough. With multiple levels of care—from independent and assisted living to rehabilitative, memory and skilled nursing—Ramsey Village is a 150-bed facility generating up to 50,000 pounds of soiled laundry

per month.

McCollough works directly with Mike Ross of Ross Chemical Systems, Des Moines, for the laundry’s needs. A full-service provider of commercial laundry equipment, kitchen equipment and chemicals, Ross Chemical Systems monitors and ensures the facility’s laundry sanitation, productivity, efficiency, chemical mix and processes are the best they can be, according to Ross.

Ramsey Village has worked

closely with Ross Chemical Systems and relied on Continental Girbau laundry equipment for two decades.

The laundry’s Continental workhorses include a 50-pound-capacity L-Series hard-mount washer, a 55-pound-capacity Pro-Series softmount washer, a 55-pound-capacity E-Series soft-mount washer, two 80-pound-capacity D-Series

Oceanside to close doors in June after 40 years

employees and produces 40 million pounds of goods per year.

BY RICHARD MERLI

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. — Oceanside Institutional Industries, one of the two largest laundries on Long Island, will close its doors and shut down operations on June 15, according to company principals.

The second-generation members of the family who have been operating the business decided to sell its lucrative routes, its laundry machinery and its modern laundry building on Long Beach Road

in the south shore community of Nassau County.

There is no heir apparent in the third generation who would have an interest in operating the business, the owners say.

At its peak, Oceanside employed more than 450 workers and processed more than 60 million pounds of goods a year for approximately 125 institutional accounts, including hospitals and nursing homes, in New York, Long Island and the Tri-State Area. The plant still employs 150 full-time

American Laundry News was recently given the exclusive opportunity to meet with the current principals of the plant in its executive offices and to take a guided tour of the 76,000-square-foot plant, one of the most modern and efficient plants in the industry.

The second-generation principals include Dominick and Jack Ferrara, vice presidents, and Francine Boyle, the director of human resources, who are part of the family of Frank Ferrara, one of the two founders; and Randi Gertler, vice president, and Sherri Klipper, who are part of the fam-

ily of Walter Hermann, the other founder.

“We’re tired,” says Dominick Ferrara. “Forty years in business is long enough. We are ready to begin the next phase of our lives.”

The business owners would not disclose the terms of the sale of their laundry routes, the building or the equipment, because the transactions are still in progress, they say.

However, it is clear that the laundry routes, machinery and building will be sold in three separate transactions.

“It was one of the most well-

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

Texcare

Judy McCollough, director of environmental services for Ramsey Village, unloads a new soft-mount washer that has boosted productivity in her laundry room. (Photo: Ramsey Village)

Columnist at Large Eric Frederick focuses on the big three: labor, linen and energy

‘We’re tired,’ says second-generation principal of Long Island laundry company

Former laundry president pleads guilty to embezzlement of company he headed

Three others allegedly involved in fraudulent and inflated invoices submitted to Calif. company that netted more than $8 million

LOS ANGELES — An East Los Angeles man who oversaw a scheme that embezzled more than $8 million from an industrial launderer that provided finishing services for Citizens of Humanity, a manufacturer of high-end designer jeans, pleaded guilty on March 21 to federal charges, reports the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.

Luis Mariano Rodriguez, 48, who was the president of the Gardenabased CM Laundry LLC, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

Rodriguez admitted in court that he and three other businessmen participated in a scheme that submitted fraudulent invoices to CM Laundry, which paid the bogus bills, with the proceeds being shared by the men.

According to court documents, the invoices sent to CM Laundry were fraudulent in at least two ways.

First, the invoices included fictitious and inflated charges. Second, the invoices were issued by companies operated by Rodriguez’s associates, which served to conceal Rodriguez’s role in the scheme.

Rodriguez admitted that he sent e-mails to two of his associates that gave them detailed instruction on what information to include on each of the fraudulent invoices that were submitted to CM Laundry.

At Rodriguez’s behest, the third associate established a fictitious business name (dba) for K&R Industrial

Supplies, and Rodriguez used this dba to submit other fictitious and inflated invoices to CM Laundry.

“This defendant victimized the very business that had entrusted him to lead it,” says U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “His fraud scheme, motivated by insatiable greed, threatened the viability of the victim company and the livelihood of its employees. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to protecting American businesses from internal and external threats.”

Rodriguez admitted that an industrial supply company in Riverside, Calif., FI Products, billed CM Laundry for more than $3.6 million and transferred approximately $2.3 million of the proceeds to Rodriguez and a company he owned, Genesis Electronics Inc.

The Rancho Palos Verdes-based H&T Industrial Products, which was owned by another co-schemer, billed CM Laundry for more than $5.5 million and transferred approximately $3.6 million to Rodriguez and Genesis, according to court documents.

Fraudulent bills from K&R Industrial Supplies totaled approximately $639,939, of which approximately $493,617 was transferred to Rodriguez. As he admitted in court, Rodriguez generally kept approximately 75% of the proceeds generated by the false-invoice scheme.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on June 20. As a result of the guilty plea, Rodriguez faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

In related proceedings, Terry Jay Mink, 62, of Rancho Palos Verdes, the owner of H&T Industrial Products, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud on Feb. 22. Mink faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison when sentenced by O’Connell on May 16.

Rene Exequiel Bautista, 43, of Sylmar, the owner of the company used in the scheme under the dba “K&R Industrial Supplies,” has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Bautista was arraigned in the case and is expected to enter his guilty plea.

“Bautista admitted Rodriguez produced and submitted all of the K&R Industrial Supplies invoices that were submitted to CM Laundry and paid by Citizens,” according to the complaint affidavit. “Bautista stated [in a deposition related to a civil lawsuit] that he did not create any of the K&R Industrial Supplies invoices, did not know what any of

the invoiced items were and did not supply anything to CM Laundry.”

The fourth man allegedly involved in the scheme—Antonio Anguiano, 48, of Riverside, who was the owner of FI Products, which sold personal protective equipment—was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4. The indictment charges Anguiano with five counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Anguiano has pleaded not guilty, and his trial was, at press time, set for April 26. If convicted, Anguiano faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the mail fraud counts and a consecutive mandatory two years on each of the aggravated identity theft charges.

As a result of civil litigation brought by CM Laundry and Citizens of Humanity, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge in November ordered Rodriguez and several other defendants to pay a total of $9,563,786, according to court documents.

The investigation into the embezzlement scheme was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department, Major Crimes Division, Criminal Investigations Section. ALN

Biloxi VA Medical Center facility story updated

In the March issue of American Laundry News, the article Biloxi VA Medical Center opens new textile processing facility should have noted the contributions of Western State Design (WSD) and the use of Parker Boiler components in the Biloxi, Miss., facility.

WSD designed the interior of the laundry. Per specifications for the bid, the government wanted a steamless boiler option, and WSD incorporated that. Two Parker Boiler T-6800 Direct Fired Hot Water Boilers were used in the system.

WSD partnered with R.W. Mar-

tin & Sons on the laundry build.

The overall project, which includes the laundry and dietetic services, was constructed by Roy Anderson Corp., Gulfport, Miss.

Roy Anderson reports that its project work earned a National Excellence in Construction Pyramid Award from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in the Federal Government $10-$100 Million Category.

Roy Anderson representatives received the award March 2 during ABC’s 26th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards celebration in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 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

Editor

Matt Poe

Phone: 231-740-2842

E-Mail: mpoe@ ATMags.com

Digital Media Director

Nathan Frerichs

Phone: 312-361-1681

E-Mail: nfrerichs@ ATMags.com

Advisory Board

Jim Buik • Richard Griffin

Greg Gurtler • Phil Hart

Janice Larson • Tom Marks

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 $46.00; 2 years $92.00. Foreign, 1 year $109.00; 2 years $218.00.

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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 42, number 5. 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.

© Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2016. 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.

MEMBERSHIPS

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

“

They have done everything they promised and more.”

– John Ambrose Magliocco, Arrow Linen, Garden City, NY

From

Arrow Linen first purchased their three Milnor CBW® tunnels two decades ago to replace conventional washer-extractors in their original laundry located in Brooklyn, NY. Since then, Arrow’s business grew to warrant a second laundry. In 2013, Arrow expanded operations–and raised their roof 11 feet! Arrow could have chosen any manufacturer to equip their new washroom, but they knew that would get longevity, durability, and accountability with Milnor.

Arrow’s customers’ restaurant linen requires frequent color and soil change formulas, but the quality is not compromised. Corporate Engineer Frank Park boasted the tunnels “have increased our workload over 40% without increasing energy, water, or labor costs we experienced when we converted the conventional washers to CBW® tunnels over 20 years ago. The major improvements from the CBW® to PBW™ are far superior washing capability with only 50% water consumption.”

To find out how PulseFlow® can cut your water bill in half, contact an authorized Milnor distributor or call 504-712-7656.

left to right: Frank Park, John Ambrose Magliocco, Ron Hirsch, and John Anthony Magliocco

Equipment and infection

Equipment and infection.

That’s not a combination that occurs very often, but it does in this month’s issue of American Laundry News

We are featuring several articles that look at laundry equipment, in some facet.

Editor Matt Poe contacted managers and administrators at several laundries for his main cover story. In it, he asks the question, “Do dollars spent on new equipment really pay off?”

Poe found out what savings— cost and energy—those laundries experienced after buying new equipment.

In this month’s OPL 101, Bill Brooks also looks at new technology. He examines the topic from the angle of how advanced technology can help manage and improve laundry operations.

The Director’s Chair BRUCE BEGGS

Our Tools of the Trade department introduces a variety of new product ideas, while the Product Showcase examines tunnel washers.

Besides equipment, we have a couple of articles that look at the growing concern of infection control and how it relates to

laundry operations.

Our Panel of Experts tackles the issue, offering ideas on steps for laundry operations to take to ensure textiles are as clean as possible. The suggestions range from looking at the points of contact with linens to considering pursuing accreditation.

Poe also sat in on a Textile Rental Services Association webinar that explained why healthcare facilities are moving away from conventional string mops to microfiber flat-mop systems.

Finally, if you’re heading to Texcare International in Frankfurt next month, be sure to read the preview to see what’s in store and what companies will be exhibiting. For the first time, the show has expanded into a second hall, promising “big” things for attendees. ALN

New Hampshire laundry fined, given probation for hacking competitor’s computer

CONCORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire laundry that pleaded guilty to hacking a competitor’s computer has been sentenced to pay $18,900 in fines, penalties and restitution, plus two years probation, according to federal court records.

In December, General Linen Services LLC of Somersworth, N.H., formerly known as General Linen Service Co. Inc. (General Linen Somersworth), pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally accessing files of similarly named General Linen Services Co. Inc. of Newburyport, Mass. (General Linen Newburyport).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that the facts to which the company agreed in its plea include that in September

2009, its former information technology director accessed, without authority, the computer server of General Linen Newburyport. The IT director then shared the login information with others at General Linen Somersworth, who then repeatedly accessed the competitor’s computer system, downloading approximately 1,100 of the competitor’s invoices for use in sales efforts directed at the competitor’s customers.

The FBI’s examination of the victim’s computer system proved that between September 2009 and April 8, 2010, there were 157 instances of unauthorized access to the victim company’s computer system, and that the majority of those intrusions originated at the office of the defendant, General

“Our company has been victimized by the deliberate and calculated actions of Shane and David Drolet, the owners and management of GL Somersworth, N.H.,” says Diane Whitney, owner of General Linen Newburyport. “We are the victims, yet we have paid thousands and thousands of dollars to law firms, accountants, and forensic experts. I shall be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, wondering who has our information and what awaits us. My family asks for two things: protection and justice.”

In response to American Laundry News’ request for comment on the matter, an attor-

See HACKING on Page 21

Keeping your eye on the goal

It is very easy to lose focus as we deal with the daily problems of running a laundry. These distractions can come in numerous shapes and sizes.

The important thing is to always focus on the big three: labor, linen and energy. These costs can make or break an operation. Every dollar you save in these areas goes directly to the bottom line.

Most managers do not realize that these three are interconnected and changes in one area may have an effect in another area. My simple motto in dealing with labor, linen and energy can be stated, “Do it right the first time.”

If you want to keep your labor cost lower than your competitors, then make sure your processes and procedures are designed so that linen is handled as few times as possible as it moves from soiled to clean. A good production system will maximize the production per hour of each machine.

I have seen laundries that operate a small-piece ironer with a four-lane stacker on the back with only two feeders. When asked why, I was told, “I was short-staffed” or “I needed some contours for an order, so I took two employees and put them on a mini folder so I could get both items produced at the same time.” The laundry was designed to have two minis discharging to one area. Using two instead of three is running at 50% production on the equipment.

It would have been much more effective to run the smallpiece ironer fully staffed for 45 minutes to an hour and then run the minis fully staffed.

This can work well with effective product management. When you make the job more interesting and easier, the side benefit is that your employees stay longer and are more productive. Lower turnover results in better productivity.

Your second largest expense is normally linen purchases. Your laundry work procedures should be designed to extend the life of the linen and get it clean the first time it is washed. Rewash will eat away at your bottom line by increasing labor, linen and energy costs.

Once again, the best way to wash linen is to do it right the first time. Many managers will brag about how much money they save on washroom chemicals while failing to realize the negative effects on labor, linen replacement costs and energy.

A side benefit of extending the life of your linen is happier customers and a reputation for always producing quality linen.

To get the most out of your energy costs, make sure your equipment is well-maintained. We do not want to waste energy by having improperly operating steam traps, gas dryers with worn seals, washing machines with leaking drain valves.

We purchase energy to accomplish a specific task. It should never be wasted.

I realize that after being in the laundry business for almost 45 years now, I might be a bit of a dinosaur. Cold-water wash or low-temperature wash has been championed as a way to reduce energy costs. My question has always been how this temperature change affects the big three.

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When I took washroom chemistry at the American Laundry and Linen College, I remember that the higher the temperature, the greater the chemical activity. The greater the chemical activity, the less chemicals you need and the better the cleaning process. The fewer chemicals used and the better the cleaning process, the longer the linen life.

Good wash formulas should lower the amount of rewash. Often, spending more money in the original cleaning process saves money in labor, linen and energy.

We must keep our eye on the big three and understand how they are interrelated in order to properly manage our laundry.

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.

From

COLUMNIST AT LARGE Eric L. Frederick, RLLD

Linen Somersworth.

Lowering patient health risk is the highest goal. Imaging procedures can present varying amounts of risk and anxiety to patients, by the awkward and untimely process of changing gowns for each test.

With the ONEGOWN by ADI, there is no longer the need to change gowns. Fitted with plastic snaps; guaranteed to withstand 700PSI extraction during institutional washing, the ONEGOWN will not interfere with imaging studies. Let us help you keep patients comfortable and safe!

Oceanside

designed laundry operations in the industry,” says Ron Hirsch, president of Direct Machinery, a distributor of laundry machinery based in Hicksville, N.Y., which will be selling off the equipment. “It is a clean, well-run operation. The plant was always extremely well-maintained. That’s one of the major reasons why they were able to obtain the higher productivity from their laundry equipment.”

At its peak, the laundry produced some 15,000 pounds of clean goods per hour in its plant, a two-story building dating back to the early 1980s. Its fleet consists of eight tractor-trailers and six 24-foot-long trucks.

Soiled linen arrives on the plant’s loading docks and is loaded onto elevators and carted to the secondfloor sorting station. The goods are weighed to the 110-pound capacity of the modules of the tunnel systems on the first floor. Soil sorters toss the batches of linen into enclosures, which lead to the chutes of four 20-module Senking tunnel washers.

Senking extraction presses form the washed goods into 110-pound wash cakes, which are then loaded onto one of two two-tier Norman shuttles. The shuttles auto-

matically load the clean wash cakes into any of seven 450-pound-capacity Norman dryers or two 500-pound-capacity Milnor dryers. Each dryer accepts four wash cakes.

“The linen is not touched from the time it is loaded into the tunnels until the time it is fed into the finishing equipment,” says Hirsch, who accompanied American Laundry News on a tour of the plant.

Items such as resident clothing are processed separately through three 400-poundcapacity L-Tron washer-extractors and one 200-pound-capacity washer-extractor.

Clean sheets are fed directly into one of eight American Laundry Machinery ironers. In addition to the ironers, the plant’s finishing machinery includes nine smallpiece folders, manufactured by G.A. Braun; five Edge spreader-feeders and three Edge

Maxx spreader-feeders, made by Chicago Dryer Co. (Chicago®), which feed the ironers; and one Chicago® Blanket Blaster, which spreads and feeds blankets.

The plant’s owners take pride in the productivity of the company’s employees. Employees on the finishing end feed up to 1,100 clean sheets per hour into the ironing systems.

As of press time, it is not known how many of Oceanside’s 150 employees may be absorbed by other area laundries. There is only one other laundry of comparable size and scope on Long Island—FDR Services Corp. of Hempstead, N.Y., a major healthcare laundry. ALN

Healthcare facilities moving to microfiber flat-mop systems

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Hospitalacquired infections (HAI) get a lot of press. That makes sense because when a patient enters a healthcare facility, they’re looking to get better, not become infected.

Because of HAIs, healthcare facilities are looking at effective surface disinfection, and this includes the floors and the mops used.

The changing policies on surface disinfection and types of mops used were discussed by David Shimp, vice president of sales and marketing, North America, for Pinnacle Textile Industries, and Marti Lawson, director of business development for Crothall Laundry Services in the mid-Atlantic region during the Textile Rental Services Association’s (TRSA) recent webinar, Healthcare Market Solutions— Greening of Hospitals: Cleaning of Surfaces in Patient Care Areas for Hospitals and Nursing Homes

“The number of HAIs is very high, and right now it’s a big topic as it relates to hospital reimbursements and big dollars,” Lawson says. “HAIs are unnecessary and can be eliminated and controlled. They continue to grow even with education.”

She goes on to say that there’s

been a movement from cleaning patient areas with a detergent plus a disinfectant to using a detergentfree cleaner plus bleach, which is far more effective.

In terms of effectiveness, Shimp says that hospitals are changing to microfiber cloths and mops that dislodge and remove particles from surface crevices where regular cotton products can’t reach.

“When you use microfiber products, it actually will reduce water and also the use of disposable products and use fewer harsh chemicals to get surfaces clean,” he says. “A microfiber cleaning system used in conjunction with green cleaners and specialized mopping techniques can have a positive health and environmental impact.”

According to Shimp, there are many reasons why hospitals are switching to microfiber, flat-mop systems. These include cost savings, environmental benefits, health and safety, labor and cross-contamination concerns.

Microfiber products are manufactured with polyester nylon fibers that have split edges capable of trapping and holding microbes, dust and debris a lot more effectively than conventional mop products, Shimp says.

“It increases the effective surface

area of your mop. It’s more effective in cleaning up small particles,” he says. “The fibers thoroughly clean surfaces. It’s like it grabs it, holds it and brings it in.”

Ergonomically, both mopping systems use similar motor skills, says Shimp. There are unfavorable positions for both methods, but the

flat mopping system has reduced frequency and severity of risk factors. Also, there isn’t the weight of the water and the chemicals.

Shimp does point out that microfiber systems can’t be used in areas that have been contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.

“String mops absorb the fluids; flat mops push it and have to be thrown away,” he says. “It’s more of a disposal factor. If a flat mop was used, it would have to be disposed of immediately. Also, some products are ineffective in hightraffic areas and greasy and sticky floors. So, when using microfiber flat-mopping systems, they don’t necessarily work in every situation like a wet mop would.”

When it comes to laundering microfiber mops, the California Department of Health Care Services in its Licensing and Certification March 2014 memo says, according to Shimp, that it highly recommends using an industrial launderer to wash microfiber mops. The temperature has to be between 130 and 140 F. Also, the mops have to be separate from any other textiles, with no bleach or fabric softeners used.

“I have read other studies that bleaches are perfectly fine to use on microfiber mops,” Shimp says.

When it comes to purchasing a flat-mop system, Shimp cautions that “not all mopping systems are created equal; there is no governing body or industry definition of ‘microfiber.’”

Shimp recommends doing careful research to find a vendor with a good-quality flat mop. He adds that the density of fibers per square inch can affect pricing and cleaning ability.

In terms of performance of microfiber compare to conventional mop systems, Shimp says the flat mops last five to 10 times longer and increase production by 10%.

The microfiber system also uses 95% less chemicals and water compared to conventional mops, says Shimp.

“Overall, microfiber costs 5-10% less, not including workers’ comp savings,” he adds.

The take-home message points for microfiber mops, Shimp says, are that it is a practical, commonsense approach for patient care areas, but it will not meet all mopping needs.

There are immediate water and chemical savings, but most cost savings are a result of reduced labor. And there are improved ergonomics and cross-contamination infection control.

Richard Merli resides in New York and is a former editor of American Laundry News

Perhaps some of Oceanside’s 150 employees will be absorbed by other area laundries after it closes. (Photos: Richard Merli)

Wash cakes are loaded onto a two-tier Norman shuttle at Oceanside. The facility’s equipment will be auctioned off.

A truck delivers linen to Oceanside Institutional Industries’ loading docks. The company will shut its doors June 15.

Flat, microfiber mops offer healthcare facilities cost savings and health and safety benefits. (Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

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Tools f the Trade

Utility truck line features spring-loaded platform for use

Plastic utility trucks in the 39 Series line from laundry product manufacturer MODRoto are offered with an optional, ergonomic, spring-loaded platform that automatically rises as goods are removed to help ensure work is properly positioned at a comfortable height for easy access and reduced bending and reaching, the company says.

Designed to support worker safety and minimize the potential for workers’ compensation claims, MODRoto says its spring-loaded platform sets a rotationally molded, waterproof, plastic platform atop a smooth, steel spring mechanism that can accommodate heavy loads of bagged laundry, loose linens and other goods. The entire spring platform unit is hidden

inside the cart bottom, away from contact with workers and linens, and may be easily removed.

The 39 Series line of utility trucks features rotationally molded, waterproof, plastic bins with safety, roll-top rims set atop durable bases on industrial-strength, non-marking casters, according to MODRoto.

In addition, the company says the 39 Series line is available in eight different models, offering a choice of sizes ranging from 7 to 24 bushels and a variety of standard colors. The 39 Series utility carts nest and stack one inside another when empty for efficient storage and transport.

www.modroto.com 800-829-4535

Scrubs catalog features new styles and colors, fabric options

Fashion Seal Healthcare®, a signature brand of Superior Uniform Group Inc., has released its new scrubs apparel catalog, the company reports.

Geared toward healthcare organizations, distributors and laundries, the catalog features lifestyle photography that provides a fresh, new look, the company says.

The catalog highlights traditional scrub shirts, pants and warmups, as well as several new styles and colors. A multitude of fabric options assure a perfect fit for acute and nonacute applications, as well as industrial and home laundering, says Fashion Seal Healthcare.

“Healthcare professionals truly represent the ‘heart of healthcare,’ from an operational and emotional perspective,” says David Schechter, vice president of marketing. “A well-designed uniform program helps them improve the overall healthcare experience for patients and their families.”

The company says the new catalog is easy to navigate, with expanded style and fit guides, as well as jewel-themed colorcoding to distinguish different product offerings.

www.fashionsealhealthcare.com 888-491-5818

Partnership offers innovations in reusable OR textiles

Encompass Group LLC is now offering innovations in reusable operating room (OR) gowns and drapes in the United States through a partnership with Canadian-based Lac-Mac, the company reports.

Encompass says Paragon Style Level 4 and Level 3 Surgical Gowns are uniquely designed and incorporate R-MOR-Tex® Liquid-Proof or LiquidResistant Barrier Fabric in critical zones and features a neckline that wicks away moisture and eliminates

chafing. Lac-Mac has an industrial design patent in both Canada and the United States for this gown.

Reusable drapes, which can be made to mimic single-use drape features, offer an opportunity for facilities currently using disposable drapes to easily transition into a more complex reusable product, according to Encompass.

www.encompassgroup.net 800-284-4540

Enzyme-fortified detergent offers benefits

Sunburst Chemicals has introduced Trifecta, a solid detergent for institutional laundering, the company reports.

Sunburst says Trifecta is specially formulated for effectively washing athletic (and other) uniforms without damaging fabric or transferring color, and is versatile for use on other linens.

Trifecta’s special enzyme-fortified

Digital

Xeros has launched Xeros Sbeadycare XTEND, a new commercial laundry linen management solution for hotels, the company reports.

According to Xeros, Sbeadycare XTEND is a first-of-its-kind product for the laundry industry, combining physical and digital technologies into a comprehensive “phygital” solution that utilizes smart, connected washing machines; responsive cleaning programs; and new polymers designed to offer the gentlest and most effective cleaning system available.

Xeros says Sbeadycare XTEND works in three ways:

Gentler Cleaning — Linens washed with XTEND are not subjected to excessive mechanical action, harsh chemicals and hot water found in traditional washing methods, Xeros says. XTEND leverages polymer bead cleaning that uses predominantly ambient water and proprietary soil-removal methods, leaving linens cleaner with less negative impact to the integrity of the linens.

Stained Linen Recovery —

formula is powerful enough to clean ground-in clay, grass, and blood stains and tough odors from uniforms—even at the low (90-110 F) temperatures recommended by uniform manufacturers, according to the company. Trifecta works effectively in soft- or hard-water conditions.

www.sunburstchemicals.com 800-899-7627

at a significantly higher success rate while still being gentle on the linens.

Cloud-Based Monitoring and Measuring — The Xeros Sbeadycare XTEND solution monitors and controls the entire laundry process to ensure each step is optimized to deliver superior yet gentle cleaning performance.

The company says customers can choose to seamlessly upgrade their current Xeros System with Sbeadycare XTEND.

www.xeroscleaning.com 844-207-1099

and polymer technologies combined to maximize life of hotel linens

In recent tests, the Xeros reclaim program achieved more than 50% linen recovery rate when compared with traditional processes, the company says. XTEND removes tough stains more effectively and

Results on whites are excellent. On colors, you have nothing more to lose and everything to gain by trying YellowGo. YellowGo may take out color you want to keep. But if it removes the unwanted dye without damaging the underlying color, you win! You won’t have to pay for the dye-stained garments and you won’t disappoint your customers.

So use YellowGo to keep your customers happy and keep them coming back.

A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE, A FUTURE OF POSSIBILITIES

A & B Wiper Supply is now Monarch Brands. We have changed our name to better reflect the full breadth of high quality and valuepriced textiles from manufacturers around the world. From global textile sourcing to private label programs, we have you covered, whatever your needs may be. Leverage our experience and purchasing power to find the perfect blend of quality and price point for your company.

Tech $$$

Dryers, and two 50/60-pound-capacity ProSeries II Dryers.

The soft-mount washer Ramsey Village installed to replace the hard-mount washer reaches extract speeds of up to 387 G-force, according to Ross, compared with a hardmount washer’s max of around 75-150 G-force.

This made it possible for the laundry to continue operating with its existing 13- and 18-year-old dryers.

Because the soft-mount washers remove more water from every load, the dryers operate less often and consume less natural gas, according to Ross. Goods also experience less wear and last longer. In turn, Ramsey Village enjoys reduced linen-replacement and utility costs, along with bolstered laundry productivity.

The newest additions to Ramsey Village boosted productivity by six loads per day— around 330 laundry pounds—when compared to the laundry’s hard-mount washer, according to McCollough.

“I wish I could get another one,” she says.

Not only is Ramsey Village enjoying savings on costs, McCullough says saving cash on equipment installation was an added bonus. The soft-mount machine, unlike hard-mount washers, slid easily into place without reinforced concrete foundations and bolt-down.

Catering to the needs of Ramsey Village is important, according to Ross.

“We recommend advances in technology of newer machines to help the customer in total laundry operation costs,” he says. “We are interested in 100% of their laundry operating costs, not just in the 9% equipment replacement, or the 8 to 10% chemical operation. Everything goes hand-in-hand for us, so to speak, as we address a particular piece of equipment and how it will affect operational costs.”

In this vein, Ross says he has improved Ramsey Village’s laundry operation through the years while simultaneously keeping the older machines in prime working order.

NEW EQUIPMENT ENHANCES

PRODUCTION

Another laundry service that has had success with integrating new equipment with the old, and seeing savings, is Jackson Services Inc., a family business headquartered in Columbus, Neb.

The company was born in the home of Minnie Jackson in 1924 as a family laundry service, says Jesse Jackson, president. The business, originally named Jackson’s Pantorium, grew and evolved to include a multitude of retail and B2B services, including dry cleaning.

In the 1970s, the business dropped all retail and drycleaning services and began focusing solely on the uniform, dust control, and other B2B textile rental services.

Jackson says the laundry has relied on Horwath Laundry Equipment, the local authorized Pellerin Milnor Corp. distributor, to fill its commercial laundry equipment needs. Milnor’s business relationship with Jackson Services has spanned the last 50 years. Prior to that, the laundry had purchased wooden washers manufactured by Andrew Horwath, Horwath Laundry Equipment’s founder.

Today, the laundry employs 76 full-time employees and processes approximately 6 million pounds of uniforms, mats, mops and towels annually, according to Jesse Jackson.

Last December, Jackson Services installed four new 6464 pass-through dryers (in a pod layout), one 48040 M7K 275-pound-capacity tilting washer-extractor and a 68036 M5K 400-500-pound-capacity tilting washerextractor to enhance its washroom production.

Another major component to the recent washroom upgrades was the E-Tech rail system to expedite linen transport in the laundry. The new rail system enabled the dryer pod layout, which eliminates the need to wait for an available dryer.

One major piece of equipment the Jacksons chose not to upgrade was their 1996 G2 Milnor CBW® tunnel.

“Milnor equipment produces excellent product quality and lasts for a very long time. So long, in fact, that it creates challenges for their own people to integrate their old equipment with their new equipment,” Jesse Jackson says. “The 20-year-old Milnor equipment in our plant is still just working so well, that we couldn’t bring ourselves to replace it yet.”

Since the upgrade, dryer production is increasing steadily. The quicker dry times have made it necessary to turn off the dryers a couple times per day so the washers and post-dry portion of the laundry can catch up, according to Jackson.

“We choose to buy Milnor equipment, despite there being cheaper options out there, because we feel it is the best,” he says. “We believe in buying quality, and that is the same value proposition we present to our own customers. The Jackson Family is proud to have worked with all four generations of both the Pellerin and Horwath families for so long. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future.”

NEW TUNNEL WASHER SYSTEM, IMMEDIATE GAINS

Eastern Health, one of three regional Newfoundland health authorities, encompasses numerous locations throughout the area, many of which are small clinics and doctors’ offices.

The St. John’s laundry services 13 hospitals and long-term care facilities, the furthest being 110 miles away. About 85 employees process goods from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.,

Jackson Services’ new rail system expedites linen delivery. (Photo: Jackson Services Inc.)

Sunday through Friday, with a swing shift taking over from the morning crew at 4 p.m.

The 25,000-square-foot plant processes nearly 7 million pounds of linen annually. That rate has increased more than 1 million pounds a year since Greg Osborne took over as general manager of laundry and linen services for the facility.

About five months ago, on Nov. 11, a new Lavatec Laundry Technology tunnel washer system, complete with extraction press and five drying units, arrived at the central laundry for Eastern Health, according to Osborne. The new 15-chamber tunnel replaced a likesized Lavatec unit that had logged more than 22 years of service for the regional health authority.

“The old Lavatec was still operating fine,” Osborne says. “But after two decades, it was reaching the point of needing a major overhaul. Replacement plans were under way when I became GM about two years ago.”

He says the 10-chamber Lavatec tunnel performed admirably throughout the transition, and the new 15-chamber tunnel picked up the pace without missing a beat.

“There are huge reliability advantages with a new system like this,” Osborne says.

Laser-guided drum manufacturing, for example, provides tighter tolerances, uniform welds and stronger, tighter, longerlasting seals. Osborne says this will help to ensure years of trouble-free performance. Double-drum construction ensures longterm strength and reliability. Maintenancefree friction drives are a definite plus, compared to chain drives in most competitive makes, he says.

In addition, Lavatec’s four-motor drive system keeps laundry moving when one or both motors suddenly require service.

More immediately noticeable for Osborne were the advanced tunnel software and controls.

“We have lots of new software to work with,” he says. These include simple, intuitive compartment-to-compartment monitoring.

Reduced water usage is a plus with the new unit, but not a major issue here, according to Osborne. “We don’t use meters like most operations in other areas. Water here is plentiful and, by comparison, relatively inexpensive.”

Savings and productivity advances elsewhere, however, are quickly proving to be significant. Like Eastern Health’s original tunnel washer, six previous dryers (three Lavatec and three Passat) had logged many years—some dating back to 1985.

“We were drying single loads,” says Osborne. “And a load would take about 25 minutes.”

The new system includes just five steamheated dryers, which more than match the

throughput of their predecessors.

“The new dryers handle double loads in as little as 17 minutes,” he says. This equates to nearly three times the total daily output per dryer, a ratio of more than 2.9 to 1 versus the older machines.

Granted, the new 40-bar LP 572 extraction press squeezes out more water than Eastern Health’s previous unit, before linen cakes go into the dryers. The biggest productivity difference, however, stems from the dryers themselves, Osborne says. Equipped with multiple-phase temperature controls and infrared sensors, they can precisely read each load’s progress and deliver the goods as desired.

“Infrared technology is already making a difference,” Osborne says. “There’s a whole lot more efficiency now.”

He also points out that no workers were displaced by going from six to five dryers. It has enabled the plant to effectively use more staff where needed.

HIGH-OCCUPANCY HOTEL UPGRADES, SAVES ON UTILITIES

Best Western Plus JFK Inn & Suites in Houston is a 100-room hotel that was purchased with its original laundry equipment. For Sanjay Patel, general manager, looking at the utility bills showed that the old equipment used energy at too high a rate.

“We were looking to replace the old equipment, specifically so we could save on utilities—energy” says Patel.

He says that laundry usage is important for the hotel because it does all of its laundry in-house.

“On average, we reach 50-70% full occupancy, so laundry is a huge part of our business,” Patel says.

How much laundry does the hotel produce? According to Patel, each room has at least triple sheeting, pillowcases, two bath towels, two hand towels, one bath mat, shower curtain and more, which are all washed on a daily basis.

So, when it came to selecting new equipment, Patel looked hard at energy usage. He is a customer of Best Wash Inc., a dealer in Texas, and trusted the distributor’s input.

“James West from Maytag dealer Best Wash Inc., and his crew, are the best in the business,” he says. “We use them for all of our projects.”

For both washers and dryers, Best Western JFK chose Maytag equipment. There were several factors that led to this choice, such as the machines’ features, energy savings, little to no maintenance required, and experience with the brand, according to Patel.

And he says that he’s seen improvement in the laundry all around with the new equipment.

“With our new Maytag Commercial Laundry equipment, we’ve experienced time and energy savings, and our laundry comes out cleaner than before,” he says.

According to Patel, the hotel’s water and electric bills have decreased tremendously since the new equipment was installed. He estimates that the energy savings have averaged around 40-60%. In addition, the laundry loads from the washer are rinsed better, Patel says, which leads to faster dry times and the opportunity to complete more cycles.

“Most importantly, the machines work well so we don’t have to wait on parts or repairs, which we often experienced with our previous machines.”

For these four laundry operations, investment in new equipment and technology has paid off. Working with distributors and manufacturers, the laundries have seen increased savings and productivity—which will pay off in the long run.

Eastern Health recently installed a 15-chamber tunnel washer system and has seen immediate results. (Photo: Eastern Health)

Innovative tools help laundry room managers maximize throughput

advanced monitoring capabilities would have many positive impacts on our operation, and in less than one year, we have already seen a reduction in utilities and nearly doubled our throughput.”

BY BI LL BROOKS

With advanced controls, networking capabilities and green technologies, laundry equipment has undergone major improvements in recent years. While all of these cutting-edge advancements work in different ways, they have one thing in common: they aim to reduce the overall operating costs and maximize throughput for on-premises laundry (OPL) facilities.

These innovations allow you to stay constantly connected to your laundry operation through real-time and remote monitoring capabilities. They also help you set benchmarks and make immediate adjustments to simplify your laundry room management and minimize costs at every stage. Whether your current machines are equipped with the latest technology or you are considering replacing older equipment, read on to learn how embracing these advancements can have a significant impact on your laundry room.

REAL-TIME MONITORING

Research in early 2015 found that more than 90% of decision-makers in OPL facilities do not fully understand the cost of their laundry operation, but now this has never been easier. Advanced controls with real-time monitoring capabilities give OPL managers and executives complete visibility to all the major components of their laundry room. This technology can gather information on labor, utilities, equipment usage, types of cycles being programmed and efficiency, and compile the data for OPL managers in one comprehensive report.

“Before we replaced our laundry room equipment last year, I was determined to find the best machines to meet our needs,” says Sean Taylor, director of engineering, Loews Ventana Canyon, in Tucson, Ariz. “I knew that installing equipment with

Hotel executives who manage multiple facilities can use the monitoring reports to look at an individual machine or all machines across multiple locations. This technology can track everything from cycle times, number of fills, water temperature and idle time. Monitoring alerts can also be customized to be sent daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly so operators can see the immediate usage data, as well as the “big picture” over time. These reports can be accessed online and delivered directly to an e-mail inbox so a laundry manager doesn’t even need to be present to see how the equipment is operating.

“In addition to the reports, we also installed real-time monitors in the laundry room,” says Taylor. “Now, anyone in the laundry room can see the current status of each of our machines at all times and know how much time is left in a cycle, which has really helped our laundry room staff.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING BENCHMARKS

One of the best ways to ensure your laundry room is running as effectively as possible is by setting benchmarks. By taking time and investing in the appropriate resources to establish benchmark standards, an OPL manager can save time and money. With the ability to monitor all aspects of your laundry operation in real time, laundry room operators now have visibility that can help them make informed decisions on how to best manage labor resources based on the expected volume of laundry during a specific time period.

“Our hotel is very busy in the winter and slower in the summer due to the high Arizona temperatures,” says Taylor. “Establishing the right equipment mix to handle loads during busy and slower periods, along with the monitoring technology, made it possible for us to set more realistic benchmarks. We are now review-

ing machine usage data that we used to look at monthly on a daily basis, and it has improved our wash time dramatically.”

It’s estimated that labor costs represent up to 50% of a laundry’s operating budget and therefore establishing measures to optimize the labor process is critical. Reducing water consumption and energy usage also remain key concerns in the industry and are important factors to monitor by setting benchmarks.

If you are just starting to set benchmarks, your equipment distributor can help you determine what cycles are best for your industry and linen needs. Your distributor will also help you take a holistic look at your operation, including number of loads processed per shift, machine usage and types of cycles being used in order to set benchmarks that help increase efficiency.

WHEN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS

Visibility to your machine utilization will provide you with a strong understanding of how and when your machines

are running during a specific shift or day. This knowledge can help you identify bottlenecks in your laundry process. For example, if linens are sitting for an extended period of time between a wash and dry, you can determine the best way to fine-tune your labor and equipment to ensure they are all being used effectively. Additionally, advanced technology allows you to monitor and make adjustments anytime, from anywhere in the world, with cloud-based system access.

“The new monitoring capabilities have been really helpful for our day-to-day operation. When we look at the daily usage data and see we did not hit our goals, we can pinpoint the exact shift and identify inefficiencies and make modifications,” says Taylor. “It also helps us identify ways to improve our staff training, team member performance and overall processes.”

The technology can also help diagnose any equipment issues so that they can be handled immediately to reduce machine

Managing and improving laundry operations through advanced technologies

Monitoring technology used at Loews Ventana Canyon made it possible for the hotel’s laundry room to set more realistic benchmarks. (Photo: Loews Ventana Canyon)

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Big is the word for Texcare International 2016

This year’s Texcare International event is packed full of exciting new areas of interest such as tech innovations and sustainability, show managers say. Because of so many more exhibitors and attendees, the show will expand to take over another entire exhibit hall to accommodate everyone journeying to Frankfurt for the June 11-15 spectacle.

BY TIM BURKE

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany —

Big and growing bigger describes Texcare 2016. Not only in the number of people sojourning to this event, but also in the actual physical size of the exhibit space. You might say it’s bursting its seams.

More visitors than the 2012 show (16,000) are expected to step through the entrance to view hundreds of exhibitors. Growth does come with interesting learning experiences.

Topics brought together during this fiveday festival of all things textiles cover everything from fiber to machine.

For the first time, the international industry will be showcasing its innovations and new developments across the whole range of modern textile care, reports Messe Frankfurt, the managing host of the big show.

Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, says, “We are very glad to see the strong demand for Texcare 2016. In this way, the trade fair will be offering its visitors an even wider and more international range. Through this growth, Texcare is underlining its importance as a leading international trade fair for the industry.”

Going digital is also a hot topic this year, as well as buzz about the expected upturn in business prospects, particularly in Europe.

The megatrend at Texcare International is the digitalization of processes, Messe Frankfurt indicates in a recent show update. This development is also reflected in a growing range of information-technology products at the trade fair.

Thanks to modern identification technologies such as RFID, clothes and textiles today can be allocated to the customer problem-free in the laundry, notes Messe Frankfurt. In this way, goods flow automatically, and even the intelligent wardrobe on the customer’s premises can trigger an order.

That all processes, machinery and data are linked and optimally visualized is a prerequisite for the smart fabric of the future, the show organizer further notes.

Digital control is also one of the main topics at Texcare, which include sustainability, innovative textiles and their treatment, and changes to job profile.

The textile care industry is constantly reinventing itself, with ongoing development in mechanical engineering, washing and enviro-tech, reports Messe Frankfurt. A textile’s sustainability is determined above all by its usage. The industry is committed to improving the general ecological and ethical conditions under which they operate.

Efficiency of resources and sustainability will be central topics at Texcare. The latest developments in mechanical engineering and detergent chemistry will further encourage the proper use of resources.

“A successful concept of sustainability includes the optimum interplay of sustain-

EXHIBITOR LISTINGS

•

ability principles and collaboration by players who are pursuing the same goal,” explains Robert Long, secretary general of the Textile Services Association (ETSA), based in Brussels.

“Products and processes should have a minimum impact on the environment and still be efficient,” notes Long. “At the same time, they must enjoy a high level of functionality, which guarantees a business’ success. This, in turn, ensures jobs under good social conditions.”

The textile care sector and its supplier industry are pursuing a philosophy of sustainability and protection of resources, notes Messe Frankfurt.

A major step in implementing comprehensive sustainability is an effective network, the company reports. It bundles the industry’s requirements, encourages the exchange of ideas between all partners involved, and multiplies pioneering results,

Electrolux Professional S.p.a.

Emco Bau-und Klimatechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Everstrong Commercial Products

Expo Detergo S. R. L. F F3 Fumagalli S.r.l. • Fagor Industrial, S. Coop. • F.B. Italy di Fabio Bruno • Fimas Srl • Fintec Textilpflegesysteme GmbH • FIRBIMATIC S.p.A. • Flexco Europe GmbH

FLORINGO GmbH • Foltex B.V. • FriSatec GmbH • fuhlrottdatenverarbeitung ohg

G Richard Geiss GmbH • Gemme Italian Producers S.r.l. - LELIT • GestiClean Up • Ghidini Benvenuto S.r.l. • Giannoni Group S.R.L. • Girbau S.A. • GMP Commerciale Srl • Machinefabriek Goudkuil Apeldoorn BV • Grandimpianti I.L.E. Ali S.p.A. • GreenEarth Cleaning • Gütegemeinschaft sachgemäße Wäschepflege e.V. • Gulfraz Fabrics

H Hänel GmbH & Co. KG • Haghofer GmbH • Haosch Refrigeration Technology GmbH • hawo GmbH • Hayikama Makine Hali Yikame Ith. Ihr. San. Tic Ltd Sti • Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council • HeBeTec Wäschereitechnik und Service GmbH

Kändler • Mobics B.V. • Mohan Spintex India Ltd. • Montanari Engineering Construction S.r.l. • Mountek GmbH • Mountville Mills • MS Group SRL a socio unico • Mujtaba Textiles • Multimatic Maschinen GmbH • Multimatic iLSA Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG • Multitex Maschinenbau GmbH N-O-P-Q

Marzin

Hammering Man leads the way to grounds of Messe Frankfurt, host of Texcare International.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) held its 2016 Education Conference in Orlando, March 9-11, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes.

More than 130 industry representatives attended the conference, according to the association. The educational opportunities focused on infection control issues as they relate to working with clients, selecting client products, and processing issues in the plant.

“Our conferences offer an intense 1.5 days of education that help members stay competitive in marketing reusable textiles,” says Nancy Jenkins, executive director of ARTA.

According to the association, many attendees shared the sentiment that meetings like the one in Orlando are needed in the industry.

Infection control professionals in attendance particularly agreed.

“Hospital staff do not talk about these issues as they relate to laundry,” says Tiffany Silman of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare in Virginia. “This conference has opened my eyes, and I’m taking the information back to my teammates.”

The 130-plus attendees came from all over the country and as far away as Israel. Highlights of the meeting included a tour of Disney’s new plant, FLO, and two

receptions—a Welcome Reception hosted by MIP/Encompass and a Sponsor Reception hosted by ARTA’s Platinum and Gold Sponsors.

ARTA offers member in-person education on an annual basis. The next event is slated concurrently with Clean 2017 in Las Vegas.

ARTA will exhibit at Clean, host a member breakfast and offer education. Its next education conference is set for 2018. ALN

UPGRADE

members participated in

of education at the group’s conference. (Photo: ARTA)

PANEL OF EXPERTS

Infection control and laundry operations

and more, I’m hearing about laundries and infection control. How concerned should I be about this? Are there steps I can take to, as much as possible, ensure my textiles are clean? Anything I can do with equipment? Chemicals? Working space?”

In our facility, we work very closely with our infection control nurse. Being aware that potentially all laundry we come in contact with should be considered infectious, we make sure we have safeguards in place. Our laundry is bagged at the point of use and placed into hampers that are lined with leakproof bags and have lids. The hampers are used to transport the soiled laundry to the linen chute on the unit. By doing this, we are able to contain any spores or microorganisms within.

Our facility takes steps to ensure that the routes that our soiled and clean laundry take do not cross paths at any point. We transport the clean and dirty laundry in their own separate carts, which have the sole purpose of transporting that type of laundry. Using covered carts to transport the clean clothing back to our patients helps to reduce possible contamination.

When storing clean linen, keep the room as clean as possible. The room should have a door that can be kept closed. If your linen is kept on the unit, make sure it is covered and kept in an area that is away from dining areas and patient care areas. When storing clean linen, be certain it is not on the floor and that the area it is in can be readily cleaned on a regular basis, and not sitting on a cart in the hallway for all to rummage through.

We have separate areas to handle the soiled linen and clean linen, both on the units and in the laundry processing area. Our associates use personal protective equipment when handling soiled laundry to prevent cross-contamination. Our clean-laundry area and the clean-laundry room are kept as free of dust as possible. We also disinfect our folding table throughout the shift.

When doing our patients’ laundry, many things are con-

sidered when choosing the best detergents for processing the laundry. Selecting the right detergent is important because a harsh variety may cause skin irritations and a mild variety does not inactivate microorganisms that may be present in the laundry. With the many choices of detergents on the market, you should be able to find one to meet the needs of your facility.

Our washing machines are programmable based on what is in the load. By being able to use those features, we are able to control the amount of detergent, water temperature and length of cycle to maximize the precision cleaning we desire for our laundry. Routine maintenance on dryers and washing machines will ensure the end product is the best we can offer our patients.

By taking a few steps such as educating those who work with the laundry, as well as the caregivers on the units, on the importance of clean linen, we can make sure that our patients are getting the quality they deserve each day.

While always a concern, infection control, and its relation to linen processing and handling, is more critical than ever with the advent of globalization and an ever-increasing array of exotic and resistant strains of bacteria.

In approaching this month’s question, it is important to make the distinction between cleaning and disinfection.

In the process of laundering, linens are first cleaned, which essentially involves the neutralization and removal of soil with alkaline builders and surfactants, and then sanitized, which is generally accomplished through a combination of hot water, related pH changes, adequate time and the appropriate use of a bleaching agent.

This distinction is important

because it is not uncommon for linens that have been properly cleaned in the wash aisle to be less than hygienic at point of use due to contamination during the finishing process or from exposure to pathogens during or after the linen is transported out of the laundry.

while ensuring that linens are effectively and economically processed according to their respective needs.

The workplace surrounding the wash process needs to be clean and uncluttered; the possibility of cross-contamination of soiled and clean linen must be eliminated. Airflow in and out of the washroom should be analyzed with respect to potential airborne-pathogen transfer.

impart a self-sanitizing residual that provides a zone of bacterial inhibition on processed goods while they remain in storage. The effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent can be quantified by sending linen samples out for independent analysis of sanitary score and zone of inhibition.

Good washing practice, especially in the healthcare laundry, begins with common-sense handling precautions and proper soil sorting. These procedures, inclusive of the use of appropriate clothing/gloves, protect laundry workers from bacterial infection

Hygienically processed linens require thoughtfully constructed wash formulae and washing equipment that is routinely evaluated for proper water levels and hot-water temperature control. Dryers must be cleaned daily to prevent contamination of the airflow, and linen transportation carts must be routinely cleaned and sanitized with an EPAregistered disinfectant.

Linen carts, once loaded, should be covered, and if the linen’s use is going to be delayed over an extended period of time, the use of a bacteriostatic softening agent should be considered in the wash process, which will

In summary, good hygienic linen is important for end-user safety and requires proper handling procedures in combination with routine/scheduled maintenance of washing, finishing and linen transportation systems. The importance of this regimen cannot be overstated, and its disciplined implementation should be an integral part of every laundry manager’s purview.

nfection control is surely one of the major new frontiers in our precious industry, and both healthcare and food-andbeverage operators are mostly well aware of the dynamic. The growing need for laundry-driven infection control safety is a result

“More

Long-Term Care Laundry

Kathrine

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

of a) the real-life need, b) the growing understanding of the professionals within healthcare and foodservice, and c) the growing understanding of the general public.

Healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) are likely driving the dynamic to the buying public. HAI is the result of a patient entering a healthcare facility for treatment of a symptom and then contracting another infection from within the healthcare facility. The real driver here is actual deaths that have occurred as the result of HAI. While most of the public doesn’t really know the data here, some healthcare agencies have stated that deaths resulting from HAI are approaching 400,000 annually.

Additionally, foodservicerelated infections are all over the news when they occur, as they impact a number of people all at once. When food poisoning and death occur as the result of people eating at restaurants, CNN tells us all the information, and suddenly the general public is looking for answers and action. Should a laundry be about this? Very. Are there solutions? Yes.

In the healthcare arena, there are certifications that can help operators be “safe” with the processing and ultimate delivery of their linens. The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) will give operators guidance on certification and the steps to ensure safer “product.” The Textile Rental Services Association’s (TRSA) Hygienically Clean certification will give operators guidance on certification and the steps to ensure safer “process.” NSF International has also deployed a Hygienic Laundering certification and is actively focused on “public health and safety.”

It is likely that within a few short years, operators won’t be able to effectively retain present clients and/or gain new clients in this market without a credible certification. There are many experts who can assist operators through equipment, chemistry, working space, textile handling, finishing and packaging, but rest assured, the time is upon our industry to take this seriously.

With the growth of social media and the conscious understanding of the buying public, as well as the power of purchasing transitioning to millennials (who are tapped into the information stream), our industry is approaching a market that will require credibility to the buying public before the first

appointment.

Foodservice linen cleanliness is a newer dynamic in the industry, mostly as the result of highly publicized events. The restaurant market has been long aware of the need and has taken responsible action for years with their rating system. However, there is legislative movement on this front, to keep the public safer, with regard to cleanliness standards.

On the food preparation front, the FDA and USDA have been active in the area of safety for many decades. Bottom line is that every time we have a food-

service-related “mass incident,” the public becomes more aware. Couple that with the information stream from the healthcare

front, and we are converging on a time when the buying public simply wants to know they are safe. The U.S. public eats in restaurants now more than ever, and when they eat at home, they use packaged goods now more than ever.

TRSA is initiating a Hygienically Clean certification with standards in the food and beverage market.

NSF International’s Hygienic Laundering certification is focused on “public health and safety.” Larger restaurants and food service chains will soon become more aware of these

certifications, which will drive the market to seek credibility during the purchasing process.

HLAC, TRSA and NSF have slightly differing approaches to certification, and there is activity between them to bring more standardization. So, as an operator, should you pay attention to this area? Yes. Get involved, learn the market dynamics, get the information and take action. It’s the right time, and beyond all of the above, it’s the right thing to do—to take the socially responsible steps to ensure clean and safe textiles for our buying public. ALN

Textiles

Steve Kallenbach

ADI American Dawn, Los Angeles, Calif.

—STEVE KALLENBACH ADI AMERICAN DAWN

Track

Tudisco to head up Laundrylux technical care and training

INWOOD, N.Y. — Laundrylux recently hired Robert Tudisco as its new vice president of technical care and training, the distributor of Wascomat and Electrolux laundry equipment reports. During the last 15 years,

Tudisco has worked in various technical leadership positions in service industries ranging from textile rental services to facilitycritical power infrastructure support and

data center infrastructure support services, Laundrylux says.

“Ours is an industry that continues to grow in terms of technology, and with the addition of Robert to our team, we have a leader who will make

certain that Laundrylux employees stay informed and ahead of the curve,” says Gary Brown, vice president of engineering at Laundrylux. “Keeping our staff and company at the forefront of new technologies ensures our valued customers and distributors are able to do likewise.”

Tudisco has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from the New York Institute

of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y.) and a master of business administration from Adelphi University (Garden City, N.Y.). Most recently, he served as senior data center engineer and director of operations at Mindshift Technologies, a Ricoh company.

At Laundrylux, Tudisco will set strategy for the technical service staff “to safeguard that the company’s distributor network and end-users receive the highest level of support and technical services in the industry.”

“The solid reputation Laundrylux and the Electrolux and Wascomat brands have built in the industry is impressive,” Tudisco says. “Naturally, I’m looking forward to delivering on the company’s promise of providing exemplary service and support to our distributors and end-users.”

Leonard Automatics hires marketing manager Law

DENVER, N.C. — Sherry Law has been hired as the marketing manager for Leonard Automatics at its company headquarters, the company reports.

Law recently worked as a marketing account manager for Duke Energy and TIAA CREF in the Charlotte area and specializes in creating and managing multi-faceted marketing campaigns, according to Leonard. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass.

A native of New England, Law now resides in Iredell County and is enjoying the mild North Carolina weather, says the company.

“My goal is to get the word out about Leonard,” says Law. “This is a company that has thoughtful solutions, not just equipment for the industry.”

Kretz, Kirchner assume lead roles for Dexter

FAIRFIELD, Iowa — Dexter Laundry Inc. and its parent company Dexter Apache Holdings Inc. have made organizational changes that went into effect April 1.

Andy Kretz, formerly president of Dexter Laundry, has

Texcare

to the benefit of all.

The top themes at Texcare Forum 2016, which will be held each afternoon except on the show’s final day, include Industry 4.0, sustainability and resource efficiency, the future of textiles and functions, as well as careers and training. The program for the conference is prepared by the most important national and international textile care associations in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt, show managers say.

Texcare Forum sessions will be, as follows: Training and career –building up the next generation of professionals, Saturday, June 11; The future of textiles and functions – opportunities for the textile care industry, Sunday, June 12; Sustainability and resource efficiency – key issues for stakeholders, Monday, June 13; and Industry 4.0 – leading textile care into an innovative future, Tuesday, June 14.

The growth of Texcare is reflected in the strong and growing textile care market in Europe.

“For a number of years, we have been observing the trend that more and more companies are expanding their product range and developing it further,” says Günter Veit, chairman of VDMA Garment and Leather Technology. “Major drivers of growth here are the continued digitalization in textile care and rising requirements expected, for example, of hygiene.”

Texcare 2016 will grow into a new additional exhibit hall for the first time—occupying the traditional Hall 8 and taking over Hall 9 as well.

“By adding Hall 9, Texcare International will be able to respond even better to this growing product range,” Veit adds. “As CEO of a company, I can only recommend that visitors ensure they have enough time for the bigger range of products and services on show. A day is definitely not enough.”

At Texcare International, the industry shows everything: modern, professional textile care; plant and machinery; cleaning processes and materials; rental textiles; job and protective clothing; and information technologies and services, reports Messe Frankfurt.

Among companies exhibiting in Hall 8.0 will be Ecolab, Girbau, Jensen, Lavatec, Multimatic Ilsa and Pellerin Milnor, and in Hall 9.0 you will find, for instance, Alliance Laundry Systems, Kannegiesser, Kreussler, Miele and Veit (see sidebar for complete list as of April 18).

To learn more about Texcare International, visit the show’s website at www.texcare.com ALN

Tim Burke is editor of sister publication American Drycleaner.

by S&Z Verpackung GmbH • SIDI

MONDIAL S.r.l. • SIL FIM S.r.l.

• SK-ERSATZTEILE • SoCom

Informationssysteme GmbH • Soing d.o.o. • Spindle • Springpress N.V.

• Sri Shanmugavel Mills P. Ltd.

EXHIBITOR LISTINGS (continued)

Home Textile Division • Gottlob

Stahl Wäschereimaschinenbau

GmbH • Stereotex S.r.l. • Stichting

Vakblad voor Textielreinigung • STIRMATIC S.r.l. • Stiro Service S.R.L.

• Surfchimica S.r.l. • SUZOHAPP –

COMESTERO

T-U TAGSYS S.A.S. • Technische Textilien Lörrach GmbH & Co. KG

• TECNITRAMO • Temel Makine San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. • Texfinity NV •

Textile Rental Services Association of America • Textilligence bvba • TFX

Railtechnik GmbH • Thermopatch BV

Open Helicoid Cylinder Design

Enhances the wash pie by providing mechanical action consistent with that of an open pocket washer without the limitations imposed by transfer scoops or an archimedean design.

Safety

Monoshell helicoid provides for a large transfer opening and the unique friction drive system eliminates the need for access hatches and operator entry into the processing vessel. Braun also provides patent pending chute loading dryers.

Energy

Our standard systems afford the ability to support low and high temperature chemistries with limited energy consumption. We also offer a steam generator package to avoid the costs associated with boiler rooms and stationary engineers. As a full line dryer manufacturer we offer industry leading production and energy efficiency while optimizing the use of facility space.

Tolkar

Smartex Makina • TOLON Global Makina San. ve Tic. A.S.

Water Efficiency

Exceptional wash pie balance associated with these solutions allow for low water consumption (.4 to .7 gallons/lb., depending on soil type), while affording extremely low rewash rates (2% or less). This is not only efficient, but it improves linen life. All water used in the process is reused at least three times in the process!

Hygiene

The unique combination of material science and the monoshell design enhance system resistance to microbial/bacteria growth. All process piping is stainless steel and this system avoids double drum stagnant surfaces.

Reliability

Braun has been supplying tunnel system solutions to the industry for well over 35 years, and does so providing easy to use, heavy duty equipment that “stands the test of time”. We also provide the most comprehensive post sale support system to insure that our clients maximize performance and equipment longevity.

For more details on the proven Science of Braun’s unique features and functionality, go to www.gabraun.com/science

been appointed president and chief operating officer of Dexter Apache Holdings, the company reports. In this new role, Kretz assumes operational and management responsibility for all Dexter Apache businesses, including Dexter Laundry, Dexter Financial Services, Apache

Stainless Equipment Corp., Leer, Crystal Group and Dalton Ag. Craig Kirchner, formerly vice president of sales, marketing and customer service, has been appointed president of Dexter Laundry, says the company. As president, Kirchner assumes management responsibility for all aspects of the Dexter Laundry business.

Dexter says that Kretz and Kirchner both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to these new roles and will be critical in charting the course for the future of Dexter Laundry and all the Dexter Apache businesses.

Softrol hires VP of ops, reorganizes sales team

ACWORTH, Ga. — Helmut Harfmann has accepted the position of vice president of operations for Softrol, the company

reports. Harfmann has been involved in operations management in various companies serving the textile manufacturing and textile rental market for 40 years, the company says.

Harfmann most recently served as the vice president of manufacturing and the vice president of service for Jensen Group in his 16-year career with them,

according to Softrol. Harfmann also has experience as an operations executive with Lavatec and G.A. Braun.

“Helmut brings with him a wealth of operations management experience that will help strengthen our ability to service our core marketplace and customers, as well as position us for continued growth,” says Brent Keith, president and owner of Softrol.

In addition, Softrol says that its sales team has reorganized, with Andre Blanc (sales director) overseeing major national/ corporate accounts and Matt Lewis (sales manager) managing the company’s independent market.

The company says that Blanc has more than 30 years in the domestic and international laundry and hospitality sectors, having spent most of the time with Ecolab. Lewis, according to Softrol, is active with several industry associations and has been a participant in the Textile Rental Services Association’s Emerging Leaders Roundtable.

Finally, the company says that Jon Kim has been recently promoted with expanded duties and added marketing responsibilities as Softrol’s business development associate.

Gurtler hires Gilmore as Fla. manager of market development

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Steven R. Gilmore recently joined Gurtler Industries Inc. as its manager of market development in Florida, the company reports.

Gilmore has been in the laundry industry for more than 14 years, according to Gurtler, which is a manufacturer of advanced detergents and specialty chemicals for the commercial laundry industry.

C

Lewis Kim

Harfmann

Blanc

Kretz

Kirchner

Gilmore

China Laundry Expo to double exhibit space for 2016

GUANGZHOU, China —

Growing demand in the laundry market has led the China International Laundry Industry Exhibition (China Laundry Expo) to move to the Shanghai New International Expo Center, show officials report.

The latest trends and innovations in the laundry and drycleaning industry can be seen at the July 12-14 show. This is the 17th annual China Laundry Expo.

The Expo is supported by the National Ministry of Commerce and organized by the China Laundry Association and Unifair Exhibition Service.

Last year, 11,651 visitors from all over the world attended the China Laundry Expo, which featured an exhibition area of almost 130,000 square feet with more than 550 booths and 278 exhibit brands from more than 16 countries and regions, organizers say.

Exhibition space at the new Shanghai venue is expected to reach nearly 250,000 square feet for the 2016 Expo with more than 1,200 booths.

Show organizers say that growing demand in the market led to the need for increased floor space to accommodate more booths and more people, as well as to ensure greater participation among exhibitors and visitors.

The China Laundry Expo is taking place simultaneously with three more exhibitions: China Leather

Care Technology and Product Exhibition, China Public Textile Laundry Exhibition and China Laundry Franchise Exhibition.

Show organizers say that as a window of technical innovation and brand presentation, as well as a professional platform for trade communication and investment and financial cooperation, China Laundry Expo has been a firm bridge between the upstream and downstream industry chain, and

between the domestic and international supply chain.

“China Laundry Expo would be our first step to develop the Chinese market,” says Andrea Bernicchi, export manager of Renzacci S.P.A.

During even-numbered years, the China Laundry Expo takes place in Shanghai; in odd-numbered years, the fair takes place in Beijing.

For more information on the China Laundry Expo 2016, visit www.laundryexpo.cn ALN

ney representing General Linen Somersworth provided a prepared statement from the company. In it, General Linen Somersworth took full responsibility for the incident, acknowledged the serious nature of its mistake and accepted the court’s sentence.

“We have taken several steps to ensure that this can never happen again,” continues General Linen Somersworth in its statement. “These include implementing controls and procedures to make certain that every employee complies at all times with federal regulations regarding computer use.

“In addition, we created two new supervisory positions to ensure that all employees operate with appropriate oversight. We have also updated our computer hardware and software to better secure information and to enable more robust monitoring of all computer use.”

General Linen Somersworth faced a maximum sentence of five years probation and up to a $500,000 fine and restitution related to the charges. ALN

Attendees will see more exhibits at 2016’s China Laundry Expo. (Photo: Unifair Exhibition Service)

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Tunnel Washers Tunnel Washers

PELLERIN MILNOR CORP.

Customers throughout the world have enjoyed utility, water and labor savings thanks to interrupted counterflow and True Top Transfer design of the 76028 PBW™ tunnel made by Pellerin Milnor Corp., the company says.

There are savings inherent to utilizing PulseFlow® technology in

a smaller footprint, Milnor adds. The company says that customers processing at least 1,000 pounds per hour can justify the capital investment versus utility, water and labor savings with a Milnor 76028 PBW™ installation.

Milnor also says that footprint restrictions are no longer an obstacle once the choice of tunnel over washer-extractors

has been made. There are configurations that maximize efficiency as well as floor space, the company says, and its Applications Engineering Department is experienced in selecting the optimal layout for any laundry.

www.milnor.com 504-712-7656

LAVATEC LAUNDRY TECHNOLOGY

Lavatec Laundry Technology tunnel washers range in size from 55- to 220-pound capacity per chamber and achieve three distinct goals for the customer, according to the company. It says the washers are designed with simplicity, offer maximum energy efficiency and are built to prolong linen life.

The company says that users of its tunnel washers can expect high-

energy efficiency with water consumption as low as 0.5 gallons per pound of wash. Operators have 114 wash programs available to choose from, with intuitive, touch-screen operation for higher productivity, the shortest possible drying times and superior results, according to Lavatec.

Each double drum can be gauged for temperature and level control

and fitted for heating, draining and chemical injection, the company says, and users can expect to achieve the lowest cost to own over the life of the system. According to Lavatec, many of these tunnel washers operate 16 hours a day for 20-plus years.

www.lltusa.com 203-632-8777

COMPILED BY MATT POE, EDITOR

KANNEGIESSER USA (continued)

ensure that wash liquors transfer deeply into the fibers while avoiding tangling or “roping.”

A user-friendly, 22-inch touchscreen terminal offers functions that increase performance throughout the complete laundry process by

allowing operational and customized flexibility, the company says.

www.kannegiesser-usa.com 972-641-3153

G.A. BRAUN

G.A. Braun offers SmoothFlow® tunnel washers available in 130-, 150- and 220pound classifications in clean, dry weight of linen, not soil weight, the company reports.

Braun says mindful engineering and precision design methods make the Braun Tunnel Systems efficient to own and operate, easy to maintain and provide exceptional flexibility and wash quality. Some of the design elements the

company highlights include the positive transfer process that prevents roping and jamming, an open helicoid process, each chamber washes with a similar level of mechanical action as that of a conventional open-pocket washer, and a single drum design, which eliminates cumbersome maintenance as with double-drum systems.

Other factors Braun notes include its counterflow process, in which goods

GIRBAU INDUSTRIAL

The Girbau Industrial (GI) TBS-50 Batch Tunnel Washer is available in five to 12 modules, each with 110 pounds of capacity, the company says.

The TBS-50 processes up to 3,000 pounds of laundry per hour and automatically integrates with GI loading and unloading conveyors, water extraction presses and dryers, says Girbau.

Because of a top-transfer monoblock design, according to the company, the TBS-50 is less costly and

simpler to install than comparable tunnel washers on the market. It features a modular inner and outer drum system with separate baths for each module.

Girbau says this allows for total control over water temperature and levels, duration of the wash cycle, mechanical action, bath partitions, rapid draining, chemical injection, closing parameters and more.

In addition, the company says the TBS-50 delivers mechanical action

similar to a high-performance frontload washer because of its top-transfer design. Goods are moved up and along the sides of the drum, using a maximum inversion angle of 270 degrees (inversion angle is programmable), before dropping to the bottom of the drum.

www.girbauindustrial.com 800-256-1073

are kept in progressively cleaner solution during each process in the wash and rinse zones; a water recovery and reuse system that ensures all possible process water is captured and recycled throughout the entire machine; and heated process streams are reused throughout the machine.

www.gabraun.com 800-432-7286

It’s not just print anymore.

abletohandleit,orhandlesome of it,” says Mason. “To this day, knockonwood,wehavenothad touse[otherlaundriesformajor disasters],butifwedohavesituationswhereequipmentbreaksand soon,ouroutsidepartners,local

ALN

TRSA and ETSA offer reciprocal memberships

ALEXANDRIA, Va., and BRUSSELS — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) and the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) have reached an agreement to jointly offer access to their respective resources to improve the safety and performance of their member companies, the associations report.

Combined, the organizations say they serve the largest international, national and independent laundry operators and suppliers, providing a network for information sharing, research, benchmarking, professional development, advocacy and industry news, trends and best practices.

“We constantly seek to partner with associations and other organizations such as ETSA and their National Association members, as well as Universal-Unilink and others that support the expansion, protection and professionalization of the textile services community through networking and sharing best practices that improve safety and increase productivity,” says TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci.

Robert Long, secretary general, ETSA, says, “By strengthening our cooperation and learning from each other, we can add even more value for membership. We can avoid ‘re-inventing the wheel.’ We can benefit mutually from our different transatlantic perspectives, putting both organizations in a better position to promote the interests of textiles services—worldwide.”

TRSA says it has been participating and sharing information with ETSA and its National Associations for the past few years. This agreement formalizes the process and provides TRSA and ETSA members with reciprocal access to industry-specific resources for best practices, research, benchmarking, professional development and training, as well as online and print communications.

Members should contact TRSA or ETSA for access to the www. trsa.org and www.textile-services.eu online resources. ALN

downtime.

“If any of our machines are experiencing a problem, I receive an alert on my phone,” says Taylor. “This helps us address the issue as soon as possible before it becomes a larger problem.”

REDUCING YOUR BOTTOM LINE

Finding new ways to increase efficiency and reduce expenses has been a challenge OPL facility managers face; however, learning how to use your equipment’s technology and analyze the operational data gives you an unprecedented look at your laundry room.

Technology is taking laundry room management to new levels. Having insight into machine operation at all times helps operators identify hidden inefficiencies and make adjustments in order to reduce costs. It plays an important role in keeping machine downtime, labor and utility costs as low as possible, and having insight to measure your cost per pound will help

you set efficiency benchmarks that have an immediate impact on your bottom line.

“You can’t improve your laundry operation if you don’t have the right tools to measure it,” says Taylor. “The new technology has made our jobs easier. Now, even when our hotel is at maximum capacity, we are still able to complete all of our laundry in one shift, something we were never able to do before we replaced our equipment.”

You may have the most state-of-the-art equipment on the market, but to get the most

out of your machines, you need to embrace your equipment’s technology. Through monitoring, setting benchmarks and making immediate adjustments, you will improve your overall operation. In fact, the smallest adjustment can have a large impact on performance and save thousands of dollars annually.

Bill Brooks is North American sales manager for UniMac®, a provider of on-premises laundry equipment. To learn more about UniMac, visit www.unimac.com/opl101 or call 800-587-5458.

ON-SITE TERMS: Cash, Check w/bank letter, Visa or M/C. 10% buyer added.

Ralph DeNune, III - Receiver

Brooks

Anyone in the laundry room at Loews Ventana Canyon in Arizona can see the current status of each machine. (Photo: Loews Ventana Canyon)

IPSO names Steiner-Atlantic Corp. its 2015 Distributor of Year

RIPON, Wis. — IPSO® recently recognized SteinerAtlantic Corp., Miami, Fla., as its 2015 Distributor of the Year. This is the second straight year that Steiner-Atlantic has been so honored.

“We are proud of all Steiner-Atlantic has accomplished in the last year, and they are once again very deserving of being named the IPSO Distributor of the Year,” says Mark Schram, IPSO North America sales manager. “Steiner-Atlantic continually goes above and beyond by surpassing their sales goals and providing superior customer service. They proudly represent IPSO’s core values and hold themselves to the highest standards when supporting their customers.”

Among the Steiner-Atlantic team members who accepted the award for outstanding customer service and sales achievements were Mike Steiner, president and CEO; Zach Mangones, vice president of operations; and Robert Gonzalez, coin laundry division vice president.

“Our customers are our primary focus and we always strive to provide them with dependable equipment, as well as the support they need to succeed,” Gonzalez says. “We are very excited to be recognized by IPSO again this year for our hard work and look forward to continuing our partnership.”

Steiner-Atlantic says it has been a worldwide leader in the laundry, boiler and drycleaning industries for more than 50 years, serving as a distributor for the Florida, Caribbean and Latin American markets.

“We know that by offering IPSO equipment, we are providing our customers with efficient and durable machines they can rely on, which has helped us build strong relationships with our customers for more than 50 years,” Gonzalez says.

United Laundry Services joins UMF Corp.’s PerfectCLEAN® Infection Prevention Network

CHICAGO — United Laundry Services (ULS) Inc. of Honolulu, Hawaii, has joined UMF Corp.’s PerfectCLEAN® Infection Prevention Network (PC/Network), the network reports.

ULS, which was co-founded by former Hawaii first lady Vicky Cayetano, provides commercial laundry services to the majority of Hawaii’s healthcare and hospitality markets, PC/ Network says. It has operations on The Big Island and Oahu.

“When presented with the opportunity, combined with the added local support of UMF’s distributor Encompass Group, we immediately saw the advantages of becoming part of the PC/Network,” says Cayetano, ULS president and CEO. “Our healthcare customers can rest assured they’re receiving from ULS the best HAI protection and support through our program, which is headed by John Ross, United’s PC Manager. We firmly believe this will benefit Hawaii’s population and strengthen medical care.”

The PC/Network, formed by UMF Corp. in 2012, comprises healthcare laundries like ULS that specialize in processing linens and textiles to reduce the risk of healthcareassociated infections (HAIs).

UMF Corp. is a manufacturer of infection prevention products and training programs for processing all patient environments.

Bill Worthy, UMF Corp.’s national account manager, noted how quickly Cayetano and her team understood the positive effects and economics provided by employing the PerfectCLEAN solutions and the training programs provided.

“We look forward to building upon the business relation-

ship with ULS and in working with Vicky and her team,” he says.

Tingue named exclusive North America representative for Mato Lacing belt product

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Mato Lacing for use in flatwork ironers, feeders, folders and other machinery is now available in North America exclusively from Tingue representatives, Tingue reports.

Mato Lacing replaces the round wire that creates a rise or bump between each belt end with a flat wire that allows the belt ends to be tightly joined on a flat profile and prevents the lacing from leaving marks or snagging the linens while ensuring the belts remain perfectly straight once laced, according to Tingue.

In addition, the company says the product eliminates rust and lacing marks often left on clean linens during feeding, ironing and folding by galvanized-metal belt lacing.

Mato Lacing uses an all-stainless steel, flat profile design with unibar fasteners that reduces linen contact with the metal and promotes a high-quality finish.

Tingue says that Mato Lacing is included as standard on orders for the company’s line of more than 50 types of belting and is available in all corresponding widths to meet virtually any specification.

For a smooth upgrade to Mato Lacing, Tingue says it makes

Mato Lacing is available in North America through Tingue representatives. (Photo: Tingue)

Members of the Steiner-Atlantic and IPSO teams gather for presentation of the 2015 IPSO Distributor of the Year Award. (Photo: Alliance Laundry Systems)

transition strips from #25 and #1A Clipper Lacing that ease the initial installation.

AmeriPride

facility named

Sacramento Sustainable Business of the Year

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — AmeriPride Services’ Sacramento facility has been named the Sacramento Sustainable Business of the Year, the company reports.

AmeriPride says the branch was recognized for transportation and air quality by the Business and Environmental Resource Center (BERC), and as a Sacramento Area Sustainable Business by the City of Sacramento, the County of Sacramento, the California State Senate and the U.S. Congress.

The branch was originally nominated by the county sewer inspector and was also certified for water conservation, pollution prevention, energy conservation, solid waste reduction and green building, according to the company.

U.S. Rep. Ami Bera toured the AmeriPride laundry processing facility in Sacramento on March 31, according to the company. Bera also met with company management and employees about their efforts to implement sustainable business practices and reduce their environmental impact.

“It was great to spend some time with the AmeriPride team and learn more about their efforts to implement and utilize green technologies and best practices in sustainability,” says Bera. “They demonstrate a true commitment to responsible business practices in their production and delivery operations.”

Some of the recent operational changes the AmeriPride branch has made include production equipment upgrades, environmentally friendly (NPE-free) detergents, low-nitrous oxide equipment (boilers, hot water heaters, dryers), fuel-efficient trucks and sedans, telematics technology to optimize fuel usage, automatic shut-off technology to reduce unnecessary idling, trailer skirts on semi-trucks for better gas mileage and routing software to plan more efficient routes. ALN

Calendar

May

2-4 Performance Matters Coaches Clinic Charlotte, N.C. Info: 704-277-6857

11 Textile Rental Services Association 5th Annual TRSA Safety Summit with CSC Network Kansas City, Mo. Info: 703-519-0029

16-20 Association for Linen Management American Laundry & Linen College (ALLC) Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177

26 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Reject Linen: When to Reclaim/When to Discard Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177

June

11-15 Texcare International Trade Fair for Laundry, Cleaning and Textile Rental Sectors Frankfurt, Germany

Info: texcare.com

14-18 Textile Rental Services Association European Laundry Tour Frankfurt, Germany Info: 703-519-0029

30 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Are Temp Nurses Hijacking Your Linen Utilization? Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177

July

12-14 China Laundry Expo 2016

China International Laundry Industry Exhibition Shanghai, China Info: 813-774 6664

21 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Top Tips for Transportation Management Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177 ALN

high-caliber presentations to help you further create new business opportunities.

info@usa.messefrankfurt.com Tel. 770.984.8016

U.S. Rep. Ami Bera toured AmeriPride’s Sacramento facility and learned about its efforts. (Photo: AmeriPride Services)

Oceanside

Senking

Senking

Colmac Steam Tunnel System 2100-2

Braun Folder/Crossfolders with Stackers

Quincy & GD 200HP Screw Air Compressors

Unipress Utility Press

Braun

Milnor

American

Chicago Edge Maxx 2-Station Feeders (2)

Chicago Edge Maxx Spreader Feeders (3)

Challenge Pace Setter Gas Dryers (6)

Challenge Pace Setter Steam Dryers (2)

Braun Rear Discharge Small Piece Folders (10)

Blanket

Jensen LTron 450lb Washers (3)

Cleaver Brooks 400HP Boiler (1)

Cleaver Brooks 400HP Dual Fuel Boilers (2)

Norman Lift Tables Model 5

Ludell Heat Reclaimer

Jensen 200 Pound L Tron (1)

Sager Spreader

Heat Reclaimer with two Stainless Steel 2500

Gallon Storage with Steam Bundle

White Conveyors

Jensen Single Stage CBW Extraction Press 20042007 (4)

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Field Service Technician

For over five generations, Ellis

Corporation has been a leader in manufacturing and supporting industrial laundry, wastewater and energy recovery equipment. Due to increased sales and our desire to offer our customers valued support, we are searching for additional Field Service Technicians.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

Provide start-up, training and repair services of Ellis and Vega equipment in the field as well as maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction through proper communication with the customers.

Requirements:

~ High School Diploma or equivalent required

~ Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license

~ Must possess or obtain a valid passport within one month of hire

~ Must possess strong communication skills

~ Project management experience helpful

~ Technical vocational schooling a plus; electro-mechanical preferred

~ Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office software products preferred

Physical Demands:

~ Must be able to travel approximately 85% overnight (home most weekends)

~ Position requires frequent kneeling and bending and considerable use of hand tools

~ Must own and carry a tool kit with hand tools and basic test equipment

Ellis Corporation offers an excellent benefits package including health, dental, vision and 401K, along with a friendly work environment. Salary commensurate with experience.

Please send resume with salary requirements to:

Ellis Corporation

Attn: HR Manager 1400 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Itasca, Il 60143 hr@elliscorp.com • (630) 773-5902 fax www.elliscorp.com

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

P.O. Box 400, Kenner, LA 70063 504-467-9591, Fax: 504-468-3094 www.milnor.com

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

P.O. Box 400, Kenner, LA 70063 504-467-9591, Fax: 504-468-3094 www.milnor.com

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

P.O. Box 400, Kenner, LA 70063 504-467-9591, Fax: 504-468-3094 www.milnor.com

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

P.O. Box 400, Kenner, LA 70063 504-467-9591, Fax: 504-468-3094 www.milnor.com