American Laundry News - February 2018

Cintas to close Iowa centralized stockroom

DES MOINES, Iowa — Cintas Corp. plans to gradually close its centralized stockroom here over the next four months, the company reports. Cintas acquired the facility as part of its merger with G&K Services.

“Our strategy is to focus on the optimal distribution structure to facilitate excellent customer service and future growth across our entire organization,” says Terri Cain, vice president of distribution for Cintas. “As part of our integration of the distribution network we acquired from G&K, the company has made the decision to shut down this facility and integrate the products into other stockrooms across our company.”

The stockroom’s closure will impact about 35 employee-partners, according to the company. Cintas has other facilities in the market and affected employeepartners are encouraged to apply for positions at those facilities.

Cintas says it is a top priority for the company to assist employeepartners and their families throughout the transition. ALN

Healthcare laundry: Balancing finances, processing, service

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — Randy Bartsch, president and CEO of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, which has operations in Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto, sees many challenges in the healthcare laundry industry.

An overriding challenge he points to is the rapid consolidation of the customer base.

“In December alone, we saw four of the top 10 health systems pair up in mergers,” he says. “First San Francisco-based Dignity Health, the fifth-largest health system in the nation, announced that it was merging with Colorado-based Catholic Health Initiatives

Product Evaluation:

(CHI) to form an even larger health system with 139 hospitals.

“Then, in the same week, St. Louis-based Ascension, the largest nonprofit health sys-

tem in the United States and the world’s largest Catholic health system, announced it

Selecting goods, equipment that fit

Expert

BY SAM SPENCE

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — A sales rep comes into the plant and excitedly exclaims, “I have a chance to sign a great new account, but … we will have to add a new item.”

This scenario is one that is all too familiar with most laundry managers.

Adding a stock keeping unit (SKU) can be an expensive proposition (and a slippery slope) for many reasons. Due to this fact, we need to determine if the new item represents a value-added proposition in the eyes of our customers, specifically by asking, “Do our customers want it and are they willing to pay for it?” It is not until we identify the hidden

Columnist at Large

In this issue, Eric Frederick examines a necessary management skill: being a visionary.

costs

Custom items are expensive to process

Hospitality Processes

In this month’s OPL 101, learn how structured processes enhance guest stays.

because they introduce variability into the production system, and this drives up costs.

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

that we can properly price a new item and then determine if our customers are willing to pay a premium.

says factors to consider include needs of customer, cost, value

Experts say industry continues to meet challenges in business, infection control, quality

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

Hygienically

2018 ALM IMPACT Conference to educate attendees in Savannah

of the Healthcare and Hospitality Markets from David Bernstein, president of Lapauw USA, and sponsored by Ecolab.

RICHMOND, Ky. — IMPACT, the Association for Linen Management’s (ALM) biennial education conference, gives textile care service professionals the expertise to create efficient, effective laundry management, services and products, according to the association.

Attendees can network and learn from industry leaders and peers about best practices and trends in the textile industry. The 2018 IMPACT Conference will be March 19-21 (Monday-Wednesday) in Savannah, Ga.

EDUCATION

ALM says education topics include sessions on operational strategy, developing alliances and partnerships, and laundry operations. There will also be three general sessions from premier speakers:

Looking Into the Future

Laundry service industries (hospitality and healthcare) are evolving to remain profitable while responding to the new consumer and the app economy. Bernstein will take attendees through scenarios to help identify challenges, opportunities, disruptors and solutions to prepare businesses for tomorrow.

Make Happy Work: How to Create an Extraordinary Workplace Culture from Kris Boesch.

Workplace culture is the most paramount asset to an organization’s financial success. Boesch will show how to improve a company’s culture with no-cost approaches to create an extraordinary workplace.

What You Ought to Know About Value

Analysis from Melanie Miller, RN, CVAHP, CNOR.

Purchasing decisions in the healthcare industry are subject to more scrutiny than

ever. Miller will show what drives decisions, enabling a company’s value proposition for textile care services to be more attractive.

EVENING EVENTS

Two events will highlight evenings during the conference, according to ALM.

Rolling on the River Event by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, sponsored by MIP, will feature a night of dinner, dancing and networking aboard a classic Savannah riverboat. Participants will roll on down the beautiful Savannah River, enjoy the evening sights of the city and chat about all they have learned at IMPACT.

Southern Nights Reception at the Harper Fowlkes House, co-sponsored by Laundry Design Group, will allow participants to enjoy the warm, Southern night at the historic Harper Fowlkes House. Wander through the period rooms or unwind under the stars in the garden.

To learn more about the conference, including hotel information, events schedule and sponsorship opportunities, log onto www. ALMnet.org/IMPACT. ALN

Tennessee health services provider laundry renovation complete

MADISON, Tenn. — ARCO/ Murray recently completed a 44,150-square-foot healthcare laundry renovation for NOVO Health Services here, the company reports.

Upgrades included new plant ventilation, spot cooling and installation of additional equipment, including a Lavatec tunnel system and dryers, and a new Miura boiler. The electrical design and installation also incorporated future finishing equipment to be added at a later date.

ARCO/Murray says it managed the entire project, including architectural and engineering design, permitting, building construction, all process mechanical and electrical work and final equipment connections.

ARCO/Murray’s Jon May was the project manager, and Dennis Bunce served as project superintendent. ALN

CORRECTION

Due to an editor’s error, the photo of the Spartan Fleet Vehicles and Services walk-in van for AmeriPride using the Utilimaster body and Motiv Power Systems’ electric vehicle (EV) propulsion solution, seen on page 2 of the December 2017 issue, was incorrect. The correct image is shown below. American Laundry News regrets this error and apologizes for any inconvenience it may have caused. ALN

Publisher

Charles Thompson

Phone: 312-361-1680

E-Mail: cthompson@ ATMags.com

Associate Publisher/ National Sales Director

Donald Feinstein

Phone: 312-361-1682

E-Mail: dfeinstein@ ATMags.com

Editorial Director

Bruce Beggs

Phone: 312-361-1683

E-Mail: bbeggs@ ATMags.com

Editor

Matt Poe

Phone: 866-942-5694

E-Mail: mpoe@ ATMags.com

Production Manager Roger Napiwocki

Digital Media Director

Nathan Frerichs

Phone: 312-361-1681

E-Mail: nfrerichs@ ATMags.com

Advisory Board

Jim Buik • Greg Gurtler

Phil Hart • Janice Larson

Tom Marks • Gerard O’Neill Richard Warren

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

Subscriptions

630-739-0900 x100 www.americanlaundrynews.com

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. Single copies: U.S. $9.00; Foreign $18.00. Published by American Trade Magazines LLC, 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER, Send changes of address and form 3579 to American Laundry News Subscription Dept., 440 Quadrangle Drive, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Volume 44, number 2. 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, 2018. 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.

Bernstein

Miller

Boesch

Milnor has a better solution through dilution.

When Milnor introduced PulseFlow® technology, CBW® washing was thrust into the future. The idea of balancing time, temperature, mechanical action and chemistry was missing one critical piece of the pie – DILUTION through the efficient use of water.

PulseFlow combines the innovative RecircONE® fast wet down and chemical immersion in the first module with standing bath washing in every spacious process module. Thorough and efficient dilution occurs by way of intermittent high velocity counterflow rinsing and traditional True Top Transfer.

The result is hygienically clean linen using less water (as low as 0.3 gallons per pound/2.5 liters per kilogram) and less energy as proven time and again by hundreds of PulseFlow tunnels in a variety of laundry applications worldwide.

Contact an authorized Milnor distributor or call 504-712-7656 to find out more.

www.milnor.com

Now we’re podcasting!

RLLD

H

ere at American Laundry News, we always strive to bring you the news and information you need in order to aid your efforts in laundry and linen services.

We also look for new and different ways to share that information with you.

It started with our monthly print publication, then an e-newsletter called The Wire was added, then we went online, too. What’s next? Yes, you guessed it from the big hint in the headline. We’ve launched The American Laundry News Podcast.

Now, not only can you read my golden words on the page and online, you can hear the dulcet tones of my voice.

Actually, I’ll be interviewing folks in the know about issues and topics in and around the laundry and linen service

From The Editor’s Desk MATT POE

industry on a regular basis.

For our first-ever podcast, I spent some time with Randy Bartsch, president and CEO of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Services, to talk about issues, challenges and solutions in the healthcare laundry industry. You can go to www.americanlaundrynews. com right now, find the podcast

icon, click play and listen to what Bartsch had to share.

The first podcast is a perfect complement to the cover story of this issue, which features representatives from ALM, TRSA and HLAC going deeper into the state of healthcare laundry, plus further insights from Bartsch.

But this issue isn’t all about healthcare laundry. You probably saw the other cover story on evaluating new products. On page 12, UniMac’s Bill Brooks takes a look at how processes impact hospitality laundry. And on page 14, our Panel of Experts talks about the importance of maintaining a clean facility.

So, take a listen to the firstever podcast and let us know what you think, and what you’d like to hear about. Also, read this issue, everybody, and remember to keep it clean. ALN

TRSA members to advance advocacy agenda in D.C. in March

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With mid-term federal elections on the horizon, it’s an especially important time for members of Congress to demonstrate to their constituents their leadership skills and levelheadedness.

Industry executives will help by giving them ideas for keeping the economy and nation strong when TRSA, the association for the linen, uniform and facility services industry, conducts its eighth annual Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., March 21-22, according to the association.

In the days leading up to this event, TRSA says staff will organize and schedule visits to congressional offices by small groups of conference attendees. They will inform incumbents seeking re-election, and other members of Congress, about tax, environment, labor and other issues that the industry shares with many other types

of businesses.

Conference attendees will urge representatives to emphasize these matters in their campaigns to improve their chances for re-election.

TRSA says the conference begins Wednesday afternoon with the keynote speaker, an issue briefing to prepare for Capitol Hill Day visits and the TRSAPAC reception for current PAC members and those who wish to join that evening.

Hill visits take place Thursday morning, followed by committee meetings in the afternoon and an early-evening closing reception.

Commander Kirk Lippold is the conference keynoter, says TRSA. He will describe his five pillars of leadership and share his experience in making time-critical decisions under pressure with integrity. Commander Lippold, U.S. Navy (retired), was in command of the USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda in 2000. ALN

Being a visionary manager

L ast month, I discussed the need to be able to organize a laundry into an efficient operation. The second major skill a manager needs to be really successful is to be a visionary person.

By this, I do not mean a manager who likes to sit in his office and daydream about what else he could be doing.

A visionary manager diligently stays abreast of all the developments in the laundry industry and the industries they service. They do this so they can provide the best service to their customers in an ever-changing market.

Most importantly, a visionary manager is able to process this information and see the future direction of the market. The visionary manager is able to analyze their laundry’s strengths and weaknesses, the strengths and weaknesses of the competition, and then foresee opportunities for their laundry to beat the competition and meet the needs of a segment of the industry. This type of manager does not want to follow the crowd but instead wants to be the leader.

When I worked in Roanoke, Va., my laundry was up against several strong, competitive laundries. One was extremely good at selling the carpeted areas of healthcare facilities, but often failed to deliver the promised level of service and never at the price point it promised. Linen loss charges and surcharges often drove the price higher than expected.

Another competitor sold strictly on price. Their linen quality and processing was often poor, but the price always turned out to be what was promised. Frequent shortages were the norm, but facilities put up with the service because of the low price.

In this market, there was one section of the industry that was underserved and needed better alternatives. The upscale nursing home market needed and wanted a better, more comprehensive level of laundry service.

They wanted high-end motel/hotel linens for their independent living and rehab areas, tablecloths and napkins for their dining area, and regular healthcare linens for their more skilled nursing areas. They wanted to get out of the laundry business entirely and needed someone to develop an easy-to-manage system for personals.

We identified one potential customer not too far from our facility and started working with some of their staff to develop a system that would meet their needs. Our groundwork included product selection, frequency of deliveries, how linen would be delivered and stocked internally, and the development of a good personal linen processing system.

They were getting ready to put out a request for proposal (RFP) for linen service in several months. We were able to get the customer and put the proposed service into action. We kept an open mind, as it related to handling personal linen, and made some quick adjustments in the laundry on the fly. Both the laundry and the customer are pleased with the service.

There are several other large, upscale nursing homes in the laundry’s service area that are now considering this service. At the time we decided to enter into this market, the conventional wisdom was that the nursing home market was a low-price, low-profit area of business; this market was not worth the effort to cultivate. There is always a danger in using too broad a brush to paint the picture of an entire industry. A visionary manager can see the trends in the industry and realize the opportunities before others can see them.

Eric Frederick served 44 years in laundry management before retiring and remains active in the industry as a laundry operations consultant. You can contact him by e-mail at elfrederick@cox.net or by phone at 540-520-6288.

COLUMNIST AT LARGE Eric L. Frederick,

ELOP MENT S IN THE L AUND R Y INDUS TR Y AND THE INDUS TR IE S THE Y S ERVIC E ... S O THE Y CAN PROVID E THE BE ST S ERVIC E TO THE IR CUSTO M ER S ... ”

was combining with Providence St. Joseph Health, based in Renton, Wash., to create, according to The Wall Street Journal, the nation’s largest hospital operator. The Ascension-Providence deal would have 191 hospitals, and would dethrone the nation’s largest pure hospital operator, the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which has 177 hospitals.

“These big-three hospital systems combined will operate 507 hospitals across the country.”

Bartsch says this consolidation puts growing pressure on providers of non-clinical support services like laundry and linen.

“Ours is an industry where ‘no news is good news,’” says Bradley J. Bushman, president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC). “When things are going great for the hospital, they’re going great for us. On the other hand, if there are quality or infection issues, we hear about them quickly. Of course, there’s an upfront cost to quality and infection prevention, and this isn’t always apparent to the customer. We have made progress here, but we tell an even better story when we can educate about the standards we follow and the steps we take to ensure quality assurance and infection.

“Arguably, the larger message to keep in mind is the cost of not taking these steps.”

That means healthcare laundries have to keep an eye on the bottom line while maintaining clean, quality linen.

THE

BUSINESS

According to Bartsch, the best way to meet challenges on the business side of healthcare laundry is to continue to focus on the business, striving to lower costs, or at least keep them in check, to be efficient. That way, healthcare laundries can offer a cost-effective choice for customers.

“We have become increasingly more focused over the past five years,” he says. “Size and scale allows us to provide more and better services and innovations for our customers, as we can spread our costs over a larger base.”

The business challenge isn’t just on the laundry side. Healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and long-term care operations, have to consider the bottom line when choosing to either outsource its laundry service or create a centralized service or maintain an on-premises laundry (OPL).

“Control over product quality and service seem to be the primary concern,” says Linda Fairbanks, executive director of the Association for Linen Management (ALM). “This may give central, cooperative and on-premises operations the edge; however, if they can’t manage the cost issue, they lose to the commercial plants that provide good customer service (listening to their customers vs. telling them why they can’t do something) and quality products. The hospitals/health systems that beat up on a good laundry processor over pennies will regret it by failing to realize that quality has a cost.”

For Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA, the association for the linen, uniform

and facility services industry, the choice between OPL/centralized or outsourcing should be based on identifying expertise, such as certified laundries and laundry professionals, which allow healthcare facilities to focus on patient care and not laundry.

“They should also consider opportunity cost-of-space utilization for laundry equipment and inventory that could be used to better serve patients for testing and treatment,” he says.

Bushman says OPLs have been fighting an uphill battle as the “value” of the space they occupy has, in many cases, become coveted by healthcare management.

“Of course, OPLs can make the case that they provide a higher level of service by being on-site, but in many cases, it’s just not enough to overcome this core obstacle,” he says.

In addition to service level, the price/ quality proposition will need to be balanced, according to Bushman. He says establishing a committee of stakeholders is usually the

textile handling, and first-in/first-out linen rotation,” she says.

Bushman agrees that there has been significant headway made in increasing awareness among management and operational personnel.

“That is, there’s much greater understanding among all relevant stakeholders of the dangers posed by contaminated healthcare textiles (HCT),” he says. “This includes laundry plant personnel at all levels, environmental services (EVS), infection practitioners (IPs), those in the hospital C-suite, patients and even the public.”

Bushman says the industry has also made advancements in both the functional and aesthetic aspects of HCTs.

“Just like the hospitality industry’s improvements regarding overnight guests, hospitals are starting to understand that the quality and comfort of HCTs has an impact on a patient’s overall satisfaction,” he says. “As a result, we’re seeing higher-quality, more durable, more comfortable and more functional textiles.”

SERVICE/MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP

For the most part, it seems that healthcare management and laundry are on the same page when it comes to the need to produce clean, quality linen.

“In the hospital market, regarding bed linen, there’s not much more convincing to do,” says Ricci. “Infection preventionists and environmental services management are well aware of the importance, and they’ve educated hospital administration.”

Bushman says that the industry has moved forward in convincing healthcare management of the importance of laundry infection control.

the hospital executive suite.”

Healthcare laundries have made great strides in infection control and working with healthcare management; however, Ricci says TRSA is concerned about healthcare providers’ focus on quality assurance.

According to Ricci, the industry generally needs to pay more attention to outcome measures like microbial testing of linen, as opposed to just structural measures, such as whether a laundry separates its clean and soiled production work, or process measures, such as verifying use of best practices.

“It is important now, and we are making great strides here, too, to educate the industry about the intersection between IP and healthcare laundry,” Bushman adds.

“For textile service providers, this means that it’s important to identify and build a relationship with this healthcare discipline—encouraging regular tours at both ends, where information can be shared for the betterment of all.”

FUTURE CHALLENGES

While the healthcare laundry industry is making advances in the challenges it faces, the future will bring with it more obstacles to overcome.

For example, Fairbanks says that in speaking with materials management, supply chain, clinicians and value analysis professionals, their concerns (i.e., complaints) about quality seem to be of greater concern than infection control concerns.

“This seems to be where the single-use products are making inroads, and we must pay attention here and take action,” she says.

“How are you ever going to get clinicians onboard to reduce utilization if they need 500 gowns, receive 500 gowns, but can only use 420 of them due to quality issues?”

As an industry, Fairbanks says healthcare laundry must continue to ask questions, especially, “How can we be better?”

best and most common way to make the best possible decision.

INFECTION CONTROL

While healthcare facilities and laundries must continually look at the bottom line, the primary concern when it comes to linen has to be cleanliness. And that ultimately means infection control.

The industry continues to make strides to assure that the goods processed are hygienically clean.

“The linen, uniform and facility services industry continues to innovate and automate, by partnering with its customers and vendors to improve chemicals, fabrics and handling,” Ricci says. “We are also making it a priority to better educate the healthcare and laundry communities.”

Fairbanks says that laundry personnel, on both soiled and clean sides of operations, are aware of the importance of hand washing, the chain of infection, textile handling, airflow, appropriate wash process, storage, residual moisture and transportation. Also, infection preventionists and laundries are communicating more and focusing on sound, evidence-based practices and ensuring those practices are adhered to.

“Healthcare providers are learning that checks and balances need to be in place for accountability to sound, proven practice, including proper separation/storage of clean and contaminated textile products through all stages of the process, hand hygiene in

“In almost all hospitals now, the IP is a key stakeholder at the table,” he says. “Hospitals now understand the importance of preventing healthcareassociated infections (HAI) and the return on investment (ROI) in this prevention.”

According to Fairbanks, in the grand scheme of things, healthcare management has far greater concerns.

“I believe laundry’s current place on the C-suite’s radar says a great deal about the reliability of our industry to do what we know is right,” she says. “The quality of the textiles used in healthcare is important, but right now the C-suite is, appropriately, more concerned about wrong-site surgery, medication errors, cost of services and supplies, adequate staffing, and delivery of care.”

However, Fairbanks cautions that the industry cannot become complacent.

“We realize the importance of improving outcomes through advancements in chemicals, textiles, equipment and practice,” she says. “We must carry through by validating the outcomes through independent, evidence-based research and establishing valid practice.”

That doesn’t mean that every type of healthcare facility is in step with essential laundry practices. Ricci points out that for outpatient facilities without staff, such as IP and EVS, it’s more of a challenge.

“In both markets, employee uniforms are the frontier in this respect,” he says. “We are confident that IP and EVS staff appreciate the infection-control value of preventing scrubs from being worn in public and laundering them professionally, so we are empowering them to take that message to

Advances in chemical applications, textile advancement (i.e., microfibers) and advances in the equipment used keeps the industry on track as a quality service.

“We need more conversations with materials management/value analysis professionals/GPOs, as they need to understand that if they continue to drive solely on price, they are going to have linen that doesn’t last, isn’t comfortable and doesn’t drive better patient outcomes,” she says. “In fact, they will achieve the exact opposite. Purchasing partners need to understand this and become aware of the recent advances in healthcare textiles that can deliver on the ‘triple aim’ of cost, quality and better outcomes.”

Finally, Bartsch points to labor as a growing future challenge for the healthcare laundry industry, a major obstacle for the service sector across the country. He says the laws of supply and demand are easily apparent.

“Rising labor costs, especially in the entry or low-skilled areas, accelerated in part by the $15 and Now movement, combined with a general shortage of labor, which results in more turnover, employee churn, and a less-skilled, less-experienced workforce, is something we all need to address,” he says. “When you look at the demographic trends, it’s not going to get any easier.”

While it may not get easier, the healthcare laundry industry has a history of rising to meet challenges, and veterans like Bartsch, Fairbanks, Ricci and Bushman will continue to push it forward. ALN

For more insight into the healthcare laundry industry, log onto www.americanlaundrynews. com and listen to the first-ever American Laundry News Podcast

Healthcare laundries and systems must continually balance business and linen processing. (Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

Tools f the Trade

G.A. Braun says its new Precision Series® Spreader/Feeder serves a wide variety of flatwork laundry processing needs, including hospitality, healthcare, commercial linen providers and general industrial laundries.

Unique to the new spreader/feeder is a single-motor servo spread drive technology coupled with new spread detection and speed-synchronized spread belts, according to the company.

Extending the application of servodrive technology to the infeed laydown functionality provides consistent quality feeding with all processed items at all speeds. Single-point transfer and positive center-point spreading assures minimal drops and accurate centering of each item fed to maximize line productivity, according to the company.

Braun says the short list of a few innovative design changes includes new feed and spread clamps, lower feed carriage heights, and ball bearing carriers for all transport motions.

Ruggedly designed and simple to use, this spreader/feeder’s standard configuration with three operator stations and production line speeds of 125 fpm (feet per minute) will provide an output of 900-950 twin sheets or like-size linen per hour with exceptional quality, the company says. In addition, Braun says its 24V DC touch-screen control PLC ensures consistently precise spreading and

feeding while supporting user-friendly troubleshooting screens.

The company says its spreader/feeders are manufactured with fewer moving parts than others on the market, so they are built to withstand the wear and tear of today’s high-volume laundry environments. Available options include, but are not limited to, production status lights, ARC-quality grading system, vacuum small-piece feed table, external counters, polycarbonate side covers and more. www.gabraun.com 800-432-7286

SRS Conveyors says its All-Flex Steam Tunnel Conveyor is one of the strongest on the market. With its caterpillar drive, chain pull of up to 600 feet per drive, enclosed track and the ability to sort off the steam tunnel, along with its modular bolt-together design, SRS says the All-Flex provides the return on investment that customers are looking for.

The company says its AllFlex Steam Tunnel Conveyor,

specially designed for industrial laundry applications, is turnkey, which will maximize production capacity and minimize cost of ownership.

SRS says its team of engineers can create a customized solution for laundry operations to either expand an existing steam tunnel conveyor system or implement a new system.

www.srsconveyors.com 800-267-9355

Kemco Systems Co. says its Monarch system optimizes process variables through perfectly balancing water and energy processing equipment.

According to the company, the Monarch control system will automatically observe temperatures, tank levels, pump operations, valve positions, stop/ start controls and utility energy consumption data. This is done from the main screen or from a remote location. Monarch controls can acquire, store and log data efficiently, allowing for most process variables to be trended, providing a laundry with a true efficiency evaluation.

Remote communications can ease troubleshooting by allowing Kemco to quickly view and adjust the system operation, thereby minimizing downtime and maximizing equipment efficiency, the company says.

www.kemcosystems.com 800-633-7055

Manufacturers: Have you introduced a new product? Revamped your system? Released a new catalog? E-mail your product news, along with a high-resolution image, to mpoe@atmags.com and we’ll consider publishing your news free in Tools of the Trade.

Laundry product supplier Tingue has unveiled a line of replacement drain valves for a wide variety of continuous batch washers and coin-op washers, the company reports.

Designed specifically to handle high-volume, low-pressure installations, Tingue says the line of durable drain valves features injection-molded plastic construction with integrated AC motors and motor protectors for dependable operation and high performance over a long service life with nearly zero maintenance.

The company says the drain valves are easy for one laundry technician to install and provide

high performance and long life that are comparable to OEM drain valves, yet are offered at a significant discount.

The line of drain valves comprises seven models, each offered in a variety of configurations with a choice of options to suit the washer model, such as the inlet and outlet port sizes, motor voltage and cycles, and housing color, Tingue says. The replacement valves are available for washers from Alliance Laundry Systems, Continental Girbau, Milnor, Dexter and Wascomat, and for GE coin-op washers.

www.tingue.com 800-222-9954

Turnkey steam tunnel conveyor boasts tremendous strength

Replacement drain valves unveiled for continuous batch washers

Control system for water and energy processing equipment offers on-site, remote data reporting to provide efficiency

Spreader/feeder features new design changes for greater laundry processing needs

Notice Anything?

InkGo® Is Now Odor Free!

InkGo has been reformulated to remove its odor… and to improve its performance.

InkGo is still the environmentally friendly,* safe way to remove ink stains from all types of fabric. It’s still great at removing autoclave tape and adhesives. And since it’s odor-free, InkGo is more pleasant to work with.

Does odor really matter? As more drycleaners position themselves as good environmental stewards, keeping chemical odors in the plant to a minimum can help them differentiate from their competition. And odor-free is a real plus if you’re working on ink for an extended period of time.

Now that’s worth noticing!

*InkGo is Biodegradable and is California Prop-65 and California VOC Compliant.

Become a STAIN WIZARD at ALWilson.com

To learn more, visit ALWilson.com or call 800-526-1188 A. L. WILSON CHEMICAL CO.

This is frequently seen in mixed plants with many SKUs, compared to specialized plants with limited SKUs. Specialized plants almost always operate more efficiently with greater pounds produced per operator hour.

Demand for a new item can be difficult to predict. If we add an item for a specific customer, we hope to be able to sell it to other customers as well, but there are no guarantees here. Additionally, we should consider the possibility of replacing existing items with the new one in order to level demand.

ADDED INVENTORY

One strategy to reduce this variability is to add inventory to compensate for fluctuating demand, but this is expensive. To account for expected shrinkage due to loss, damage and even overstocking, it is not uncommon to require a circulating inventory level of 50% more than what is actually required.

Additionally, textile manufacturers often have minimum order quantities. It may be necessary to purchase and warehouse significantly more product than is actually needed.

We should also consider the customer when evaluating the need to add a new SKU. Is this for a new opening or for a business that has been operating for a number of

years? New openings typically require greater inventories immediately after opening, but demand can quickly subside. And adding an item for a new customer, which ceases operation after a short time period, can result in that inventory sitting on a shelf.

Finally, this process variability creates operating inefficiencies. Processing smaller wash batches to accommodate limited demand wastes water, energy and chemicals. Mixing a new item with other items to assure a full wash load increases labor in the form of post-sorting. A new item can also create waste by increasing processing changeovers on the plant floor.

PRODUCT UPGRADE

A second common scenario prompting laundry managers to introduce a new item into the product mix is to upgrade an existing item. Upgrading an existing SKU offers potential competitive differentiation and can garner customer goodwill, but it can also be expensive.

Be sure to consider the impact of an upgraded item on revenue per pound. This is particularly important in healthcare laundries, where piece pricing is prevalent.

Additionally, upgraded products are typically more expensive to purchase. A higher-thread-count sheet will prompt better patient satisfaction ratings, but it will be more expensive to purchase. The higher installation cost may be compensated by longer product life and increased turns, but,

if not, a price increase will be in order.

Finally, we need to consider if the new product is more expensive to process than the item it is replacing. Microfiber products are becoming more and more popular with commercial laundries for a number of reasons; however, they do typically require additional chemistry to properly launder. If the customer is willing to pay a premium and recognizes the value of an upgraded item, the change should be made.

Before adding an SKU to your product mix, be sure to consider all of the costs and determine the real price necessary to profitably supply that item. If the customer recognizes the value and is willing to pay for it, the item can be safely added and will provide years of income.

EQUIPMENT

Just as adding SKUs can generally be classified within one of two scenarios, so can capital equipment purchases.

First, we should consider if new equipment will reduce the cost of doing business. Under this scenario, return on investment (ROI) drives the decision. Considering that banks typically finance capital equipment over terms of five to seven years and equipment life expectancy should be at least twice the financing term, a target ROI of three years is appropriate.

It is, however, worth noting that considering today’s difficult labor market, many operators are willing to accept a much longer

ROI if the new equipment reduces the need for full-time employees (FTE).

The second scenario when considering an equipment purchase is to replace existing equipment that has reached the end of its productive life with a like item. Here, we should look to finance over as long a term as possible or roll into a longer-term business loan.

These decisions are typically more pricedriven. Of course, value and various options offered by competing manufacturers should be considered as well.

Finally, depreciation should be considered when making capital purchases. Identifying a target depreciation is often a matter of individual company strategy and profitability; however, 8-10% depreciation relative to total sales is common. If your company is operating above profit goals, more depreciation may be in order.

Whether product or equipment, laundry managers need to take similar factors into account, such as buying new, upgrading old, and enhancing value. Above all, the customer’s needs and wants, and what they are willing to pay for, must be considered. ALN

Spence

Product Evaluation:

View from the plant floor

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — For John Green, director of textile services for Emerald Coast Vacation Rentals in Destin, Fla., evaluation of new textile products and services for laundry and linen operations is a two-step process.

The first step is customer service.

“In the scientific community, the first step is always ‘identify the problem,’” says Green. “Always listen carefully to a customer and identify their needs correctly. Too many people these days sell products and services that they want to sell, not what a client needs.”

Correctly identifying a customer’s needs, and fitting those needs with a proper product or service, promotes a healthy customer relationship, he says.

“That is, I think, one of the things this industry typically does well, and the resulting longevity of customer contracts is the proof,” adds Green.

For example, he says his company has a small-batch customer, a chain of chiropractic/massage clinics. The typical load size is 60 to 100 pounds per location, per week. In addition, Green says the product used is not white, as the customer perceives white as too clinical.

“They were using a green flannel fabric when I took their contract, and asked my opinion,” he says. “I’m reluctant to recommend a

microfiber product for anything, for a number of reasons, but for this particular customer, it seemed to be the best fit.

“I won’t complain about not being able to process this through finishing machinery, as it’s such a small batch. The color lasts longer and brighter, the life of the product is longer, and the end-user feel is much better in our Florida climate. Even though this product is not a usual sell, or convenient for me as a provider, it was the best fit for this particular customer.”

Tom Peplinski, operations manager for Golden West Betterway Uniforms in Oakland, Calif., looks at products in much the same way as Green: add new products based upon meeting existing customers’ needs, rather than adding new products to entice potential new customers.

“This approach has worked well for us, as we can evaluate a product through an existing customer’s use and then present it to other existing customers as a growth item,” he says.

“We have been surprised at times, believing a product would be the next ‘Big Thing,’ only to find out that it flopped with our existing customer base. Trendy, new products can end up prematurely shelved.”

That brings up Green’s second step: the actual product evaluation.

He says the most important part of this step of product evaluation is research.

“No matter what the product is, you can never know too much about it,” says Green. “Ask questions about production facilities and processes. Find out the exact composition of the product.

“Developers are very good sources of information, if you can find them. Those are the people you can ask the ‘why’ questions. Why is the composition exactly what it is? Why is the solution the best? What other fibers or formulas were rejected, and why? Find people who use the product and ask them their thoughts.

“This is the age of information, all of these answers should be available to you. Ultimately, be it a material, or a chemical, you will be selling it to the customer, and will be responsible for its impact on the end-user.”

Peplinski says there are five things he considers when looking at a new product:

• Training of employees on ordering, storing, cleaning, pricing, invoicing and maintaining the product.

• What are the positive features and benefits, along with what are any potential pitfalls of a new product?

• Will the product solve a customer issue, or is it just new

style and flash? “We stay away from adding new products because they are trendy today,” he says.

• What is the industrial longevity of the product? Will it withstand all of the handling?

• Can it be stored without degrading? “I speak from experience on the degradation of a shelved product,” adds Peplinski.

Part of the research process for Green includes sampling. He recommends testing a product thoroughly before implementing it into a business.

“Think of the label on a can of, well, anything, where it reads, ‘spot test in an inconspicuous area,’” he offers as an example.

“Manufacturers are almost always sending sample products. If that sample sits on your desk while you look at it and research it, then you’ve missed the point.”

In the case of linens and terry, Green says to sleep on a set of sheets

Sam Spence is a consultant for TBR Associates, part of the Tingue family of companies.

for a few nights, and dry off with the towel. He acknowledges that such product testing is not as fun as testing out new technology, but it is information that can’t be gained any other way.

In the case of chemicals, Green recommends testing cautiously.

“I’ve always been one to experiment outside the box in this department,” he says. “Shop rags are great loads to test new chemicals on, without damaging anything of value.”

Again, Green says the more a service knows about a product, and how it works, the better knowledge it will have when examining a customer’s needs.

“This is a process that should never stop, as new products and processes are introduced all the time,” Green adds. “While you may not need a certain product at this time, not knowing about it will limit your arsenal of solutions for potential customers.”

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

AND

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Structured hotel laundry processes key to quality guest experience

BY BILL BROOKS

RIPON, Wis. — For all the back-ofthe-house talk, our industry is far from an afterthought in any segment it serves, and definitely not in the hospitality market.

In the world of fire service, our equipment is being trusted to care for firefighters’ most important protective gear. While they may not be as flashy as fire trucks, laundry machines are far from firehouse afterthoughts. What happens in the laundry resonates well beyond. Process and equipment matter.

In the world of long-term care, hospitals and even vet clinics, laundry machines take the lead role in helping prevent the spread of dangerous infections and germs. Again, the washer-extractors and tumble dryers may not be front and center, but their results will be felt throughout the facility. Process and equipment matter.

And then there’s the world of hospitality. Compared to the examples above, it is much simpler to use the back-of-the-house tag here. But it is a mistake to minimize the importance of laundry equipment and processes here.

WHY PROCESSES, EQUIPMENT MATTER

Today’s hotels are offering more amenities than ever before. Food and beverage continues to be an important revenue generator for many properties, while pools, spas and workout rooms all contribute to the guest experience.

However, laundry staff and the processes they utilize are as important as the frontdesk person or restaurant employees. A stretch you say? It doesn’t matter if you are a five-star hotel, limited-service property or even a bed-and-breakfast. The root of what each of these businesses is offering is quite simply a bed, a place to spend the night.

So, the question is simple: Will a fantastic check-in experience, wonderful meal and relaxing spa treatment be enough to counter towels that are harsh to the touch or bed linens that are stained or poorly finished? Doubtful. Few things can reduce a guest’s opinion of a property faster than the quality of the linen. Think of your worst hotel stay—I’m guessing dirty or poor-quality linens are part of that memory.

Laundry processes matter.

TAILOR YOUR APPROACH

The first step in establishing proper laundry processes in the hospitality business (and most others) is building open lines of communication with the key stakeholders. Management needs to have a clear picture of what the manufacturer of the linens recommends for handling the pieces. Linen replacement is no small expenditure, so it’s

obviously important to adhere to their recommendations to ensure maximum linen life.

From there, it’s all about looping in your chemical company representative and laundry equipment distributor to dial-in the cycle specifics. In addition to the chemical input, clean results center on three variables: time, temperature and wash action. By employing a team approach and good communication, all parties should be able to agree on a wash formula that delivers the best care for linens.

In establishing these processes, laundry managers often uncover gaps in the operation. Does the washer-extractor have the programming flexibility to tailor cycles? Is the laundry as a whole set up for the increased demands?

For instance, moving toward higherthread-count sheets means higher water retention in the fabric. Low-G-force washers that might have been adequate in the past may not spin out fast enough, thus extending dry times significantly. This process gap could be exacerbated by old, inefficient tumble dryers. The process review also may uncover the need for an ironer, or that linens require a different residual-moisture level to condition better on the shelf.

TRAINING

Your hotel laundry has the right equipment set-up and processes that will deliver the premium results guests expect. Are those processes well-articulated to staff? Training is where processes are established, but some operations slip up due to not giving it adequate attention. Managers have to commit to establishing an adequate new-employee training procedure and double-check that staff (if they aren’t the one doing the training) is hitting all the key process points.

While much of that process is rigid, operations will see changes. Going back to the new-linen-package example, if new linens require new cycles, methods of handling, etc., part of the management process is to brief all staff on the changes. Staff needs to understand that a new linen package may come with new laundering procedures. Communication is key.

PROCESS REVIEW

Things appear to be running well. But how do you know? This is where a laundry management system can help supervisors identify where employees might need additional training or just flat out aren’t following processes.

One area on-premises laundry employees have often struggled with is fully utilizing the capacity of machines. If a supervisor isn’t there to see the action, they can’t really seize the opportunity to retrain staff members. A laundry management system

is one of the biggest checks on process.

In one example I have observed, a hotel was seeing washer-extractors registering a high percentage of out-of-balance loads. Armed with the data, management was able to investigate and see that staff was significantly underloading the 160-pound washers. Without the report, management may not have known a process problem existed.

It’s important that staff understand how shortcuts or veering from process impacts quality. For instance, fast-forwarding a cycle can lead to residual chemical being left in linens. Once dried, the chemical gets baked into linens and creates a coarse feel and discoloration. They should know that underloading wastes chemicals and exposes linens to overdosing. Overdrying of loads contributes to linens wearing out prematurely.

Staff should be trained to wash like items and to separate according to soil level. This process helps reduce the reject rate, which is roughly 3-5% nationally.

The bottom line is process isn’t something that is implemented and put on autopilot. Managers should adapt new processes to meet any changes in linens or equipment. They should communicate regularly and identify data points within laundry management systems that are opportunities to have process discussions with staff.

What employees might see as small, insignificant process changes on their end could have far-reaching consequences in quality that guests see. Again, communication and process go hand-in-hand.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Consumers today scarcely buy a product

or visit a restaurant without first looking at online reviews. They most definitely are not going to stay in a hotel without first consulting an online rating and reading comments, often in a variety of locations.

When it comes to these reviews and ratings, everything is important. However, the centerpiece of every stay is the bed and linens. Nothing can ruin a guest’s stay faster than poor finished quality of linens. No doubt, a lackluster guest experience will deliver an equally poor review.

This gives the consumer great power to shape the success of a hotel. It also underscores the need for consistency in the laundry, and consistency is rooted in processes. Managers need to take a thoughtful approach to not only what processes they adopt, but also reinforce them through continuous communications and utilize available technologies that help ensure they are being followed.

By creating structured processes and building in flexibility to adapt to changes in equipment and linens, laundry managers can put their department on the best footing possible to deliver quality—the type of quality that brings glowing online reviews. Process matters. ALN

Bill Brooks is the national sales manager for UniMac, a provider of on-premises laundry equipment. He can be reached at bill.brooks@ alliancels.com or 920748-4437. Brooks

Create structured processes, with built-in flexibility to adapt to changes, says author

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

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Ultraviolet: Disinfectant wave of the future

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — Ultraviolet (UV) light is a natural disinfectant. It destroys bacteria that it comes in contact with.

Paul Jewison, president and CEO of Textile Care Services, a healthcare laundry in Rochester, Minn., has been using UV technology as a disinfectant for close to two years.

“This ultraviolet system is a game changer,” he says. “It’s overkill because the light is on continuously. It can move all around the laundry.”

However, only in recent years has the laundry industry begun to embrace the disinfecting properties of UV.

“Many other industries have been using this technology, and have been for decades,” says Andrew Rupnow, founder and chairman of OMNI Solutions, which provides laundry cleaning and sanitization solutions and technologies. “It just has never been applied to the laundry industry.”

Jewison started using UV when he helped Rupnow create a system that works on tunnel washers.

The two met at the 2016 Association for Linen Management (ALM) IMPACT Conference in Arizona. After talking about the system, Jewison decided to get involved.

“He brought it over to my plant, and we started developing a way to take ultraviolet light and apply it differently than it has been in the past,” Jewison says.

UV AT WORK

So, how does UV light disinfect? UV comes in different wavelengths, and the 254-nanometer light kills surface bacteria and can disinfect water.

“UV-C light energy kills dangerous microorganisms by disrupting their DNA structure,” says Wayne Schulze, UV application/ Western region sales manager for Energenics Corp., which provides products to solve problems for the laundry industry. “This photochemical process shuts down a microorganism’s reproductive processes and renders it nonpathogenic.”

“When you look at the performance of ultraviolet light against this long list of bugs, it’s staggering the amount it can kill,” Jewison says. “It’s up to 99%.”

Schulze adds that the use of UV light is effective, consistent and repeatable. It will help maintain an acceptable level of microbial load based on a laundry’s hygienic standards and monitoring program.

SURFACE CLEANSING

Theoretically, there are several points of application for UV in a laundry. One such use in the industry is as a surface disinfectant.

Energenics makes a mobile surface disinfectant unit called UV-MAX, which Schulze says is most commonly used at the loading dock to disinfect linen transport vehicles prior to loading with clean products for return to the customer.

“The unit is placed in the back of the truck with the door closed and zero exposure to the operator,” he says. “Treatment times are determined by desired results. Customer feedback indicates the process can take as little as three minutes when used on a consistent basis.”

Schulze adds that UV can be used anywhere in a laundry where microbial surface contamination is a concern. This includes clean rooms, soil-sort areas, bathrooms and lunchrooms.

“Zero exposure to operators and employees must be maintained when considering application,” he cautions. “It’s important to note that UV is ‘line of sight’; therefore, shadowing must be considered.”

Besides the mobile unit for surface disinfection, Schulze says UV technology has been available as an option on two of the company’s standard products for some time. First, on the Kartwasher as a secondary treatment option. It’s also available on Ambient Air Lint Filters (AALF) to disinfect the lint prior to collection for sanitary disposal.

IN THE WASH

As mentioned earlier, Rupnow and Jewison created a UV system that works on washers. The system, Smart Ultraviolet Light Advanced Oxidation System (SULAOS), treats press water reuse.

Rupnow says the system makes use of the 185-nanometer band of UV light to create ozone gas, which is a strong oxidizer. The system combines peroxide with the ozone to create a product called peroxone. When that compound comes into contact with 254-nanometer-wavelength UV light, it creates hydroxyl radicals, which are a strong oxidant for the disinfection process.

“Our background is taking this technology that’s been proven over decades and applying it to the laundry industry for treating water and also textiles,” he says.

Rupnow says using the system to treat press water reuse allows the operator to reuse more of that water without losing integrity in the linen.

“If you didn’t use this type of system, you would build up a biofilm in that laundry process, and potentially the linens would start graying and stinking,” he says. “By using the technology, you can use more of the water, provide a better product for customers, whiter linen, and reduce odor and water consumption.”

On a tunnel washer, the press water is usually pumped up to the front. Rupnow says the system intercepts that line, takes the press water and runs it through the UV system, and puts it back into the rinse zone.

On a conventional washer, Rupnow says there are two points of application. First is treating the incoming cold water with UV before it enters the washer. Second is to place it on the flush manifold of the chemical system.

“What that does is not only cleans the water, but it also enhances the chemicals for better cleaning during the wash process,” he says.

Other uses of the UV system, notes Rupnow, includes treating wastewater; cleaning and disinfecting overhead rail bags; cart wash treatments; and disinfecting delivery trucks and conveyor systems.

How effective is the UV system? Rupnow says third-party studies and tests done for customers shows the reduction of bacteria anywhere from a 90% to 99% reduction in colony-forming units (CFU).

In addition, Rupnow says the systems installed so far have been proven to save on water consumption and gas usage, because reusing the press water lessens the need for fresh water, and since the press water is warm, less gas is used

UV technology can be used to disinfect surfaces from the loading dock to the lunch room. (Photo: Energenics Corp.)

for heat.

While UV light is a proven, effective disinfectant, Schulze cautions that laundry operators shouldn’t see it, alone, as a “silver bullet.”

“It’s most effective when used in conjunction with other disinfectants, like the chemicals you are using now,” he says. “UV becomes the workhorse of your hygienic cleaning program in addition to

On washers, besides killing bacteria, UV technology can help reduce water and gas usage. (Photo: OMNI Solutions)

providing consistency and repeatability.”

With basic training, a laundry operator can gain confidence in the technology and understand its limitations, according to Schulze.

“The UV technology, it’s been in other industries, and now it’s coming into the laundry industry,” Rupnow concludes. “It’s setting new standards. It’s here to stay.” ALN

Ecotex opens new facility, 20-year agreement with Interior Health

Plant

KELOWNA, B.C. — Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service recently began operating a new facility designed to support the Interior Health Authority of British Columbia, reports the Healthcare Linen Alliance. Built in just seven months, the newest Ecotex plant was designed to ensure industry best practices for infection control of linens supplied to the region’s 72 hospitals and clinics.

Interior Health says it anticipates savings of approximately $35 million over the length of the 20-year contract. Outsourcing this service will enable it to focus on patient care, as well as complete upgrades and expansion to emergency rooms and operating facilities.

The Ecotex facility in Kelowna is equipped with the latest equipment and technology to ensure hygienically clean linen processing, while improving ergonomics for employees and streamlining plant operations.

“We are pleased to have the

opportunity to work with Interior Health to provide support service to the region’s hospitals by providing a safe and comfortable environment for patient care using smarter linen solutions,” says Ecotex CEO Randy Bartsch. “We are confident that we can provide safety and comfort to patients that inspires trust and confidence, while at the same time offering services to IH in the most financially responsible manner, delivering attentive, high-quality service, employing

The Ecotex facility is

industry best practices and applying technical excellence.”

Ecotex is an established industry leader in environmental sustainability and is certified Clean Green® for its environmental laundry practices, according to the Healthcare Linen Alliance. The facility incorporates the industry’s best practices for energy conservation and fresh water use and is designed to reduce the environmental footprint from laundry generated by a health system by more than 60%.

Long-time CBW ® operator Carlos Guzman fires up the new systems at the Ecotex plant. (Photos: Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service)

equipped with the latest equipment and technology to ensure hygienically clean linen processing.

Textile

provider opens facility in Bay

NEWARK, Calif. — Mission Linen Supply, a provider of linens, uniforms, supplies and related services, has built and opened a new, 100,000-squarefoot, LEED-certified facility here, the company reports.

Equipped to process more than 70 million pounds of laundry each year, Mission says the new facility will enable it to provide efficient linen services to customers throughout San Francisco and the surrounding areas.

The state-of-the-art Newark facility leverages the latest advances in equipment technology and automation, and it is designed to protect the environment, according to Mission. The facility uses less than 0.85 gallons of water per pound of laundry, making it three times more efficient than the industry standard. It also features solar panels, uses energy-efficient light sources and recycles wastewater.

Additionally, more than 25% of the plant’s delivery vehicles use alternative fuels.

“We’re thrilled about the opportunities this new facility creates,” says John Ross, Mission’s president and CEO. “Not only will it allow us to bring our industry-leading expertise, commitment to sustainability and wide selection of products to new customers in the Bay Area, but it will also help us provide even better service for many of our existing local accounts.”

The Newark facility is Mission’s 44th location. The company says its other facilities span California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and New Mexico.

Across all its locations, including the new Newark facility, Mission offers rental services, products for direct purchase and e-commerce solutions, and collaborates with its customers to monitor inventory, evaluate product usage and determine the most cost-effective supply programs.

Along with providing textiles and industrial laundry services, Mission is also a single-source provider for a variety of other essentials, including cleaning products, floor mats, restroom supplies and beyond.

Mission Linen Supply says it will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Newark facility on Feb. 27. ALN

PANEL OF EXPERTS

It pays for laundries to have clean facilities, equipment

Second, equipment cleaning. This is really part of the preventative maintenance program.

F irst, facility cleaning. Keeping your laundry clean, whether it is on-premises or commercial, is paramount in order to maintain a safe environment for infection control. Bacteria and fungus thrive in a dirty environment. This can cause contamination to clean linen, which can be dangerous in the healthcare environment.

It’s also important for employee safety. A cluttered and dirty area increases the risk of injury and worker’s comp and other liability claims. From an operational perspective, a cluttered work area slows down employees and impacts workflow.

Creating a system for cleaning as a process is the only way to ensure a clean facility. Having a checklist with daily and weekly cleaning schedules, as well as inspections, is the best way to manage this.

The floors should be cleaned daily, but depending on the use of space, the type of cleaning can vary. In a small on-premises laundry where the same areas are used for clean and soiled linen, the areas should be washed and disinfected daily. Areas that have complete separation might not have the same requirement. Broom-sweeping the pack-out area of a commercial laundry may be sufficient. However, here, too, there should be a washing and disinfecting schedule in place.

There are guidelines for this, such as TRSA Hygienically Clean or HLAC. The most important thing is following them. In a larger commercial laundry setting, having a dedicated employee will ensure that the facility will be cleaned and not shoved under the rug due to workload and deadline challenges to operations.

A good practice is to blow down thoroughly, daily (some equipment may require twice a day). Also, inspect for any buildup daily and clean as needed. The best practice if you don’t have a system is to inspect and see how often each cleaning task is needed to maintain proper operation. The cleaner the equipment, the smoother your process. Your operators will treat the equipment better if it always looks clean.

As with facility cleanliness, having this as part of a process and assigning it to an individual will ensure that it gets done. It is always good to get manufacturers’ best practices and recommendations.

The most critical things to look at include anything that is combustible and near a heat source, specifically lint. Dryer exhaust ducts should be inspected regularly, and lint buildup should be avoided at all cost. Rooftop exhaust locations should also be watched, as lint buildup can also be hazardous outdoors.

trash with a circle and line resembling road signs so that no matter what language, our team understands the message. Our daily meetings with the laundry team also reinforce the message of keeping the laundry clean.

We operate two shifts per day, and each shift has the last 10 minutes with all team members assigned to clean up around the equipment and floor areas. This includes sweeping and quick mopping around each area.

We do have a custodial person who does deeper cleaning, but it is the responsibility of each team member to clean their area before leaving. The supervisors will monitor and coach individuals to make sure we are completing these tasks daily.

In my meetings with my supervisors, I remind them not to be so focused on production; however, that cleanup time is eliminated to produce more linen. Our facility is one of the areas on almost every tour of the resort that is included, so we need to be “show ready” at all times, as most tours are smaller, unscheduled tours that just show up.

our second-shift laundry team, with spot blowdowns every other day. Facility blowdown is one area that should never be compromised, as it is a serious fire potential if regular cleaning does not occur.

in laundry, I always ask a single question: Have you ever seen a laundry operation that was too clean?

I t’s always easy to keep a laundry clean when occupancy is lower and fewer pounds are produced, but the challenge becomes greater when you are at 100% occupancy and are running all of the equipment 18 to 20 hours per day.

What I have found is that we tend to be so focused on production out the door that we stop doing the simple things, like picking up trash from the floor, or linen that drops on the floor, as soon as it happens. We bought and put up signs throughout the laundry that has a towel and

Our laundry has all conventional washers and dryers, so we are manually loading linen. The washdeck team has the same 10-minute cleanup time at the end of each shift, which includes around the front of all machines.

The mechanics are responsible for cleaning behind and under any of our equipment, and the mechanic from each shift is assigned a specific rotation for both the cleaning and maintenance. They keep a log record of all work and cleaning performed, and it is checked by the supervisors as having been performed.

A full blowdown of the facility is performed once per week by

Every laundry is different, from the size of the laundry or the number of custodial staffs that are utilized. In conclusion, each laundry may have different ways of keeping its facility clean, but you must always create an atmosphere among your team that believes in, and takes ownership of, plant cleanliness. It has to be just like taking care of your own house, and that is what we instill in our team members every day.

Housekeeping is not an option for laundry operators; it should be a mandatory part of a plant’s operating parameters. Many of these cleaning tasks are required as part of your laundry certification for healthcare processing. Your laundry operation should have a written schedule for each department of the plant that assures a level of cleanliness with established standards. A routine cleaning schedule should include the following:

Daily Equipment Cleans

— Work should be performed by hourly employees as part of their daily routine and cleanup at the end of each shift. Selfmaintaining the work area helps to instill pride and ownership in their work environment.

Management and the hourly team should develop a process, whether done daily, at each break or weekly, and decide who is responsible for the assigned tasks.

“Sometimes, we get so caught up in getting the work processed and out the door that we don’t keep the laundry production areas as clean as they should be. What tasks should we be performing regularly to keep our facility clean? To what degree do we need to clean our equipment, and how often?”

When asked about the need for general housekeeping

Equipment Manufacturing

Keith Ware Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc.

Commercial Laundry

Brian Polatsek

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Sorting — Sanitize the sort belt on a daily basis, and clean the sort hoppers and cart dumps. All trash should be cleaned up and disposed of. Most laundries should do a better job of washing their sorting slings or bins to prevent bacterial growth.

Washdeck — Keeping washers and the load area clean and

free of spills and splashover of wash liquor. Routinely cleaning the drain trough screens and lint screens helps to keep your waste water from clogging up heat recovery of the main sewer drains. Remember to not use abrasive cleaners or pads on stainless-steel components.

Dryers — Keeping the dryers free from plastic within the drum helps prevent reduction in dryer efficiency and, most importantly, prevents potential fire hazards. Cleaning lint screens and lint blowdown nozzles should be a daily or by-shift

task. Too often, plants do a poor job of sorting their linen and trash. This leads to some dryer baskets often blocking upwards of 70% of the airflow, causing less efficient dryer operations.

Finishing — Each day, wipe down the equipment and sweep up all lint and linen on the floors. Clean all photo eyes and belts. Employees should be trained on where and what to clean, and in proper lockout/ tagout of the equipment so no one is injured cleaning a machine.

Ductwork — This process

may require the hiring of a professional duct-cleaning company on a quarterly basis to properly and safely clean your ducts.

Break Rooms and Bathrooms

This area shows a manager’s dedication to plant cleanliness, but it also displays how a company treats its employees.

If the employees’ break room or bathrooms look like a toxic waste site, why would your staff take interest in keeping the plant clean? General cleanliness of a bathroom or break room belongs to the employees themselves, but if you provide a poor

environment that shows a lack of concern for their comfort, it will be difficult to expect a clean production floor.

Docks — Loading docks tend to be the junk collectors of the laundry. Routine cleaning by drivers and the loader should remove all trash, unnecessary carts or equipment.

This process does not cover the detailed cleaning that should be handled by engineering in detail blowdown, high-level lint removal and deep cleaning of the equipment, such as dryers, ironers, folders, etc.

2,500 thank you’s

Ellis Corporation is excited to announce that it rang in the New Year by proudly fulfilling the company’s 2,500th Side Loading Washer Extractor order — a momentous achievement we share with all.

Everyone behind the Ellis name wishes to acknowledge our deepest thanks, to you, our customers for playing a vital role in reaching this 2,500 roll-out milestone.

Your confidence and continued support in the Ellis brand are humbling and profoundly appreciated. We recognize the numerous factors in-play when investing in new pieces of machinery and, we could not be prouder that you’ve chosen the Ellis family as a trusted partner.

Again, on behalf of the entire Ellis team, we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to you, our valued customers.

In a past management role, I assigned each tunnel system in the plant to individual teams. We had them name their equipment and created a competition amongst the teams to see who maintained their work area and team’s equipment better. These teams went above and beyond in keeping the equipment they were assigned clean. Maybe it was pride of ownership, or maybe it was the internal competition, but to see bright, shiny tunnels every day was a great result. Staffing your plant with a proper janitorial staff is key to keeping the plant tour-ready every day.

I t can be challenging to remember that getting the linen out on a difficult day is really the low-water line for the operation. Just accomplishing that is “borrowing” from the operation’s tomorrow; you will have to make up the other incomplete actionable items in a future that is not necessarily going to be easier than today. While it is difficult to keep perspective under duress, your obligation to your program is to improve on it to some small degree every day, especially the tough ones.

As a former EVS manager and working in healthcare laundry, I consider the necessity of a clean facility every day a requisite for safe and efficient operations. We simply must not shut down and go home before we are satisfied with the cleanliness of the facility and the equipment within it.

As far as what tasks should be performed regularly, it is to your advantage to put all of your cleaning tasks on a regular schedule to stay ahead of the potential problems, as well as to ensure a good presentation of your facilities at all times.

Each facility will have different needs and frequencies, but basic high and low dusting to remove lint from equipment and environmental surfaces is

Healthcare Laundry

Richard Engler, CLLM John Peter Smith Health Network Fort Worth, Texas

Robert Fesmire, Sr. CEO, Ellis Corporation

Robert Fesmire, Jr. President, Ellis Corporation

a daily task to keep lint at bay. Wiping dirt, oil and grease from any surface will help keep it off of linen and hands that touch linen. Trash removal, sweeping and clearing the floor of reject, stain and rag materials, and then a disinfectant mopping or auto scrubbing of the floors, will assist in keeping things safe, sanitary and neat. These actions will also help reduce the amount of materials that have been misplaced and may be lying idle in the dark corners of the production areas.

Equipment cleaning specifically can be based on the preventive maintenance schedule. Do a complete wipedown after maintenance has finished with their PM to ensure that you do not have any residue on the panels, beltways and control surfaces. Otherwise, the equipment is wiped down whenever lint or dust is visible at end of day using a disinfectant detergent in a spray bottle and a cleaning cloth or rag. We also use a degreaser when faced with oily material, and stainless-steel cleaner polish when wiping these surfaces.

Based on this scenario, there should be enough time spent on the floor while pushing processing on completing production demands to see things noticeably in need regarding the cleanliness of the plant. All of these items are on the table for corrective action that day before the team goes home. Larger tasks should be scheduled for corrective action as soon as preparation to perform is completed.

Remember that the importance of the condition of the facility is something your team will follow your lead on, and they will feel respected and appreciated more if it matters to you that they work in a plant that you are all proud to show.

drop by your house unexpectedly, and you were embarrassed because your house was in shambles? Been there, done that.

I have found that keeping my workplace at a level of cleanliness as though I were expecting my clients to stop by at any time is a huge plus.

I do this by appointing one person to clean, and that is all they do. I will make a list of things that need to be cleaned daily, weekly and monthly, and I will sit down with that person and go over my expectations with them. When the busy times

come—and they will—I know I still have someone doing the cleaning, and I can always find five to 10 minutes out of the day to inspect and make certain the cleaning is meeting my expectations.

If we do get extremely busy and fall behind in our cleaning of the facility, I will call for a voluntary field day. I run a small facility, so I ask for five or six volunteers to stay after working hours one day and clean the whole area from top to bottom, and then reward them with pizza or a cookout. We have many

tours in our facility, and having my area of the building clean and orderly not only makes a good impression, but also helps the morale of the workers.

The machines we use are an investment—a very expensive, necessary investment. Why would we not want to take care of them? Maintenance and cleaning is a must so the machines continue to work properly and for our ROI to come to fruition.

I have set up a daily and monthly schedule for maintenance and cleaning of all wash-

ers, dryers and carts. Daily maintenance and cleaning includes, but is not limited to, cleaning of the lint traps, cleaning all carts that contained soiled laundry, wiping down the outside of all the machines, and making sure there are no clogged air vents or filters. The monthly maintenance is following the maintenance schedule of the manufacturer.

I run a small facility and realize that most of these ideas will not work in a large facility, but my hope is that some of the ideas will help someone’s operation run a little more efficiently. ALN

W henever I worked with my dad while growing up, the first thing he would have me do is clean up the area where I was going to be working. He would tell me, “A clean workplace is a happy workplace.”

I don’t think it’s possible to overestimate the value of a clean workplace; however, the need to meet a deadline and get the product out the door sometimes causes one to underestimate or overlook the importance of a clean, orderly workplace.

I understand that all facilities are different, but here are some ideas that have worked for me. Have you ever had someone

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.

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

Other Institution Laundry

Todd B. Jenson, CLLM Ramsey County Correctional Facility Maplewood, Minn

B&C TECHNOLOGIES

B&C Technologies says its line of large-capacity washers has been proven in the field to offer long life and dependability.

Available in capacities that range from 110 pounds to 475 pounds, these machines utilize a simple design that saves money by keeping repair costs and downtime to a minimum and allows for easy maintenance, according to the company.

B&C Technologies also says the machines have the all-new, flexible FM7 control that is Bluetooth-compatible for easy programming.

The high extract speed of this soft-mount line ensures less dry

time for goods, saving on utility costs and wear and tear on the goods, the company says. In addition, B&C says all its large-

capacity washers feature a solid foundation, a large door opening for easier loading and unloading, and a strong door and hinge system made of 304 stainless steel. www.bandctech.com 850-249-2222

GIRBAU INDUSTRIAL

Girbau Industrial says its HS Series 130- and 255-poundcapacity washers feature durability, programmability, high-speed extract and a freestanding, soft-mount design. Available in stationary and tilt models, for simple loading and unloading, the washers are ergonomically designed and easy to operate. Generating extract speeds of

387 G-force, up to four times greater than most hard-mount washers, HS Series Washers remove more water from each load, according to Girbau Industrial, cutting dry time by up to 50%. HS Series Washers boost throughput, while lowering utility and labor costs.

The washers feature the highly flexible Inteli control, which offers 20 pre-

well as programmability of water temperature by degree, wash rotation speed and duration, water

capacity foundation, for

COMPILED BY MATT POE, EDITOR

www.energenics.com 800-944-1711 1470 Don St. Naples, FL 34104 3 TECHNOLOGIES TO SANITIZE ALL BRANDS OF CARTS KARTWASHER PREMIER INTRODUCING 1. GENERATES HYPOCHLOROUS ACID/SODIUM HYDROXIDE, PATENTED INSTANT KILL 2. DETERGENT/QUATERNARY - CHEMICAL/WATER PROCESS—INDUSTRY STANDARD 3. UV LIGHT SANITATION PROCESS DOES NOT REQUIRE WATER OR CHEMICALS • Meets or exceeds national accreditation process for proper treatment of carts • All serviceable components at floor level • Touch screen fully adjustable including maintenance and diagnostics • Washes, Sanitizes & Dries all brands of carts • Water consumption achievableless than 1 gallon/water/cart • Full communication between Kartwasher and Factory • Can be ordered and configurated for any plant layout • Arrives completely factory assembled & tested 0218aln_Energenics WILD (Kartwasher).indd 1 1/6/18 7:46 AM ALN_Tab_half.indd 1

levels, bath cool-down by degree, and extract speeds.

www.girbauindustrial.com 800-256-1073

RAMCO

RAMCO says its large-capacity washer-extractors are ruggedly built with fewer parts than most commercial washers. They are soft-mount machines with reduced vibration, making them a great choice for single- and upperstory installations. There is a wide range of sizes up to 450 pounds in models SWE, SWET, SWETB, SWETI and SWETIB.

The company says the washers are constructed from high-quality

stainless-steel materials and include innovative, yet easy-touse, microprocessor controls with color touch screens. With 300 G-force for extraction, drying time is reduced, saving energy costs. The cylinders are electro-polished and embossed, preventing material snags and tears. This increases the life of linens and towels.

Also, the washers have four- to five-cup automatic dispensers and an easy access drain—no more crawling in the trench, RAMCO says.

The company says many of its soft-mount washers are also available in tilting models. These machines have automatic hydraulic tilting and door openings with a 21-degree loading and unloading angle.

www.ramcolaundry.com 800-878-5578

LAVATEC LAUNDRY

TECHNOLOGY INC.

For specific fabric washing or smaller-scale laundry operations, Lavatec says its LX-series of frontloading washer-extractors rank high. Designed and manufactured to produce both impressive bottom-line and laundry room results, these reliable, high-performance machines are built to last many years of operation.

The LX 425 is one example that offers high extraction rates to significantly reduce drying times. The 250-pound-capacity unit has a single-motor inverter-controlled drive that reserves power for wash and spin cycles, therefore providing the lowest possible energy consumption at any speed, says Lavatec. Built with a compact design that reduces necessary floor space, it has fully automated controls with touch-screen programming, diagnostic feedback and quiet operation.

The control panel on the LX 425 and other models displays time, level, dosing, temperature, drum speed, reversing and cooldown. They can run automatically or be adjusted and controlled

manually, the company says. The tilted cylinder allows for easy feeding and discharge.

www.lltusa.com 203-632-8777

UNIMAC

For high-capacity on-premises laundries whose operation demands the best of the best, UniMac® offers its high-performance UWN160T4V washerextractor.

Boasting 160 pounds of capacity, heavy-duty bearings and a plate steel frame, the company says this washer is built to perform and can help an operation keep up with the demand for clean, fresh linens. Durable construction, industry-leading efficiency and exclusive innovations like UniLinc™ and OPTispray combine to deliver lower costs and higher throughput than many other laundry machines, according to the company.

UniMac says its cutting-edge UniLinc control gives management unparalleled control and features a real-time clock, maintenance remind-

ers and 41 programmable cycles. When the washer is networked and connected to the cloudbased management and reporting tool, TotalVue, laundry managers gain complete visibility on the efficiency of their operation and where process improvements may be necessary.

www.unimac.com 800-587-5458

PELLERIN MILNOR CORP.

Pellerin Milnor says its industrial M-Series washer-extractor line features fully automated, semi-automated or manually loaded machines. These large, open-pocket ➢

[RAMCO Laundry Machinery]

[Lavatec Laundry Technology]

[UniMac]

washer-extractors include the 48080M7K (42 cubic feet), the 68036M5K (75.6 cubic feet) and the 72046M5K (108.4 cubic feet).

The company says the unique features of the series include the innovative SmoothCoil suspension system, designed for superior vibration dampening and less wear and tear, as well as the 21-degree, two-way tilting function for efficient loading and unloading. Additionally, this series is equipped with an intelligent bearing design that provides quadruple protection and an open machine design for easy access and streamlined maintenance.

The M-Series washer-extractors come standard with the MilTouch-EX™ control, which utilizes resistive touch-screen technology and full VGA resolution, Milnor says. The display shows current machine status info, including total formula time and time elapsed. It also gives the user complete access to the machine’s function at every level and wash/rinse step within safety limits. Optional allied controls interfaces are available as well.

EDRO CORP.

The open design with safety-rated light curtain for nonautomated operation allows for safe visual inspection while the washer-extractor is operating, according to the company.

Optional features include an integrated load chute door for automated washerextractor systems and reuse inlets and drains. www.milnor.com 504-712-7656

EDRO’s DynaWash® DW400, 400-pound/68.69 cubic-footcapacity, three-pocket end loader washer-extractor is equipped with many top-quality components, and it’s available in a new, smaller machine design, the company reports. The new, low-profile design features a reduction of 12 inches in machine height over its predecessor. Its footprint is 76.5 inches high by 94.875 inches wide by 74.5 inches deep, making it an extremely compact, large-capacity machine.

Machine operation is imple-

mented from a new controller box housing a state-of-the-art HMi Touch Screen Control. This allows for the most specific wash programming, simple operator interface and full array of owner/ supervisor productivity reporting, EDRO says.

The company says other machine features include:

• New positioning disc brake system.

• Redesigned AutoIndex cylinder positioning.

• New reinforced inner doors.

• New chemical port manifold. Built around the patented “3-D” basket design, EDRO says the battleship-quality machine delivers a dynamic wash action for superior linen cleaning. It also utilizes a single-motor variable-speed drive with exclusive variable-step extract timing for improved load balancing and water extraction.

The controller’s integrated ozone control also provides maximum safety and ease of use of the optional DynOzone-DynaWash® Ozone System feature, which reduces hot water requirements and overall water consumption, the company says.

www.edrocorp.com 800-628-6434

HUEBSCH

Huebsch says its HCN100 cabinet washer-extractor not only delivers great performance, but also technology to help it run at optimal efficiency.

With the combination of the Galaxy 400 control and eBoost™ technology, the 100-pound-capacity washer produces benefits such as a 165-G-force extract to remove more water and reduce drying time, com-

pared to 100-G-force units; multiple water levels to reduce water consumption; and advanced leak detection to eliminate wasted water in the event of a stuck drain valve.

The company says all this technology is paired with a robust design for ultimate performance. That performance is backed by a five-year warranty on the frame, cylinder, shaft, bearings and seals, as well as a three-year warranty on the entire machine. Huebsch says laundry staff is also sure to appreciate the washer’s design with ergonomics in mind, from the door handle and mechanism to the door height.

www.huebsch.com 800-553-5120

KANNEGIESSER ETECH

Washer-extractors have always had a challenge with loading and unloading methods by using the typical manual intervention that creates a dangerous physical labor component. Kannegiesser ETECH says it has solved this with its PowerSwing design that rotates fully upright 90 degrees to be loaded from a conveyor or rail bag system above.

This allows an extremely safe and fast process by also using gravity as an advantage to equally distribute each load. This ideal loading position then automatically rotates into wash position and then dumps to a cart or conveyor upon completion of the process.

The key savings are found

within the Scaletron PLUS and Jet rinsing feature principles that allow the weights to determine the amount of water and chemistry to inject with each batch, according to the company. The end result is a controlled wash environment and excellent quality results for all types of textiles, the company says. The machine is available in both the 396- and 661-pound models. Kannegiesser ETECH says the versatility and high-

quality results make this machine highly functional for every laundry and a customer favorite for its flexibility in all applications.

www.kannegiesser.com 972-602-8766

G.A.

BRAUN INC.

G.A. Braun says its 900-pound Advantage Side Loader® is available in a four-pocket configuration. The washers are engineered with the same structural integrity

and reliability of all Braun washers, according to the company, and feature superior mechanical action like the open-pocket washer-extractors.

Braun says the Advantage® features a patented door-locking mechanism and system. Each door switch communicates positive feedback to the controls, proving the door is completely locked. The machine will not move on to the next step until the door lock has been fully engaged.

A precise encoder and proprietary algorithms are utilized in hydraulic positioning to reduce time to below one minute, once reaching low speed. No pin is needed to jam to stop and position the cylinder. An inverter and a brake is used to precisely position each and every time.

The company says an automated step provides improved ergo-

nomics and alleviates back strain. The wide and large step, with a non-skid surface, gives operators a stable platform for loading.

Also, Braun says the direct drive minimizes maintenance and eliminates the need to tension belts, and it has standard highextract speed functionality.

An end-of-stroke tilt limiter stops the machine from tipping forward if the tilt cylinders were to fail when the machine is tilted forward over center. The company says its no crush hazard keeps operators safe when the machine is tilting down for unloading.

There is also standard fixed fenced guarding around three sides.

A split-panel control box is an exceptional safety feature, which separates the high-voltage from low-voltage components, the company says, and shell door and tilt functions require two-hand

control meeting all ANSI standards for safe operations. www.gabraun.com 800-432-7286

CONTINENTAL GIRBAU

INC.

Continental Girbau Inc. offers large-capacity washers in both soft-mount and rigid-mount designs.

The company says its 130- and 255-pound E-Series Washers feature a soft-mount design, superior programmability, extract speeds up to 387 G-force and unrivaled efficiency. Both models are available in stationary and tilt models for simplified loading and unloading. The washers offer the Inteli control, which has 79 owner-programmable cycles and

20 pre-programmed cycles.

The 125-pound Continental L-Series Washer is a hard-mount machine offering energy efficiency, heavy-duty construction and a flexible control, according to Continental. Its Premier Microprocessor (PM) Control features 99 program selections, including 20 pre-programmed and 70 user-programmable options.

Both L-Series and E-Series Washers are backed by a 5/3-year factory warranty.

www.cgilaundry.com 800-256-1073

PRIMUS

Primus says its PY275 washerextractor is the go-to player for on-premises laundries that require the ability to manage heavy loads efficiently.

unloading, as well as large dual drain valves to accelerate cycle times.

For maximum flexibility to get high-quality results, the XControl gives managers the highest level of control, according to Primus. Quality also shines in the unit’s SuperWash® perforated lifting cylinder ribs, which create more mechanical action for better wash performance. SuperEco cycles help reduce water and electrical consumption.

In addition, a 400-G-force final spin speed removes more water from loads for faster and more efficient drying. Shorter dry times mean loads can be returned to service sooner. Primus [Continental

The company says the washer’s 275-pound capacity is perfect for busy operations that need to return linens to service quickly. That speed is also achieved through a 25.5-inch door opening for fast loading and

Girbau]

[Primus]

says it offers a 10-year warranty on key components.

www.northamerica.

primuslaundry.com 877-724-0187

JENSEN USA

JENSEN says its L-Tron, JBW and JWE series washer-extractors are designed for strength and durability, with decades of proven experience.

The L-Tron open-pocket series is available in 450- and 800pound capacities, the JBW splitpocket barrier washer series from 35- to 510-pound capacities, and the JWE open-pocket series from 45- to 250-pound capacities.

All models are of soft-mount design and can be used in standalone operation.

JENSEN says the L-Tron series

can be part of a semi-automated or fully automated wash aisle. In stand-alone operation, the L-Tron can be manually sling-loaded or hand-loaded. In semi-automated or fully automated operation, the L-Tron can be loaded via monorail system, shuttle conveyor, or stationary conveyor.

The L-Tron can be outfitted with either a large door with an observation window, or the AutoPro loading hopper. The company says the AutoPro design allows for fast loading—as short as one minute.

Standard design features for all series include touch-screen PLC controls, a single-motor variablefrequency drive with extract speeds up to 360 G-force, and more.

www.jensen-group.com 850-271-5959

SPEED QUEEN

According to Speed Queen, its SC100 washer-extractor brings not only the capacity a busy onpremises laundry needs, but also the flexibility and durability managers require to keep the operation rolling.

The 100-pound-capacity washer, when equipped with Speed Queen’s cutting-edge Quantum Gold control, gives laundries the ultimate control, the company says. Quantum Gold offers 30 programmable cycles as well as 30 programmable water levels to help reduce operating costs. Infrared programming and advanced diagnostics/data retrieval save time and keep managers updated on operations, giving them the tools to head off any issues before they

are problems.

A 200-G-force final spin helps the laundry reduce processing time by removing more water from loads, which shortens time in the tumble dryer. Meanwhile, a large door opening makes loading and unloading quick and easy.

Rugged bearings and frame components, combined with a stainless-steel front and top, ensure the SC100 is up to the demands of a busy on-premises laundry environment, Speed Queen says.

www.speedqueen commercial.com 800-590-8872

ELLIS CORP.

Ellis Side Load washer-extractors are available in two-, three- or four-pocket design with capacities

of 450, 675 and 900 pounds, says manufacturer Ellis Corp. Each 225-pound pocket offers the versatility of mixed loads in a single machine. The washer utilizes a single-motor hydraulic drive that permits variable speeds for specific fabric requirements.

With more than 2,500 machines in the field, Ellis says it has set the standard for Side Load washer-extractors. This washer offers a tilting load/unload feature, high-speed extract up to 600 rpm, powered outer doors, patent-pending inner door lock sensor, automatic bearing lubrication, combination air bag and spring suspension system, steam injection, and is network-ready with its controls.

www.elliscorp.com 800-590-8872 ALN

When you’re looking for a boiler to fill your steam or hot water needs watch out for a “Big Foot.”That’s right! Big Foot is lurking out there, but not at Parker Boiler. Parker Boiler makes a line of small watertube boilers designed specifically for reduced floor space Even though the square footage that a “Big Foot”boiler may occupy is sometimes less; when consideration is given to manufacturer’s required clearance for maintenance and service, the Parker Boiler footprint will consume significantly less floor space. When a power burner is installed on the top of a vertical boiler, at least 11 feet of clearance may be required for removal and service of the burner and pressure vessel. We don’t know how many buildings have 11 feet of clear space above the boiler, but we do know that Parker Boilers require much less space than the “Big Foot” recommended clearance*. That adds plenty of room for your feed system, air compressor, chemical feeder, water softener, and air vacuum. So if you need a dependable, quality boiler, foruse in smaller spaces, just call your local Parker Boiler representative today. DETAIL: Compare Clearance Requirements: For Parker Boiler

[Ellis Corp.]

[Speed Queen]

[JENSEN USA]

Track Career

assist our partner customers and offer outstanding solutions to their needs.”

KENILWORTH, N.J. — White Conveyors Inc. has promoted Bob Davis to vice president of sales, the company reports. Davis will lead White’s and Speed Check Conveyor’s North American sales efforts.

Davis is a 25-year veteran of the company who has worked his way up the corporate ladder from engineering design, project design and management, industrial sales, and most recently as sales director for the commercial laundry market, according to White Conveyors.

The company says Davis has represented both White and Speed Check at organization events and that he looks forward to participating in future gatherings and meeting more people in the industry.

“I am excited to work with our talented market directors and regional sales managers to grow the White Conveyors and Speed Check Conveyor market share,” says Davis. “We have a real opportunity to

Long-time Pellerin Milnor regional sales manager retires

KENNER, La. — Pellerin Milnor Corp. reports that Regional Sales Manager Sam Kielman III has retired.

Kielman was first introduced to the laundry industry in 1972 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a BBA in marketing.

In 1988, he came to Milnor as a veteran of the laundry industry, having previously served as the production manager for Chalmette Linen-New Orleans, assistant production manager for Ineeda Linen-Houston, West Coast regional sales manager for Artex International, sales associate for Systemation Inc., and senior project manager for Baring Industries.

Throughout his 29-year career with

Milnor, the company says Kielman traveled throughout North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, managing several dealers throughout the two continents.

“Sam’s knowledge and experience has been invaluable in the area of sales and strong customer relationships,” says Rick Kelly, Pellerin Milnor vice president of sales and marketing. “We are grateful for his service to Milnor, and we wish Sam and his wife, Carol, all the best in his welldeserved retirement.”

Upon retiring, Kielman says he is most looking forward to moving back home to Texas, where he plans to spend time with his family and cheer on the Texas A&M Aggies.

Ellis Corp. adds Schultz as director of water solutions

ITASCA, Ill. — Ellis Corp. a provider of washing technology, reports that it has added John Schultz as its director of water solutions.

The company says Schultz had been with Ecolab since 2005 in textile care and water care, where he had moved through

the ranks from director of integrated laundry solutions, corporate accounts and textile care, to training manager, and finally to the senior manager of water, energy, wastewater solutions, in the textile care division. There, he developed and grew the service teams’ abilities in water recycling expertise and treatment system optimization.

Prior to that, Ellis says Schultz spent 15 years at Dober Group, building its wastewater treatment chemical business.

The company says Schultz’s skills in the industry include developing chemical treatment programs, optimizing treatment systems to minimize production cost, consulting and customer training. His experience brings a holistic approach to the developing water solution business unit, according to Ellis.

Schultz received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.

White Conveyors promotes Davis to VP

Kielman

Schultz

Davis

Gas Ironer

Chicago “Air Express Chicago” Small Piece Folder (2011) Chicago Comet 66” Gas Ironer (Qty. 3)

Chicago G024-120R Gas Ironer with Rear Return

Chicago GL13-120R Gas Ironer with Rear Return

Milnor 110 LB Soft Mount Washer

Cissell 75 LB Soft Mount Washer (2013)

Milnor 60 LB Washer (Qty. 2) (2010)

Milnor 135 LB Washer (Qty. 7)

Milnor/ADC Gas Dryer, Reversing (Qty. 2) (2011)

Milnor/ADC Gas Dryer, Reversing (Qty. 5) (2009)

Huebsch 170 LB Gas Dryer (Qty. 2) (2008)

PARTS FOR SALE

Assistant General Manager

P.O. Box 33818, Charlotte, NC 28233 Ph.: (704)372-3890; Fax: (704)342-0758 www.gardnermachinery.com

PRESSES

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

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

SMALL-PIECE FOLDERS

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

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

WASHERS – CONTINUOUS BATCH WASHER-EXTRACTOR

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

Detergent, chemicals manufacturer Gurtler purchases Metro-Chem

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Gurtler Industries Inc., a laundry chemical specialist, has finalized its purchase of MetroChem Inc., Kearny, N.J., the company reports.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Metro-Chem is a regional manufacturer and supplier of specialty laundry chemicals, providing expert service to commercial laundry markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

“We are pleased to add the Metro-Chem team to the Gurtler family as we enhance our support to our existing and new customers in the Northeast,” says Greg Gurtler, president of Gurtler Industries. “Metro-Chem has a tremendous reputation, and we are aligned in our commitment to support our employees and customers.”

The Metro-Chem sales and service team will join with the Gurtler team to broaden Gurtler’s coverage across the area, according to the company.

“My sales team and I are excited to partner with Gurtler as they are the premier company in the industry,” says Peter Potocki, owner of Metro-Chem. “Metro-Chem customers will be receiving tremendous support during the transition, and the added benefits that Gurtler provides will only enhance our relationships. We look forward to the future with great confidence.”

to Assist People (VEAP), a nonprofit, human service organization with a mission to create pathways to stronger, more hopeful communities through access to healthy food, housing stability and supportive services, serving the Minneapolis metro area. The company donated 938 gallons of Pride laundry detergent over the past four quarters to local community members in need.

“At Sunburst, we’ve always felt a strong sense of attachment to our surrounding community,” says Rob Laughlin, president of Sunburst Chemicals. “We’ve created an organizational culture that puts service above self. We are grateful to VEAP for the opportunity to give back whatever we can and to use

Career Track

“We are very excited to have John’s expertise on our team,” says Bob Fesmire Jr., president of Ellis Corp. “We know that his experience with wastewater chemistry and equipment in the industry will add tremendous value to our current and new customers as we grow our water solutions division.”

Graham joins Leonard Automatics for design, functionality

our vocation to help keep our community clean and safe. I look forward to continuing Sunburst’s relationship with VEAP in 2018, and the years to come.”

The detergent donations were possible due to Sunburst Chemicals’ partnerships with Imagine! Print Solutions, which provided the labels, and Knudsen Courier, which provided the freight to VEAP.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Sunburst Chemicals says it also held an employee-run food drive in November with a goal of giving 250 pounds of food to VEAP. Shortly before Thanksgiving, the employees of Sunburst Chemicals turned in 396 pounds of food donations. ALN

ODENSE, Denmark — JENSEN-GROUP has acquired 30% of the ownership of Inwatec ApS, the companies report.

The transaction took place Jan. 1. Further details were not available at press time.

JENSEN-GROUP says its interest in Inwatec is because the company wants to extend the range of automation solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) in the laundry industry—an area where Inwatec is playing a prominent role in the market.

With the motto “We Remove the Dirty Work,” Inwatec says it produces solutions for heavy-duty laundries around the world, and the synergy effects of the new agreement with JENSEN-GROUP are making room for further upgrading of the activities at the Inwatec headquarters here.

“In three years, we have grown from four to 30 employees, and the opportunity to benefit from JENSEN-GROUP’s large distribution and service network means we can now focus even more on the innovation and development of new products and less on the distribution,” says Inwatec CEO Mads Andresen.

“Inwatec is a development house, and the arrangement with the JENSEN-GROUP does not change the fact that the machines are being developed and built in Odense in close cooperation between our engineers, software specialists, electricians and installers. We have unique access to the world’s best tech talents in Odense’s robotic environment, and that has enabled us to develop solutions that few in the industry even dreamt of a few years ago. And we just started.”

“With the technology at Inwatec, especially in robotics and AI, we expect that together with JENSEN we can develop some real blockbuster products for the future,” Jesper Munch Jensen, CEO of JENSEN-GROUP, adds.

Sunburst Chemicals gives back to community through VEAP

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Sunburst Chemicals Inc., a provider of solid chemical, detergent and dispensing technology, honored its long-held commitment to the surrounding community through providing those in need with both laundry detergent and food drive donations, the company reports.

Sunburst Chemicals says it worked with Volunteers Enlisted

DENVER, N.C. — Leonard Automatics recently welcomed Scott Graham to its engineering team, the company reports. As an automation engineer, the company says Graham’s duties will include designing equipment controls to help Leonard improve machine functionality as technology advances.

In addition, Leonard says Graham will use his skills and experience to assist the company’s technical

Calendar

February

5-7

Association for Linen Management CLLM Review Session McDonough, Ga. Info: 859-624-0177

7 TRSA Webinar: Customer Contracts: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Alexandria, Va. Info: 703-519-0029

15 Association for Linen Management Webinar: Production Tracking Explained Richmond, Ky. Info: 859-624-0177

support and IT department, as well as help Leonard’s engineering and fabrication division, Leonard Fabrication and Design (LFD).

“We are excited to welcome Scott to the Leonard team,” says Jacob Frushtick, VP of Leonard Automatics’ LFD division. “His automation background will help us continue to deliver cutting-edge technology in our products in this ever-evolving electronic world.”

Graham came from a major manufacturer of automated screw driving equipment, where he was the OEM support manager for all OEMs in the United States, including Ford, GM, Tesla, Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW, according to Leonard. He wrote the software for the flow drilling equipment for Ford

Motor Co.’s’ F150, F250, F350 and Navigator platforms.

His experience made him a technical expert for all flow-drilling and thermal-setting technology in the United States. Leonard says Graham’s projects also included support and process programming for the C7 Corvette; interface, recovery and software programming for Ford Motor Co.; support and process programming for Tesla Model S; material testing for BMW EPP fastening; and process programming and material testing for Alcoa. In addition, Graham managed the IT infrastructure for the company.

Scott’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Mercy College in New York.

“I look forward to helping Leonard Automatics and Leonard Fabrication Design expand and excel into the future, and I am excited to be part of the team,” Graham says. ALN

21-22 TRSA

Production Summit & Plant Tours Anaheim, Calif. Info: 703-519-0029

March

19-21

Association for Linen Management

2018 ALM IMPACT Conference Savannah, Ga. Info: 859-624-0177

20-23 Pellerin Milnor

Milnor Washer-Extractor Service Seminar

New Orleans, La. Info: 504-712-7716

21-22 TRSA

8th Annual Leadership & Legislative Conference Arlington, Va. Info: 703-519-0029

April

16-20 Pellerin Milnor Milnor CBW®/PBW® Service School New Orleans, La. Info: 504-712-7716

JENSEN-GROUP acquires 30% of Inwatec for automation, AI

Graham