American Laundry News - June 2018

What’s coming for the laundry industry?

Evergreen Cooperative Laundry takes over Cleveland Clinic facility

CLEVELAND — Evergreen Cooperative Laundry is taking over management of the Cleveland Clinic’s laundry facility in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood, the company reports.

By shifting the contract for the operations of the facility to Evergreen, Cleveland Clinic is using its economic resources to build a stronger local economy.

“We are proud of this new collaboration with Evergreen Cooperatives because of the impact it will have on the local community,” says Ralph Turner, executive director of patient support services at Cleveland Clinic. “We see this as an important step we can take to support the health and wellbeing of our neighbors, including the ECL employees.”

Evergreen says the additional location complements its original facility in Glenville. The expansion brings more than 100 new employees into the company, joining the 50 workers employed at the original laundry. ALN

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

SAVANNAH, Ga. — When David Bernstein, president of laundry equipment manufacturer Lapauw USA, looks into the future of the industry, he sees many changes on the horizon.

And he should know. After around three decades that includes experience in consulting, design, renovation, process improvement and operations, Bernstein can see the big picture of laundry and linen.

“We live in a time where we have all these generational changes that are affecting our businesses, our employees and our customers,” he says. “We live in a time of burgeoning technology. We live in a time where we want a lot more, but we want to pay a lot

less. As a result, we really need to look at the future and figure out what is going to happen and how we can be prepared for it.”

Bernstein covered changes in the industry overall, as well as in healthcare and hospitality laundry, during the opening gen-

eral session of the Association for Linen Management’s (ALM) IMPACT 2018 conference titled Looking in the Future of the Healthcare and Hospitality Markets

Preventing workplace violence

“I remember when I used to talk about workplace violence 10 years ago,” shares Edwin G. Foulke Jr., partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, where he serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Group.

“Most of the time, it was workplace violence where people were robbing stores and the banks, and every once in a while some domestic dispute spilled over into the workplace, but now we’re seeing unfortunately almost weekly some type of incident involving an active shooter at a work site or some type of active shooter scenario.”

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Consider this situation.

An employee enters the building carrying a large paper sack. He or she doesn’t speak to anyone and is wearing camouflage clothing.

The employee has been acting strangely for the past few months, making threats to supervisors and making comments about getting even to fellow employees.

This scenario has several red flags that are obvious, but before the employee had a chance to enter the building in this manner, it’s likely that warning signs had been given that should have been dealt with before the situation reached this level.

News accounts of active shooter events in the workplace and schools have management looking for ways to prepare for such incidents.

Unfortunately, Foulke says workplace violence can’t be completely prevented— but there are things the businesses can do.

“In any safety and health issue, we have to identify what our hazards are with respect to the situation, and how do we, as best as we can, ensure against it, at least make it difficult to occur?” he says.

Foulke shared his insights on workplace violence and pre-

Columnist at Large

Panel of Experts

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

In this issue, Eric Frederick looks at ways managers can reduce employee turnover.

Recent school, workplace shootings remind employers to think about safety, training

Speaker says changes should motivate laundries to evaluate business today, in future

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

BY JOHN GOETZ

CINCINNATI — Industrial and on-premises laundries (OPLs) use a lot of chemical, water, energy and labor in order to clean linen for customers and guests. To avoid unnecessary mishaps, maintain productivity and keep costs in line, it’s essential for these operations to have accurate and reliable chemical dispensing systems.

Laundry managers should understand the role of dispensers in perfecting the laundry process and how to select the proper dispenser for their needs.

While it may be counter-intuitive, investing a little more into the dispensing system can produce outsized savings in other, larger cost categories. Take a closer look at the key costs within a laundry and how the right dispensing system can impact the operation.

KEY FACTORS

Factors affecting a laundry’s bottom line include labor, chemical, energy and water.

Labor. Having a more efficient workforce and less downtime helps a laundry keep labor costs from spiraling out of control. For employees to be productive, the equipment provided must be effective, reliable and easy to use.

Chemical. Chemical usage per wash is important beyond its direct impact on costs. If too little chemical is used, cleaning results can be negatively impacted, requiring another cycle. Re-wash drives up costs associated with labor, water and energy.

If too much chemical is used, this can lead linen to wear out more quickly, resulting in unhappy customers and guests. Excess chemical use is also wasteful and unnecessary.

Energy. Energy is required to power washer-extractors, tunnel washers, dryers and other equipment, and to heat the water in order to remove stains and bacteria from linen. Most washers use water at 160 F to reduce the amount of chemical, time and mechanical action required to clean. Using more energy results in more expensive bills and leads to more pollution.

Again, just like any other type of equipment, certain dispensers use less energy than others. For example, eductor-based chemical dispensers use solenoids in lieu of the more power-hungry AC or DC motors that traditional dispensers use.

Water. According to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, water and wastewater costs can represent as much as 50% of a laundry’s total operating costs. Given that most traditional washer-extractors use 2-3 gallons of water per pound of linen, a facility washing 10,000 pounds per day would use roughly 10 million gallons of water per year. Increasingly, laundries are moving to tunnel/continuous batch washers, which use 1-2 gallons per pound, or are installing systems to recirculate rinse water in order to reduce water consumption.

The choice of chemical dispenser can also impact water usage. For example, eductor-based chemical dispensers use less water than traditional peristaltic units with

a flush manifold. The flowrate of the water is naturally regulated through the eductor, creating savings of up to 66% when executing a four-product chemical formula.

Oftentimes, laundry chemical providers and end users have complaints related to dispensers using squeeze tubes, which deliver the product in traditional peristaltic pumping systems. While the benefits of peristaltic pumps are many—they can be dry run, are economical and tubes are widely available in many materials—they also have some challenges.

Most notably, as squeeze tubes and other parts wear out over time, their output drops and delivery becomes inconsistent. They either dispense less chemical or dispense the same volume more slowly. This reality means that squeeze tubes require regular service to maintain high standards of cleanliness. Laundries and chemical providers must pay to have their equipment serviced or spend more time, money and chemical to rewash linen. The costs of this maintenance can quickly add up.

FINDING THE RIGHT DISPENSER

Outside of their ability to directly reduce laundry costs, laundry managers should also look for dispensers that have capability and flexibility for all scenarios, consistency, intelligent features, and easy installation and maintenance.

Capacity and flexibility for all scenarios. Laundries are not onesize-fits-all operations. They use a variety of chemicals and dispensers that must be able to deliver chemistry to numerous sizes and types of washer-extractors, including tunnel washers.

Small OPLs will use less chemicals, such as a detergent, softener and perhaps bleach, typically with top-load-style machines. Medium and large OPLs, such as an operation in a hotel, launder a wider variety of linens, including whites, colors, sheets, towels, tablecloths and more. Dispensers for OPLs should accommodate two to eight chemicals, be expandable over time and handle up to 20 formulas.

Consistency. Dispensers need to deliver product consistently over their entire life. Dispensers whose output drift require increased maintenance. Look for dispensers that do not require squeeze tube maintenance or regular calibrations. This not only reduces downtime and labor expenses, but can also reduce rewash rates. With less rewash,

laundries will see better water efficiency, energy use and productivity.

Intelligent features. Dispensers with smart features, like data collecting sensors, reporting capabilities and remote access, provide greater transparency for managers. Sensors allow managers to track things like load weight and chemistry flow, and then compare it to key performance indicators, like chemical usage by formula, volume of washes and average projection rate. This helps reduce the reoccurrence of errors and improve productivity.

Alerts can also signal when a potential issue arises, like out-ofproduct conditions, to encourage immediate action and further reduce downtime. Meanwhile, remote login allows managers to make changes to settings and pull reports easily without needing to be on site.

Easy installation and maintenance. The purchase price shouldn’t be the only cost consideration. Factors like the time required to install and commission the dispenser can have a big impact on costs. Laundry dispensers that are compact and come pre-wired from the factory save time, thereby reducing costs. Units that can be programmed and commissioned quickly via software also minimize downtime and accelerate the time to first revenue.

Rather than relying on peristaltic pump technology, look for units that don’t require routine maintenance, and consider a central-dosing system if the facility utilizes more than four washerextractors or a continuous batch/ tunnel washer.

IN PERFECT HARMONY

To run a profitable operation, laundry facilities need to find the right balance for their chemical, water, energy and labor outputs. One way to achieve perfect harmony is by installing chemical dispensers with proven performance and features that simplify the laundry process.

By providing greater transparency and reducing maintenance, today’s chemical dispensers can drive down costs and improve the way that facility managers run their laundries.

ALN

John Goetz is a global product manager with Hydro Systems, an independent manufacturer of chemical injecting, proportioning, dispensing and medicating equipment. He can be reached at jgoetz@hydrosystemsco.com.

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

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MEMBERSHIPS

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

The ‘mobile’ trade show

You can call this issue of American Laundry News “the trade show that comes to you.”

Every other year, the laundry and linen services industry gathers together for the Clean Show. This is an off year for Clean, so allow me to “cut the ribbon” and welcome you to the American Laundry News Exhibit in Print.

What does this “mobile” trade show have to offer? First off, turn to page 10 and visit the exhibitor “booths” where suppliers and vendors have “set up” to show you new products and services, or acquaint you with their businesses.

Besides the exhibitor “booths,” there is another way this issue brings the trade-show experience to you—education.

There are several articles for you to read that I hope will

The Editor’s Desk MATT POE

offer at least some things to think about, along with helping you improve your operation and business.

For example, on page 2 you can “attend” a session on how chemical dispensers can help fine-tune the laundry process.

Maybe you run an OPL. Be

sure to make it to page 32 for thoughts on how quality wash programs start with teamwork and communication.

Likely you noticed on page one that we have stories from educational sessions and webinars given by industry associations. The lead feature, offering a glimpse of what’s in store for the laundry/linen service industry in the future, comes from an educational session presented at the Association for Linen Management’s IMPACT conference earlier this year.

The other page one feature presents information from a timely (and unfortunately necessary) TRSA webinar about active shooter preparedness.

So, enjoy a trade show where your feet won’t get sore, and always remember to keep it clean. ALN

ARTA Education Conference to feature sessions, plant tour

14 educational sessions, displays, more set for attendees

SHAWNEE MISSION, Kan. — The American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) will hold its 2018 Education Conference July 25-27 at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario.

ARTA says this year’s conference, its seventh, will focus on trends and issues that affect an organization’s ability to market the benefits of reusable textiles. The agenda also includes tabletop exhibits.

According to the association, conference opportunities will benefit CEOs, managers and sales/ marketing staff.

Fourteen educational sessions are planned for the conference, the association says. These range from best practices to new technology to research studies that help a company more effectively market reusable textiles. For example:

• Extending shelf life and cleanliness of textiles. Does a silver additive extend the shelf life and kill factor for treated textiles? Learn results from Medline representatives and Myles Noel

and his team at COMTEX.

• Can C.diff be killed in a tunnel washer? Is there proof that the laundry process kills C.diff ? Learn the results of this ARTA study using peracetic acid in a laundry process that simulates the action of a tunnel washer.

• Panel discussion on available life cycle analyses. ARTA completed two LCAs within the past year on isolation and surgical gowns. Learn from operators and suppliers how to use this data.

Other opportunities during the Education Conference include a Welcome Reception by MIP July 25 and a Sponsor Reception July 26. Optional activities include a July 25 plant tour of HLS Linen Services and a golf tournament set for July 27.

A special conference hotel rate will apply three days before and three days after the conference.

For more information, visit ARTA’s website at www.arta1.net ALN

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RLLD

Reducing employee turnover

Employee turnover hurts your productivity and the quality of the product you produce. It is a generally accepted theory that low turnover would be a desirable situation. The question has always been, “How do I reduce turnover?”

Many managers complain that the factors they think cause turnover, salary and benefits, are not within their control. The truth is that the most important factors affecting employee turnover are directly in their control. This article will explore several of these factors in more depth.

Understand the history of your industry and embrace that history through your hiring practices. The laundry industry in the United States has always been an entry-level industry, staffed by the latest wave of immigrants to our country. Immigrants often have language difficulties and lack the normal education adults have in our country. But feeding towels into a folder or feeding sheets into an ironer does not require a high level of education or an ability to speak fluent English.

Most immigrants come from countries where the work is difficult, hot and very physical. They see the modern laundry and think that this is a wonderful place to work. They do not think it is too hot or the work is too demanding like many recent high school graduates or drop-outs. They are excited to have the opportunity to work and support their families. All they want is an opportunity.

Recruiting this type of employee requires a little leg work. In Alabama, I noticed a sign for English as a second language class being offered in a local church. I called the number and talked with the teacher, and he told me many of his students need a job or a better job. Soon I had more applications than I could hire.

In Roanoke, Va., I contacted the Immigration and Naturalization agency associated with the Catholic Church. They were helping legal refugees from war-torn parts of the world relocate to the Roanoke Valley. I happily supplied jobs to many of these people. As my business grew, so did the number of immigrants that came to the valley.

The second point is to respect your employees. All employees want to be respected and treated fairly by their boss or supervisors. As a manager, you are responsible for how employees are treated under you. If you give them respect and understanding, they will give you loyalty.

To show respect, you must get out of your office and spend time out in the laundry. It is not enough to say you have an opendoor policy, and if they have any questions they are welcome to come ask them. The boss’ office is a sacred place, and most of your employees would rather die than enter that location. If you are to show respect, you must go to your employees.

I have done this in several ways over the years. I made sure that I ate lunch in the breakroom at the same time as the employees. I encourage questions from my staff and would ask them about their families and follow up with them if a spouse or a child was sick. I would take time to explain the reasons behind company policies. I knew they would not always agree with the reasons, but they at least knew why things were the way they were. They wanted and deserved the truth. I made sure all work rules were administered fairly and equally.

Finally, I started walking through the laundry every morning and saying “good morning” to every staff member. I was surprised at how much the staff enjoyed this morning ritual. If they had a question, I stopped and answered it. I commented on a new haircut or a new outfit. I smiled, and they smiled back. I took time to listen.

My organization became invested in their future. We hired an English as a Second Language teacher that gave them daily lessons during their lunch hour and afternoon breaks. As their English improved so did their self-esteem. The instructor also became a friend and helped them to prepare and apply for citizenship. Because we invested in them, they returned the favor with dedication and hard work. My laundry became the preferred location in the area for new immigrants to work.

From

COLUMNIST AT LARGE Eric L. Frederick,

As Bernstein puts it, “Let’s get in our time machine, let’s cast our minds forward, and let’s think about what’s going to be happening in the future of the laundry industry.”

OVERALL CHANGES

In the laundry industry overall, Bernstein says big changes are coming, with some already here, when it comes to labor, minimum wage, regulation, accreditation and consolidation.

In terms of labor, he sees the biggest changes coming from generational issues. The generation most affecting the work environment? Millennials. He says millennials think differently than baby boomers and Generation X.

For example, a large percentage of millennials say regular office attendance is unnecessary.

“A real problem for this generation is simply not coming back to work,” Bernstein points out. “It does happen on the production line. It’s hard work, and when the 10 o’clock break comes, those who can’t do it are gone. But this happens in the office with millennials.”

Millennials also check their smartphones, on average, 43 times a day, and they are friends with managers on Facebook.

“I keep my personal social media presence separate from my professional social media presence,” Bernstein shares. “You want to friend me on LinkedIn, great. You want to friend me on Facebook? No. I’ve seen bad things happen.”

Millennials are the current and future workforce, and Bernstein says laundries have to consider their different mindset when thinking about how to attract them and, more importantly, how to retain them.

technology, so being able to hire millennials who can help with that technology is “huge,” he shares.

However, as Bernstein mentioned earlier, the millennial generation quite often uses that technology to be active on social media. Because of this, he says laundries need to think about their social media policies.

“My recommendation would be A) if you don’t have a social media policy, craft one; B) if you do, it might be time to re-look at it with some of your millennial employees, make sure that it’s fair for everybody, and everybody agrees it’s a policy that’s workable,” Bernstein says. “Like it or not, your employees are going to post to Facebook about their work.”

Another factor affecting the industry is the increase in minimum wage. He says it was an issue in the presidential campaign, it’s guaranteed to be an issue in every congressional and senatorial campaign, and it will be an issue in the next presidential election.

“We say as California goes, so goes the rest of the nation,” he shares. “Guess what’s happening in California? Minimum wage is going up big-time. It’s going up in Washington state, New York, Chicago, in Portland, Maine. If it’s going up in Portland, Maine, guess what, America? Your minimum wage is going up as well.

“It doesn’t matter how minimum wage started (it was only a starter, not a living wage). That doesn’t matter. It’s going up, and you are going to have to pay. You’re going to have to think about what effect that’s going to have on your business.”

The most cost-effective way to handle rising minimum wage and costly labor, according to Bernstein? Automation.

“If I could run a laundry with only robots, and all I’d have to hire are technicians, I would do it,” he shares.

Bernstein points out that a lot of a laundry’s minimum-wage jobs require technical skills and education a worker may not have. A laundry has to provide that training to them as well as attracting, hiring and retaining.

Other ways the overall industry is changing, he says, is through government regulations, accreditation considerations and business consolidation.

“OSHA is on your back, less so today than two years ago, but as employers, we have a moral responsibility to ensure that those employees who walk in our door in the morning walk out that door in the afternoon. And that when they walk out that door, they have all 10 fingers and all 10 toes,” says Bernstein. “The government sometimes steps in and goes a little bit further than some of us. Safety regulations keep coming. Increased regulations are coming.”

In addition to the regulations, he points out that insurance rates are going up— workers’ compensation is going up and health insurance is going up.

“Everything is going up,” Bernstein says. “It’s pushing you, along with the minimum wage, to think about your pricing and your revenue model.”

Besides safety and insurance regulations and changes, he shares that environmental issues continue to grow in importance for the industry. Fortunately, there have been a lot of changes in the industry with programs, also with technology that vendors are coming out with.

“My goodness, we’re recycling water, not just reusing it,” he states. “That’s an amazing technology that wasn’t even considered 10 years ago, and now we’re doing it.”

Also, energy utilization has improved, which is a good thing because as Bernstein pointed out that what happens in California eventually comes to the rest of the country. California is now testing commercial industrial dryers.

“It used to be as long as the dryer used only so many Btu per hour, it was compliant,” he says. “Now, we’ve gone to compliance testing. Things are really changing. It’s going to affect your cost, going to affect your efficiency, going to affect your productivity. All these things are going to affect your bottom line.”

In terms of accreditation/certification, Bernstein says the industry needs to come together.

cradle to grave. There is more and more consolidation throughout healthcare industry.

“And because they’ve gotten larger and larger, they say they have so much more volume, the price should be lower and lower.” That leads Bernstein to cost-containment efforts going on in healthcare systems. He says it used to be that people would go to the hospital and be charged for everything. Today, insurance companies don’t want to pay for procedures; they want to pay for outcome.

“It’s a balancing act,” he says. “More or less tests, better tests. Providers looking for more ways to diversify income. Fewer hospitals, more of what I call ‘doc in a box,’ community care centers, urgent care, community hospitals, surgery centers. Things that used to be a stay in hospital are now go in and have the procedure then go home. There’s a greater use of technology for less hospital time.”

“When I look at resumes when I’m hiring for a job at my company, it used to be you’d see, ‘I worked here for 15 years, then had the opportunity to work for another company for 10 years,’” he says. “Look at resumes today, and you see (they) worked for one company for a year, another company for six months, another for two years, another for three years. I ask why is this, and I get the strangest looks from the millennial generation because, for their generation, that’s what you do.”

Bernstein says it’s key to retrain managers in regards to what life is like for a millennial. A company has to do things that interest them and keeps them working for the company.

“It costs money to find, hire and train. The last thing you want is a year or two later for them to leave,” he points out.

A big advantage for attracting and retaining millennials is that they can teach businesses how to use technology, says Bernstein. The laundry industry is more reliant on

“And if I can stand there at Walmart and say, ‘Welcome to Walmart,’ I’m more likely to do that than feeding pillowcases into an ironer for the same amount of money,” he says. “How are you going to attract and retain people when you’re competing against what are arguably easier jobs?”

With automation, which Bernstein points out is already growing in the laundry and linen industry, comes the need for skilled workers to service a laundry’s “robots”— washers, dryers, feeders—but many laundries can’t find skilled maintenance employees.

“The industry is responding,” he says. “Associations are looking into apprenticeship programs. Operators are responding by bringing people in at a younger age, training them and then doing everything they can to retain them.”

One solution is to hire former military personnel.

“They are coming to me with skills,” shares Bernstein. “They understand the chain of command, and they’re really responsive when I need them to be. They’re sponges, they learn, and they’re really good at customer service because they’re used to dealing with superiors, used to dealing with authority.”

“There are all kinds of acronyms, certifications, all kinds of different testing methods,” he shares. “There’s an argument in the industry about whose efficacy testing is better than whose efficacy testing. It’s confusing to the end user of the linens. At some point, the industry is going to have to come together about what’s hygienically clean, because right now, we’re all over the board.”

Finally, today, there are fewer companies doing more laundry than ever, Bernstein says. And businesses that utilize laundry services are consolidating, making it challenging to hold on to and garner more business.

“I used to go to hospitals and each would have its own laundry,” he shares. “Now, it’s a central service. There’s consolidation in the laundry industry, consolidation in healthcare industry, consolidation in hospitality industry. It’s not going to stop any time in the foreseeable future.”

HEALTHCARE & HOSPITALITY

Many of the trends affecting the laundry industry overall are impacting both healthcare and hospitality laundry, Bernstein says. And each market has a few unique challenges.

First, he shares that in healthcare, there is consolidation vertically and horizontally.

“There are fewer and fewer organizations to whom you may sell,” Bernstein points out. “Larger providers are taking over smaller ones. They’re expanding services, more

How does this impact laundry? Bernstein points out that the more healthcare diversifies, the more it moves toward outpatient care and less in-patient care. That means fewer sheets, fewer towels, fewer gowns and fewer scrubs—less laundry to process.

“Things are changing,” he says. “On average, about 72% of purchases hospitals make are through GPOs (group purchasing organizations). When these systems consolidate, work together, join GPOs and come to you, they’re saying, ‘There are more of us, a greater volume; we want a lower price.’ What are laundries going to do in response? Smaller laundries say since we’re not part of a large conglomerate, let’s get together and make some sort of a nationwide network.”

Bernstein points out that the use of technology, more artificial intelligence, has had a positive impact for the laundry industry.

“It used to be a doctor would estimate time for a surgery, but if didn’t take that long, the OR sat idle,” he shares. “Now, AI bots have looked at thousands of surgeries to come up with a better way to schedule surgeries, so ORs are in constant use. That means more linens for us.”

The last point Bernstein makes about healthcare laundry is the need to improve public perception. He says the news makes links between laundry and hospital-acquired infections (HAI), even when these incidents haven’t been the fault of a laundry.

“What we need to do is to go out and convince the public that what happened isn’t the fault on the industry; it’s an unfair view of the industry,” he says. “We need to think about what the perception of the public is. Where is there going to be a link made next in the minds of the public?”

Regarding the hospitality industry, Bernstein shares that economic trends show travel is up and people are eating out more.

Leisure travel spending is also up, with strong growth in 2017 and expectations of stronger growth in 2018.

“Planes are full,” he points out. “You go to make a reservation at a hotel and it’s sold

Bernstein

vention during Active Shooter Training: Are You Prepared?, a webinar presented by TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Foulke says that workplace violence includes physical and verbal assaults, threats, coercion and intimidation.

“All these types of actions are things we need to address,” he says. “We need to be aware of it, and we need to have it in our policy.”

Unfortunately, according to Foulke, many employers accept common myths about workplace violence. One myth is that because it’s a small town, violence can’t happen there, or the business is in a safe part of town.

Another myth is that employees just “snap.” He points out there are signs that show employers that somebody is having some issues that could result in workplace violence.

“Having a philosophy and implementation of dignity and respect for all employees in how you treat them, and requiring your employees to articulate those characteristics, will help in preventing workplace violence,” says Foulke. “Even in a discipline or discharge situation, treating people with respect and dignity and being fair goes a long way to diffuse any potential workplace-violence event.”

As a general rule, the prohibition of weapons at a workplace is up to the employer because it’s their workplace (some states do have laws on the books), he says.

“You get to decide how you’re going to handle this particular issue,” Foulke says. “Not only guns but any weapons in the workplace. If you don’t have that, I would highly recommend that you add that to your list of safety rules.”

And while there is no requirement for employers to have an active shooter plan in place, he

believe such plans will become more common.

“If you don’t have a plan, you should make one on how to deal with active shooters,” Foulke recommends. “Most schools and governmental office buildings do have plans in place. This is an area where the private sector hasn’t kept up with the public sector.

“At the last school where they had an incident, they had just had training on an active shooter, which was a good thing because teachers and the students knew what to do when it happened. We should be doing that.”

He points out that many businesses have emergency action plans; they’re already doing fire, tornado and hurricane drills. Active shooter drills would help employees know what to do and where to go.

Besides having a plan to prevent and deal with workplace violence for basic safety, Foulke points out that there are financial considerations when dealing with this type of issue.

“We are, as employers, responsible for exercising ordinary care to prevent foreseeable harms,” Foulke says. “So, if you know that you have or had employees showing signs of stress or other aggressive signs, that clearly is foreseeable. You’re required to go to more proactive actions in order to avoid potential civil lawsuits and maybe criminal liability.”

that there are limits. Workers’ comp delves more deeply into a workplace violence situation than a regular, on-the-job injury. Still, employers are, to a large degree, covered.

Another scenario Foulke presents is third-party harm on an employee. The big question is if the incident is somehow workrelated.

“More than likely, the employer could be held responsible under OSHA’s general duty clause if it’s something that’s foreseeable,” he says. “Common law theory of negligence says that an employer could be held responsible if a third party is allowed into the site, if they have some knowledge that this person has made physical threats or intimidation or has been making threats, intimidation, coercion to that employee.

“We place ourselves in a situation where we could be potentially liable to the employee.”

The final scenario, an employee harms a third party, is most damaging for the employer, says Foulke. Again, the situation would relate to common law negligence. In the scenario, did the employer have knowledge of the propensity of an employee to cause harm to an outside third party?

Foulke also says employers could face penalties if negligence in hiring, retention and/or supervision has taken place.

Negligence in hiring means not doing the right type of screening.

“The type of screening is based on the type of job the person is going to be doing, but there are limits to what can be checked,” he shares. “Once you make an offer, however, you can do a lot more things than before. Making an offer doesn’t mean you’re stuck with that person. If you investigate and find something, you can revoke the offer.”

ers think, relates Foulke. It goes beyond workers’ compensation.

“There’s a lot of things that come into play here similar to an injury situation,” he shares. “There’s physical and emotional harm, if there’s a fatality, to family and employees, maybe even the town if it’s a small town. There’s lost productivity, decreased quality, not able to meet deadlines, legal fees, jury awards. If the incident goes outside workers’ comp, costs can go way up for an employer. We’re talking major awards for negligence, especially in the case of third-party violence.”

PREVENTION

When it comes to causes of workplace violence, Foulke says a comprehensive list isn’t possible because it would be too long. However, there are a series of elements that stand out, such as mental instability or trouble at home.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions of an employee who has been acting differently,” he says.

Management can also be the cause, if supervisors are inconsistent or insensitive in discipline and style for different employees. He adds that labor disputes can also trigger potentially dangerous situations.

Foulke says that the FBI has a profile of a typical offender. These characteristics include a fascination with weapons, constantly changing jobs, a loner, a white male aged 35-45, being chronically disgruntled, someone who externalizes problems, and highmaintenance employees.

mood swings, apparent alcohol and drug abuse, decrease of/inconsistent productivity, overreaction to minor events, paranoid/obsessive behavior, poor attendance, unreasonable complaints, reckless/ unsafe behavior, provoking others, insubordinate behavior, stalking, and racist/sexist remarks.

The key when these behaviors start in a person already employed is using discipline.

“People don’t like discipline because it’s not warm and fuzzy, but you have to do it,” Foulke says. “If you’re not, you’re going to have potential problems.”

Also, he says that employees need to be able to share any issue with their supervisor, or be provided with a hotline that can be used to report incidents.

And employees need to know there won’t be any retaliation taken against them for reporting behavior that makes them uncomfortable.

“They need to know it will be taken seriously,” says Foulke.

Non-retaliation needs to be part of a company’s policies, he adds. Businesses need to have basic safety rules, a zero-tolerance/antiviolence policy, a communication policy, and an identification/resolution policy. Employees must be trained on all policies, and the policies must be enforced consistently.

Foulke stresses that employees need to know what to do in an emergency situation, like an active shooter event.

“They need to call 911,” he shares. “They need to know how to activate an alarm and alert security.”

Foulke says the type of liability a business could face in the event of workplace violence depends on several factors. If the incident is employee on employee, with an injury, workers’ compensation comes into play, but he cautions

Negligence in retention means keeping an employee after discovering his/her unsuitability, says Foulke. Finally, negligence of supervision relates to failing to provide adequate supervision to safeguard employees from potential harm.

The cost of workplace violence is much higher than most employ-

However, he cautions that the profile is not the rule. The profile doesn’t always fit, like changing jobs, because employees today often don’t spend years at one job.

“Focus on behavior, not the profile,” Foulke recommends.

He says behaviors to look out for, in the hiring process and on the job, include violence, threats,

If an active shooter situation arises, Foulke says the rule is get out of the building right away, if possible. If that isn’t possible because the shooter is blocking the exit or some other reason, employees need to hide. That means getting into a room, blocking the door, turning off the lights and calling 911.

Foulke says that one aspect of active shooter training hasn’t been stressed until recently: fight.

“If you can’t run or hide, be prepared to fight for your life,”

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E HIBIT in print 2018

The Clean show is usually the one place and time in the United States where laundry manufacturers, suppliers, managers and operators can come together to check out the latest products, services and more.

But Clean only takes place every other year. How is a laundry industry professional like you supposed to stay on top of the latest goings-on in laundry and linen?

Not to worry, you can tour a “show floor” here this year in the pages of American Laundry News—the Exhibit in Print!

Call it a “trade show you can fit in your briefcase.” Or a “trade show that won’t hurt your feet.”

The Exhibit in Print is set up so that you can take a seat, maybe even kick back and put your feet up, and tour the “trade show floor” from the comfort of your own desk.

The “booth” articles have been submitted by the exhibiting companies. Any claims made in Exhibit in Print are those of the participating companies, not American Laundry News.

G.A. Braun Inc.

G.A. Braun’s Advantage® 900pound Side Loader is available in a four-pocket configuration. The company says this machine is engineered with the same structural integrity and reliability of all Braun washers and features superior mechanical action, like all of its open pocket washerextractors.

Braun says it listened to the desires of the market and leveraged its extensive and proven expertise in

comes standard with high-extractspeed functionality, accurate cylinder positioning and standardized Braun machine controls that provide an efficient operating platform that will improve cycle rate productivity, while reducing operational costs.

The company says a client conducted side-by-side tests running in the same laundry facility and found that it was able to achieve two additional loads during a two-shift operation from the machine as opposed to the competition. Braun says this significant savings is a result of the proprietary two-speed hydraulic drive system and positioning design that it developed to address competitive equipment weaknesses. This savings presents a healthy ROI on the purchase of this machine.

Kemco Systems

Kemco Systems says its ceramic microfiltration and reverse osmosis systems remove nearly 100% of contaminants, producing treated water that is of the highest standard, allowing for water reuse.

This patent-pending process for treating high-strength industrial wastewater takes advantage of the robust ceramic microfiltration to remove total suspended solids (TSS) and oils and greases (O&G), followed by the company’s specially designed hightemperature reverse osmosis system, which removes total dissolved solids (TDS) such as salts, organics, detergents and other contaminants.

This combination achieves low TDS, low biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and produces exceptional water that can be reused in your industrial

process, Kemco says. With recycle rates up to 80%, this innovative system reduces water usage, minimizes environmental footprint and lowers compliance and energy costs.

Kemco says its wastewater recycling systems have provided hundreds of millions of gallons of water to the laundry industry.

www.kemcosystems.com | 800-633-7055

washroom and safety technology in the design and manufacture of this product.

The use of Braun’s proven and patented cylinder door-locking system, crush hazard protection, patent-pending automated step, and the sleek, ergonomic design of this machine have answered the requests and needs of the market.

Performance features include an all-new direct drive system, which

Braun says it backs it all with free 24/7 telephone support for the life of the equipment, along with the largest team of direct factory-trained field service technicians in the United States and Canada and factory-trained partners internationally.

Each Advantage Side Loader® features Braun’s exclusive Parker Hannifin hydraulics three-year, leakfree warranty. Finally, Braun says the Advantage Side Loader has many unique features that are patented and patent-pending.

www.gabraun.com | 800-432-7286

Leonard Automatics

Leonard Automatics manufactures, sells and supports steam tunnel finishing equipment, the Transporter stainless-steel conveyor, Stack-NStore multi-lane draping stackers, stainless-steel cart washers, large-piece folders with optional accumulation and stacking, and a complete line of pressing equipment.

Leonard recently introduced its line of large-piece folders/cross-folders (the LF-136 and the LF-136C). Both have incredible versatility for any commercial, hospitality or healthcare linen application, the company says. The new folders create up to three primary folds and up to three cross folds for large pieces. The LF136C model has up to five lanes of small-piece folding and draping with an optional sixth lane. Leonard’s folders are designed to meet your production needs even if you’re running a mixed line of linen.

Leonard also just introduced a new and upgraded steam-heated finishing cabinet (the SC-34) that can reach production rates, depending on the size

G.S. Manufacturing

The G360-BD linen cart from G.S. Manufacturing is built with the same robust strength and durability that the company’s customers have come to depend on, while maintaining its ergonomically and fuelfriendly low cart weight, the company says.

The new G360 back-door cart allows staff to gain access to the soiled-return linen through the back of the cart. The 31-inch door swings a full 180 degrees to the open position, and is held in place by a magnetic catch. The door is secured in the closed position with two spring-loaded slide bolts.

of garment, in excess of 100 garments per hour. A perfect fit for dry cleaners, retail distribution centers, department stores, or any other facility that needs to remove wrinkles quickly and efficiently, the machine is engineered and built in Leonard’s North American factory to be durable and dependable. www.leonardautomatics.com | 704-483-9316

The back door offers a clear ergonomic advantage by allowing the staff unrestricted access to the soiled-linen bags. With greater access, the job is easier and staff members are allowed to work within their personal ergonomic safe zone.

www.gsm-cart.com | 800-363-2278

SonicAire

Fugitive lint can have a huge financial impact on a facility and create real dangers for employees.

SonicAire says its fan systems have changed how the laundry industry deals with combustible lint. The company says it’s the first—and only—proactive, engineered solution designed to eliminate overhead

fugitive lint problems.

Using proprietary BarrierAire™ technology and the engineered application of Dynamic Particle Control™, only SonicAire fans can robotically prevent lint from accumulating in overhead and hard-to-reach areas of your facility, according to the company.

SonicAire says its fans help to keep a laundry in compliance with relevant OSHA and NFPA regulations, dramatically reduce manual cleaning costs, and, most importantly, help to keep employees safe.

www.sonicaire.com | 336-712-2437

OUR MACHINES MEAN SERIOUS BUSINESS

Offering the lowest cost of ownership in the commercial laundry industry is something that we take special pride in at UniMac—in fact, we help businesses save as much as $14,000 per year. How? By focusing on superior efficiency and better laundry management tools. Our TotalVue™ technology lets you monitor utility use, prevent over-drying, and gives you more control over machine performance and maintenance needs.

Running an on-premises laundry operation isn’t cheap, but partnering with UniMac will clean up your bottom line.

To learn how UniMac can help you save up to $14,000 per year through TotalVue technology, visit UNIMAC.COM

UniMac by Alliance Laundry Systems

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

Energenics Corp.

E HIBIT in print 2018

The UV MAX is providing laundries a new approach to linen truck disinfection that is superior to traditional chemical usage, says maker Energenics Corp.

The use of UV-C light energy to kill dangerous microorganisms is nothing new. It has been used for decades to disinfect water and air. This photochemical process shuts down a microorganism’s reproductive processes and renders it non-pathogenic by disrupting the DNA structure. Surface disinfection is the new frontier for UV and has become a standard in hospitals already. The bottom line is ultraviolet disinfection systems help reduce healthcare-associated infections. Basic training is all that’s required to understand the limitations.

Operating standards set by independent associations like HLAC and TRSA specifically require that linen transport vehicles be disinfected prior to return to the customer. The UV MAX is placed in the back of the truck with the door closed and zero exposure to the operator. Customer feedback to Energenics indicates the

process can take as little as three minutes when used on a consistent basis.

The company says it’s ideal for use anywhere in a laundry where microbial surface contamination is a concern on large surface areas, including cleanrooms, soilsort areas, bathrooms and lunchrooms. Zero exposure to operators and employees must be maintained when considering application. It’s important to note that UV is “line of sight,” so shadowing must be considered.

Energenics says it is the only industrial laundry equipment manufacturer that is organically producing UV technology. The UV MAX is low-maintenance, plugs into a standard outlet, and its lamps are shatterproof. It will become the workhorse of a hygienic cleaning program in addition to providing consistency and repeatability in a safe manner for employees, Energenics says.

www.energenics.com | 800-944-1711

Pellerin Milnor Corp. is a leading manufacturer in the commercial laundry machinery industry. Featuring one of the widest varieties of equipment, Milnor says its machines are ideal for any laundry and have been successfully implemented in healthcare, hospitality, food and beverage, and linen supply applications around the world.

Available in both rigid-mount and suspended options, its small washer-extractors range in size from 25- to 170-pound capacities and can be paired with the comparable M-Series dryers. Larger washer-extractors can handle loads from 220- to 700-pound capacities and are easily matched with the Industrial Dryer series. The company says its machines feature one of five different

intuitive control options, which offer users varying degrees of flexibility.

Milnor also specializes in continuous batch washing equipment with its PulseFlow® technology tunnel system.

PulseFlow technology offers low water consumption, enhanced chemical performance, low energy usage and faster washing by combining True Top Transfer with standing bath washing and controlled intermittent counterflow rinsing in every

process module.

Milnor says PulseFlow tunnels can process 7,000 pounds per hour or more and can be incorporated in an automated wash system by including Milnor’s extraction devices, pass-through dryers, additional materialshandling equipment, Mildata® computer network and Mentor® controls.

Milnor says its machines offer unprecedented wash quality and have a proud legacy of durability.

www.milnor.com | 504-712-7656

ADI American Dawn manufactures, imports and distributes textiles for hospitality, healthcare, industrial, home and salon markets worldwide.

ADI offers towels, bath mats, bed linens, robes, apparel, patient apparel, custom apparel and table linens.

Decorative products include duvet covers, blankets, bed scarves, matelasses and pillows.

Founded in 1900, American Dawn is fourth-generation family-owned and -operated.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company has operational service distribution centers in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Bridgeport, Canada, Mexico and Central America.

ADI’s standing inventory allows same-day shipping with next-day delivery to most major cities. www.americandawn.com | 800-821-2221

R.W. Martin & Sons Inc.

Laundries aren’t made of one machine, says R.W. Martin & Sons Inc. Many different machines, in all areas of the laundry, are needed to generate reliable production and grow the business. Too much capital in one area means another area suffers.

Remanufacturing enables more areas to operate at optimal levels for the same capital cost, according to the company.

R.W. Martin says that when a laundry invests in one of its remanufactured machines, the operation saves capital dollars (up to 50% compared to new equipment) that can be used to fuel further growth.

The company says it recently opened a 34,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art remanufacturing facility in Tallmadge, Ohio. The facility combines the latest in production process technology to reduce costs and improve product performance.

R.W. Martin says its highly trained and experienced technicians take great pride and satisfaction in the quality of the company’s rebuilt and remanufactured machines that will support production requirements for years to come. The company adds that it has the ability to customize reconditioning requirements to provide you with the right machine at the right price to meet your production needs.

The company’s remanufacturing services include complete machine analysis and repair, replacing all failed components and those beyond useful life, and complete machine remanufacturing

Additional services include turnkey projects, including utility installation and modification; equipment delivery and rigging; full machine startup; and operator and maintenance training.

www.rwmartin.com | 800-635-4363

ADI American Dawn

a clean sheet

laundry has evolved...

Introducing EvoClean, the world‘s first venturi-based, water-powered laundry chemical dispenser. The system is available in 4, 6 and 8 product configurations with either a low or high flow rate. Its lightweight, compact design features an integrated flush manifold. Compatible with the Total Eclipse Controller, the system can accomodate up to 20 formulas and offers Auto Formula Select to simplify formula selection, as well as reporting capability on chemical usage, production, costs and alarms. There really is no comparison! With no chemical drop-off or deteriorating performance from worn squeeze tubes, EvoClean ensures consistent results and satisfied customers, wash after wash.

Ellis Corp.

Ellis Corp., an industry leader in laundry products and water systems, says it has launched its latest, groundbreaking innovation, the SCADA control platform.

The SCADA SL™ delivers the ultimate control and data interface to the side-loading washerextractor.

It’s not your conventional washing machine control, Ellis says. SCADA SL is the first-ever available control interface platform that includes

complete manual; schematics; proactive alarming maintenance schedule; 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-level troubleshooting diagnostics; visual training; 24/7

remote access availability; rapid lockout algorithms; customer reports; and much more.

Advanced program engineering delivers a user-friendly interface platform that is not only simple to operate but saves time, maintains consistent training methodology, and avoids costly downtime errors.

www.elliscorp.com | 800-611-6806

UniMac

UniMac® says its cuttingedge TotalVue™ system gives on-premises laundry managers a complete view into laundry operations.

The networked system monitors the performance of all washer-extractors and tumble dryers in the facility, and multiple locations (if the owner has more than one property). For management, the end results are reports that make it simple to measure the key performance indicators impacting the laundry’s efficiency (both in labor and utilities).

The cloud-based solution also offers a real-time look at operations from anywhere in the world, through a personalized internet portal.

This accessibility gives management the power to make immediate changes, UniMac says. Reports are easily exported, printed or e-mailed to other stakeholders, owners and general managers.

Gone are the days where laundries operated with little to no supervision, and management lacked a view into how/if processes are being followed or if equipment is operating correctly, according to UniMac.

TotalVue now enables managers to monitor conditions that may be hindering operational efficiency and productivity.

More importantly, it arms management with all the data to ask informed questions of staff and take corrective actions to not only increase efficiency, but enhance performance (throughput), and improve finished quality.

Offered exclusively on UniMac washer-extractors and tumble dryers equipped with the UniLinc™ control, it is supported by local laundry experts.

www.unimac.com | 800-587-5458

Continental Girbau Inc.

Continental Girbau Inc. delivers complete laundry solutions to on-premises, commercial and industrial laundries throughout North America. With a robust product offering, including washers, tunnel systems, dryers, feeders, ironers, folders and stackers, each piece of Continental equipment is precisely designed to strengthen laundry efficiency, quality and productivity, while reducing labor, the company says.

Continental’s newest product introduction is the Compact Laundry Solution—a space-saving equipment combination that delivers 21% more wash/dry/fold production per square foot when compared with other equipment offerings on the market, the company says. The Compact Laundry Solution configuration

variations include the new E-Series 80-poundcapacity washer-extractor, new 85/95-pound-capacity CG85/95S Dryer, and when automation is costjustified, the Compact 5-in-One feeder/ironer/folder/ stacker/accumulator.

Continental says the new size category and minimal footprint of both the washer and dryer combine with the Compact 5-inOne for unrivaled quality and greater production per operator hour (PPOH). Thus, it offers three distinct equipment offerings, wrapped into one solution, engineered by a single manufacturer. Configurable to perfectly meet the quality, labor, production and space requirements of any laundry operation, Continental

says its Compact Laundry Solution steps on-premises laundries into automation as it is production-justified, allows for future growth and flexibility, and produces superior results and return on investment. The Compact Laundry Solution, with all-in-one automation, effectively improves production by 76% when compared to ironing and hand folding, the company says.

www.cgilaundry.com | 800-256-1073

The DECC Co.

The DECC Co. serves the commercial laundry market by applying an abrasion-resistant release coating to dryer panels. With more than 2,800 coated dryer panels in service (and counting), the company says its customers experience numerous benefits from this non-stick coating application.

The coating DECC applies exhibits tremendous release qualities, drastically reducing the amount of plastic and debris that adheres to the inside of a dryer as compared to a dryer with uncoated panels. The abrasion resistance of the coating greatly increases its durability as well, ensuring extended performance.

With dryer panels coated by DECC, the need for ice blasting and drilling holes is eliminated. Although routine cleaning is still required, the time it takes is drastically diminished.

A dryer with clogged panels can experience a 30-35% increase in drying times or more, according to DECC. Panels coated by DECC allow for greater efficiency and airflow when compared to uncoated panels as it takes far longer for plastic and debris to build inside the dryer. As a result, production capacity is maintained and energy costs are reduced.

As a result of dramatically reduced downtime and labor, combined with increased production capacity and lowered energy costs, the investment of having your dryer panels coated by DECC could be returned in a matter of months, according to the company.

DECC says it is the sole coating source for dryer panels for JENSEN. However, the make and model of a laundry’s dryer does not matter; if the panels can be removed, DECC can coat them.

www.decc.com | 616-588-2850

“Your dryers are long-lasting. The PLC control is easy to use, helping to reduce cycle times, considerably.”

“CLM equipment has a good reputation: sturdy, reliable and e icient.”

“I’m really happy with my CLMs; they’re more than 20 years old and they just keep running.”

Since 1983, the CLM brand has delivered the most cost-e ective, most money-making shuttle conveyors, vacuum feeders, mat rollers, towel folders and its mighty line of 200-1200 lb. dryers. Come to the brand where long-lasting and low-maintenance equipment is standard.

232-2417| clmco.com

ARTA

The mission of the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) is to create greater appreciation and awareness for reusable textiles—cloth products that are reused rather than thrown away like paper disposable items.

Its members represent all facets of the textile maintenance industry: manufacturers of textiles, machinery, and chemicals, as well as suppliers, sister associations, and the laundry operations that clean and deliver clean linen, sheets, towels, blankets, scrubs, incontinence products, surgical gowns, and uniforms to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, clinics and businesses.

ARTA serves its members in several ways. The association:

• Promotes the value of and need for reusable textiles through education conferences, seminars, marketing and sales resources, research, and by creating a library of data on the benefits of reusable textiles.

• Provides a forum for the exchange of information among members,

E HIBIT in print 2018

focusing on key economic and environmental issues that offer opportunities for members.

• Promotes ARTA’s concerns to legislative and regulatory decision-makers.

In addition, ARTA supports the three Rs of sustainability—reduce, reuse and recycle— and promotes the three Cs of reusable textiles—comfort, cost and conservation.

For example, in the healthcare industry, reusable textiles offer benefits of:

• Comfort. The softness of washable textiles is unsurpassed in garments for patients and surgical staff and in bed linen, toweling and other flat goods.

• Cost. When the cost of single-use, disposable goods—acquisition, storage and removal—is compared to that of reusable textiles, the savings is approximately 30%.

• Conservation. Carefully engineered medical devices made of cloth and laundered by professionals reduce waste and the costs associated with waste disposal.

www.arta1.com | 863-660-5350

Hydro Systems

Hydro Systems, an independent manufacturer of proportioning and dispensing systems, recently introduced EvoClean, a venturi-based, water-powered laundry dispenser for on-premises laundry (OPL) applications with three to eight chemical products.

Unlike other laundry dispensers, it does not require squeeze tubes, according to the company. This drives dramatic reductions in service parts and maintenance costs. Once the unit is calibrated, its delivery performance is precise, and it will not drift or under-dose chemicals due to squeeze tube wear. This gives laundries less downtime and the predictably clean results they expect with every wash, Hydro Systems says.

To reduce water and energy consumption, the EvoClean employs an eductor that restricts water flow to 0.5 GPM or 1.0 GPM (nominally) and forgoes the use of AC and DC motors, which require more power to operate. The EvoClean is 50% lighter than other traditional peristaltic pumps and takes up less space within a laundry facility, leading to simplified installation and maintenance, Hydro Systems says.

The system is available in four-, six- and eight-product configurations for two flow rates and is compatible with Hydro Systems’ Total Eclipse Controller. This controller features a 20-formula capacity and Auto Formula Select, along with a large LCD that displays formula names, dispenser status and various diagnostic reports. Users can access reports on product usage, costs per formula, system settings and more through the controller.

www.hydrosystemsco.com | 800-543-7184

ALN Tab half spread with ALN Tab half spread with

Fibertech Inc.

Fibertech Inc. has added three new laundry trucks to its line of versatile, rotationally molded, material-handling solutions for a variety of laundry and linen service industries. These include the EC-101, the F-LT90 and the F-LT70, which will give customers a variety of laundry cart options for their exact business needs, the company says.

The EC-101 is a large shelf cart that offers the versatility of exchanging dirty linens for clean linens. Instead of relying on multiple laundry trucks, Fibertech’s exchange cart features a unique shelfconversion system that allows customers to effortlessly reposition built-in shelves depending on the task at hand, according to the company.

The F-LT90 is a smaller shelf truck that has plastic or wire shelves to interchange linens. In addition to a heavy-duty design, Fibertech says its F-LT90 is designed to make businesses more efficient by including a collapsible shelving system, which can be effortlessly converted, allowing employees to switch functions in a matter of seconds. This versatility means businesses can col-

lect dirty linens in the same cart they use to sort and deliver fresh linens, resulting in a round-trip functionality that speeds up operations and reduces the need for multiple truck styles.

Measuring in at only 56 inches, Fibertech’s F-LT70 laundry truck is much shorter than its other bulk laundry carts. This more compact design offers a variety of benefits for businesses. One advantage is that it is easier for employees to maneuver.

Fibertech Inc. says it creates environmentally responsible solutions for customers, with products and services that surpass their needs and expectations.

www.fibertechinc.net | 888-436-0310

Venus Group

Venus, a manufacturer in hospitality and institutional textiles for decades, says it has drawn on its experience to present high-quality textile solutions for the healthcare market. As healthcare clients continue to provide opportunities, Venus offers solutions. With its exceptional line of core healthcare textiles—DuraPlus® Sheets, DreamSheets™ and HealthSelect™ Sheets— Venus says it has operations covered.

The company says its soft, durable fabrics enhance the patient experience.

Remarkably stain-resistant, these textiles also reduce operational costs, while providing comfort and relaxation for the people in your care.

In addition to bed linens, Venus says its healthcare textile products include patient gowns, surgical towels, scrubs, lab coats, thermal blankets and more.

Venus is a family-owned corporation founded in 1972 that is headquartered in Southern California. The company is a vertically integrated textile manufacturer and distributor with offices and manufacturing facilities in the United States, India, Bangladesh and China.

The company has served the industrial market through its institutional laundries division since 1972. It has since added four corporate divisions: healthcare, hospitality, government and ventures. The 170,000-square-foot Foothill Ranch, Calif., and the 140,000-square-foot Fort Lawn, S.C., facilities are equipped with automated machinery, as well as manual cut-and-sew operations, that provide custom manufacturing capabilities with a quick turnaround time, according to the company.

www.venusgroup.com | 800-421-6599

Ecolab

Ecolab’s Textile Care division has introduced Shield™ Water Optimizer, a patent-pending chemistry formulation that addresses a broad spectrum of wash water challenges in commercial laundry operations.

Today’s exceedingly difficult water conditions are causing a reduction in the effectiveness of wash chemistry cleaning properties, creating the belief that commercial laundries need to increase chemical use/spending to produce levels of clean that are acceptable by the end user. And with sustainability initiatives driving industry regulations around unacceptable chemical ingredients, the challenge of maintaining quality while control-

ling cost becomes an industrywide concern.

In the development of Shield, Ecolab says it leveraged industry research and trends, trusted customer relationships, and unparalleled technical expertise to offer a solution that increases operational efficiencies while producing the level of quality formerly seen with the use of phosphates.

Shield Water Optimizer is sustainably engineered without phosphates or EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetate) for use with commercial laundry detergents and oxidizers to optimize cleaning performance in every step of the commercial wash process. Shield removes water impurities and buffers the effects of

hard water and heavy metals to provide the ideal condition for effective soil removal and unprecedented cleanliness.

“Leveraging Shield as an additive to the commercial laundry wash process helps produce whiter whites and brighter brights, increasing linen life through improved color retention and whiteness recovery,” says Chris Smith, vice president and general manager, Ecolab Textile Care North and Latin America.

www.ecolab.com | 800-352-5326

Kannegiesser ETECH

Kannegiesser ETECH has a new option for its eVue software system: the eVue Anywhere App. The company says it has designed eVue to work anywhere, because managers can’t be everywhere.

Laundry operators can access all of their eVue Metrics from a smartphone or tablet with the new app. View data from multiple plants in one clean interface, which Kannegiesser ETECH says allows managers to focus on what matters. And, with the latest eVue integration, managers can monitor water usage and faults from tunnels.

The eVue system has always been about providing easy access to your data, the company says. And eVue Anywhere details let laundry operators dive in to each key area of a plant, showing the data that matters so they can focus on making impactful decisions.

Kannegiesser ETECH says it is continually adding more and more data into eVue. Why? Because when managers see more, they can do more.

www.kannegiesser.com | 972-602-8766

“Casual Dress” Redefined.

Milliken Chambray Signature Stripe Napkins are an excellent way to bring people together. With a variety of colors, our Chambray works for any occasion or location - from formal to casual.

With a new twist on an old tradition, your linen will speak their language... fresh, clean, consistent and stylish.

Together, ADI and Milliken have set the standard of linen excellence for decades.

ADI American Dawn. The world’s leading supplier of Milliken Signature table linen products. Count on us!

Signature Plus is a registered trademark for Milliken & Company for fabrics.

E HIBIT in print 2018

Dexter Laundry

Dexter Laundry says OPLs can get total control over a laundry with its new O-Series line of onpremises products from the company. With 100 cycles, a variety of specialty options, multi-lingual settings and industry-specific presets, Dexter says the O-Series controls give ultimate flexibility with the precision a business needs.

Dexter O-Series dryers feature its patented Moisture Detection System, with wireless sensing technology. Each auto-dry cycle automatically stops when the load is dry, increasing throughput and

reducing linen wear. O-Series dryers also offer the added safety of the Fire Response System, which automatically senses when a load is unexpectedly increasing in temperature. Two additional levels of Fire Response are available on water-equipped models.

DexterLive.com makes it easier than ever to program your controls and manage a laundry, the company says. This free web application allows customers to create and adjust all cycle settings. The settings can then be downloaded and copied to the machine via USB. Plus, with O-Series Total Control

reporting, a manager can keep an eye on the productivity of the laundry, track machine downtime and monitor cycle usage to ensure the laundry is running efficiently.

Dexter products have been made in the United States since 1894. Every product comes with lifetime technical support and industry-leading warranties, so customers can be confident in every machine they invest in, the company says.

www.dexter.com | 800-524-2954

Consolidated Laundry Machinery

Combining “workhorse” reliability with innovation, Consolidated Laundry Machinery (CLM) says it has produced cost-effective, best-inclass industrial dryers, folders, conveyors, vacuum feeders and mat rolling systems for decades.

The company provides parts and responsive service support for its products regardless of age. Its expanded parts and service departments offer upgrading and refurbishing of CLM dryers at any customer site. Over the last several years, CLM has developed distributor relationships for improved after-sales support throughout North America.

With a focus on industrial dryers, Consolidated Laundry Machinery manufactures a line of models ranging from 200 to 1,200 pounds capacity used by many industries, including healthcare, hospitality, industrial, institutional and apparel. A low-NOx version is available in all sizes. In 2010, a new size was launched, the 165. This 450pound dryer is designed to fit perfectly in the footprint of the older Challenge dryer.

Today, sophisticated technology and innovation have brought CLM’s high-performing dryers to a new level, the company says. With features such as cross-axis airflow, high-degree tilt angles and large door openings, and self-cleaning blower, CLM says its dryers now deliver unsurpassed productivity and efficiency, while being simple to operate and to maintain.

These improvements increase productivity, “green” efficiency and overall safety while upholding the CLM “workhorse” industry reputation.

www.clmco.com | 323-232-2417

Maytag Commercial Laundry

The Maytag® Commercial Laundry MultiLoad Washer is designed to address the continuing industry trend of managing costs and efficiencies in the on-premises laundry market.

Maytag says the new Multi-Load Washer can be configured in hundreds of different ways, allowing properties to choose among different water-heating options, electrical connections, control interfaces, water inlets, drain systems and cabinet construction options. Available in 20- and 65-pound sizes, this

washer helps simplify laundry operations with a full-color LCD screen and Maytag Connect 360° ™ Technology. It also offers properties the flexibility to customize wash formulas to suit every on-premises laundry need.

The robust, industrial-strength subsystem design means it’s built to handle tough loads while delivering a thorough clean every time. The drive- and wash-system components, and strong frame, can handle the rigors of on-premises use and are capable of extraction

forces reaching 200 g. Because of how reliable this machine is, it’s backed with a 5/3-Year Limited Parts Warranty, Maytag says. Also in the Maytag lineup are multi-load dryers. The 75-pound, on-premises laundry dryers feature moisture-sensing technology, optimizes airflow for a faster drying time and a reverse-tumble feature. It utilizes a residual moisture control (RMC) system to measure the presence of moisture in the load. The dryer senses when the load is dry and shuts the unit

Rennco

Imagine handling linens only once, while increasing efficiencies and saving labor, posits Rennco. The company has introduced a linen sorting/bagging system.

The sorting/bagging system can be designed with three to eight bins and set up to either count or weigh the group of items. Items are received from upstream slings into the infeed hopper (which will accept up to a 350-pound sling).

The linens are streamed onto the sorting table where two operators inspect and toss the linen into the various bins. Light curtains count items in each bin and then close the upper gate when the count has been reached.

The load is traffic-controlled to the incline conveyor that advances the group toward the bagger. The group of products is loaded into the web of film where the bag is shaken, sealed, cut and transferred up the discharge conveyor. The package is then ready for transport to the end user.

Rennco says the system uses generic center-folded poly film; therefore, it is available from many sources at significant savings, compared to pre-made bags on a roll. Bag sizes can be stored as recipes on the touch screen and changed in seconds, without having to change the roll, so only one supply item is ever needed.

The same world-class quality is available with large-product capability to accommodate fitted sheets and larger towels, according to the company.

Rennco says it can help uniform rental or hospital laundry services reduce labor. In addition, the company has an engineering staff that will custom-design a system to fit plant requirements.

www.rennco.com | 800-409-5225

down to help prevent over-drying, saving time and utility costs and extending linen life.

www.maytagcommerciallaundry.com | 269-759-6044

E HIBIT in print 2018

Lavatec Laundry Technology

Lavatec Laundry Technology manufactures commercial laundry equipment that is durable, with long life cycles. The company says many well-maintained machines are still performing throughout North America and Europe after two decades of service. Now, a new solution is available that provides an even greater return on investment with Lavatec.

The new osLaundry software system integrates all Lavatec equipment to help ensure a smooth economic operation for a laundry

facility. A state-of-the-art solution with highly accurate and reproducible control technology, it takes managing a laundry operation to the next level, according to the company.

The comprehensive osLaundry system produces reliable data and real-time information to help make better-informed decisions faster, Lavatec Laundry Technology says. In a world where time is money and every second counts, Lavatec says this program gives operators the leverage they need to better manage and make

an operation more profitable.

With osLaundry, Lavatec says customers get a clear overview of where everything stands and what is happening during laundry operation, all on one screen. With this configurable and scalable system, customers have complete transparency over all their production data and equipment flows—from the continuous tunnel washer, conveyors and monorail systems to the dryers and folding machines.

The company says operators can expect fewer problems that are easier to trace. The software program provides ample storage and an Ethernet connection to higher-level systems, along with different choices of operating terminals and remote diagnostics support.

www.lltusa.com | 203-632-8777

bdsparts.com

Chicago Dryer Co.

Chicago Dryer Co. says its SkyFeed is the world’s first spreader/feeder with a compact built-in buffer rail system, designed for continuous highvolume production and a highquality precision laydown.

Up to three operators can simultaneously load pieces directly from a cart or conveyor onto ergonomically positioned clips that automatically advance the linen to a raised, selfsupported compact rail system. SkyFeed’s buffer rail can store approximately 20 large pieces in preparation for spreading— eliminating interruptions in workflow, such as cart changing, to produce a consistent continuous flow of linen into the ironer.

The unique and Chicago®exclusive rail design offers the benefits of a rail system in a much smaller, space-saving footprint, the company says. SkyFeed also utilizes the elevated feed position to better handle difficult-to-process items. The height of the rail system allows SkyFeed to briefly shake out linen to ensure that heavier pieces are fully open before being fed into the ironer, minimizing pieces with flipped trailing edges.

A pivoting vacuum box is utilized during laydown to prevent slippage and produce straight and accurate leading edges, while a unique venturi vacuum chamber creates powerful suction to induce and treat the linen’s trailing edge for a greater number of high-quality finished pieces.

For maximum flexibility, SkyFeed is also available with a small-piece vacuum bypass feature for pillowcases, napkins, table rounds, and any other items.

www.chidry.com | 773-235-4430

EDRO Corp.

EDRO’s DynaWash® DW400 three-pocket end-loader is now available in a new, space-saving, low-profile design. Featuring a 12-inch reduction in height, the 76.5-inch-high by 94.8-inchwide by 74.5-inch-deep footprint makes it a compact, large-capacity (400-pound/68.69-cubic-foot) washer-extractor.

New features include a positioning disc-brake system, a chemical port manifold, reinforced inner doors and AutoIndex cylinder positioning.

The battleship-quality machine is designed around EDRO’s patented “3-D” basket, which lowers the center of gravity to significantly reduce vibration transmission. This means a stable washing platform, increased capacity in less space, and dynamic wash action for outstanding linen cleaning, the company says.

A single-motor, variable-speed drive with exclusive variable step extract timing provides improved load balancing for higher spin speeds and water extraction. The variable step extract’s unique speed algorithm spins the machine faster as water is removed from the load.

The electrical controller box houses the state-of-the-art DynaTrol HMi Touch Screen Control. The control provides the most specific wash programming, simple operator interface, and owner/supervisor productivity reporting, EDRO says. Control features include 50-program memory; fully programmable field programming; manual overrides with passwordprotected security; operation reports on productivity, including wash program reports, alarm history and logs; and pop-up maintenance reminders.

The company says integrated ozone control grants maximum safety and ease of use of its optional DynOzone–DynaWash® ozone system, featuring PowerCell technology. The revolutionary onboard system combines a built-in ozone generator and high-speed machine for noticeably reduced hot-water requirements, and high-quality, low-rewash results.

www.edrocorp.com | 860-828-0311

BDS Laundry Systems

For more than half a century, BDS Laundry Systems says it has steadily carved out its niche as leaders in laundry equipment and experts in laundry solutions.

Since the company’s founding in 1961, BDS has grown to become one of the largest commercial laundry equipment distributors serving three key markets: on-premises laundry operations, multihousing laundry rooms and vended laundry stores.

BDS says it takes pride in providing top-quality laundry equipment, dependable parts and excep-

tional service.

Since 1961, the company sold and serviced more than 500,000 laundry machines across its eight-state Midwestern territory. BDS says its growing list of satisfied clients includes thousands of customers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Upper Michigan.

In 2015, BDS says it launched BDSParts.com where it serves thousands of customers per month providing replacement laundry parts at the best

prices online.

BDS Laundry Systems says it is the factoryauthorized distributor of the best brands in the industry, including Electrolux, Maytag, Speed Queen, B&C, UniMac, Wascomat and Whirlpool. With the support of loyal customers, employees and manufacturers, BDS says its goal is to continue to be “Leaders in Laundry Equipment, Experts in Laundry Solutions.”

www.bdslaundry.com | 800-688-0020

Maintenance schedule alerts operators to preventative maintenance activity needed

Maintenance history provides accountability that pm’s are performed

Rapid lock-out algorithm saves time and reduces downtime.

WE DIDN’T EXCEED EXPECTATIONS...

The SCADA SLTM delivers the ultimate control and data interface to the side loading washer extractor. It’s not your conventional washing machine control. SCADA SLTM is the first, ever available control interface platform that includes complete manual, schematics, proactive alarming maintenance schedule, 1-2-3 and 4 level troubleshooting diagnostics, visual training, 24/7 remote access availability, rapid lockout algorithms, customer reports and much, much more. Advanced program engineering delivers a user-friendly interface platform that is not only simple to operate but saves time, maintains consistent training methodology and avoids costly downtime errors.

WE SHAT TERED THEM.

A.L. Wilson Chemical Co.

When dealing with laundry stains, get the outstanding results The Laundry Two deliver, A.L. Wilson Chemical Co. says.

RiteGo laundry spray spotter quickly penetrates to absorb ground-in soil, oils and greases; collar and cuff stains; and more, all without brushing, the company says. Then turn to Laundry TarGo to remove any tough oil-based

stains that remain behind.

Both Laundry TarGo and RiteGo are chlorinated solvent-free and NPE-free, biodegradable, noncombustible, and California VOC- and Prop-65-compliant. Use them to deliver stain-free laundry, the company says.

www.alwilson.com | 800-526-1188

McClure Industries

McClure Industries offers customers fire-retardant, sanitized carts with its Sanitrux® carts and the Sani-Wash® Cart Washer.

EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Conference Overview

Wednesday, July 25 Noon

Registration open 1 p.m. Plant tour (HLS Linen Services) 6 p.m. MIP Reception

Thursday, July 26 8 a.m.

Education Conference Registration Fees

Continental breakfast 9 a.m. Sessions begin 10:45 a.m. Exhibits open Noon Lunch 1:00 p.m. Sessions resume 3:30 p.m. Break/Exhibits 4 p.m. Sessions resume 5 p.m. Sessions end 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ARTA Sponsor Reception

Friday, July 27 8 a.m. Continental breakfast 8:30 a.m. Business Meeting/Election 9 a.m. Sessions begin 10:30 a.m. Break/Exhibits 10:45 a.m. Sessions resume Noon Adjourn

Hotel Information

Chateau Laurier Room Rate: $170 USD/$220 CDN; first-come, first-served. Chateau Laurier Ottawa, Ontario 1 Rideau St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8S7, Canada +1 613-241-1414 (ask for ARTA room block)

Need More Info?

What makes McClure Industries’ Sanitrux® significant to decision makers is a high return on investment, ergonomic design, strength, maneuverability, fire-retardant certification and a long service life of 15 to 20 years—three to four times longer than other carts.

The company’s Sanitrux carts exceed all NFPA and IFC fire codes and are proven to not add fuel to a fire. Many models come with fire-suppression lids that close automatically.

Many other cart brands hold an FM 6921 certification. The fire test for this certification consists of paper ignited inside a cart that is allowed to burn for 15 seconds. After 15 seconds, a person manually closes the lid. If paper under the cart or cheesecloth suspended 18 inches above it doesn’t catch fire, it’s pronounced “fireretardant.”

Most facility fires cannot be detected or extinguished in 15 seconds. The only test for certification recognized by fire professionals is the cone calorimeter test, according to ASTM-E 1354.

Sanitrux cart material has been tested to ASTM-E 1354 and is Certified Class II Fire Retardant by Warnock/Hersey Intertek. This certification ensures a fire-retardant cart.

The company’s Sani-Wash® Cart Washer fills a growing niche: an increased need for sanitized carts because of increased concerns of epidemics. The cart washer is now available with UV lights to kill bacteria it comes in contact with.

With the Sani-Wash Cart Washer, McClure says laundries can attract new customers and increase profit margins.

www.mcclureindustries.com | 800-752-2821

Chateau Laurier • Ottawa, Ontario Wednesday, July 25 to Friday, July 27

Norchem Corp.

With 40 years of trusted innovation and experience, Norchem specializes in developing sustainable commercial laundry wash chemical programs, water purification and recycling technologies, industrial information systems, and custom stainless-steel fabrication, among an assortment of other customized solutions for laundry facilities.

The company says its solutions and services are designed to minimize the environmental footprint of the operations it serves by incorporating cuttingedge technologies that are designed and developed

in-house and built to the highest quality standards.

Norchem says it distinguished its solutions and services early on by being a leader in developing environmentally friendly NPE/APE/PAA-free detergents and formulations coupled with an unmatched NorFlow-Win® Chemical Injection Unit.

In the early 1990s, Norchem recognized the potential for water and energy reuse for commercial laundries after analyzing the amount lost and consumed during the wash process. In 1995, Norchem developed and installed the UltraPure® chemical-free,

water filtration and recycling system. It was the first of its kind for commercial laundries: an innovative system that saves up to 80% of water, chemistry and energy to be recycled back into the wash cycle.

Norchem says its solutions and services have helped countless facilities improve their wash quality through greener chemistry and smarter programs to save millions of gallons of water, reduce utility costs, and reach compliance with regulations year after year. www.norchemcorp.com | 800-442-4360

Parker Boiler Co.’s indirectfired water heaters are heavyduty packaged boilers designed to heat water for laundry, coin laundry and other applications, the company says.

Other applications include swimming pools, domestic water heat pumps, pond heating—any application where a large amount of one-way water is required.

WH Series boilers are available with inputs ranging from 300,000 to 3 million Btu. They are UL- and/or ETL-listed to UL795 and manufactured under ASME Section I and IV. They can heat water in the low-temperature, 60 F to 100 F range without flue gas condensation, the company says, and can provide up to 190 F without burning out the heat-transfer coil, thanks to a flame that fires on the 10-gauge-steel side of the boiler and pulls water indirectly from the unit’s finned copper heat exchanger.

Boilers are available in natural gas, propane and low-NOx firing, and the company offers optional 316 stainless-steel heat exchangers and copper/nickel heat exchangers.

Parker says it has boilers dating to 1959 that are still in service.

www.parkerboiler.com | 323-727-9800

Parker Boiler Co.

PANEL OF EXPERTS

Best practices for stains, rewash

ronment.

Blame the chemical vendor!

This is often the most used excuse, but most times other issues within your laundry are the cause of rewash and stains. These terms, rewash and stain, need to be defined before we can determine how to reduce the percentage in your laundry envi-

Stain wash is linen that did not come clean during the normal wash process or linen that may have been stained in the finishing, handling or shipping process. Rewash is linen that was dropped onto floor, did not iron properly, was mixed into a noncompatible load, or was not finished properly with wrinkles or mis-folds that needs to go back through the wash process.

Steps to reduce stain:

Start with proper sorting of linen into the correct wash classification. By mixing items, they may not be washed on the proper wash formula to remove

the type of soil/stain. With the selection of proper wash formulas, I have often seen employees wash items on the shortest formula in an attempt to speed up the process if the washdeck has a backlog. This usually leads to increased stains that should have been removed if correct formula was used. Proper chemical titrations ensure the chemical formula has the proper concentrations to remove the soil content of the linen being processed.

Your washroom supervisor should be trained by the chemical rep on how to conduct routine titration tests. I suggest having a checklist for daily and

weekly inspections on the following:

• Verify chemicals in tanks.

• Test chemical pumps or hoses.

• Check drain valves for leaks.

• Verify proper water temperature is achieved.

• Verify proper load sizes.

• Any rust or oily areas on clean side that could stain linen.

These simple steps should help to reduce your percentage of stains occurring in the laundry. Dealing with stains being caused by your customers is a discussion for another day.

Steps to reduce rewash:

Rewash is often the silent killer of a plant’s efficiency. Often the same items recirculate through the plant due to a simple problem that has not been fixed. Mis-

“How can a laundry manager reduce the percentage of stain rewash in their operation? What ‘best practices’ advice do you have in terms of linen types, chemistry, soil/stain identification?”

Equipment Manufacturing

Keith Ware

Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc. Beacon Falls, Conn.

“REWASH IS OFTEN THE SILENT KILLER OF A PLANT’S EFFICIENCY. OFTEN THE SAME ITEMS RECIRCULATE THROUGH THE PLANT...”

—KEITH WARE, LAVATEC

were sorted into a sheet load

not be dried and sheets going into a towel load that come out dry and cannot be ironed. Also, linen sitting too long in baskets or slings that do not have proper moisture content must be rewashed due to high wrinkle concentrations after ironing.

Linen falling out of carts onto the floor should be re-washed through its normal process. Staff should be trained to reduce these issues, especially since plants usually do not cover linen at the end of a shift. When the blowdown crew cleans off the overhead, it will create a lint storm all over the clean linen, which will need to be rewashed.

Ironer folding and wrinkles: These rewash items are usually the result of improper ironing practices, feed techniques and waxing of the ironer. These issues are a significant cost to the plant since the linen has already been sorted, washed and conditioned. By having staff properly trained on feed techniques, properly waxing the ironer, and having the maintenance staff maintain the operating efficiency and quality of the ironer itself, it should help to reduce these rewash items.

One key philosophy of operating a plant should be to pull the work through the laundry and not have product sitting for extended periods waiting to be ironed. This leads to over-dried goods, which cannot properly go through the ironer since there is not enough residual moisture in the linens to relax the fibers and remove the wrinkles.

While there is no single magical cure to prevent stains and rewash, sticking to your best practices within the laundry should help to reduce these issues.

communicated (over and over) to our production associate. The message of what is “stained” cannot be overemphasized.

wash products, our operators need to pay special attention to the products as they are preparing, or finishing, these linen pieces. The pieces of linen that are still stained should be set aside (for a second time) and removed/ragged out from our product system. Again, we need to measure these pieces by product and customer (if possible).

It is these “ragged” stained pieces for which new products will need to be put into service as replacements. Note: Some laundry businesses have an “expected new product put in service” rate and charge accordingly.

number to the total pounds produced for the same period.

For instance, say we determine the stain rewash rate to be 10%—too high by industry standards—we need only find a way to reduce that by about 7% to compare with what is normally acceptable. This is important because attempting to totally eradicate all stains only leads to washing the life out of the linen, leading to high linen replacement costs, which is the costliest part of a laundry’s budget.

The top priority of understanding a stain issue is to know your customer’s expectations and use of textile products. Are we looking at bar mops, sheets or scrubs? We must define our customer’s expectation (or grade) of the condition for the reuse of the product. This definition must be documented and

The next action item is to measure the amount of stain pieces we have by product type and customer (if possible). Any stain rate over 5% needs to be investigated. A higher-thanexpected stain rate needs to be identified. Is this high stain rate due to customer abuse, incorrect wash formulas or reprocessing of stained linen?

Remember, the stain pieces should be segregated and rewashed by themselves. There are various stain treatment wash formulas that can be provided by our chemical representatives for grease, metallic, dyes and oxidizable stains.

When reprocessing the stain

Ifirst try to determine exactly what percentage of the total wash process is reject/rewash. An acceptable number for healthcare is 2-3%. For hospitality linens, a level of 2-6% is acceptable. If you are unsure what your rate is, save all rejected linen for a week, weigh it and compare that

After obtaining a good idea of stain rewash percentage, I next inspect the collection and sorting procedures. When it comes to healthcare linen, this is an ongoing battle. We have the nurse’s aides who are responsible for the collection procedure on the floors.

The preferred process is for the aide to shake out the linen to remove any bodily waste. When this isn’t done, the soils end up staining the linen. The nursing staff needs to be involved in training and monitoring the aides to make sure this critical procedure is observed.

In hospitality, a similar shakeout procedure needs to be observed by the housekeeping

Consulting Services

Michael Dodge

Gotli Labs (GLOBE) Minneapolis, Minn.

Chemicals Supply Rich Fosmire Epic Industries, a Division of Simoniz USA Bolton, Conn.

“THE TOP PRIORITY OF UNDERSTANDING A STAIN ISSUE IS TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER’S EXPECTATIONS AND USE OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS.”

—MICHAEL DODGE, GOTLI LABS (GLOBE)

staff. They need to be alert to misuse of the towels from makeup, food stains or shoe polish. In both settings, management should take the necessary steps

The formula itself is a delicate balance of time, temperature, mechanical action and chemicals. If one area is compromised, the other three must take up the slack.

When attempting stain control, temperature needs to be checked throughout the day. First loads of the day may get good hot water, but what about later? Are temperatures still at optimum levels?

Other questions a laundry manager needs to determine include: Are proper formulas being used? Are short cuts being taken to get things washed faster?

ing wasn’t as clean as I thought. Here are some things I have learned that have helped me reduce my rewash percentages.

Communicate and have a good relationship with your chemical representative.

are detected during the pre-sort process.

wash cycle and getting them clean the first wash.

Commend your co-workers. As you see the rewash percentages go down, share the news with your workers and give them the credit for the improvement. A pat on the back and encouraging word go a long way after a long, hot day in the laundry.

to ensure all of these procedures are followed.

I next look at the wash formulas themselves. The chemical representative can recommend the proper formulas to get things clean the first time.

One of my “best practices” is to have at least one flush step at the beginning, at cold or warm temperature, to get rid of any heavy particulates, blood or food scraps on the fabric surface.

These suggestions are not new, but it is good to review them from time to time because when we stray from the formula, we pay the price, either higher replacement costs or a recommendation to close the OPL and outsource, leading to the loss of jobs.

When I was given the laundry supervisor position, I didn’t know squat about laundry. I just assumed everything went into the washer dirty, and when it came out, it was clean. However, as the years progressed, I found out through various sources that the laundry I was produc-

Chemistry is such a huge part of the laundry, as all of you know, and your chemical representative has the knowledge about the chemistry side of laundry, or they have access to someone that does.

Whenever I have noticed a downward trend in the appearance of the laundry, we, my rep and I, are able to get together and talk out the problem and without fail find a solution.

We’ve worked together for many years, have had our disagreements, but have worked through our disagreements and don’t let them drive a wedge between us. We’ve also developed a formula to be used when tougher stains

Share your knowledge with your staff. All that we learn will do no good if it is not shared with our staff that are in the “trenches.” If they don’t know what to look for, then all the knowledge that we possess is worthless. Take the time to educate, not dictate, educate the line staff on what to look for during the sorting process.

Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves, put on your PPE, work with them, and show them what you want done and how you want it done. In taking this approach, the staff will work harder for you knowing that you care and will begin to find more of the tougher stains, allowing you to get them into the proper

We recently had to make a change from liquid to solid chemicals and the immediate results were not good. The whites were looking very dingy and stains were still present. I contacted my chemical representative and had him change the formula. I also informed and showed my sorters what was happening and that I needed them to weed out the dingy stained whites from the rest so we could wash them separately in the special formula developed by my chemical rep.

The percentage of rewash has dropped considerably over the past couple of months, and the whites are back to their original brightness.

We don’t catch everything, but these practices have greatly improved our stain removal and greatly reduced the rewash percentages. Hope this information is of help to you. Thank you for your time. ALN

Other Institution Laundry

Todd B. Jenson,

Shooter

he advises. “You have to be fully committed to fight for life, and don’t ease up until the shooter is down for good.”

In event of an incident where somebody is injured or killed, it’s likely the business operation won’t be able to start up again right away. Foulke says a business needs to be prepared for this. It will probably need grief counselors, help reassuring employees of safety, help them know how they’ll get paid, along with communication with customers and vendors.

Foulke says that while active shooter events do occur, the probability of it happening is low. Still, it’s best a business be prepared with policies and training.

ALN

TRSA’s next webinar on employee medical leave laws will take place June 27. Log onto www.trsa.org/events/ webinars/ for information.

out. You go to a restaurant and you have to wait. The hospitality industry is booming. Is it helping the linen industry? That’s the question.”

As with healthcare, there is a lot of consolidation, mergers of major hotel chains, in the hospitality industry, says Bernstein.

“When the hotels join, they become part of purchasing organizations,” he says. “If you aren’t accepted and certified by the organization, forget about selling laundry service to the member hotels. These mergers are absolutely having an effect on those laundries that provide hospitality linen service.”

Travel preferences are changing, too, Bernstein says. The trend is to demand “experiences.” Travelers also want authenticity, personalization on demand. It all stems from the millennial generation, which is so used to using apps for everything, which is leading to nontraditional laundry.

“Now, if you go to the hotel and you need something, you don’t pick up the phone for more towels, I’d rather use an app,” Bernstein says. “Another example of non-

traditional laundry: I’m going on vacation with my wife. Half of those nights will be spent in a hotel and half in an Airbnb. Who’s doing their laundry? When those guests leave, the owner is taking those linens and doing them themselves.”

In both restaurants and hotels, the concept of the “linen-less table” impacts laundry, he shares. With this model, restaurants don’t use tablecloths, carpeting, expensive table service, etc. This provides the restaurant a quicker turnaround to serve more diners, but they also spend less money on laundry service.

Bernstein also says there is a new room-service model coming to hotels. Orders are pre-made and pre-packed in little bags dropped off at the room with plastic containers and silverware. No table or linens are used.

Hotel green programs also affect laundries, he says. The programs offer the perception that laundry uses too much water. Hotels want to reduce usage and costs, reliance on laundries. Laundries have to counter the perception with the reality of how sustainable their

services really are.

“What’s the conclusion? It’s kind of scary,” Bernstein says.

“There are a lot of changes coming—generational changes, technological changes, economic business changes that are hap-

pening.

“There’s a lot going on in the laundry industry in general and in healthcare and hospitality. You need to be thinking about it, and you need to be aware of it so you can react to it.” ALN

I insisted that all employees be treated fairly. I trained my management staff in how to effectively accomplish that task. Too often, high turnover can be traced back to a bad supervisor or a toxic fellow employee. Many laundries think employees must be constantly pushed to achieve good results. I believe that if a productivity program is implemented in a laundry, the workers will automatically increase their production to prove their worth. A fair productivity system improves production and employee morale.

All of these things can be accomplished by any manager. None of them are hard or expensive to implement. Embracing the industry’s history, hiring appropriately, showing respect and investing in your employee’s future are simple basic management principles. ALN

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 email at elfrederick@cox.net, or by phone at 540-520-6288.

WHY WATER TUBES ARE BETTER

BOILER EFFICIENCY. The Parker is one of the most efficient boilers on the market today. The 8 to 12 pass water tube design provides a much larger heating area to maximum heat transfer compared to tubeless designs.

LONGER LIFE. Our tubes are double the thickness of standard tubes and our steam drum at 1/2” is 50% thicker to resist corrosion, the tubes flexibly expand and contract to prevent warping and leaking, and can be easily flushed instead of manually cleaned. Some Parker Boilers have been in continuous service for 40 years without experiencing a service problem.

SAFETY. The heavy construction and the flexible design make it one of the safest boilers in the world. The low water volume of the Parker design stores much less pressure energy than tubeless designs so explosions are highly improbable. To our knowledge, no Parker has ever exploded, even when injected with cold water. Please don’t try that with a tubeless boiler.

VARIABLE OR MODULATING FIRING. All Parker Steam Boilers* are provided with either full modulation or variable firing to prevent cycling and save fuel. The majority of tubeless boiler manufacturers provide only on-off firing or LHL as standard.

*Except model 103-9.5 LA

Available as an option on 9.5L and 15L.

Wash quality starts with quality team, communication

action. Moving one element requires an additional shift.

BY BILL BROOKS

Wash quality is quite simple, right? At its root, wash process and quality are driven by just four simple segments: time, temperature, chemical action and mechanical action. Quite simple. Only problem, as we all know, is that it isn’t that simple. There are far too many variables under those segments that have an impact on wash quality.

While I like to think that when a UniMac piece of equipment is bolted into place in a laundry that quality is a given, all of us in the business know that it’s just not enough to have a great machine. Achieving the best possible results requires a team approach. All players involved have to be on the same page. Poor wash formulas and process issues are the enemies to quality.

A LOOK AT THE VARIABLES

When visiting with customers not all that familiar with the challenges running a laundry can present, the question often comes up, “Why do I need so many wash cycles?” Soil type, alone, offers up a variety of interesting hurdles for washers. Consider the variety of difficult stains a hotel might deal with, from make-up and shoe polish to suntan oils or kitchen/dining room food stains. A generalist approach to washing will not cut it.

A long-term care facility, hospital or clinic presents entirely new challenges. Stains are part of the variable set, along with the requirements to meet health safety regulations.

Then there’s the fabric type. How easy and uncomplicated our lives would be if everything was a straight-up cotton/poly blend. That’s not the world we live in. Heck,

in the hospitality world alone, bed linens can vary greatly in their makeup from that cotton/poly blend to high-thread-count linens. Athletic laundries present seemingly endless challenges in fabric types, from technical fibers to moisture-wicking materials. Some football jerseys may even have as many as seven to eight different fabric types in their designs.

So, with all these different fabrics at play, flexibility within washer programming is imperative for a tailored approach today and for allowing adaptability to future changes in fabric.

In addition, it’s equally important to work with the linen, uniform or personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer, in the case of firefighter gear, to develop the best wash programs. This is the first piece of that team approach: working with manufacturers to get the best results, while not stressing the fibers that makeup the pieces.

STILL MORE VARIABLES

While the laundry manager, equipment distributor and linen manufacturer can form a great team and design a game plan, the quarterback in this team is going to be the chemical company representative. This is where a true partnership between the equipment distributor and chemical representative is so important. They must utilize their combined expertise to manage the next set of variables that will impact wash performance.

Some laundry operational challenges may be priorities related to water savings, processing times, or staff hours and overtime. Again, we go back to the only four elements these professionals can tweak: time, temperature, chemical action, mechanical

For instance, if utility savings is spotlighted as a high priority for the facility, it will mean that managers will want to lower wash temperatures (less hot water). That focus will necessitate additional time to assure proper cleaning and rinsing.

If water savings is the goal, the laundry may elect to go with higher temperatures and additional chemical action to deliver the clean results they need, particularly if the laundry is serving a healthcare or longterm care facility.

PROBLEM SOLVING

When a quality problem comes up in an on-premises laundry, it’s obviously a big deal. No facility we work with is going to take this lightly. Hotels understand the importance of online reviews to draw guests, healthcare facilities need to keep staff and residents safe … quality matters and must be addressed immediately.

Again, this is where a team approach makes the difference. While it is rare, there definitely are situations where finger pointing among the stakeholders can happen—it must be the machine because the dosing is right; it must be the chemical company, because our cycles and machine are running correctly. Thankfully, that’s the exception; the rule is the team working together to solve the problem.

A hotel property, for instance, might have a situation where white towels or linens are turning yellow. The laundry manager might look at this as a situation where these are stains that the washer and chemicals are not removing—not good for anyone. However, this type of situation is more typical of linens not getting fully rinsed. As a result, residual chemical is left

in the fibers and it turns yellow when it is “baked in” during the drying or finishing process.

Working together, the chemical company representative and equipment distributor would increase the rinsing (and double check that linens are not being over-dried) or perhaps lighten the amount of chemical used in the wash process. These two experts know the variables they can tweak to get the best result, keeping in mind the other goals of the operation (water savings, utility savings, etc.).

FINAL THOUGHTS

Though there are just four elements to wash quality, there are seemingly countless variables that drive the tweaking of those segments. This is the reason laundry managers must rely on a team approach to deliver the best results while taking into account the other goals of the facility.

The quarterback of this team truly is the chemical company representative. They will take into account the makeup of the water feeding the laundry equipment and set a baseline for chemicals to deliver the best results

From there, wash programs can be dialed further in to match the recommendations of the linen, uniform or gear manufacturer to produce the best results and longest life of the pieces. Nothing less than a team approach will work. And when problems or quality issues arise, that communication is the most important tool in quickly getting to the root cause. Does your laundry have the right team in place to do that? 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 920-748-4437.

Brooks

Author says all players involved with wash formula variables need to be on same page

Track Career

Kemco Systems selects Fout as VP of operations

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Kemco Systems Co. LLC, a global water and energy technology company, has added Mike Fout as vice president of operations. The company says Fout is a key hire for its team.

Fout most recently led the successful implementation of lean manufacturing across the interior door group at Masonite International of Tampa, says Kemco. He was chosen to lead the newly formed architectural division and deploy the Masonite Mvantage lean enterprise.

At Masonite, Fout completed work to attain his White Belt certification and was named a Lean Ambassador in 2015, according to Kemco.

Fout is a graduate of Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and studied for his MBA at Northeastern University in Boston. He is a graduate of General Electric’s Manufacturing Management Program and worked for GE for 14 years in manufacturing leadership positions across aerospace, appliances and lighting.

Encompass Group names Orlando VP healthcare textiles

MCDONOUGH, Ga. — Jamie Orlando recently joined Encompass Group LLC as vice president healthcare textiles at the corporate headquarters here, the company reports.

In this role at the manufacturer and marketer of reusable textiles, professional apparel, and disposable and single-use medical products, the company says Orlando will lead the development of innovative products for the healthcare textile industry, along with working directly with laundries to develop products that improve efficiencies and the overall patient experience.

After graduating from Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pa., with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, Encompass says Orlando has spent his entire career in the commercial laundry marketplace with increasing levels of management responsibility with roles in plant and general management, logistics, operations, and financial analysis, including more than 18 years at Angelica Corp.

In 2010, he was promoted to vice president of operational support for Angelica before assuming overall logistics leadership for more than 30 Angelica facilities across the United States. Most recently, Orlando served as regional director of operations for Crothall Healthcare, the company says.

KENT, Ohio — R.W. Martin Co., a provider of laundry and dry cleaning equipment, parts and support solutions, has hired Patrick Jovanovic in the role of parts specialist, the company reports.

As a member of R.W. Martin Co.’s PartsPLUS Team, Jovanovic will help manage the company’s large inventory of

replacement parts for textile care equipment. He will also ensure customers receive the correct original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or aftermarket laundry parts in a timely and efficient manner.

The company says Jovanovic brings extensive experience in providing steam coils to the laundry and dry cleaning industries. He will continue to provide that service in his new position.

Before joining R.W. Martin, Jovanovic worked as the laundry/dry cleaning sales engineer at Commercial Coils Inc. in Chesterfield, Mo. His duties included handling all issues related to the replacement of OEM heat transfer coils in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, as well as developing the company’s sales strategies and managing customer accounts.

Jovanovic and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Lakewood, Ohio.

ence and most recently served as marketing coordinator at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, in Fond du Lac, Wis. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts graphic design/photography degree from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2013.

In her new role at Continental, the company says Derge is charged with “creating visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform and captivate Continental consumers.” Her many responsibilities include the development of advertisements, sales tools, brochures, logos and newsletters.

As web and multimedia designer, Liefke assists in the production and editing of multimedia communications, including video, websites and interactive content.

In doing so, he works closely with customers, distributors and Continental team members. Liefke has studied computer science and psychology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Hamilton joins Positek RFID team

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Continental Girbau Inc. has strengthened its marketing department with the addition of Graphic Designer Carissa Derge and Web and Multimedia Designer Matthew Liefke, the company reports.

Derge, of Oshkosh, orchestrates a number of design functions within Continental’s marketing department. She joined Continental with three years of professional marketing and design experi-

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Positek RFID Inc., an RFID systems, solutions and integration company serving the textile maintenance industry, has hired John “Jack” A. Hamilton as director of business development for healthcare.

Bringing more than 35 years of profes-

Jovanovic joins R.W. Martin Co. as parts specialist

Continental Girbau welcomes new marketing associates

Jovanovic

Liefke

Derge

AVAILABLE

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

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

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

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

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

Pellerin Milnor Corp.

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

SOUTH CHARLESTON, Ohio — The assets of FH Bonn Co., a manufacturer of pads, covers and related products for the laundry and dry cleaning industries, has been acquired by Buckeye Pads and Covers LLC, the company reports.

Tim Kephart, president of Buckeye Pads and Covers, who also served as FH Bonn operations manager for more than 30 years, says that the FH Bonn product line will continue to be sold under the FH Bonn brand by a network of authorized distributors located throughout North America and more than 20 countries internationally.

Darrin Bonn, also a 30-year company veteran, will serve as vice president operations, says Kephart, and manufacturing and customer service operations will continue to be located in Ohio.

The company says that FH Bonn products are featured as original equipment by more than 55 different manufacturers of pressing, ironing and finishing equipment. Kephart says that customers and distributors can continue to reach the company through the firm’s website, www.fhbonn.com

In related news, ISW Corp. reports it has purchased the TEXSTEEL steel pad division from FH Bonn/Buckeye Pads and Covers. ISW president and owner Eric Bonn says that his grandfather, Francis Henry Bonn, purchased ISW in the 1960s.

Eric Bonn says ISW is producing its steel pads at the FH Bonn facility, but the company plans to move production to ISW’s shop in Roseville, Mich., in the future.

Bates Troy is a family-owned and -operated healthcare linen service, dry cleaning and tailoring, and fire and water restoration company that has been serving New York’s Southern Tier, Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 85 years.

The company says it takes pride in its safety accomplishment, as it illustrates the importance placed on employee safety and the success of long-term policies, training and efforts to maintain a safe working environment.

About 110 people are employed at the company’s plant and three retail dry cleaning stores.

Superior acquires CID Resources

WonderFLEX™, WonderWORK®, WonderWink HP®, WonderWink NEXT®, WonderTECH®and W123™, represent a diverse and innovative retail offering, providing style, fit and features for every medical professional.

CID also has licensed and built well-known work wear and outdoor brand, Carhartt®, and lifestyle brand, Vera Bradley®, into successful scrubs brands by creating innovative products targeting specific market segments, the company says.

By leveraging CID’s brands, licenses and established network of retailers, Superior says it expects to greatly expand its line of uniforms for healthcare support personnel with more retail-focused uniform options and local, consumer-friendly service.

The purchase price of approximately $88.4 million for the transaction consists of approximately $84.4 million in cash, net of cash acquired, subject to adjustments, and the issuance of approximately 150,000 shares of Superior common stock. The transaction closed on May 2, 2018, and was structured as a stock purchase.

CID’s net sales for the year ended December 31, 2017, were $65.3 million. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Superior’s earnings per share and other operating results in 2018.

CID will manage the Direct Healthcare channel for Superior and will continue to sell through the retail channels that have already been established and have contributed so greatly to CID’s success, according to the company.

RIPON, Wis. — UniMac, a source of heavy-duty industrial laundry solutions, recently appointed Commercial Equipment Co. (CEC) as a distributor in the northern Texas and northern Louisiana markets, the company reports.

“Commercial Equipment Co. is an excellent fit to represent the UniMac brand in its territory,” says Bill Brooks, UniMac North American sales manager. “They have built a stellar reputation and are committed to the exceptional service our brand is known for.”

Farmers Branch, Texas-based CEC has served the onpremises, coin and multi-housing laundry needs of the north Texas and north Louisiana markets since 1967, UniMac says. The company has a new 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility and boasts an expansive parts department, as well as service staff to ensure clients’ needs are always handled promptly.

“We couldn’t be more proud to represent the UniMac brand in our coverage area,” says Taylor Smith, president of CEC. “I’m excited to offer our customers in the hotel, longterm care and other industries laundry products that deliver maximum performance and the lowest cost of ownership.”

SEMINOLE, Fla. — Superior Group of Companies (formerly Superior Uniform Group) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding stock of CID Resources Inc. for approximately $88.4 million, the company reports.

CID is a provider of branded medical uniforms based in Coppell, Texas, which has built its WonderWink® brand into one of the leading retail scrubs brands, Superior says. WonderWink® and its sub-brands, WonderWink Origins, WonderWink Layers, WonderWink Four-Stretch®,

Career Track

The day after Superior completed the transaction to acquire CID, the company’s shareholders voted at its annual meeting to approve changing its name from Superior Uniform Group to Superior Group of Companies (SGC) to better embody its position as a parent company of branding divisions.

“Our new name recognizes our rich history as ‘Superior’ and includes how diverse we’ve become as a family of companies all working toward brand enhancement,” says CEO Michael Benstock. “This name change and rebrand allows us to better identify our company and represents all of our branding solutions under the Superior Group of Companies name.”

SGC includes seven brands in three divisions. Superior Uniform Group is now the uniform division, of which CID is a part, along with Fashion Seal Healthcare and HPI Direct. ALN

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — For the second time in three years, Bates Troy Inc. was awarded for achieving a year without a lost-time incident at its plant and stores, the company reports.

Jeanette Kinsella, senior loss prevention consultant for the Syracuse office of Strategic Comp, a division of Great American Insurance that deals in workers’ comp, visited Bates Troy’s plant to present a commemorative plaque.

Kinsella pointed out that Strategic Comp does not hand out many of these awards each year.

The one-year mark actually was again reached before Christmas but due to scheduling issues the presentation didn’t take place until April, so Bates Troy says was at about 17 months with a loss-time incident at that time.

sional experience to the company, Hamilton will oversee the development and management of large-scale projects involving Positek RFID’s patented RFID technology to help hospitals reduce overall costs, manage their product inventories and identify opportunities for improvement in efficiency of inventory tracking.

Hamilton has implemented RFID solutions for healthcare linen laundry and in-hospital linen management. He has directed the research, development and production of medical products, supplies, equipment, instrumentation and related services during his career as an industry subject

matter expert for sterilized surgical linens and the processing of surgical and healthcare textiles.

“The addition of Jack Hamilton to our team provides Positek RFID with a competitive advantage in the healthcare textile management space,” says Jeffrey Markman, president of Positek RFID Inc.

Prior to joining Positek RFID, Hamilton was the chief technology officer for a leading provider of laundry and linen management services and supplies to hospitals, long-term care facilities and outpatient medical practices. Hamilton also served as senior vice president of product development for a national healthcare surgical linen and instrumentation supplier to hundreds of hospitals and surgery centers.

Hamilton has a degree in biological science from the University of Delaware and has completed Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certifi-

cation from the American Society for Quality.

Gurtler taps Parker for market development

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill.

— Gurtler Industries Inc., a manufacturer of advanced detergents and specialty chemicals for the commercial laundry industry, has added Brendan Parker as manager of market development, the company reports.

Parker joined Gurtler in March 2018 and will be covering the areas of Utah and Idaho. The company says he has 10 years of experience in the industry.

FH Bonn Co. acquired by Buckeye Pads & Covers

UniMac adds Commercial Equipment Co. to distribution network

Bates Troy reaches another year without lost-time incidents

Pictured from left to right are Ed Arzouian, compliance and special projects coordinator for Bates Troy; Jeanette Kinsella of Strategic Comp; Jim Rheinheimer, Bates Troy’s plant manager; and Brian Kradjian, president and CEO of Bates Troy Inc. (Photo: Bates Troy Inc.)

ALN

Hamilton

Parker