American Laundry News - October 2020

Late News

Aramark donates

Women in laundry spotlight (Part

250,000

masks to American Red Cross

PHILADELPHIA — Aramark reports it has donated 250,000 face masks to the American Red Cross. The masks will be worn by Red Cross staff at blood drives during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting workers and the volunteer donors who are key to saving lives.

“As COVID-19 continues to impact our nation and the world, there remains a need for supplies and protective gear, like these masks, to allow frontline workers and communities to safely combat this pandemic,” says John Zillmer, CEO of Aramark. “We thank the Red Cross for their heroics and are proud to make this donation as we all continue to come together to do our part to protect one another.”

In April, Aramark partnered with the American Red Cross, the Debra and Leon Black Family, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and Robin Hood to launch “NYC Healthcare Heroes” and provide more than 400,000 packages of food, household and personal care products to NYC hospital staff on the front lines. ALN

Second of two-part series highlights three more women who have excelled in laundry/linen services

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — In the September issue, American Laundry News highlighted four women who have achieved success in the laundry and linen services industry.

In the conclusion of the series, the spotlight shines on three more outstanding women in the industry: Vicky Cayetano president and founder of United Laundry Services, a division of PureStar in Hawaii; Susan SmithFranks, environmental and linen services director for Aramark at Middlesex Health in Middletown, Connecticut; and Kristin Dempsey, vice president of Dempsey Uniform Linen Supply in Jessup, Pennsylvania.

VICKY CAYETANO, UNITED LAUNDRY SERVICES-PURESTAR

Cayetano has been striving for business success since her youth.

“I was that little girl with a lemonade

stand,” she says. “I have always been an entrepreneur, and I’ve worked hard to carry that into every aspect of my career. To start a business, you need the passion and commitment to do it. To be successful you must remain objective and be prepared to pivot when circumstances dictate.”

For example, after two years of college, Cayetano left to start a successful corporate travel service. “When deregulation of the airline industry was inevitable, I sold the business, realizing the future of the travel

Considerations for hygienic, clean hotel laundry

BY JACK HEAVISIDE

MINNEAPOLIS — As hotel operators plan their reopening strategies, great emphasis is being placed on disinfecting and sanitizing. At the center of these conversations is advice given to owners and general managers about which disinfectant they should use, which of course leads to which one is right for my property.

The reality, in many instances, is a focus on repeat sales of these products by the suppliers, without explaining the value of adopting

Panel of Experts

In this issue, the experts explore ways to educate customers efficiently and effectively today.

Boiler Selection for Today’s Operations

Seven factors for laundry operators to consider when selecting a boiler.

Value in Automated Folding

Seth Willer examines automated folders in terms of savings and quality.

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

Operators need to balance disinfectant/sanitizer use and the wash pie, author says

Vicky Cayetano founded United Laundry Services in Hawaii in 1988 and joined PureStar in 2016. (Photo: PureStar) (Image licensed by Ingram Image)

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Jeff Gardner, aka “The Laundry Doctor,” recently shut down his vended laundry of 19 years in order to expand residential wash/dry/fold and commercial laundry services.

Without interrupting service to existing wash/dry/fold and commercial customers, Gardner repurposed the 3,500-square-foot building with new Continental Girbau and Girbau Industrial laundry equipment and an ArtiClean disinfecting ozone system.

Appropriately branded The Laundry Doctor, Gardner’s new commercial laundry caters to customers throughout Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

On the commercial side, The Laundry Doctor specializes in processing customer-owned goods for boutique hotels and vacation rentals, as well as laundry for small accounts, such as bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile a small linen-rental business serves clients including acupuncturists and massage therapists.

“We cater to small business needs and alter our processes to benefit them,” says Gardner. “We take on the small guys that big commercial laundries just don’t service well.”

Meanwhile, Gardner’s wash/ dry/fold business provides pickup and delivery service to and from locker locations, apartment buildings, offices and homes across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The plant’s equipment mix reflects The Laundry Doctor’s focus on flexibility and quality. One side of the facility is outfitted for processing residential wash/ dry/fold using equipment from the

vended laundry, plus a Continental 40-pound capacity E-Series Washer.

The other side is commercialfocused and features GI washers, dryers and a Compact+ 5-in-One Ironing System.

“The washers are engineered to shorten dry time for improved productivity,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the Compact+ quickly processes flatwork straight from the washer without dyer preconditioning and using less labor. Featuring a compact footprint, it automatically feeds, dries, irons, folds and stacks up to 300 sheets per hour with a single operator.

Fully equipped and humming on all cylinders in November 2019, The Laundry Doctor’s total revenue consisted of 70% commercial work and 30% residential wash/ dry/fold.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown, tables have turned to 70% residential, 30% commercial.

“Right now we’re running one shift a day and a partial shift on Saturday with five employees,” says Gardner. “But, our potential for growth is huge.

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

Mathew Pawlak

Digital Media Director

Nathan Frerichs

Phone: 312-361-1681

E-Mail: nfrerichs@ ATMags.com

Advisory Board

David Barbe • David Carter

Janice Ayers Davis • Nick Fertig

Deana Griffin • Steve Kallenbach Edward McCauley

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

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© Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2020. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher or his representative. American Laundry News does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any article, product, service or information found within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of American Laundry News or its staff. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents at time of publication, neither the editors, publishers nor its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom.

MEMBERSHIPS

ALN

“Once the shutdown is lifted, we expect to run two shifts with our current equipment mix and quadruple production.”

Jeff Gardner and his team show off some of the new equipment that helped The Laundry Doctor go commercial. (Photo: Girbau North America)

A little normalcy?

Ihave to say, I enjoyed putting this issue of American Laundry News together.

Why Because for the first time in many issues, the process felt almost “normal.”

Or maybe a more appropriate way to say it is that most of the issue deals with the business of commercial/industrial laundry, regular, day-to-day events—not affected by outside circumstances (I’m not going to mention it as long as I can).

For example, this issue has two articles on boilers.

On page 12, you’ll find the article on selecting a boiler, either to replace an old one or for a new plant design. Maybe it’s been many years since you’ve thought about your boiler. New technology and efficiencies have changed how laundries use, and choose,

boilers.

From The Editor’s Desk MATT POE

Of course, a boiler won’t work without a burner, and the article on page 14 examines how boiler burners can negatively affect a laundry’s bottom line.

This issue also features the second installment of our spotlight on women in laundry. As I mentioned last time, these women

have inspiring, strong stories. And they have made significant contributions to the growth and effectiveness of their companies.

The columnists have also tackled “normal” topics this time. Eric Frederick (page 4) looks at finishing contour sheets. On page 15, Tim Stoklosa shares his thoughts the continuing question of inhouse vs. outsourcing laundry.

And on page 17, Seth Willer continues sharing the value and quality of using automated equipment. This time, he looks at automatic folders.

See, I’ve written most of this note without mentioning COVID-19. es, it’s still out there, affecting life and laundry, so it has to be discussed. And it is in this issue—when necessary.

Still, it’s been nice to (for the most part) focus on keeping it clean, everybody! ALN

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. —

ImageFIRST, a provider of linen rental and laundry services for the healthcare industry, reports it has opened a new plant in Gilroy, California.

In addition, the company has acquired Los Angeles and Las Vegas franchises.

ImageFIRST says that its San Francisco team completed the construction and opened the new 15,000-square-foot plant in April. The company says the new facility was built to meet the demand of tremendous growth in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento

regions.

Plans for the facility were in place before the current COVID19 pandemic.

“Our San Francisco and ImageFIRST engineering teams did tremendous work to get this plant online and operational,” says Jim Cashman, president and CEO of ImageFIRST. “We recognize the importance of providing the healthcare community with top-quality, reliable linen and laundry services, and we’re ready to meet the growing demand while keeping our team members and customers safe.”

In addition to the new plant,

ImageFIRST recently acquired two franchises: Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are excited to officially welcome the Los Angeles and Las Vegas teams into the ImageFIRST organization,” Cashman says. “And, we look forward to continuing to provide world-class, uninterrupted service to the healthcare providers in the greater Los Angeles and Las Vegas regions.”

ImageFIRST has 41 locations nationwide that serve more than 14,000 medical facilities every week.

ALN

RLLD

The incredible shrinking contour sheet

I t was shortly after I started working in Milwaukee that I ran into the problem of contour sheets that were too short to fit the hospital beds.

I was in charge of a brand-new laundry featuring two Senking tunnel washers and two thermal fluid ironers. I had never had experience with thermal fluid ironers but was excited to be able to use this new technology.

I was getting numerous phone calls from nurse managers complaining that the contour sheets were not fitting properly on the beds. We were using a traditional woven contour sheet made from T-180 fabric.

My first thought was that perhaps some sheets were getting into my system from some other facilities. We were using 84-inch-long contour sheets as opposed to the traditional 80-inch contour sheets. The problem of screening out short sheets that all looked alike would be very difficult.

I started measuring the contour sheets after processing and quickly found out that the majority of the contour sheets were around 76 inches in length and as such, they could not fit our existing mattresses. The large number of sheets caused me to quickly check with my vendor to make sure they had shipped in the correct product. The company was able to clearly demonstrate that the problem was not on their end, but I still had some doubts.

When my next order of contour sheets arrived, I had the staff measure them before they went into service to prove that we were getting what we had ordered. This step quickly proved that the vendor, at least on that shipment, was not the source of the problem, So we continued to investigate why the contours were so very small.

I next took a small number of the new contour sheets that had been measured and processed them through the tunnels and then remeasured them. They passed that test and the sheets performed as expected.

Next, I took these sheets and ran them through the thermal fluid ironers. Here I discovered the true source of the problem. Every time we ironed the sheets, we saw dramatic shrinkage on each sheet.

This surprised me, so I started to investigate the ironers. My production manager was attempting to increase production through the ironers by turning up the temperature of the thermal fluid.

The consultant that designed our laundry had set up a “no dry” station for sheets so that they bypassed the dryers and went directly to the ironers. Because of the higher moisture content in the sheets as opposed to those that had been conditioned, the production manager was using higher temperatures to iron at in an attempt to compensate for the change.

The higher temperatures were causing the ironer pads to be replaced at a very rapid rate and our supplier was unsure as to why their product was not lasting. Higher temperatures also increased the need for the ironers to be waxed.

In talking with the technical experts at the textile company I came to learn that the sheeting material was fixed with a permanent-press feature and size stability chemical treatment at 375 F. We were operating our ironers at 525 F. What we were doing, in effect, was destabilizing the sheet and causing them to shrink as much as the fibers could be impacted.

Not only were the contour sheets shrinking excessively but so were all sheeting products run through the ironers. The problem was just more notable with the contour sheets.

Our solution to both problems was reducing the thermal fluid temperature to below 375 F and making the required adjustment in speed. This immediately solved the shrinking problems, but it still took a while to get all the damaged sheets out of the system. Our ironer pads began to function properly and their life increased into a normal range.

This was a costly lesson to learn but surely one that I have never forgotten. 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 e-mail at elfrederick@cox.net, or by phone at 540-520-6288.

COLUMNIST AT LARGE Eric L. Frederick,

Women

agency industry was in jeopardy,” she shares. “Understanding where to commit and where to pivot has helped me get to where I am today.”

Cayetano got her start in laundry when she was approached by the president of a local hospital facility who wanted to start a co-op laundry for Hawaii’s healthcare industry.

“Although he knew I did not have a laundry background, he felt my entrepreneurial spirit and drive would be a good fit to lead his new venture,” she says. “The idea of a co-op laundry was very appealing to me as well.

“I knew laundry was an essential service not only to healthcare but to the many hotels and resorts in Waikiki, most of whom were doing their laundry in-house. In my view, I did not see why they would want to process laundry on prime Waikiki real estate if an alternative option was available.

“So we set about to offer a highquality, dependable laundry service, and over the years, we’ve been able to convince many of them to close their laundries and send their linen to us.”

When Cayetano started in the laundry industry in 1988, she says there were very few women in management and even less at the executive level.

“I remember attending an industry reception for laundry executives in Tokyo with some of my Japanese colleagues. When I entered the room it suddenly became silent, I was the outlier,” she points out. “Early on, participating in serious discussions and earning credibility was a challenge.

“Fast-forward 30 years and you see this is what is unique about United and our parent company PureStar. In both the hospitality and laundry industry overall, women remain underrepresented at the management level, but in our organization, women make up 50% of the workforce with equal representation at the management level.”

Cayetano’s advice to women striving to achieve success in laundry is two-fold: Focus on what you want to do and what you do well, and find a way to differentiate yourself and what you do.

“What makes you stand out and what makes your product and service better is the message you want to resonate with others,” she says.

SUSAN SMITH-FRANKS, MIDDLESEX HEALTHARAMARK

Smith-Franks says it was a “fluke” that she got started in the laundry/linen services industry.

Her initial educational efforts focused on veterinary medicine, but after Smith-Franks realized that the money she was spending didn’t match her goals, she took some time off. She ended up working for family businesses in tropical fish, exotic birds and various other less-common pets; buying and selling antiques; and a telephone answering service.

Then, she heard about an opening to manage on-premises hospital laundry.

“Since my entire career has been centered around managing people in service industries, I said to myself, I can do that ’” she shares.

Once she began working in the laundry, Smith-Franks says she benefited from the generosity of her team in teaching her all she needed to know about day-to-day laundry operations.

“I believe my experience with my family’s businesses is one of the most important factors in my success,” she says. “I recognize the importance of taking ownership in your work and facing every situation and decision like you are fully responsible for the success or failure of your operation.”

Smith-Franks has served as the director of environmental and linen services for Aramark at Middlesex Health for more than 20 years. Most of her day is spent on administrative tasks, which allow her team to succeed.

“However, my favorite parts of the day are when I’m interacting with team members, learning about their lives outside of work

and tasting all the fantastic foods that arrive when we gather for potluck meals,” she shares.

Twice in her time at Middlesex Health, Smith-Franks has had to justify the continued existence of the on-premises laundry.

“Each time, I have been able to document the high productivity of our laundry team, prove that outsourcing does not make financial sense and also highlight the many benefits of producing our own clean linen when emergencies strike,” she points out.

Smith-Franks says she hasn’t found her managerial roles to be more challenging as a woman, possibly due, in part, to being based in healthcare, a field where it is more common for women to rise to the top.

“It may also be due, in large part, to the great role models I grew up with,” she shares. “My grandmoth-

er, as a divorced woman, started her own telephone answering service in the 1920s, and my sister continues to run that very successful business to this day. My mother and father were fully equal partners in their business of selling tropical fish, exotic birds and other unusual pets for more than 40 years.

“My advice to other women would be to support one another. Seek out those you can learn from, as well as those with whom you can share your experience.”

KRISTEN DEMPSEY, DEMPSEY UNIFORM & LINEN SUPPLY

Dempsey says that being a woman in the laundry and linen services industry has “been a positive. My father had great friends in the industry and they welcomed me into textile rental. They always seemed happy to see diversity entering the industry, and I worked hard to earn their respect.”

She grew up around the business her father and uncle started in 1959. In high school, she says she expressed her interest in joining the business and asked her father what to study.

“He said, ou need an efficient, productive plant to be successful in this business, so start with an engineering degree,’” Dempsey shares. “I graduated with an engineering degree from Princeton, then he had me round out my skills with an MBA before coming back to work with him.”

Today, she spends most of her time in sales and marketing, but she also works closely with human resources and route accounting. Dempsey says she and her brother, P.J., work together to drive the strategic vision for the company.

“I view the big successes through the eyes of the company as a whole,” she points out. “Shortly after I returned to the company in

1994, we made our first acquisition of another operating laundry, Mary MacIntosh. My experience running that first remote location was foundational to my success as an owner.”

In 2019, the company acquired WH Linen, which provides restaurant linen service to fine-dining restaurants in New ork City.

“It’s still amazing to realize the little company we started in Scranton now services the biggest city in the United States,” shares Dempsey.

In August, the company celebrated its 61st anniversary and the successful transition of a family business to the next generation.

“Our tenure has been the best defense against our competition because our long-term customers and skilled employees know we’re in this for the long-term with them,” Dempsey says.

When it comes to advice for other women in the industry, she points to education and experience.

“The strong support of my father and uncle, Dick Dempsey, kept me focused on learning the trade,” shares Dempsey. “In the early years, I worked closely with our operations manager, Tom Mallas, who really taught me plant operations.

“Other members of our cost group, like Bob Brill from Republic Master Chefs, spend time in the weeds’ explaining how they handled billing systems and inventory management at their companies. They extended my learning beyond the four walls of Dempsey.”

She goes on to say, “Learn the plant and route service. They are the cornerstones of our business, and it’s difficult to advance without understanding them at the front line level.

“I ran a route for a year and a plant for three years. My decisionmaking is still influenced by those experiences.”

Susan Smith-Franks has served as the director of environmental and linen services for Aramark at Middlesex Health for more than 20 years. (Photo: Middlesex Health)

Kristin Dempsey, VP of Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply, says she has been welcomed in the industry since starting in the family business.

(Photo: Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply)

industry best practices, which, when managed consistently and accurately, will yield a far better outcome, for both the hotel and the customer.

This conversation, when shaped properly, will determine where your property was before the pandemic reached your door, and what are the proper, and fundamental steps needed to achieve the now-required enhanced cleaning processes necessary to reopen.

It certainly sounds important to focus on using cleaners and disinfectants on contact points such as counters, elevators, door handles and meeting spaces, but the reality is these areas are disinfected right up to the point they are touched again.

Certainly, areas that have visible soil, or perhaps an area where someone sneezed on a surface, would warrant cleaning, but the premise that disinfectants will somehow promote a hygienic environment without proper cleaning fails as soon the surface is touched again.

I am not suggesting that disinfecting contaminated, or areas perceived to be contaminated, should end; the reality is focusing on hygienically clean as an overall program objective will yield consistent and sustainable results.

One area that disinfectants are being offered as a solution is in the laundry department. While a significant dive would be required to fully identify why this practice is unwarranted, the reality is many customers and suppliers feel this step is needed.

Fear is the fundamental reason why disinfectants and sanitizers are being pushed as a solution for laundering. It is a widely held belief that using more chemical, or a different chemical, will resolve problems that could otherwise be dealt with through established hygienic cleaning using industry best practices.

If your laundry has stained linen piled up in a corner or stuffed in a closet, and you are spending the same or more on stain-treatment products, then the reality is sanitizers and disinfectants are accomplishing nothing.

Over the past 30 years, professionals who have demonstrated the ability to reach industry stain rates below 5% in the hospitality industry have been dwindling. The training required for the next generation of chemical experts has been minimal, which in turn has resulted in poor results, an overwhelming use of stain products and a lack of understanding of what hygienically clean really means.

An almost universal question from prospective customers is, “How much is your cost per occupied room ” This is the result of learned behavior because most chemical providers have stopped being trusted advisors to their customers in favor of selling promoted

products. The questions that should be considered by laundry operators are the following:

ï What will it cost to have white, bright, and odor- and stainfree linens?

How will you partner with my team to train them on the correct procedures?

ï Am I buying enough of the right products from my supplier that will protect the significant investment that was made for all the textiles at my hotel?

ï Finally, am I producing

hygienically clean textiles that I would feel comfortable having my family sleep on?

As we recover from a significant pandemic, it is critical to focus on the importance of laundry professionals as opposed to chemical salespeople.

Important considerations for consultative laundry professionals are:

ï Frequency of complete chemical and wash titrations at each location.

Performance

• Torsion Bar suspension distributes pressure evenly along each roll, assuring uniform drying and travel of flatwork through the ironer with a minimum of padding wear

• Floating Chest self-centers to the ironing roll during operation, optimizing the contact area under pressure

• Adjustable Ribbon Tensioner prevents ironer ribbon from creating uneven surfaces, lines and wet spots on sheets

Efficiency

• Deep Chest Ironers continue to have the largest heat sink and remain the most energy-efficient

• Full insulated chest, canopies, and insulated stainless heat shields contain up to 96% of heat radiation

• Inverted bucket taps ensure condensation purge without remaining open (steam ironers)

• Poly-chain drive ensures high reliability, low maintenance, and low cost of ownership

• Direct Controllable Speed – all rolls run at equal speed

Safety

• Dual caliper disk brake for fast stopping of the ironer drive

• Auto-stop infeed safety gate to prevent hands or items from going into chest

• Solid heat shields along the ironing box keep side frame covers temperatures cool to the touch

• Enclosed canopies prevent foreign items from getting into ironer rolls, chest, and pad

• Roll raise lockout prevents lowering rolls if air pressure has been disconnected

• Safety switches on all doors and e-stops on all four corners

(Image licensed by Ingram Image)

Tools f the Trade

businesses

new Miele Little Giants machines are ideal for both residential use and a range of commercial applications, such as salons, spas, bed-and-breakfasts and small resorts, restaurants, bakeries, cafes and catering businesses, yachts and cruising vessels, and healthcare facilities, including assisted living/senior care residences and veterinarian/dental offices.

New line of disinfectant wipes developed

Monarch Brands reports it has developed a new line of 70% isopropyl alcohol pre-soaked wipes to help satiate global demand.

Miele USA, a subsidiary of the global appliance provider, says it has launched its newest and most versatile laundry system to date in North America.

Miele Little Giants washers and dryers offer short cycle wash programs (25-minute Express wash cycle), high-temperature disinfection (up to 200 F) and high spin extraction (up to 704 G-force), providing a superior hygienic clean in less time, the company says.

Featuring larger capacity (18 pounds), improved efficiency and automated specialty cleaning programs that seamlessly integrate with Miele’s technology, the

The new machines feature Miele’s patented Honeycomb Drum, which has been redesigned to ensure better wetting and drenching of textiles and improved dewatering in the spin cycle, according to the company. Clothes and textiles come out of the wash cycle retaining less water, reducing the drying cycle and requiring significantly less electricity, water and total cycle time.

Miele Little Giants are German-engineered with high-quality materials and components, including heater elements made from corrosion-proof stainless steel and grease-resistant silicone components. Both washer and dryer are available with a Lotus White or Stainless-Steel front, and in a stackable, small footprint for small spaces.

www.mieleusa.com 800-991-9380

The company says that to survive and thrive within the new standard, businesses must protect their staff and customers. The global community now understands the importance of cleaning and disinfecting, and there is a limited supply of isopropyl alcohol wipes.

The company says this first in a new line of disinfectant and sanitizing products are:

ï Saturated with isopropyl alcohol solution up to 300 times the weight of the raw material.

ï Sturdy at 50 grams per square meter (GSM) so they don’t fall apart (most wipes are 25-50 GSM).

ï Large (6 by 8 inches) to provide ample cleaning surface area.

www.monarchbrands.com 215-482-6100

Encompass Group LLC says it has launched the nextgeneration of its incontinence pad designed to help protect the skin of hospital patients and senior living residents.

The Comfort Care underpad greatly improves upon the clinical performance of its predecessor with 20% better moisture wicking and absorbency and only one-third the amount of moisture retention on the surface next to the skin as before.

The three layers (top surface, middle soaker and bottom barrier) of the Comfort Care pad are laminated together instead of stitched to reduce the amount potential pressure points under the patient’s body, the company shares.

Pressure-mapping studies show that the smooth and thin profile of the Comfort Care pad does not

released

add any additional pressure to the body when used as directed. This allows high-end pressure reduction mattresses to do their job to relieve as much pressure as possible on the bony prominences which are at most risk for pressure injuries such as the sacrum, hips and buttocks.

Encompass says the Comfort Care pad then works on the microclimate next to the patient’s skin to reduce moisture while affording a relatively high breathability to move air as well. The Comfort Care pad improves on its predecessor’s air permeability measure as well.

The Comfort Care pad is available now in both standard 34-by-36-inch size and 34-by-45-inch bariatric size.

www.encompassgroup.net 800-284-4540

Disinfecting cabinet with ozone technology introduced

EDRO Corp., manufacturer of battleship-quality laundry equipment, reports it has launched a new sister website, www.getdynozone.

com, to introduce its DDC400 DynOzone Disinfecting Cabinet with exclusive PowerCell ozone technology.

The company says the website also carries information about its DynOzone Disinfecting Sanitizing Laundry System and shows why ozone is not only environmentally friendly but of great benefit in the ongoing fight against infectious diseases.

The DynOzone Disinfecting Sanitizing Laundry System is a complete, all-in-one system. All

DynOzone components are built into and fully integrated within the machine. EDRO says its DynOzone laundry systems have been successfully processing laundry in hotel laundries, shirt laundries, nursing homes, firehouses, prisons, commercial laundries, and other onpremises laundries since 2006.

The site will be updated regularly with demonstration videos, product releases, and informative posts about ozone. It will also be active on social media with pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

www.edrocorp.com 860-828-0311

U.S.-based global textile manufacturer Venus Group reports it is producing three-ply disposable face masks at its South Carolina manufacturing plant, delivering a combined total of nearly 10 million disposable and reusable face masks since March in response to the current COVID-19 global pandemic.

The initiative further expands Venus Group’s PPE (personal protective equipment) product offering to now include critical items like disposable and reusable face masks, isolation gowns, face shields, and a range of other healthcare textiles for professionals and frontline workers.

www.venusgroup.com 800-421-6599

Advent Packaging reports that it has introduced the Advent HydrobagTM, a product line of hot water soluble laundry bags.

The company says the laundry bags are most suitable in the medical, hospitality and garment industries.

Main features of Advent HydrobagTM include:

ï Provides for great clarity and strength just like a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bag would, but completely dissolves in seconds, leaving no trace.

Dissolves completely in water that is a minimum of 158 F.

ï It is biodegradable, recyclable, non-toxic and marine safe.

The company adds that its laundry bags reduce risk of exposure for medical staff to contamination, and it is a positive environmental end-of-life solution versus the traditional LDPE bags that are commonly used today.

www.adventpac.com +603-3250-0870

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

Professional-grade laundry system for small

Textile manufacturer producing disposable, reusable face masks

Hot water soluble laundry bags available

Improved patient care incontinence pad

ï Stain audit programs that help reduce linen replacement costs.

ï Preventive maintenance programs that include scheduled frequency intervals, a connection to linen replacement costs, and how preventative maintenance services connect to industry best practices.

This information is particularly relevant as hoteliers are reopening their businesses. The questions regarding the role and ongoing strategy of disinfectants when laundering textiles take on new levels of importance.

Billions of pounds of dirty laundry are washed every year, and the risk of transmitting viruses, bacteria and pathogens via soiled laundry is quite low. In fact, you have a greater chance of being hit by lightning then contracting an illness from properly laundered textiles.

With that in mind, another important point is that an almost immeasurable number of these textiles are processed with disinfectants and sanitizers, and for good reason.

Disinfectants and sanitizers fall into four categories in the laundry world. They are:

ï Hydrogen peroxide (color-safe bleach) with additives.

ï Quaternary ammonium chlorides (bacteriostatic softeners).

ï Chlorine bleach.

ï Peracetic acid.

The most common of these oxidizers is chlorine simply because it has a demonstrated track record of killing a wide variety of viruses, pathogens and bacteria.

Hydrogen peroxide offers benefits over chlorine specifically because it can be used on both white and colored textiles. Certain hydrogen products contain additives that boost the ability to destroy bacteria through the bleaching action they produce.

Peracetic acid is newer to the laundry world. The downside of peracetic acid is that it poses significant risks to the laundry room attendants as it is has a pungent vinegar odor; it drastically impacts oxygen values in wastewater, which could lead to a hotel being placed on a watchlist with municipal waste authorities; and poses serious risks should it spill or leak from a chemical dispenser.

Of greatest concern is should it mistakenly be mixed or spilled on the floor where other chemicals may have also spilled in the past, it may cause a chemical explosion.

Bac-stat softeners function as a barrier that traditionally is used to prevent mold growth on laundered and soiled textiles. They can cause skin irritations to both children and elderly guests due to direct contact with the chemical that is on the surface of the linens.

Ozone laundry systems are a greener technology and are recog-

nized by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services as a method to destroy pathogens in cold water.

The reality is registered disinfectants and sanitizers should be used when necessary to protect at-risk individuals, while ozone could be used in virtually any application.

Products that can bleach out stains (but pose significant risks, such as peracetic acid) should be used sparingly due to the significant safety risks your property will incur if they are misused, leak or there is a fire in the laundry room.

The focus of hotel operators

should be on the four key elements in laundering, which are commonly referred to as the wash pie. They include mechanical action, time of each formula step, chemical used at the appropriate amount and the heat of the water in each step of the formula.

Third-party verification is readily available to measure the success of laundered textiles; however, we still have to look at the facts. There is not a systemic problem with laundering without disinfectants or sanitizers.

In fact, with all the laundry processed daily, coupled with the fact

that we have faced other viruses (such as MERS, SARS and countless other pathogens and bacteria), these products were not viewed as a solution, and frankly, they don’t offer anything that cannot be achieved if the proper best laundering practices are followed.

Finally, these disinfecting claims stop the minute the textiles are removed from the washer, and the problem is exacerbated if the front of the washer, the door and surrounding hard metal surfaces, which may be contaminated by bacteria and pathogens after the soil

loading process is complete, are not cleaned and disinfected after each loading sequence.

Best practices are to ensure that all the surfaces in the laundry are cleaned and, where appropriate, disinfected continually, and that there is a clear separation of soiled linens from clean ones, which includes carts or hampers used for transporting these items to and from the laundry. ALN

Jack Heaviside, CPLM, is group manager-laundry for Sunburst Chemicals.

The new Little GiantsHandle the load.

Now more than ever laundry is mission critical. For healthcare facilities, it’s the sheets and blankets on the bed and the scrubs and gowns in the supply room. The all new Miele Little Giants washers and dryers provide superior disinfection and fabric care in a high-efficiency, compact system.

• M Touch Flex user interface (no buttons or dials)

• Heat pump dryer technology rated Energy Star Most Efficient

• 19-gallon drum size (18 lb. capacity)

• 49-minute Cotton 140° F program (with HW connection)

• 25-minute Express wash cycle

• 50+ washing programs; 5 customizable

• 35 drying programs; 5 customizable

• High temperature disinfection (up to 200°F)

Fabrics and textiles demand efficient and superior hygienic cleaning.

Miele Little Giants are here to protect them.

To learn more about the new Little Giants or about becoming a Miele dealer partner, visit mieleusa.com/pro/littlegiants.

PANEL OF EXPERTS

Efficient, thorough customer education

pandemic, I’ve used Zoom for telehealth appointments; cocktails with far-away family members and friends; family holiday, birthday and anniversary celebrations; and I’ve used it quite extensively for business purposes as well.

P

roviding education during a pandemic can, as we’ve seen with the start of a new school year, prove to be quite challenging.

This is particularly true when we consider the need to provide education to customers not only on the benefits of the current products and services for which they are contracted, but also for new product and service offerings you would like them to consider.

Our industry provides reusable products that have been professionally cleaned so that our customers (and theirs) can be assured that their businesses are as hygienic and sanitary as possible. We can also provide them with facility service and other products to enhance not only the cleanliness and hygiene of their businesses, but also to enhance their overall image.

With this in mind, now is the perfect time to provide more education and training not only to solidify your position as a trusted and valued partner, but to also increase each of your customer’s lifetime value.

The issue, of course, is that there are restrictions in place among many of our customers’ businesses such that it is difficult to make normal customer service and/or education visits. As with all things, however, every problem has a solution. And as with many problems I address, modern technology can provide some cost-effective and powerful solutions.

Let’s start with the most obvious, which is to provide sales presentations, consultations and training for your customers via online meeting software such as Zoom, WebEx, BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Facetime or Skype.

Like most people during the

Most relevant to this topic was the time my wife and I had a virtual in-home consultation with a window manufacturer who was able to use Zoom to provide training on the benefits of his products versus his competition and to “walk through” our home with us helping us to select just the right products to replace our existing windows.

Within minutes after the conclusion of our online meeting, we had a detailed and accurate quotation via e-mail.

If a window manufacturer can provide that level of education, interaction and consultation via online meeting software, so can your sales and service teams.

Online meetings do not always have to be one-to-one. To further maximize time and efficiency, you can also provide webinars, group training, and demonstrations of new products and services via Zoom and other online meeting platforms so that a subset of your customers can all benefit from simultaneous training, as well as the allimportant question-and-answer session at the end.

There are some products and services that may not lend themselves to live education, and those are oftentimes best demonstrated via YouTube, Vimeo or some other online videosharing application.

Think about the last time you had a home improvement project you’d never tackled before, and chances are your first, and perhaps only, online visit was to YouTube. Too often, however, folks in our industry don’t consider offering training and edu-

cation via YouTube because they are intimidated by the platform or the perceived cost and complexity of producing videos.

Thanks to our friends at Apple and Samsung, we have most of the tools we need to produce simple, yet effective training and education videos right in our purses or pockets.

Once the video has been shot, you can edit using Apple’s free iMovie (available on Macs, iPhones and iPads), GoPro’s free Quik video editing software (no GoPro needed!), Adobe Premiere Rush, or a variety of other free or open-source video editors for Windows, Linux and Android, including the very capable OpenShot open source video editor.

Finally, you can and should provide additional education and lead generation via company eNewsletters, blogs and the effective use of social media including not just LinkedIn, but

also Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok or Reels.

We’ve all needed to find new ways of adapting to and navigating the so-called “new normal” of COVID, and finding ways to provide customer education and training is no different.

The ideas I’ve mentioned are simple and cost-effective, and not only give you a great way to provide that education, but they are all superb vehicles for helping customers and prospects to learn about your company culture and personality.

It is for these reasons that I think these new methods will survive long past our current international emergency.

Laundry operators spend their entire careers fine-tuning their operations. We are always trying to improve either our facility or our process

When I was a plant manager, I thoroughly enjoyed giving plant tours to our customers. I could go on and on about all the different projects and processes that were going on in our facility, even though most customers would just be fascinated about the huge machine that was folding the sheets really nice and neat. They can relate to that process.

I would want to say, “Every company has one of those, let me tell you about the processes that make our company different.”

Getting word out to our present customers and prospects that are not on a plant tour is a little more of a challenge. Fortunately, there are several viable options that can be used to help with this task:

1. E-mail blast to all customers defining new steps the plant

(Image licensed by Ingram Image)

“With COVID-19, I’m doing a lot more customer education on cleanliness, best practices, etc. How can I reach more customers in less time, but still provide thorough information?”

Consulting Services

David Bernstein Propeller Solutions Group, Park City, Utah

Commercial

Laundry

David Griggs

Superior Linen Service, Muskogee, Okla.

is taking or any other news you like to pass on.

2. Flyers. Printing up a good flyer outlining your steps and then placing them in a cart of clean linen is a great way to get your message to your clients. our client’s employees that are working with the linen will be glad to know about your new steps and hopefully will pass it on to others that may need to know about them.

3. Social Media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These are great ways to get your message out, especially to clients that you do not presently count as customers. I have seen many companies put small videos of their plant production processes on these social media platforms.

it is possible to express passion and bond with customers through a common goal. The combination of visuals and verbal testimonials is why webinars can be so effective in conveying information.

Additionally, it is important to keep the focus on how the changes you made are intended to better serve the customer. It can also be helpful to pay attention to what your customers are sharing on their social media so the information you share stays relevant to what they are currently concerned about.

Lastly, the frequency of communication is the final component to getting valuable information across to your customers. Putting your message in front of customers with a regular cadence continues to remind them of the value you provide.

For example, you may pull your customers in with one social media post that interests them, but if you do not continue to get in front of them, it will soon get lost in the amount of other content being shared, while routine webinars can reemphasize, expand on or

follow-up on previous webinar content.

tions. Breaking through to truly educate your customers amidst all of this noise is a challenge, especially during the COVID crisis where we all have so many urgent priorities and distractions.

We have a variety of methods to get our educational materials and updates out to our distributors and to help them reach their end customers.

We are posting multiple updates to our LinkedIn,

We are all bombarded on a daily basis by spam e-mails, cold calls and other solicita-

To connect with customers effectively and efficiently, the three things that should be considered when reaching out are the method of delivery, how content is presented and frequency of communication.

The two leading avenues for reaching customers today are through webinars and social media.

Offering free webinars is an excellent way to reach out to all your customers with one event. They also give you the opportunity to expand your network, as webinars can be viewed by others in the industry as well. Webinars can encourage ongoing contact because attendees may be given the option to opt-in to e-mails for further communications.

Social media is also a great tool to reach customers; however, for this outreach to be effective it is important to have the right following. Being strategic about building your social media following ensures any posts and links that are shared reach the intended audience.

How information is presented will directly influence how well customers receive and retain the message you are trying to deliver. The message should be broad and concise but also meaningful.

Having a visual component helps bring information to life and leaves your customers with an impactful, lasting image. Testimonials or personal experience can also be powerful ways to convey your message because

Boiler selection for today’s laundry operations

Seven factors for laundry operators to consider when replacing boilers or planning a new facility

BY MATT POE, EDITOR

CHICAGO — In the past, choosing a boiler for a laundry operation wasn’t very complicated.

“In the old days when capital purchase money or operational cost was not that much of an issue, typical commercial or industrial laundries would just purchase a 200-, 300-, 500-horsepower firetube boiler, normally just one,” says Michael Leeming, national sales manager for manufacturer Parker Boiler Co.

“All your eggs were in one basket—no standby, not much turndown, way oversized. If the boiler went down, you sent everyone home.”

Much has changed when it comes to laundry operations, and that has changed what boiler systems are used.

“In the last 10 years, the objective is generating a lower operational cost, or not running two or three shifts,” Leeming shares.

“The newer tunnel washers use much less water, and have much more throughput, and newer ironers have helped achieve the objective of one shift per day.

“This saves owners a bunch of money on labor, utilities, etc.”

It’s important for operators to fully understand their plants and take into account key factors, from proper sizing to long-term reliability, to select the right boiler setup.

1. PROPER SIZING

Selecting a boiler properly sized for a laundry facility is the most important thing to Leeming.

“What is the equipment load now, and what might it be in the future at final build-out,” he says.

Leeming says that, typically, a laundry will have a tunnel washer or two, which is all live-steam injection from .4 to .16 gallons of water

per pound of product. Then, it may have other types of washers with live-steam injection, using 2 to 2.5 gallons of water per pound of product.

“With this one-way steam, a pre-heater or sparger to elevate the feedwater to remove oxygen, which is detrimental to a boiler, or a deaerator should be considered,” he advises.

Leeming goes on to say that there may be a tempered water

tank, which recovers the waste heat from the drain of the washers.

“There may also be a hot water tank that is being heated by a tank heater bundle, which reduces the amount of one-way steam, which saves on chemical, blow off, flash steam loss,” he says. “One-way steam is harder on the steam boilers, so it’s a good way to make hot water.”

Another possible big steam load in a laundry could be flatwork iron-

ers, says Leeming. In some cases, these may be gas-fired, but more commonly they are steam.

“They need hot steam and typically about 30 horsepower per ironer at startup and a 20 horsepower run load,” he says.

When designing a steam system, a facility’s maximum load is a crucial factor. However, James Adgey, thermal sales, Clayton Industries, an industrial steam boiler manufacturer, says a common oversight is neglecting a plant’s minimum load.

“While your steam system needs to be able to handle its maximum demands, minimum demands are equally important,” he says.

As an example, Adgey imagines a facility that requires a large boiler system to manage all applications at once.

“However, if you only run at max capacity once or twice a week, that large boiler unit may be excessive for day-to-day operations, and you would instead benefit by having two smaller boilers, with the first able to handle daily demands and the second only coming online when it is needed for peak operation,” he says.

While this may represent a greater initial cost, doing so will not only give redundancy in the boiler system, but also result in even greater

fuel savings, according to Adgey.

“Now it’s even more important to have a small boiler, as the laundry plant is not running over the weekend, let’s say, no steam, only a 10 horsepower load,” adds Leeming. “Many times we just put a small 9.5 horsepower boiler, which does not require a boiler room, attendant, annual inspections, etc.”

2. STEAM QUALITY

Most applications require steam with as high a quality as possible, and a commercial laundry is no exception.

“Ideally, steam quality should contain less than a single percentage of moisture, as this excess moisture can transfer into your product, which can be especially frustrating in presses, irons or steam tunnels,” Adgey says.

Andrew Elkind, marketing manager for Miura America, an industrial boiler manufacturer, says that the purpose of a laundry facility is to get fabrics clean, and having high-standard equipment is paramount to producing the best outcome.

“When looking for the right steam solution, it is important to consider the quality of the steam that the equipment will produce,” he says. “The steam that’s created

Properly sizing boilers for laundries is the top recommendation from manufacturers. (Photo: Parker Boiler)

Experts say the quality of the steam produced is key in boiler selection. (Photo: Miura America)

from properly treated water produces the highest quality steam that gives facilities the best clean. So, it is recommended to compare the steam quality that steam equipment manufacturer produces to ensure you’re getting the best.”

3. BOILER RESPONSE TIME

In a commercial laundry, production can vary to extremes. For this reason, Adgey says operators want a boiler to able to quickly respond to changing steam demands, switching from low to high steam output in as little time as possible as the need arises.

“Time spent waiting for your boiler to produce the needed steam is time that could be better spent somewhere else,” he says.

“Additionally, if your boiler is struggling to match these changes in steam production, the result is often carryover.”

Carryover refers to a situation in which steam is carrying contaminants from within the boiler, such as dissolved solids or the chemicals used to treat water. The ideal amount of carryover is zero, and in a commercial laundry setting, this can be especially devastating, as carryover can cause

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages per week with updated and unique information. Social media is new to us and to the rest of the industry I suspect, but more and more it’s the current way to keep in contact. This is why we have engaged our younger, more digitally native employees in this effort.

We have cut back on blast e-mail programs, save for the most important announcements, due to the ubiquity and annoyance of spam. With spam-guards and e-mail blacklisting, blast e-mails raise the risk that your

regular e-mails and communications with customers fall unnoticed into spam guards.

I check my own trash file each morning and regularly find orders and questions from legitimate customers get flagged by our system due to these protections.

But most of all, we point our distributors and end customers to the Linen Forum section on our website. While protocols have been enhanced, this summary of best practices by our industry veterans is still a great source of information about how to properly clean and disinfect sheets and towels. Having this on our website in a central location and available to all users of our product is the key piece in our educational outreach. ALN

Sometimes laundry operations overlook a plant’s minimum load. (Photo: Clayton Industries)

stains and damage to products, Adgey shares.

“The best way to prevent carryover is to ensure that your boiler is able to meet production demands, and has a quality steam separator, to ensure that no damaging contaminants are contained within your steam,” he adds.

With some traditional boiler designs, it can take hours for a boiler to “warm up” and begin production of steam, shares Adgey. To circumvent this problem, facilities typically have an employee come in early each day to start the boiler or leave it idling overnight.

“Neither of these solutions is optimal, and much like your efficiency ratings, strongly impact your fuel bills,” he says. “The easier solution is a boiler able to start

and stop and demand, coming online quickly when you need it.”

“Different boiler manufacturers have varying start-up times from less than five minutes to two hours, which can save your operators valuable time and fuel costs,” Elkind adds.

4. BOILER EFFICIENCY

For Adgey, boiler efficiency is the main factor when it comes to determining a boiler’s annual cost. Even a small difference in percentage is enough to equal thousands of dollars in fuel costs at the end of the year, so the higher the boiler’s operational efficiency, the better.

“The best possible way to ensure the highest number possible is to simply ask your supplier to provide efficiency numbers based on your facility,” he says.

“Since most listed efficiency ratings are based upon ideal operation conditions, getting your supplier to provide a number based on your plant’s conditions (hours of opera-

tion, water quality, etc.) will help you to make the best possible selection, and save help cut down your annual fuel bill substantially.”

“ our operators are the ones in charge of your boiler’s daily efficiency,” Elkind says. “Finding safe equipment that features advanced alerts and is simple to operate will give your workforce greater productivity.”

“In many cases, we have installed economizers on the exhaust of the steam boilers which flow water through stainless steel coils capturing the waste heat and providing this hot water for essentially free,” says Leeming.

He says this can improve the overall efficiency of the laundry by up to 10%, adding that there are many rebates available from the utility company, which almost pays for the additional cost of this additional capital—which has a lessthan-three-year return on investment without rebates.

“As a rule of thumb, for every

100 horsepower, there is $4 per hour in fuel recovered for free,” Leeming shares.

5. SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE

The last thing any high-volume laundry facility wants is a mandatory shutdown due to lengthy maintenance. So, Elkind shares, it is important to consider the ease of maintenance on a steam boiler so that production is not slowed and workers stay safe while operating and maintaining the equipment.

“With modular steam boilers, there is an added benefit of transferring steam output to other units while one is receiving maintenance,” he adds.

6. LOWER EMISSIONS

Steam solution sustainability is imperative for both meeting the compliance standards of local government and meeting customer expectations, according to Elkind.

“Especially for organizations

that value low environmental impact, finding a low NOx emissions boiler solution will help lower fuel costs and positively impact the company mission,” he says.

7. LONG-TERM RELIABILITY

“It’s important to research potential boiler solutions to be sure you find the reliable one that fits your needs,” Elkind says. “Look at case studies and talk to industry peers to see what others have to say about a solution’s reliability and the overall support the manufacturer provides after installation.”

While many solutions claim reliability, he says that laundry operators need to be sure the steam solution chosen is a wise investment in the facility’s future.

“A solution that’s flexible to meet a laundry facility’s changing business needs, fluctuating loads, and continuously updates technology will give you steam that lasts the test of time,” Elkind concludes.

ALN

How boiler burners impact your wallet

Three ways boilers and their burners can affect a company’s bottom line

BY MIKE WINKELMANN

NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Boilers and their burners are a major cost factor in most industrial processes, critical commercial operations and institutions. Therefore, it makes good financial sense to optimize these systems so they are operating at peak efficiency.

Throughout the different thermal processes, energy is lost due to equipment inefficiencies, as well as mechanical and thermal limitations. Companies find that over time burner settings will drift due to component wear, temperature, dirt, soot and leaks. This drifting can ultimately affect an organization’s fuel usage, equipment efficiency and product quality.

Understanding how energy is used and wasted can help companies identify ways to improve efficiency. Consider these three ways boilers and their burners impact a company’s bottom line.

1. Fuel Economy: On average, a boiler will consume in fuel four times its initial cost every year. Substantial savings can be achieved if your boiler, including the burner, has a regular maintenance schedule that is based on operating conditions.

Like a carburetor in your favorite old car, burners are typically tuned in the summer and winter months. Tuning optimizes the fuel-air ratio for the ambient air, warm air during the summer months and cool air during colder winter months so that the boiler operates more efficiently while maintaining safety.

The burner tuning procedure is complex and exacting, since every

2% increase in O2, can result in a loss of 1% in efficiency. An improperly tuned burner is just as bad as an outof-tune burner.

To fully reap financial benefits, it is critical to work with a knowledgeable, experienced and qualified industry expert. Tighter control of the air/fuel ratio results in better control of the combustion reaction and its efficiency. On average, companies with industrial boilers that have regular tuning schedules can see a 1-2% fuel savings.

2. Boiler Stress: A maintenance schedule that includes regular boiler cleanings can help avoid costly stress on a company’s boiler. Without regular cleanings, heavy soot will occur due to incomplete combustion of the fuel-air mixture of the burner.

Buildup of this heavy soot will start to insulate the inside of the boiler resulting in heat transfer efficiency becoming less and less as more and more heat starts to escape through the boiler stack.

The damaging soot accumulation will also generate hot spots within the boiler which can eventually lead to boiler cracks, stress fractures, ligament fissures and reduction of heat transfer in the boiler. The devastating result can be exceedingly costly repairs or purchase of a new unit.

3. EPA Compliance: To decrease air pollution produced from boilers (carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, mercury and trace amounts of other heavy metals) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put in

place boiler and burner tune-up requirements.

Most companies operating an industrial, commercial or institutional boiler must comply with the EPA compliance requirements for source boilers, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Area Sources (NESHAP) at 40 CFR part 63. Without these mandatory tune-ups, companies can face both civil and criminal penalties that could include daily fines and even imprisonment.

All the issues listed can contribute to a less-than-optimal use of fuel, energy and equipment, in addition to increases in operating costs.

The burner is really at the heart of boiler efficiency, if you don’t have a good burn, and decent heat transfer, it seriously limits operations. As a result, top priority should go to keeping an organization’s burner tuned by a knowledgeable expert. The damage that can be caused by an improperly tuned burner is almost as great as that of a totally untuned burner, and in a fuel-rich environment could lead to an explosion.

Whether you tune your boiler and burner regularly for compliance reasons, cost-efficiency or both, keeping them tuned should be an integral part of any industrial, institutional and commercial maintenance program. ALN

Mike Winkelmann is general manager for Plibrico Mechanical Services in Omaha, Nebraska.

Keeping boilers tuned should be an integral part of any industrial, institutional and commercial maintenance program. (Photo: Plibrico Mechanical Services)

Winkelmann

When does in-house laundry make sense?

Author shares opinions on in-house vs. outsourcing question for businesses that have laundry needs

BY TIM STOKLOSA

RIPON, Wis. — Children may tell a tall tale about what happened when a playdate went bad, ending in tears and hurt feelings. Even spouses or partners may occasionally tell a little white fib when explaining why they got home so late the night before.

But numbers will never lie. And it’s the math that makes it obvious that doing laundry in-house vs. outsourcing is usually the least expensive—and often best—option for businesses such as hotels, nursing homes and other similar enterprises.

How do you determine which option is the least expensive ou look at the cost of utilities, labor and machines. Per pound, it’s generally two or three times more to send out laundry than to do it on site.

In fact, many hotels and other similar businesses will include an on-premises laundry in their building plans. Again, the No. 1 reason is cost. They can do laundry themselves cheaper than if they send it out to a commercial business.

That’s not to say that outsourcing isn’t a fit for some operations; it clearly does make sense for some businesses. However, sending goods out is expensive. Sometimes boutique hotels think they won’t need an on-site laundry. But as soon as they begin to spend money on outsourcing laundry, it is the first thing they will put in.

A LOOK INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Commercial laundries often will charge a business $10,000 to $50,000 a month for washing and drying their sheets, towels and other miscellaneous laundry. Considering that it is likely a $100,000 investment for a business to put in its own laundry equipment, you can see how quickly a business will actually save money by doing the job in-house.

And when you consider that most laundry equipment today will last 15 years, it’s an even better investment. All you need to do is maintain the equipment, which is about 5% of the package cost, or $5,000 a year on $100,000 worth of equipment.

It’s rare for a business to close down its laundry unless they have a huge equipment cost that they can’t afford at the moment. But as soon as they can afford it, many times they will buy new equipment and open back up the on-premises laundry.

Of all businesses, hospitals tend to outsource their laundry more frequently, mainly because wages in a hospital tend to be higher and they are often limited by square footage. Thus, the cost per pound is generally cheaper if they outsource.

WHY OUTSOURCE?

The other few businesses that don’t put in on-site laundries usually do it because they can earn more money by putting in additional rooms in the space that would normally be reserved for the laundry facility.

For instance, real estate is very expensive in the mountains of Colorado, and if a hotel can turn the space that would be a laundry into six rooms for which they can charge $500 each a night, it will make sense to outsource.

Additionally, a hotel might become so large that it doesn’t have the real estate to put in as large of a laundry as it actually needs. In that scenario, it may make sense for the hotel to outsource, too.

A good example of this is the giant properties of Las Vegas. The square footage necessary for a large-scale, dedicated laundry to serve a major Las Vegas strip property would not make sense, financially or logistically. This is where sending linens offsite is the best solution.

Naturally, there are some disad-

vantages to doing laundry on-site. ou need to hire people to do the work, and it is monotonous. Industrial laundries on-site can be hot, and it isn’t an easy job. Loading and unloading the washers and dryers does take some physical strength.

Plus, there are headaches that go along with having an on-premises laundry. ou have to worry about equipment breaking, employees not coming in on time or at all, or employees just doing a lousy job. With increased employee turnover, training staff can seem to always be ongoing. But it is key to maintaining exceptional finished quality.

But most business owners will find the benefits of having an onpremises laundry vastly outweigh those disadvantages.

QUALITY CONTROL

Not only will you generally save money, but you’ll also ensure quality by doing laundry on-site. To be profitable, commercial laundries burn and churn, and generally move too fast to ensure a constant high standard of quality. But if you do laundry in-house, you don’t

have to worry about inventory, such as running out of towels or sheets. And you can slow down a bit and ensure a higher quality product.

For some businesses, quality is a key part of their branding. Facilities like Westin Hotels Resorts or Ritz-Carlton Hotels, for instance, need to have on-premises laundries in order for them to receive accreditation. They know the higher quality that comes from on-site laundries is what their customers expect.

Quality is even more important during a pandemic, knowing you’re not introducing variables outside your walls.

Today’s commercial equipment makes it easier to save money and to be more efficient. Thanks to technology and equipment features, laundry equipment is more energyefficient and allows you to monitor from your laptop which machines are running, the cost per pound or if there are any maintenance issues you need to know about.

Technology in the

equipment also makes it impossible to over-dry items since the dryer will automatically shut off when the items are done. A dryer is pretty inexpensive when you consider it can last 15 years or longer. Overall, equipment has gotten more reliable and productive, giving businesses the ability to wash and dry faster than they ever did before.

If you’re looking to purchase new equipment for your on-site laundry, be sure to do your research. The quality of equipment from all vendors has improved tremendously; there are no bad machines, only better ones. Take the time to properly design and lay out your facility, which can also help to lower your costs. ALN

Tim Stoklosa is owner of Clean Designs Inc. of Lakewood, Colorado. Started in 1990, Clean Designs is the leading distributor of commercial laundry equipment for the Rocky Mountain region. Stoklosa can be reached at tim@cleandesigns.com.

(Image licensed by Ingram Image)

Tim Stoklosa

Track Career

Girbau North America welcomes regional

sales mgr. in training

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Girbau North America reports that Tyler Willman recently joined the company as regional sales manager in training.

In this training role, he is immersed in all aspects of Girbau NA’s internal departments, including shipping and receiving, parts, technical services, customer care, lead fulfillment, and sales, according to the company.

His responsibilities include daily interface with end-user lead inquiries, distributer lead fulfillment and service request follow-up, among many others. This position ultimately leads to a regional sales manager role.

Before joining Girbau NA, Willman played three years of professional baseball with the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif.; served two years as an inside sales associate for JJ Keller in Neenah, Wis.; and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Willman, who looks forward to learning more about the laundry industry and developing relationships with Girbau NA distributors, believes his professional baseball experience will come in handy.

“Baseball teaches you a lot of life lessons that I carry over into my everyday life,” he says. “I very much enjoy being part of the GNA team. Everyone is welcoming, friendly and willing to help with any and all questions.”

Seabright Safety Solutions adds Smith

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Seabright Safety Solutions, a loss-prevention and risk-reduction services company for the

textile rental industry located here, reports it now offers guidance for operations to enhance productive capabilities with the addition of Murray Smith.

The company says Smith has more than 30 years of experience and is recognized as one of the industry leaders in developing production programs that significantly improve capability, metrics and employee climate.

The three most significant categories where Murray’s expertise will assist operators are work management systems, staffing analysis and the establishment of best practices in the textile rental industry, according to Seabright Safety Solutions.

The company adds that he can help establish or expand work management systems by making recommendations regarding performance evaluation and recognition formats designed to identify the top achievers and develop a high-performing supervisory/management team.

Murray guides management in establishing the appropriate scheduling and staffing of personnel through a thorough analysis of equipment configurations, product mix and flow, shares Seabright Safety Solutions. He will assist in evaluating workflow and design processes to maximize efficiencies and enhance performance.

Through an on-site evaluation, the company says Murray will help operators develop operational checklists addressing safety, housekeeping and key operational metrics.

The company goes on to say that these offerings help businesses save real bottom-line dollars, and sustain that savings through the establishment of monitoring systems.

Kemco Systems hires regional sales manager

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Kemco Systems, a global water and energy technology company, reports it has hired Nathan Mein as regional sales manager. He will be based in Houston.

Mein began his career as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army and earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas, El Paso.

After working in management of a textile and polyurethane manufacturing plant, he transitioned to sales engineer in the commercial laundry industry with Tingue, Brown and Co.

Kemco says Mein brings with him a passion for knowledge and a commitment to bringing conservation solutions across all industries. ALN

Every FREE monthly episode offers:

• Topics of specific interest to laundry/linen managers like you

• Engaging industry-specific conversation with an expert

• Business-building tips you won’t find anywhere else

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• Information and insight to get a leg up on competitors – give us a listen!

NEW! Laundry Facility Cleaning Check

Guest Paul Jewison, vice president of engineering at Healthcare Linen Services Group and general manager at Textile Care Services in Rochester, Minnesota, talks ways to keep a laundry operation clean.

Laundry Service Contract Essentials

In this episode, Steven Fellman from the Washington, D.C., law firm GKG Law P.C., shares key elements of laundry and linen services contracts, negotiation tactics and more.

Conflict Resolution in a Laundry Operation

Guest Terry Slosson, director of human resources for the Northern Pacific Region of Cintas Corp., discusses methods and strategies to best handle conflict in an operation.

Listen in at: americanlaundrynews.com/podcasts

Tyler Willman

Murray Smith

Nathan Mein

Value in automated folding

BY SETH WILLER

OSHKOSH, Wis. — The most labor-intensive area of a laundry is on the finishing side because it involves folding. The good news is that there are machinery options out there that can significantly reduce those labor hours while upping production, quality and efficiency.

Even better While you might think investing in automation will break the bank, it won’t. Most folding systems pay for themselves in two years or less. And if you look to finance, the money saved in labor typically makes your monthly payment.

VALUE #1: LABOR SAVINGS & BOLSTERED PRODUCTIVITY

The leading reason to add a flatwork ironer or folder is to decrease labor costs and quadruple production. By adding automation—ironers and folders—laundries drastically cut labor and operational costs while catapulting throughput. Check out the following examples.

Hand Folding vs. Towel Folder—Laundries processing 250500-plus laundry pounds per hour should consider adding a towel folder.

Generally, a typical laundry operator can sort, fold and stack different-sized towels by hand at a rate of 120 pieces per hour. By adding an auto-sorting towel folder, that same operator can fold and stack 800-1,000 towels per hour.

If you do the math on 120 handfolded towels versus 800-1,000 machine-folded towels per hour, the savings are more than eight labor hours per day.

Hand Folding vs. Ironer with Sheet Folder—Starting with no automation as a baseline. One person can hand-fold about 60 largedimension sheets per hour.

Folding efficiency can be increased using a flatwork ironer with an integrated primary folder.

The -Series ironers from Girbau have an integrated primaryfolding function. An actuating drape bar performs an accordion fold, so on discharge, the sheet is the same dimension left to right, but front to back it is 14-17 inches.

Once the sheet is delivered back to the front, the operator manually performs the crossfold and stacks. Using two operators, a laundry can produce 60-120 per hour.

Now let’s go full automation with the Compact+ All-in-One Ironing System. With the singlestation spreader-feeder option, a single operator can produce 180-300 sheets per hour. Using compressed air blasts and pinch rollers, the Compact+ is able to process large dimension sheets with machined precision.

If you do the math on 60 handfolded versus 300 machine-processed sheets, the savings are more than five labor hours per day.

VALUE #2: GAINS IN QUALITY

Some laundries, especially those

processing hospitality laundry, require a high-quality finish, fold and stack. This uniformity can only be accomplished using automation—towel folders and flatwork sheet ironer/folders. The uniform folds and stacks not only look better, but they also take up less space in storage areas.

VALUE #3: RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)

Remember there are always two costs when you buy: the cost of the machine may seem like a lot, but what is its operational impact

Compare your finance payment to operational cost savings. Many times, the difference in labor costs will make up for your financed equipment payment each month.

For example, for a GI towel folder, with a daily demand of 1,500 towels per day, the estimated ROI takes place in less than two years. For an all-in-one ironing system, with a daily demand of 2,300 sheets per day, the ROI comes in two years.

Seth Willer has more than 15 years of experience in on-premises, commercial and industrial laundry design, equipment, workflow and productivity. As Girbau Industrial’s national sales manager, he works closely with laundry facilities to develop highly efficient and productive laundries for an array of industries, including hospitality, vacation rental and healthcare. Please contact Seth with any questions at swiller@cgilaundry.com.

ALN

LEFT: The author says 60 hand-folded versus 300 machine-processed sheets offers savings of more than five labor hours per day. RIGHT: By adding an auto-sorting towel folder, just one operator can fold and stack 800-1,000 towels per hour, according to the author. (Photos: Girbau Industrial)

Seth Willer

Classified Advertising

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

PARTS FOR SALE

PARTS, PARTS, PARTS

Huge stock of parts for most laundry equipment & boilers.

Also traps, valves and lubricants. Overnight delivery.

Steiner-Atlantic, 800-333-8883 Fax: 305-751-8390 parts@steineratlantic.com www.steineratlantic.com

PARTS & SERVICE

In need of service and or parts for all your finishing equipment manufactured by BB&D, Lavatec, Washex, and Voss? Contact Michael @ 203-232-4004 or E-Mail me: mtenhave66@yahoo.com

®

The Griffin Group, Inc. “Recruitment Specialist” Need to FILL a position?

Call Deana Griffin 888-235-2365 www.thegriffingroup.cc deana@thegriffingroup.cc

Sales Engineer for Equipment Manufacturer

CHICAGO America’s leading manufacturer of flatwork finishing equipment is seeking a Chicago-based regional sales engineer to work with our outstanding distributor and end customer network. Excellent opportunity for long term growth in our fourth generation company. Salary and benefits commensurate with prior sales success, willingness to learn and laundry industry experience. Travel from Chicago’s manufacturing headquarters included as part of job responsibilities to serve our customer base.

Send confidential resume to: Mr. Belden belden@chidry.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

(d) Nonrequested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail). (1)Outside County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include Sample copies, Requests Over 3 years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists, and other sources): X=5,023, Y=4,114. (2)In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include Sample copies, Requests Over 3 years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists, and other sources): X=0, Y=0. (3)Nonrequested Copies

PARTS

SMALL-PIECE FOLDERS

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

WASHERS

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. recognizes top

five dealers of 2019

KENNER, La. — Laundry equipment manufacturer Pellerin Milnor Corp., based here, reports that TLC Tri-State Laundry Companies, a dealer headquartered in Valdosta, Georgia, has been awarded first place for machinery sales among Milnor’s worldwide distributor network in 2019.

“Pellerin Milnor’s strong distributor network is one of the cornerstones of our success,” says Rick Kelly, vice president of sales and marketing for Pellerin Milnor Corp. “TLC TriState’s achievement for the highest machinery sales for 2019 is well deserved.

“TLC Tri-State’s results are a testament to the value they provide to their market by offering our industry-leading products, solutions and strong service support.”

Rounding out Pellerin Milnor’s top five dealers for the 2019 machinery sales year are Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company, Kenner, Louisiana, in second place; in third, Western State Design in Hayward, California; ankee Equipment Systems in Barrington, New Hampshire, in fourth place; and in fifth, Steiner-Atlantic Corp. in Miami.

Penn Emblem upgrades website

TREVOSE, Pa. — Penn Emblem Co., a provider of branding and decoration solutions, reports that it has launched a brand-new, state-of-the-art corporate facing website to bet-

ter assist customers and give its brand a new face.

The company says this is the first website upgrade it has had in many years.

The site not only received a cosmetic makeover, but Penn Emblem is also set to host a fully functioning e-commerce platform within the next year.

New feature upgrades include the company’s products, downloadable spec sheets, informative market videos, and easier access to samples, logging in, and getting assistance.

The site upgrade comes after a rebranding that modernized the company’s logo and marketing materials earlier this year.

UniFirst cracks top 5 on Barron’s sustainable companies list

WILMINGTON, Mass. — UniFirst Corp., provider of customized work uniform programs, corporate attire, and facility service products for businesses, reports it has been included for the second year in a row on Barron’s third annual list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the United States.

The publication originally released its sustainability list in February 2020 but reworked and re-released it in August to put an extra emphasis on social commitments amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other current market conditions. After being ranked No. 38 in 2019, UniFirst jumped to No. 27 in Barron’s initial 2020 rankings before ultimately landing the No. 4 spot.

To determine the rankings, Barron’s partnered with

Calvert Research and Management to analyze the largest publicly held companies that are headquartered within the United States. Each company was assessed against 230 performance indicators in 28 environmental, social and corporate governances.

The revised rankings were based solely on the “softer factors,” including the designation of funds for community support, the hiring of minority employees and improvements in workplace inclusivity.

“We’re all so proud for UniFirst to not only be lauded as one of the most sustainable companies in the United States, but also one of the country’s most socially committed organizations,” says Steven Sintros, president and CEO of UniFirst Corp.

“UniFirst has always been and will remain dedicated to both our corporate and community responsibilities, including a focus on societal ethics, the environment and the economy. As the only uniform service provider to earn a spot in Barron’s 2020 rankings, we have a responsibility to make a lasting impact on both our industry and our society.”

UniFirst earned a spot on the list alongside some of the largest brands in the United States, including Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Verizon Communications. VF Corp., a producer of lifestyle and workwear brands, earned the top spot on the re-ranked list.

These rankings come on the heels of UniFirst’s recent announcement that it has partnered with HOLT Renewables to install and generate solar power at its industrial laundry facility in San Antonio. The rooftop solar system is expected to significantly offset the facility’s annual energy use.

In addition to prioritizing sustainability, UniFirst is actively donating personal protective equipment, soaps, sanitizers and a range of other safety supplies to businesses and nonprofit organizations across North America.

These charitable giving efforts are aimed at helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, protecting frontline workers, supporting businesses as they reopen and keeping communities up and running.

TRSA to host online supplieroperator Executive Exchange

ALE ANDRIA, Va. — For the past several years, TRSA, the association for linen, uniform and facility services, has hosted Executive Exchanges for its operator members and associate supplier partners.

This fall, TRSA shares that it is offering an online version of the Executive Exchange to its members on a first-come, first-served basis Oct. 27-28.

Webinar: How to go from being “The Source” to the “Resource” Richmond, Ky.

Info: 859-624-0177

Podcast: Customer Service Training and Technology Chicago, Ill.

312-361-1700

Executive Exchange Alexandria, Va. Info: 703-519-0029

Alexandria, Va. Info: 703-519-0029

18 American Laundry News

Linen, uniform and facility services management professionals—owner-operators, executives, directors, general, plant, and purchasing managers and other laundry-based department heads—have the opportunity to participate with associate supplier partners for a series of 15-minute private meetings to discuss pressing challenges and product innovations or solutions, says TRSA.

Participants commit to online meetings over two days, resulting in approximately a two-hour total time investment in short meetings on Oct. 27-28.

The association says operator members who register will answer a short qualifying questionnaire and then gain access to the online meeting scheduler with their preferred associate supplier partners.

859-624-0177

Podcast: Laundry Maintenance Checklist Chicago, Ill. Info: 312-361-1700

Full participation in the Executive Exchanges also makes TRSA operators eligible for one of three generous participation-based incentives.

The October event will again leverage TRSA Executive Exchange proprietary scheduling software and the interactivity of Zoom meetings to facilitate meaningful discussion about industry problems and solutions.

For more information, visit trsa.org/exchange

TLC Tri-State Laundry Companies’ Matt Stephenson (left) and Keith Quarles display the top dealer award from Pellerin Milnor Corp. The remainder of the top five dealers were Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company, Western State Design, Yankee Equipment Systems and Steiner-Atlantic Corp. (Photo: Pellerin Milnor Corp.)

70% Isopropyl Alcohol

70% Isopropyl Alcohol

Introducing IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes

Introducing IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes

Introducing IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes

Your one-step disinfectant cleaner and odor neutralizer designed for hard, non-porous environmental surfaces. A perfect truck POP sale item, Monarch Brands offers your customers the tools they need to keep their employees safe and their restaurants, hotels, and facilities clean.

Your one-step disinfectant cleaner and odor neutralizer designed for hard, non-porous environmental surfaces. A perfect truck POP sale item, Monarch Brands offers your customers the tools they need to keep their employees safe and their restaurants, hotels, and facilities clean.

70% Isopropyl Alcohol

Introducing IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes

Your one-step disinfectant cleaner and odor neutralizer designed for hard, non-porous environmental surfaces. A perfect truck POP sale item, Monarch Brands offers your customers the tools they need to keep their employees safe and their restaurants, hotels, and facilities clean.

Your one-step disinfectant cleaner and odor neutralizer designed for hard, non-porous environmental surfaces. A perfect truck POP sale item, Monarch Brands offers your customers the tools they need to keep their employees safe and their restaurants, hotels, and facilities clean.

IsoPro™ wipes are made with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the most common and widely-used disinfectant for a variety of medical and specialized industries. Medical institutions, pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean-rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacturers use it where antiseptic conditions are a must.

IsoPro™ wipes are made with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the most common and widely-used disinfectant for a variety of medical and specialized industries. Medical institutions, pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean-rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacturers use it where antiseptic conditions are a must.

IsoPro™ wipes are made with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the most common and widely-used disinfectant for a variety of medical and specialized industries. Medical institutions, pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean-rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacturers use it where antiseptic conditions are a must.

Why IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes?

Why IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes?

Why IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes?

IsoPro™ wipes are 50GSM while most wipes are only 25-35GSM. IsoPro™ is saturated with solution to an industry-leading 300x the weight of the raw material.

IsoPro™ wipes are 50GSM while most wipes are only 25-35GSM. IsoPro™ is saturated with solution to an industry-leading 300x the weight of the raw material.

IsoPro™ wipes are 50GSM while most wipes are only 25-35GSM. IsoPro™ is saturated with solution to an industry-leading 300x the weight of the raw material.

IsoPro™ wipes are 6” x 8” to dispense 70% isopropyl alcohol where it’s needed most.

IsoPro™ wipes are 6” x 8” to dispense 70% isopropyl alcohol where it’s needed most.

IsoPro™ wipes are made with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the most common and widely-used disinfectant for a variety of medical and specialized industries. Medical institutions, pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean-rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacturers use it where antiseptic conditions are a must.

Why IsoPro™ Disinfectant Wipes?

IsoPro™ wipes are 50GSM while most wipes are only 25-35GSM.

IsoPro™ is saturated with solution to an industry-leading 300x the weight of the raw material.

IsoPro™ wipes are 6” x 8” to dispense 70% isopropyl alcohol where it’s needed most.

Count & Packaging Item Code

Call (866) 406-0827 Visit monarchbrands.com or contact your rep to reserve your pre-soaked wipes today.

Call (866) 406-0827 Visit monarchbrands.com or contact your rep to reserve your pre-soaked wipes today.

IsoPro™ wipes are 6” x 8” to dispense 70% isopropyl alcohol where it’s needed most. Call (866) 406-0827 Visit monarchbrands.com or contact your rep to reserve your pre-soaked wipes today.

Call (866) 406-0827 Visit monarchbrands.com or contact your rep to reserve your pre-soaked wipes today.

50 Sheet Foil PackTW-ISO-5024 100 Sheet CanisterTW-ISO-10012 250 Sheet TubTW-ISO-2506

IRREGULAR RUN OF MILL (ROM)

These bar mops are perfect for wipe-and-toss in heavily soiled environments. Weaving defects such as over-stitching or IR cuts reject perfectly good wiping tools from circulation. We buy these at a deep discount and pass the savings on to you. Packed: 100 doz/bale.

These bar mops are perfect for wipe-and-toss in heavily soiled environments. Weaving defects such as over-stitching or IR cuts reject perfectly good wiping tools from circulation. We buy these at a deep discount and pass the savings on to you. Packed: 100 doz/bale.

These bar mops are perfect for wipe-and-toss in heavily soiled environments. Weaving defects such as over-stitching or IR cuts reject perfectly good wiping tools from circulation. We buy these at a deep discount and pass the savings on to you. Packed: 100 doz/bale.

When bar mop production runs are over and inspections have been completed, mills have excess yarn. Run Of Mill (ROM) bar mops contain every bar mop that comes off the loom after the first quality run has been finalized, so are more economical than Grade A1 bar mops.

When bar mop production runs are over and inspections have been completed, mills have excess yarn. Run Of Mill (ROM) bar mops contain every bar mop that comes off the loom after the first quality run has been finalized, so are more economical than Grade A1 bar mops.

When bar mop production runs are over and inspections have been completed, mills have excess yarn. Run Of Mill (ROM) bar mops contain every bar mop that comes off the loom after the first quality run has been finalized, so are more economical than Grade A1 bar mops.

These bar mops are perfect for wipe-and-toss in heavily soiled environments. Weaving defects such as over-stitching or IR cuts reject perfectly good wiping tools from circulation. We buy these at a deep discount and pass the savings on to you. Packed: 100 doz/bale.

Route Ready bar mops are optically white and packed in bags of 25 so you never have to pre-wash or recount them prior to use. Typically, laundries save 70¢/doz by freeing washroom and finishing floor operators from a whole wash cycle.

Route Ready bar mops are optically white and packed in bags of 25 so you never have to pre-wash or recount them prior to use. Typically, laundries save 70¢/doz by freeing washroom and finishing floor operators from a whole wash cycle.

Route Ready bar mops are optically white and packed in bags of 25 so you never have to pre-wash or recount them prior to use. Typically, laundries save 70¢/doz by freeing washroom and finishing floor operators from a whole wash cycle.

When bar mop production runs are over inspections have been completed, mills excess yarn. Run Of Mill (ROM) bar mops tain every bar mop that comes off the loom ter the first quality run has been finalized, are more economical than Grade A1 bar