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RICHMOND, Va. — Sylvia Small, production leader at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (VAMC), knows laundry. She has, for the last 25 years, led a team of almost 40 employees responsible for washing, drying, folding and sorting linens and other items for the VAMC and other community partners.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that it has contracted with Western State Design, Hayward, Calif., for new laundry equipment for the medical center. The $7.8 million contract will provide a steamless system—the latest in design and first of its kind for a VA medical center—resulting in a more efficient, and energy-saving laundry, the VA says.

The Richmond VAMC on-premise laundry stays busy serving the medical center, Hampton VAMC, Ft. Lee, Fayetteville VAMC, Camp Perry, Ft. Eustis, and Langley Air Force Base. The new equipment will greatly enhance the laundry’s capacity and offer the medical center and community partners the opportunity for additional services, the VA says.

More than 4 million pounds of laundry is processed annually through the Richmond facility. Equipment has been maintained but as newer technologies became available, renovations became necessary.

Small has seen the increase in community partners utilizing the VAMC’s laundry service since starting there in 1987 and says she is looking forward to the new equipment. The features are expected to be installed, tested and in use by this fall.

“Our team is looking forward to the new laundry equipment that will allow us to produce even more,” she says.

ATLANTA — The Clean Show has released a new, free mobile app for Apple iOS- and Android-based smartphones that offers features such as locating exhibitors, planning a personalized show itinerary, and connecting with others via social media.

The free app can be downloaded from an individual’s device in the App Store or Market.

The June 20-22 event is expected to draw an estimated 10,000 laundry and dry cleaning industry attendees to New Orleans.

“In the age of technology, offering a smartphone app just makes sense,” says John Riddle, president of Riddle & Associates, the Clean Show’s management company. “We want our attendees and exhibitors to be able to stay connected before, during, and after the show and be able to do it while on the go.”

The app designed by event marketing and software company a2z Inc. is fully integrated with the Clean Show website, and with LinkedIn and Twitter.

Attendees who do not have a smartphone can still maximize their time at Clean 2013 by using the show website’s “My Itinerary” feature. Visitors can store in a personalized “Briefcase” their schedule of educational sessions and booths they wish to visit, as well as print out their “Itinerary” to bring with them.

Formally the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning, the Clean Show is sponsored jointly by five national industry associations.

HOUSTON — ARCO/Murray National Construction Co. has completed the renovation of a healthcare laundry facility for the local Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the design-build firm reports.

The Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based company provided design-build installation for the 14,000-square-foot facility’s utility relocations and upgraded infrastructure, which included the removal and installation of laundry equipment, as well as the demolition of existing utilities servicing the equipment.

The crew was able to modify existing utility systems without interrupting hospital operations through a technique called “hot tapping,” coordinating the shutdown of certain utilities while connecting to existing piping still in use.

New equipment included a seven-module tunnel washer, four dryers and a spreader/feeder/stacker assembly. New concrete pads, drain trenches and HVAC ductwork were installed to service the equipment.

Access openings to the basement were also reworked to accommodate transport of large equipment to and from the facility.

Work was completed solely on mid-floor levels to avoid disruptions to the functioning hospital.

Mike Gaw was project manager and Elliot Mata project executive for ARCO/Murray.

CHICAGO — More than 70% of respondents to this month’s American Laundry News Wire survey say they are OK with the Clean Show’s shortened three-day schedule this year, compared to the remaining 29.4% who are “indifferent about this change.”

One respondent proposed that the biennial convention be held “every five years,” but with a longer schedule. “Have mandatory attendance by all members, companies and organizations,” the respondent writes. “Have it for a full five-day week with...golf tournaments planned and social events for all in the evenings.”

In fact, a good number of respondents answered that the biggest factor in favor of visiting New Orleans for Clean was the “networking and socializing” opportunities (23.5%), while 11.8% favored the “exhibits of equipment and supplies.” Equal shares of 5.9% pointed to “educational sessions” and “combining business and pleasure.” The most popular response, however, was “all of the above” (52.9%).

The Association for Linen Management (ALM) and the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) are among the organizations hosting educational sessions during the June 20-22 show. Among ALM’s scheduled offerings, Reducing the Loss of Patient Linen and Scrubs and Standards and Regulations Affecting the Healthcare Laundry and Linen Industry have drawn the most pre-show interest among respondents. As for planned TRSA sessions, Textile Services Contracts and Negotiations and TRSA Clean Green and Hygienically Clean Certification Programs: Quantifying Your Commitment to Cleanliness and Sustainability are most anticipated.

More than one-third (35.3%) of those surveyed say they are planning to attend Clean, while 17.6% remain unsure. The remaining 47% aren’t planning to attend, with cost playing an important factor for some.

Among respondents who are not attending, about 45% “can’t afford the cost,” 27.3% “can’t spare the time,” and 27.3% said they “made other plans.”

“Employers do not give the time to attend seminars or trade shows,” writes one respondent. “We have to use vacation time to attend. In the past, employers would pay for employees to attend. Now, it comes out of our own pocket.”

While American Laundry News’ Wire survey presents a snapshot of the audience’s viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific. Subscribers to Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to participate in an industry survey each month. The survey is conducted online via a partner website, and is developed so it can be completed in less than 10 minutes.

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

SAN DIEGO — Commercial healthcare laundry Emerald Textiles has expanded its operation into Los Angeles, adding a service center there to provide even greater coverage and a larger physical presence for existing and prospective customers, the company reports.

“As we continue to expand in the Los Angeles market, this service center will increase our coverage in the greater Los Angeles area,” says Tom Gildred, Emerald Textiles CEO. “Our existing customers will benefit from this additional location and so will any new customers in the region.”

Emerald Textiles operates what it considers to be “the most technologically advanced and environmentally responsible commercial laundry facilities in the United States,” saving a reported 40 million gallons of water and more than 750,000 therms of natural gas annually.

San Diego Gas & Electric and the California Public Utilities Commission have recognized Emerald for its advanced design and energy efficiency.

WASHINGTON — The Textile Rental Services Association’s Leadership & Legislative Conference concluded last week with more than 30 meetings with key figures in Capitol Hill offices. The sessions enabled company leaders to enlist support of members of Congress in advancing the industry’s most pressing government-relations causes.

Hill Day was the conference climax, following TRSA committee meetings and presentations at the Fairmont Washington, the first time in the event’s three-year history that all activities took place downtown. Attendance exceeded 130, a conference high. Operator (launderer) members outnumbered Associates (suppliers) by a nearly 3-to-2 ratio.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, the former Tennessee governor and two-time presidential candidate, primed attendees for their congressional visits immediately before their departure. Alexander offered his view of the nation’s fiscal crisis, noting that only 40% of government spending is budgeted each year. That portion of expenditures is at 2008 levels and is set to grow with inflation. The remainder is mandated by prior legislation (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security) and is growing at three to four times inflation.

Issues TRSA members raised during the Hill meetings included competition from prison laundries, taxation of textiles as medical devices, and regulation of air emissions of volatile organic compounds from towel processing.

Following these meetings, participants regrouped at a Hill lunch spot to hear Rep. Mike Pompeo, a second-term House member from Kansas, who addressed the shop towel issue from his own perspective as a small business owner/operator.

The night before, at a TRSAPAC reception, Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan was honored as TRSA’s first-ever Legislator of the Year. He introduced 2012 legislation to level the playing field in competing with prison industries.

The industry-leadership portion of the agenda took place at the Fairmont March 18-19. Activities consisted mostly of committee meetings, where participants voiced their individual preferences for how TRSA should allocate resources. But the program included keynote speakers as well. Alex Castellanos, CNN political analyst, offered a cloudy forecast for clearing political gridlock in Washington. Alex Passantino, former head of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), gave participants pointers on overtime pay issues.

Randall Wentsel, Ph.D., senior managing scientist, Exponent Inc., explained the research his firm has conducted for TRSA that proves how reusable shop towels, foodservice napkins and healthcare isolation gowns are more sustainable than their disposable counterparts.

SAN DIEGO — Scripps Health has signed a multi-year contract extension to retain Emerald Textiles as the health system’s exclusive linen and laundry services provider through 2017, Emerald reports.

“We are very proud of our relationship with Scripps Health, and the opportunity to help them achieve higher patient satisfaction and operational efficiencies,” says Tom Gildred, founder and CEO of Emerald Textiles. “Over the last couple of years, we have provided Scripps with significant savings while delivering upgraded linens and higher service quality. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Scripps Health for many years to come.”

San Diego-based Scripps Health treats a half-million patients annually. Emerald Textiles has managed laundry services and linen supplies for the health system’s five acute-care hospital campuses and 23 outpatient clinics since 2010.

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. — Each Christmas, generous donors give approximately 5,000 “gently used” blankets to the local charitable organization called Bridging through the annual Bring a Blanket drive co-sponsored by Subway Restaurants.

Of those, hundreds are usually slightly soiled and in need of washing, so Bridging turns to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Laundry Facility. The soiled blankets are delivered in February and March to SMSC, which washes, dries and hand-folds them at no charge.

“It is part of our mission to provide quality, gently used furniture and household goods to those in need,” says David Jensen, operations and logistics manager at Bridging. “Our partnership with SMSC allows us to make this happen. By receiving SMSC’s donated laundering services, Bridging has been able to distribute thousands of clean blankets to families in need over the years.”

The SMSC and its Gaming Enterprise, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino, has worked with Bridging for years to provide linens, furniture and other items. Several times a year, Bridging drops off large loads of linens that the SMSC Laundry also washes for free.

Bridging’s mission is to provide families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty with a gift of quality furniture and household goods to stabilize and improve lives while effectively using community resources. Through a network of more than 125 social-service agencies, eligible clients are referred to Bridging to pick out needed furniture and household goods to transform their house into a home.

The SMSC Laundry, which has 51 full-time employees, processes 3.6 million pounds of goods each year for several SMSC enterprises, including its hotel, casino, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness, and more. It also launders 575,000 employee uniforms annually.

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MILWAUKEE — Alliance Laundry Systems, manufacturers of commercial laundry equipment under the Huebsch, IPSO, Speed Queen and UniMac brands, last week received a special award for “Market Leadership” as part of the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year program recognizing outstanding achievements in manufacturing in 2012.

Alliance was one of eight companies honored out of 58 nominated in the statewide awards program, now in its 25th year. Bruce Rounds, chief financial officer, and Jay McDonald, vice president of business development, accepted the award for Alliance during a black-tie ceremony at the Pfister Hotel.

“Alliance’s story started more than 100 years ago when two Ripon hardware store owners figured out how to mechanize hand-powered washing machines,” notes Alliance CEO and President Mike Schoeb. “Now, we are the largest manufacturer of commercial laundry equipment in the world. Our continued success is driven by that same spirit of innovation, the dedication and work ethic we find in the local labor force, our world-class distribution network, and the competitive advantages and positive business climate of Wisconsin.”

In addition to the “Market Leadership” award, the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year program handed out four grand awards to companies categorized by the number of employees – small, medium, large and mega. Alliance, nominated for the first time in 2012, competed in but did not win the Mega category.

Nominees were judged in such areas as financial growth or consistency, technological advances, product development, environmental solutions and sustainability, operational excellence/continuous improvement, commitment to employees, and effective research and development.

The awards program is co-sponsored by Baker Tilly, one of America’s largest accounting and advisory firms; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, a leading Midwest-based law firm; and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Wisconsin’s largest business association.

CONKLIN, Mich. — American Laundry News has learned of the recent death of Maurice “Jerry” Moore, the first executive director at West Michigan Shared Hospital Laundry (WMSHL), Grand Rapids, Mich.

Moore, of Conklin, died Feb. 21 after a brief illness. He was 81.

Duane Houvener, the current WMSHL director, wrote in a recent International Association for Healthcare Textile Management e-newsletter that Moore was hired before plans for the laundry were finalized and then oversaw the final plans and equipment requisition, plus set up and trained a new staff of laundry workers. Moore retired from WMSHL in 1996 after 23 years on the job.

Surviving Moore are his wife, Patricia; children, Paul, Karen, Dave and Linda; a brother, James; and 12 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Perpetual Care, in Conklin.

FRANKFORT, Ill. — Rocco Romeo, CEO of HLS Linen Services, Ottawa, Ont., was elected president of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) during the organization’s recent 2013 elections.

Other officers for the year are Chuck Rosmiller, Crothall Laundry Services, vice president; Robert Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, secretary/treasurer; Nancy Bjerke, BSN, RN, MPH, CIC, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), immediate past president; and Bradley J. Bushman, Standard Textile Co., director-at-large.

Myles Noel, COMTEX, and Neil Pascoe, RN, BSN, CIC, Texas Department of State Health Services, were elected to the HLAC Board of Directors for the first time. They join the following directors who are continuing their terms into 2013: Gregory Gicewicz, Sterile Surgical Systems; Sandra J. Hensley, RN, MSEM, BSN, CIC, University of Toledo Medical Center; Rick Kislia, Crescent Laundry; and John Scherberger, CHESP, Healthcare Risk Mitigation Inc.

“HLAC made significant progress in many different areas this past year,” says Romeo. “Thanks to a strong, dynamic board and leadership team, HLAC continued to grow, ensuring its presence as the premier accrediting body in the healthcare laundry industry.”

The new HLAC Standards (including the introduction of Part III, Surgical Pack Assembly Room Standards for the Operating Room), were successfully implemented, the organization reports.

There are more than 170 accredited HLAC laundries in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Israel, and the organization plans to pursue additional opportunities in other countries.

“Laundries seeking accreditation do so voluntarily and demonstrate their commitment to healthcare customers and patients by promoting a culture of excellence and continuous process improvement,” Romeo says.

HLAC is planning a series of webinars this year that will assist laundries seeking accreditation and will promote patient safety and infection control.