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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) has added a new General Membership classification for private- or public-sector organizations dedicated to processing their own textiles. The expansion will enhance the association’s representation as the primary advocate and educator of all large-scale laundry operations, TRSA says.

“TRSA has long promoted, and will continue to promote, that processing laundry on the largest scale possible is the most sustainable, effective and efficient laundering method,” says Woody Ostrow, chairman of TRSA’s Board of Directors. “The Board agreed that TRSA traditional (Active) members have many more significant similarities with these General operations than differences. All TRSA launderers and associates will benefit from sharing information with the most highly reputed on-premise, institutional and cooperative laundries.”

Ostrow, of CleanCare Linen, Pittsburgh, observed that these operations already benefit from TRSA’s successes in fighting for fair, balanced regulation and pro-business policies.

They similarly gain from improvements in laundry equipment, supplies and services prompted by discussions at TRSA meetings. Through direct participation in TRSA conferences, committees and leadership, General Members will accelerate improvement in their business practices and professional development, he says.

The addition of these operations creates a broader base for TRSA’s assessments of industry performance and the economic and environmental benefits of proven best practices.

General and Active Members will compare efficiencies and effectiveness in serving the textile needs of all kinds of businesses, particularly hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, hotels and other healthcare and hospitality establishments.

The expansion brings TRSA into line with the international trend in associations serving uniform and linen supply laundries, as institutional and co-op operators and sometimes dry cleaners are typically their colleagues in these groups worldwide.

“TRSA must continue to lead innovation, facilitate best practices and highlight emerging technologies that accelerate productivity and performance,” Ostrow says.

Performing these functions over the years has enabled TRSA to fulfill its legal requirement as a trade association to foster competition. By expanding these efforts to cover its new General Members, TRSA is recognizing their competitiveness.

ATLANTA — Dates for Clean 2013 in New Orleans have been rescheduled to June 20-22, a Thursday-Saturday show.

“This allows attendees to return home on Sunday to start their workweek on Monday, or gives them an opportunity to stay and enjoy a day in New Orleans after the show,” says David Cotter, chairman of Clean 2013 and CEO of Textile Care Allied Trades Association.

Original dates for the 2013 show announced at Clean 2011 were Friday-Sunday, June 21-23. The three-day-show format in 2013, the first since 1981, is in response to exhibitor and attendee feedback. The show will run three full days rather than close early on the last day to allow time for everyone to fully experience the exhibits.

The 2015 exhibition in Atlanta and the 2017 gathering in Las Vegas were also announced as three-day shows, but Cotter says the biennial event could return to four days if that proves to work better for exhibitors and attendees.

Clean 2011 in Las Vegas drew 11,200 people, a 13% increase over Clean ’09, according to show manager Riddle & Associates. In addition to attendees from all 50 states and Washington D.C., there were visitors from 87 other countries.

LAS VEGAS — Clean 2011 is offering more than 35 hours of classroom sessions presented by four Clean Show sponsors and six related associations from the United States, Canada and Europe. Clean 2011 is scheduled for June 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Among topics covered in the sessions are environmental issues, water conservation, business management, marketing, new technology, industry standards and regulatory issues.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Regional drycleaning and laundry supply distributor E.J. Thomas Co. has been sold, the company reports. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The new owners are Randy Zimmerman, who is now responsible for E.J. Thomas’ day-to-day leadership, and Matt Walter, who will provide advice, counsel and strategic direction to the company.

ATLANTA — With a little less than a year to go, Clean Show 2011 has sold more than 50% of its exhibit space in the Las Vegas Convention Center, according to Riddle & Associates, the show’s longtime management firm.

FOREST CITY, N.C. — A new healthcare laundry company, River Textile Services (RTS), will be opening a 62,500-square-foot laundry here this summer, according to Chairman/CEO George Ferencz.

RTS will spend more than $1.5 million to “upfit” an existing warehouse in Forest City, according to Rutherford County Commission Chairman Brent Washburn.

Ferencz says RTS will immediately hire 40 employees and expand to 55 in its first year. The plant will have an annual processing capacity of more than 30 million pounds.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) has begun an executive search, per the agreement that blended TRSA and the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA).

“We are all indebted to (President and CEO) Roger Cocivera for his excellent work on behalf of the industry,” says TRSA Chairman Jeff Wright. “Through his efforts, the blending of the two associations went very smoothly, and virtually every former UTSA member has joined TRSA.”

NEW ORLEANS — Members of the Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) gathered here Wednesday afternoon for their first annual meeting since TRSA and the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) began to reorganize last year.

Outgoing TRSA Chairman of the Board Greg Jeltema, new Chairman Jeffrey Wright and President/CEO Roger Cocivera acknowledged that while much work on the “blending” has been completed, there is more yet to do.

Wright shared his goals for the coming year:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The boards of directors of the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) and the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) have voted unanimously to restructure the operations of their associations, TRSA and UTSA members learned via e-mail late Thursday afternoon.
 

NEW YORK — The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS) has solidified relationships with the Green Restaurant Association and industry publication Green Lodging News to provide a full offering of “green” resources and education to attendees of next month’s event.

CHICAGO — Restaurant and hospitality industry professionals on the lookout for the latest front- and back-of-the-house equipment – including laundry equipment – to drive productivity and revenues may want to investigate the annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

I'm hearing a lot about microfiber towels and mops. What can you tell me about their performance compared to more well-established products? Are they processed differently in the laundry? How do they differ from cotton and other materials?