Content about Combo washer dryer

MARIETTA, Ga. — Sustainability, efficiency, and the bottom line are on the minds of every business owner in the current economy. Laundry operations, whether on-premise laundries or linen services, are no exception.

Technology advances are significantly changing business operations and the way services are delivered in every sector. In laundry rooms, they are helping equipment to run smarter and even to contribute useful data to the decision-making process. Improvements in laundry operations are leading to reduced labor costs, increased productivity, maximized energy efficiency, lower utility costs and enhanced linen life. Here is how these evolving machines enable these cost centers to take up a smaller part of the operating budget, while ensuring that the overall operation runs smoothly.

GETTING A JUMP ON THE DAY

Typically, when laundry operators punch in, the first thing they do is load linens, uniforms or other washables into the machines, start them up, and then enter a 35- to 45-minute “dead” period waiting for the first loads. This is no way to start the morning.

Thanks to an advanced-start function engineered into newer washer-extractors, today’s laundry crew could be greeted in the morning by a machine filled with freshly washed clothes and linens. The advanced-start function allows yesterday’s workers to load up the machines at the end of their shift and to program the washers to turn on the next morning about an hour before the morning shift arrives.

The loads will be just finishing and almost ready for the tumble dryer when the first shift comes onto the laundry room floor. This feature also shortens the previous day’s last shift. The time saved adds up to lower labor costs. In addition, having loads washed before the day starts ensures that parts of the operation that depend on laundry availability can be reliably supplied by mid-morning. More timely availability could enable a smaller inventory of linens and uniforms to handle daily demand for on-premise laundries.

MAY THE G-FORCE BE WITH YOU

The secret to efficient clothes drying is that tumble dryers should be asked to deal with as little water as possible. Low-G-force washer-extractors can leave significant amounts of water in the laundry, which means the tumble dryer has to work harder and longer. When operators run fabrics such as all-cotton terry cloth through a low-G-force washer, there can be as much as 90% water retention.

Water-heavy goods present potential ergonomic problems for workers who have to lift laundry and place it in the tumble dryer. It also requires extra drying time, which means more energy to heat the air. It also reduces throughput. High-G-force extraction removes more water from linens, leading to decreased drying times. This high-speed process can reduce the amount of moisture left in the linens by up to 47%, decreasing gas or electricity usage by as much as 35%.

CAN’T BEAT THE CLOCK

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Using the advanced controls now available on laundry equipment is like having somebody in the laundry room with a notepad, recording information on every cycle run, monitoring machine performance and tracking maintenance history. This can be especially valuable for facilities that run more than one shift.

For example, a chemical company had a customer who complained about the quality of finished laundry. The control system that monitors the equipment in the laundry room downloaded the reports and pinpointed the problem. Reports found that operators on the 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. shift were advancing the machines, skipping the bleach step and skipping a rinse step.

The chemical company was able to show the customer that the problem was not with the chemicals but with how the workers were using the machines. Relying on the control system’s real-time clock, management can download reports and determine exactly what’s happening in the laundry room.

The reports provided by these control systems help administrators better understand and manage workloads and increase throughput. The information also helps determine whether they need to add more machines. Washer-extractors and tumble dryers equipped with advanced controls have a real-time clock telling the operator how long the machine has been sitting idle. Laundry operations paying overtime can check to see whether the extra hours are really necessary.

IN TOTAL CONTROL

The cost of water may not yet be a major issue where you are operating, but it will be a concern in many places before the end of this decade. For many operations, targeting water use is part of a sustainability program. Advanced washer equipment controls enable the operator to match each load with one of 30 different water levels for optimal water and chemical use without compromising cleanliness. This feature can help save thousands of gallons of water each year, which also reduces energy costs since less water is being heated.

Some new tumble dryers make use of moisture-sensing technology to prevent linens from being scratchy and to ensure longer life for linens and uniforms. Operators set the desired moisture level for the finished laundry, usually 4-5%.

Over-drying is one of the biggest wasters of utilities and labor in the laundry room. Impatient operators sometimes check to see whether clothes are dry by stopping the machine and sticking a hand in every now and then. Not only does this waste the operator’s time, stopping and starting the dryer also wastes energy. In addition, improved technology that prevents over-drying can reduce fiber loss by 31%.

MONEY NOT GOING DOWN THE DRAIN

One problem with technology is that sometimes management doesn’t want to invest in it. But that ignores real dollars-and-cents benefits. There is a big difference between lowest cost and lowest price. Whether a laundry service or an on-premise laundry, operations that resist upgrading or that choose a less expensive machine can spend $100 per month for the next 12 to 15 years on additional energy, water, and labor.

Break down the budget of a typical laundry operation. About half of every dollar spent in the laundry goes to labor. Another 10-12% goes to equipment, 10-12% to linen replacement, 8-12% to chemicals, and 10% to utilities. Equipment maintenance completes the cost schedule at 3%. Spending money wisely on equipment can affect the other pieces of the cost pie, reducing them while making better use of the laundry workforce by increasing productivity and throughput.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — As word continues to spread about the various benefits of using less energy and water in daily tasks, much of the hospitality industry is now working to make its on-premise laundry (OPL) facilities more energy- and water-efficient. As a result, many hotel owners are finding that the conservation of natural resources is not only good for the environment, but also for business. It can lead to lower utility bills and increased productivity, as well as an improved image in the eyes of hotel guests.

Though it may be tempting to jump right in and start buying new equipment, it’s important for hotel owners to first take a close look at the many options available to them, leading to a more informed decision.

There are a variety of things to do and consider as they begin their research on improvements, which can ultimately lead to higher energy and water efficiency, as well as a higher return on investment (ROI).

FIRST, FIND A DISTRIBUTOR

Whether looking to buy laundry equipment for a new hotel or upgrading an existing operation, hotel owners would be wise to first begin a relationship with an established distributor for product guidance and future maintenance. Look for laundry distributors who have a long history in the business and a well-known reputation for good customer service, both before and after the sale.

It also is a good idea to choose a distributor that offers solid warranty and service agreements, factory-trained service technicians and a full parts inventory, so replacement parts can be obtained with minimal downtime. It is crucial that the distributor send a service technician out promptly with the replacement parts needed for repairs so the laundry facility can keep up with guests’ needs.

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY

Though the costs of operating an OPL are considerably lower than sending laundry to an outside business, selecting the right equipment for the job can reduce costs even further. Hotel owners can significantly cut utility costs by investing in the latest energy-efficient commercial laundry equipment, including multi-load high-speed washer extractors.

High-Speed Multi-Load Washer-Extractors — The best way to improve overall OPL efficiency is by incorporating multi-load, high-speed washer-extractors. Extracting water in the washer instead of the dryer through higher spin speeds means linens will dry more quickly and gently, and less energy will be consumed.

For the highest level of performance, hotel owners should look for soft-mount washer-extractors with a G-force (G), or spin speed, of at least 300, though certain soft-mount washer-extractors can feature high-speed extraction of up to 350 G.

Higher G-force simply means more water is removed. For example, a 55-pound washer operating at 100 G will leave about 50 pounds of water to be extracted in the dryer, which will take 45 minutes to dry. A 350-G washer, however, will only leave 33 pounds of water, which will reduce drying time to 31 minutes and save linens from additional wear.

When compared to laundries operating with 100-G washers, those operating with 350-G washers can save substantial labor dollars. A laundry operating with 350-G washers can process 10 loads in approximately 2½ hours less time than the laundry operating the 100-G washers. At $10 an hour, increasing washer speed to 350 Gs has the potential to save more than $8,000 a year in labor. Plus, shorter drying time at 170 F will cause less linen wear and tear.

High-speed washer-extractors are an ideal option for OPL operators, as they drastically reduce labor and other operational costs. Of course, to complete the efficiency upgrade package, OPL facilities also need an energy-efficient multi-load dryer.

Multi-Load Dryers — Like multi-load washer-extractors, today’s multi-load dryers can hold larger loads of laundry, reducing the number of loads that need to be dried. These highly efficient dryers come in varying sizes, with the largest ones being able to accommodate loads of more than 150 pounds.

For the highest energy efficiency, hotel owners should look for large dryers with high-performance airflow distribution systems that dry clothes faster using less energy, and sufficient insulation and sealing to prevent the leakage of heated air. This allows the machine to dry clothes faster using less energy.

Washer-Extractors for Smaller Facilities — In addition to the individual size and performance of machines, the size of the OPL facility is an important factor to consider. Though multi-load equipment is ideal for larger facilities, it might not be as good of a fit for some smaller OPLs. Fortunately, there are also equipment options for laundry facilities in smaller hotels.

Owners of smaller OPLs stand to reap the most substantial benefits from an equipment upgrade, usually from a traditional top-loading washer to a front-loading high-speed washer-extractor. When comparing on-premise high-speed washer-extractors with traditional top-loaders, the front-loaders are generally recognized as the more energy-efficient option, and they also use water more efficiently.

For example, a top-loading machine needs enough water to cover all of the fabrics in its drum, while a front-loading machine only requires one-third of that amount of water. The drum in front-loading washer-extractors is horizontally set, so as it turns, it uses gravity to drop the fabrics back into the water. This allows front-loading washer-extractors to use several gallons of water a year less than traditional top-loading machines.

Another front-load washer-extractor advantage is that these machines have no agitator in the middle of the drum, allowing them to hold larger loads, which also saves time and energy. Additionally, agitators inflict gradual wear and tear on fabrics over time, so fabrics washed in a front-load machine should last longer.

ELEMENTS OF PROPER OPL DESIGN

For hotel OPL facilities to operate efficiently, it is also important for owners to properly design the facility, ensuring that all OPL components are positioned in the most beneficial way for hotel staff members.

First, OPL facilities must have a wide swinging door that will easily accommodate in-and-out foot traffic. Then, there’s the placement of the different areas used for separating soiled laundry prior to washing and folding clean laundry after it’s processed. Placing folding stations near washers and dryers helps staff members to be more efficient, as they only have a minimal distance to carry laundry, and also helps keep clean laundry from potentially being dragged on the floor.

Washers and dryers should be in close proximity, while allowing for staff members to easily maneuver laundry carts within the space. Store clean linens near the entrance/exit door for easy access to both housekeeping and other hotel staff members.

Most distributors will have someone on staff who specializes in laundry facility design, or will be able to recommend an outside interior designer or architect who can assist the hotel owner with producing a more efficient laundry room layout.

IN SUMMARY

Under the guidance of a reputable, well-established commercial laundry distributor, hotel owners can make huge improvements to the energy- and water- efficiency of their OPL and significantly reduce operational costs.

High-speed washer-extractors and multi-load dryers are a wise investment for all OPL facility owners, as they help achieve all of these goals and allow staff to spend less time handling laundry and more time on other important duties.

In addition, due to the ROI of the equipment, hotel owners can expect to recoup the price difference between this equipment and traditional less-efficient OPL equipment in utility savings over just a few years.

High-speed multi-load washer-extractors and multi-load dryers also help decrease a hotel’s impact on the environment. So, by making informed energy- and water-efficient decisions for their OPL facilities, hotel owners are not only making a smart move for their bottom line, but are also doing their part to preserve the environment of future generations.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Water is a big deal in Colorado. Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado, which operates the Fresh Start mixed plant laundry here, was using almost three gallons of water per pound of laundry processed. Management knew it had to make some changes in order to stay competitive in the marketplace.

DESIGN TEAMS TUNNEL AND CONVENTIONAL WASH AISLE

Over the years, Fresh Start’s conventional wash aisle had grown to 10 machines totaling of 2,250 pounds of wash capacity, but many of the washers were past their normal service life. Heavy soil drove the high water usage. In 2011, the local water utility announced a 300% rate increase to be phased in over three years.

With anticipated growth opportunities also in the mix, a new tunnel washer system made sense, but a significant portion of Fresh Start’s seasonal business included military goods that weren’t compatible with tunnel processing. Staying conventional and installing a state-of-the-art water-reuse system was also under consideration. 

Fresh Start needed a wash aisle that used less water, capacity to double production capability, and significant conventional washer capacity. Available space would not accommodate a full tunnel system plus the conventional wash capacity needed. And the capital cost of new conventional washers plus water reuse was significant.

The solution: a hybrid tunnel design utilizing 1,600 pounds of existing conventional wash capacity. A shared manual gravity rail would service a new line of high-production 450-pound dryers. The shared-dryer design provided adequate dry capacity for the tunnel and conventional washers in a shared space.

COORDINATION IS KEY TO KEEPING DOWNTIME TO MINIMUM

A major equipment change can shut down laundry production for weeks or even months, so with the business in growth mode, this was a concern.

Project scope included major steam, water, electric, HVAC, and air-supply modifications. New roof penetrations were required, old walls had to come down, and installation of new walls and barriers was needed to maintain functional separation between soiled and clean areas. Old dryers and washers would be rigged out before new equipment was brought in and installed.

Fresh Start selected Kannegiesser USA to deliver the equipment and installation solution it needed. Tony Jackson, Kannegiesser’s sales manager, organized a team of local industrial contractors, and the project was squeezed from eight weeks of plant downtime to just three.

“We settled on a very aggressive installation schedule,” says Jackson. “We needed a good collaborative effort to meet the time line goal for full production, and everyone delivered.”

New equipment included a Kannegiesser PowerTrans 10-compartment (165 pounds capacity in each) tunnel washer, Kannegiesser PowerPress 56-bar extraction press, Gardner Machinery heavy I-beam rail system, three CLM 450-pound capacity industrial dryers, and six ADC dryers.

Mech One was responsible for all HVAC and ductwork. Much of the material was pre-fabricated in advance of the equipment delivery. It designed and built modular ductwork above the roof that transitioned the hot dryer exhaust parallel with the roof. While sturdy, the design allows for easy disassembly, providing interior inspection access.

Olson Plumbing & Heating consistently stayed ahead of their schedule commitments for air, gas, water, drain and steam, according to Jackson, and successfully troubleshot a last-minute issue to ensure proper gas pressure was available for the plant’s larger gas utility load.

The new electrical requirements required a block-wide power shutdown to install the new service.  Electric Services of Colorado mobilized during early weekend hours and made the transition seamless for Fresh Start and its affected neighbors.

MATERIAL-HANDLING SYSTEMS ENHANCE ERGONOMICS, SAFETY

Ergonomics and safety were also primary goals of the laundry renovation. Fresh Start employs disabled individuals throughout the laundry. Helping them reach their highest level of personal and economic independence is central to the mission of Goodwill.

Utilizing a manual conveyor on the back side of the tunnel eliminated the safety hazards of an automated shuttle; the conveyor inclines to load press cakes to the dryer rail. The heavy I-beam rail design allows up to three cakes—a full 450-pound dryer load—in each sling. Manual rail can work even when ceiling height is not sufficient for automated rail technology.

Where once dryers had been manually loaded from carts, the new clean rail provides faster, easier dryer loading. The dryer rail also provides nearly 7,000 pounds of staged storage between the tunnel and the dryers. Rail staging can increase tunnel production by eliminating system holds associated with “waiting for dryers.”

The system performed right from the beginning, says Vae Lafano, laundry project manager at Fresh Start. “Summer is our busiest season. The new laundry design shortened our seasonal wash-aisle production by six hours a day. They told me that the tunnel would put pressure on the finishing side of the plant, and it has.”

And how’s the water usage? In the first two months of operation, Lafano reports the tunnel water consumption is averaging 0.5-0.6 gallons per pound. Good news for Fresh Start, and good news for Colorado.

CHEMICALS SUPPLY: MARLENE WILLIAMS, ANDERSON CHEMICAL CO., LITCHFIELD, MINN.

This well-designed question recognizes that optimization of laundry programs and procedures, as well as incorporating new technology options, can facilitate a laundry manager’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and water conservation. From the chemical supplier’s standpoint, there are two major sources of help available today.

First, technology (proprietary software) to analyze a laundry operation is a strong tool for chemical representatives and laundry managers. A knowledgeable chemical representative can provide valuable assistance with this type of computer analysis, improving not only energy efficiency and water consumption but also creating savings in all areas of program expense.

Secondly, a knowledgeable review of laundry facilities with improved practices and procedures can provide major economies for no additional cost. John White, an industry expert with 35 years of laundry experience, offers a number of valuable tactics:

1. Work with a knowledgeable chemical supplies representative; this should be your starting point. Experienced reps can help you because they work with many different operators and will be able to give you ideas for savings, ideas that are working for others.
2. If you’re still using “old school” washing techniques (180-degree water, lots of alkali and bleach, long cycles, lots of rinsing, etc.), be aware that chemistry has dramatically changed. Talk to your rep about low-temperature washing. Consider enzyme washing, allowing for lower wash and bleaching temperatures. Your supplier should be bringing these innovations to you for your consideration.
3. Replace one rinse step in all your cycles with a medium-speed extract. This will save one high-fill for every load of laundry you process, and, over time, can result in thousands of gallons of water—much of it hot—saved.
4. Understand the relationship between pH and temperature in the bleach bath. A good rep will be able to set your cycles up to bleach in much lower temperatures by lowering the pH of the bleach bath.
5. Lower your water levels 1 inch when washing/bleaching, and 2 inches when rinsing. All water levels are adjustable, and the good reps know how to do this. One inch less water in the wash step will not make any difference in quality, but due to the shape of the wash wheel, will save you up to 30% of the hot water you would otherwise use in a typical wash step (same for bleach step and 2 inches on rinse steps).
6. Focus on sorting laundry by soil load and staining. Unsorted linens must be washed according to the worst pieces. If unsorted, every load becomes a costly heavy-soil load.
7. Program cycles so that your final rinse temperature is between 115 and 120 degrees (typically it is much lower). This means that the linens will be pre-heated (but not too hot to handle) when they go into the dryer. This will save about five minutes of dryer time/energy per load.
8. Don’t under-load washers or overload dryers. Weigh loads and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
9. Airflow is far more critical than temperature when it comes to dryer time. Clean lint screens after every load, and periodically have dryer vents professionally cleaned. Lint can easily clog dryer vents and choke off 80% or more of your airflow.
10. Finally, most dryers can be retrofitted with flue sensors that will shut the dryer down when the load is dry, saving on energy and fabric damage.

EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING: KIM SHADY, LAUNDRYLUX CORP, NEW YORK, N.Y.

From the perspective of smaller OPL facilities, more new equipment applications have become available in the past several years than have been introduced in the past decade. I’ll break these energy savings into three categories: electricity, natural gas, and water.

Electricity — The amount of electricity used to operate an OPL washer or dryer may be less than 2 cents per load. There is very little reward for making improvements to electricity use. Evaluating cycle times in the washer could be one area for savings. Washers with higher extraction rates (G-force) can reduce drying times for more savings.

Natural Gas — Assuming natural gas is your heat source for a dryer, ironer or water heater, this is your largest utility cost. To evaluate areas to trim costs, start with your water heater/boiler. There have been many improvements in efficiency, so is your unit outdated? Could reducing water temperature by 5 or 10 degrees make a difference on an annual basis?

The traditional 75-pound dryer in small OPL facilities has gone through significant energy updates in the past few years. Several companies have slashed gas consumption by 20% through new, energy-efficient axial airflow designs that do not sacrifice drying time. This may be the biggest gain for energy efficiency in the past five years.

Also, the extraction rate has a major role in reducing dryer gas use. Upgrading from 100 to 300 G-force can cut drying time by 25-30%, along with similar amounts of natural gas.

Residual moisture controls are gaining popularity to save time and natural gas in the dryer. No longer does the drying time have to be input by hand. Residual moisture controls automate the process, while preventing the dryer from running past the point where linens are dry.

Large laundries have long understood the energy benefits of ironing vs. drying sheets. When ironing sheets properly, the amount of energy used to remove a pound of water is less than the amount a dryer would use to do the same. With new OPL ironers requiring just one person to feed, fold and stack, there can be energy savings, labor savings and huge improvements in quality.

Water — OPL washers are using newer digital technology to measure water levels, providing more precise control for each fill. This also allows the programmer to experiment with finding the optimum water levels and acceptable cleanliness quality. This experiment could bring surprising results in lower water use. Some washers are smart enough to adjust water levels based upon the linen load size, while at the same time adjusting chemical dosing to keep the ratio to water accurate.

Other water savings may be found with ozone systems. Ozone has proven to reduce water consumption and significantly reduce the need for hot water.

UNIFORMS/WORKWEAR MANUFACTURING: STEVE KALLENBACH, AMERICAN DAWN, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

This is the central question surrounding one of the most important dynamics of the decade: “green” reusable textiles and related processing. My responses will relate mostly to energy and costs that directly impact textile-processing costs.

Energy — Over the past 15 years, our industry has reduced energy costs by more than 40% through the use of heat reclaimers, direct-fire water heaters, continuous batch washers (vs. washer-extractors vs. modular washer and extractor units), high-efficiency gas dryers (vs. steam dryers), as well as energy-friendly textiles.

Additionally, chemical companies and plant managers have worked together to find balanced formulations that assist in energy efficiency. An example of this might be in extraction. Once a washer-extractor achieves extraction speed, it is much more efficient to extract the textile a bit longer, if it reduces dryer time (gas usage) while still protecting textile life.

In some cases, textiles have been built to withstand more energy-efficient processing. In others (example: Signature table linen), fabric has been developed to wash cleaner at lower temperatures, thereby lowering energy costs and even processing time. The most recent textile improvement impacting energy efficiency is microfiber fabrics. They take much less time to dry, thereby reducing gas and electricity costs.

Laundry managers need to follow the best in class: 1) know the industry standards, 2) know your own plant’s performance, and 3) engage with your chemical and textile vendors to continually improve efficiency.

Water — Just like energy, our industry has reduced water usage by more than 40% through the use of water reclamation systems and better chemical formulations, soil sorting (to control the amount of rewash) and textiles.

Water reclamation systems reuse some of the last flushes of a formula as the first flush of the next load. Chemical formulation is a key to water efficiency. We put our chemical suppliers in the delicate position of keeping costs down while keeping our textiles clean. Many times, this balance is off, and some plants have a tendency to “over wash” certain textiles. Additionally, some textiles simply clean better, due to raw-material quality, fiber content, weave, topical soil release, etc.

Managers can discuss these issues with their textile and chemical suppliers, in order to choose the right product for the job. Just like energy efficiency, water conservation and efficiency should first be measured against the known industry standards, and managers should engage with their related suppliers to improve both formulation and textiles.

Technology — In all areas of conservation, support technology has improved drastically over the past 20 years. Retrofitting machinery to allow constant monitoring of efficiencies is now available, and the return on investment is sensible in most cases. Additionally, the industry has developed a number of major software packages that can assist managers in monitoring and managing their plant efficiencies.

Maintenance — Aside from education on standards and available efficiencies, the maintenance of equipment and support technology is more important now than ever before.

Plant maintenance managers of yesteryear were measured on downtime of equipment related to production flow. While this will remain the platform for production flow efficiency, maintenance of the future will center more around equipment efficiencies, simply because they can now be monitored constantly.

For instance, in the past, if a drainpipe were open and leaking profusely, it might not be caught and your maintenance department might not focus on it because the equipment was running. In the future, the equipment must not only run, it must run efficiently, because a rightly upgraded and retrofitted wash machine will be able to “broadcast” the presence of an open/leaking drain to plant management.

Textiles — Great plant managers take a more active role in monitoring textile placement as it relates to efficiency, not only in wear-life (life-cycle) costing but also in choosing the right textile for the job.

A simple example of this is allowing a diesel engine mechanic to wear a lightly colored shirt. This textile choice leads to heavy-soil formulation and rewash. Enough of this textile misuse and plant efficiency is impacted.

Other plants overbuy cotton toweling, putting premium textiles into accounts that simply don’t return them. Because these products are typically heavier in content, the plant washes fewer of them per load, thereby lowering both energy and water efficiencies. In some cases, it’s better to put a standard-quality product into an account that needs just that.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — When striving toward a properly equipped hotel laundry facility, owners and operators have a number of factors to consider, including the right equipment mix, new technologies, types of machines and unique industry challenges.

The proper selection of commercial laundry equipment can have a significant impact on several key operational factors—namely time, money and utilities.

Hard-Mount vs. Soft-Mount Washer-Extractors

There are generally two types of washer-extractors: hard- or rigid-mount and soft-mount. Hard-mount machines cost less, but the installation can be expensive. Soft-mount machines may cost more initially, but are easier to install.

Soft-mount washer-extractors generally don’t need concrete supports, and the suspension system eliminates the need for machine bolt-down. Therefore, upgrading to high-speed washer-extractors can be accomplished without having to replace the existing floor, saving a day or two during the installation process.

Additionally, soft-mount washers can extract much more water than hard-mount washers. Certain soft-mount washer-extractors feature high-speed extraction of up to 350 G’s (G-force) to help cut energy usage and drying time.

An Additional Challenge

Unlike a long-term-care facility or athletic club, the linens and towels make up much of the hotel guest’s experience. If a hotel has scratchy, dirty or uncomfortable bed linens or towels, odds are the guest won’t be a repeat customer. For hotels, every time a guest checks in, the linens need to be in top shape to help ensure repeat customers.

Manufacturers realize this and are doing their part to develop chemical injection systems that take the guesswork out of laundry. By working closely with a local chemical supplier, hotel owners and operators can determine the appropriate type and amount of detergent needed to clean the laundry and meet resident or guest expectations. Incorporating a chemical injection system into the machine will help dispense the precise amount of detergent needed, which ensures the correct amount of chemicals are added to the water and helps guarantee clean laundry.

Check-Out Time

Maximizing the effectiveness of hotel laundry operations requires a good distributor partner, the proper mix and types of equipment and a solid understanding of industry challenges. An efficient laundry room can save a hotel money, time and utilities, positively affecting its bottom line.

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