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January 2, 2013
In Memoriam: William K. “Bill” Steiner, 82, Steiner-Atlantic and Dryclean USA

AVENTURA, Fla. — Holds several patents for environmentally safe dry cleaning equipment and processes

AVENTURA, Fla. — William Kalman “Bill” Steiner, founder of Steiner-Atlantic Corp. and Dryclean USA, died Dec. 27 after a three-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.

The Chicago-born Steiner worked hard his entire life, beginning as a newsboy at age 9. He held part-time jobs throughout high school and worked his way through Baltimore Business College to earn his accounting degree.

While working as an accountant, a client asked Steiner to help him book rock ’n’ roll shows around Baltimore. Show business soon enthralled him, and he booked prominent 1950s stars such as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the Kingston Trio at concerts around the country. But he eventually tired of the constant travel and moved in 1959 to Miami, where he met his future wife, Sheila. They married in 1961.

It was in Miami that Steiner began a new career in the dry cleaning business. He founded Steiner-Atlantic Corp., a distributor of commercial laundry and dry cleaning equipment, boilers, parts and service, in 1959. Michael Steiner took over the reins of that company in 1987.

After building and selling several of his own dry cleaning plants, Bill Steiner co-founded Dryclean USA, a dry cleaning business franchisor, in 1977. That business also continues through this day under Michael’s leadership.

Bill Steiner constantly sought to improve dry cleaning machinery in order to make the industry more environmentally friendly, and he is the holder of several patents for environmentally safe dry cleaning equipment and processes.

Bill and Sheila Steiner have been members of Beth Torah Congregation in Aventura for many years. They provided the educational center there in memory of son Jim, who died in a 1989 auto accident at age 21. But they were also generous in their community. In honor of their long-time support, the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation renamed a part of the hospital the Bill and Sheila Steiner Family North Lobby.

Surviving Steiner are his wife, Sheila; four sons, Robert, Richard, Michael and David; a brother, Tom; and four grandchildren.

Donations in Steiner’s memory may be made to the Beth Torah Congregation, Jackson Memorial Hospital, or the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.  

June 26, 2012
In Memoriam: Jørn Munch Jensen, Founder of JENSEN-GROUP

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Laid foundation for international company built on sustainable laundry automation

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Jørn Munch Jensen, founder of JENSEN-GROUP, died June 21 on the Danish island of Bornholm. He was 80.

He laid the foundation for the international company built on sustainable laundry automation. It supplies equipment and solutions for all sections of industrial laundries.

Jensen was born June 10, 1932, in Rønne on the island of Bornholm. He spent a happy childhood with sister Ella in a family of hard workers; his father ran his own company where dairy equipment was repaired. After training as a machinist and obtaining a business degree, Jensen decided to pursue his dream of living an international life.

Probably the most formative event of his life was his friendship with Bent Kjellberg, who introduced him to a folding machine. In 1959, Jensen decided to build his own folding machine for heavy-duty laundries with his father, Ejnar Jensen. He began marketing the product worldwide a year later.

JENSEN-GROUP added a feeder to the product range in 1973. It developed its own ironer in the 1980s and started supplying complete flatwork finishing systems. Acquisition of Metricon Conveyor Systems in the 1990s added garment technology.

In 1998, Jesper Munch Jensen, Jørn’s son, instigated an expansion program that led to the acquisition of Senking GmbH, Futurail and L-Tron, making JENSEN-GROUP the first total laundry automation supplier.

Jørn Munch Jensen and his wife, Lise, were married in 1954. They have three children and seven grandchildren. The family takes comfort that just 11 days before his death, Jørn celebrated his 80th birthday with his family and friends.

February 20, 2012
Softrol Systems Celebrates 25th Anniversary in 2012

ACWORTH, Ga. — 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of Softrol Systems, a multi-disciplinary design, manufacturing and software development company that provides solutions to the textile rental and manufacturing industries.

Chad and Brent Keith founded the company in 1987 and used their experience providing solutions for chemical, water and wastewater issues encountered by wet process clients to develop leading-edge process control technology. Softrol now provides total plant solutions in chemical systems, automation systems, management systems and rail systems, the company says.

Over the years, the company has grown by providing solutions that increase its customers’ bottom line, says CEO Chad Keith. Complete washroom automation and real-time production information are just two examples of technology advancements that have become mainstream throughout the industry.

“We see greater adoption rates for systems that we have been developing and deploying to advance the collection of data, the integration of it into actionable information, and now, finally, into real-time business intelligence for better plant management,” he says.

For any plant, Softrol can provide an “Automated Production Management System” that includes labor management, production reporting, equipment information and business intelligence, the company says. “It all comes down to total plant management,” says Keith. “We are one of a few companies in the industry that can manage your products and information from the soil dock to the shipping dock.”

And Softrol is primed to maintain its strong position with new technological advancements and RFID solutions, according to Keith.

“As we prepare for sustained success in the future, we will continue to serve the changing demands of our customers and will also expand our industry solutions to foreign markets,” he says. “It’s this strategic planning and futuristic attentiveness that has kept and will keep Softrol as a forerunner in the industry.”

Softrol plans to host multiple events throughout the year to celebrate its quarter-century stint. “To commemorate our 25-year anniversary, we plan to remind the industry of the full range of laundry processing solutions we have developed since 1987, and to continue to develop industry-leading solutions to take us forward for the next 25 years,” Keith says.

To learn more about Softrol and its product lines, visit www.softrol.com/ALN.

November 29, 2011
In Memoriam: Gerald ‘Jerry’ Lieberman, Founder, B&G Lieberman

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald “Jerry” Lieberman, founder of B&G Lieberman, died Thursday at his home while surrounded by his family. He was 86.

Lieberman was born Dec. 2, 1924, in Munich, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1939, was drafted in 1942, and was given his citizenship. He volunteered to the MISB(A), the Soldiers of the 7th Military Information Battalion, and was trained as an interrogator of German soldiers captured during World War II.

In 1949, he started his B&G Lieberman Co., which today is a distributor of sewing equipment and supplies to dry cleaners and tailors. He was a community and environmental activist, serving in various capacities for many organizations during his lifetime.

A memorial service celebrating his life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlotte, with military honors to follow.

Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204.

November 10, 2011
In Memoriam: Sid Millman, Founder of H-M Commercial Laundry Equipment

CINCINNATI — Sid Millman, founder of H-M Commercial Laundry Equipment, died Oct. 17. He was 81.

Millman, who was raised by his immigrant mother and grandparents, was driven by his humble beginnings. He started selling newspapers at age 5.

In 1957, he purchased a small residential appliance repair shop in downtown Cincinnati, brought in a partner, and created H-M Company, a commercial laundry equipment distributorship now run by his two sons, Mike and Steve.

“H-M Company exists today because of my father’s founding principles and his unyielding belief in honesty and customer service,” says Steve Millman.

“My dad was always a giver, someone who was more focused on other people than himself,” says Mike Millman.

A pioneer in the laundry industry, Sid Millman established H-M Company as General Electric’s first commercial distributor and engineered H-M’s widely used drain troughs.

He was an Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War. Shortly after returning home from the service, he met Bernice Markell. They married in 1956.

Millman is survived by his wife, his sons, and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati or CurePSP.

August 4, 2011
In Memoriam: Leonard Frushtick, Leonard Automatics

DENVER, N.C. — Leonard Frushtick, founder of Leonard Automatics, died Monday at age 80, the company reports.

Frushtick started his career selling buttons to the garment manufacturing industry, and later expanded the business to include a variety of machinery.

In 1969, he moved his family to North Carolina to be closer to the garment industry and founded Leonard Automatics. As garment manufacturing began to decline in the mid-’80s, Frushtick migrated to the laundry industry. His creativity gave him the ability to develop new technologies involved with garment finishing, and has lent itself to promoting an atmosphere of creativity and innovation at Leonard Automatics that exists to this day, the company says.

Frushtick became a prolific painter after his retirement, and he and his wife, Phyllis, traveled extensively, providing a wealth of experiences for him to express on canvas.

A private memorial service for Frushtick is scheduled for Friday in Bluffton, S.C. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice Care of the Low Country, 119 Palmetto Way, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Phyllis; daughters, Sue Jones and Geri Bland; son, Jeffrey Frushtick; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

May 24, 2010
In Memoriam: John F. Dobrez Jr., Founder of Dober Chemical Corp.

FLOSSMOOR, Ill. — John F. Dobrez Jr., 81, founder and former president of Illinois-based Dober Chemical Corp., died Tuesday at his home.

February 24, 2010
In Memoriam: Nathan Belkin, Founder of ARTA

LARGO, Fla. — Nathan L. Belkin, Ph.D., founder of the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA), died here Monday at the age of 83, the association reports.

Born in St. Louis, Belkin worked in the textile services industry for 40 years, serving companies such as Angelica and Fashion Seal. He founded ARTA in 1982 in response to legislation that, if passed, would have given a substantial advantage to disposable products over reusable textiles, ARTA says.