Content about North Carolina

MINNEAPOLIS — AmeriPride Services, which supplies linen and uniform rental services in North America, recently acquired PLUS Linen and Uniform Services, headquartered in Canton, N.C. The Canton production facility and its service centers in Charlotte and Greenville will now operate as a wholly owned and fully functional AmeriPride branch.

“PLUS is a great fit for our company,” says AmeriPride President/CEO Bill Evans. “This acquisition expands our geographic territory in the area and supports our efforts to grow profitably. Our work over the past few years has established a solid foundation for growth, and that includes strategic acquisitions in our key markets.”

AmeriPride does not plan to make any major changes to PLUS in the foreseeable future and is keeping the branch open at full capacity under the “PLUS” name. Most employees and management have agreed to stay on board, including Kevin Lowery, who becomes the branch’s general manager.

“We will continue to operate the branch ‘business as usual’ aside from a few necessary systems changes,” explains John Sutherland, senior vice president of U.S. Operations at AmeriPride. “Overall, we feel this business combination is a big win for our two companies, employees and customers.”

PLUS is a fourth-generation family business that was founded in the 1920s by M.C. Sprinkle and owned and operated by the family for more than 90 years. The family considered several potential buyers before selecting AmeriPride.

“The similarities between our two companies and the personal connections we made with their management team sealed the deal for us,” says Lowery. “Going through the purchasing process with AmeriPride was a great experience, and I’ve gotten to know and trust the people I will be working with. I’m looking forward to taking this company to the next level under the new ownership.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Swisher Hygiene reports that it has acquired certain assets of two more linen services companies: Green on Whites Inc. in South Florida and CMI LV Inc., also known as Cactus Mats, in Nevada.

Green on Whites provides linen and facilities rental services to foodservice and hospitality customers in the greater Miami market.

“Our South Florida operations have expanded considerably in the last year through acquisitions and especially organic growth, which has led us to be at near capacity at our current facility in the region,” says Steven R. Berrard, Swisher Hygiene CEO. “Through this acquisition, we have secured a larger platform which will enable us to further grow our linen services presence in South Florida.”

Swisher Hygiene paid approximately $371,000 in cash, assumed certain liabilities, and issued a promissory note equivalent to as many as 77,495 shares of common stock for Green on Whites.

Cactus Mats provides linen and facilities rental services, including the rental of floor mats, towels and mops, primarily to foodservice and retail customers in the greater Las Vegas market.

“We continue to build our full-service coverage and strong presence in the Southwestern U.S. through today’s acquisition, which will expand our linen service coverage in the major metropolitan region of Las Vegas, as well as enabling us to additionally cover the greater Phoenix market going forward,” Berrard said at the time of the Cactus Mats acquisition.

Swisher Hygiene paid an undisclosed amount of cash and issued a promissory note equivalent to as many as 71,429 shares of common stock for Cactus Mats.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Laundry parts and equipment supplier Talley Machinery Corp. has acquired laundry equipment manufacturer Norman Control, Cary, Ill. Talley will manufacture the line of Norman Control equipment, parts and accessories at Talley’s state-of-the-art Greensboro facility, the company reports.

Hydraulic lift tables, lighted inspection tables and pneumatic cart dumpers are among the laundry machines to be featured, while the associated replacement parts and accessories are stocked and ready for quick delivery.

Recognized for its expertise in machining high-quality replacement parts for varied laundry equipment and in remanufacturing flatwork ironers, Talley has gradually expanded its range of products and services since joining the Tingue family of companies to include extractor press membranes, ironer drive conversions and several other machinery upgrades.

“The Norman Control laundry machines have been well known for their quality workmanship and dependable operation for a long, long time,” says Randy Vansparrentak, Talley Machinery vice president. “Yet it’s their safety and ergonomic benefits that are drawing increasing interest from the laundry industry and that’s what most attracted us to the acquisition.”

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.

DENVER, N.C. — Bringing new products to market is never easy. It’s an undertaking that typically requires a tremendous amount of resources and capital. But what about reviving a once-popular piece of machinery that was no longer being produced?

This was the task for manufacturer Leonard Automatics, a company best known for producing steam tunnels that saw an opportunity to revive production of the Challenge Stack-N-Store multi-lane draping stacker.

The machine was once highly successful, is still widely used, and is known for being reliable, durable and cost-effective, Leonard says.

But the company also knew that in times of a slowly recovering economy and obvious uncertainty in world markets, any capital expenditures require careful consideration.

What’s more, Leonard had never ventured into the flatwork side of the laundry before.

“The decision was really pretty easy once we did the research behind the product,” says President Jeff Frushtick. “We are not going to sit back and worry about tomorrow; we are going to evaluate our opportunities just like we always have, and if it makes sense, we will commit the resources to make it happen.”

Daunting Task

Leonard acquired the product assets in March. The goal was to put the initial project into production as quickly as possible, with the Clean Show to be the unveiling platform.

Leonard’s personnel had the daunting task of going through thousands of files, including engineering drawings, technical data and miscellaneous information.

Through the staff’s diligence and experience and the company’s entrepreneurial spirit, a fully operational Stack-N-Store was on the floor ready for display when the Clean Show opened.

The stacker accepts napkins, bib aprons, towels and other small pieces up to 22 inches wide right from an ironer and automatically stacks and counts them. Each lane stores up to five stacks of up to 250 pieces for a total capacity of 1,250 pieces.

Its automated efficiency means that one operator can easily handle 5,000 small pieces per hour and still have time for other duties, Leonard says.

The machine was a big hit with many attendees, the company says, and Frushtick says it will help Leonard to grow into other segments of the laundry industry.

Not only is the company filling a void left by the departure of Challenge, it is now able to assist laundry operators with technical support, parts, and new-project sales.

“Thankfully, the opportunity that was recognized at the beginning of the year and the amount of capital and energy expended has already proven to pay off,” he says.

Purchases were made on the show floor, and there has been additional sales and interest in the months since, says Dan Farnsworth, vice president of sales and marketing.

Not only has Leonard revived a missing piece of equipment, it has established the parts stream, technical support service, and a rebuild program for the many laundry companies that invested in the Stack-N-Store over the years.

“Instead of staying the course, this is the best time in years to be reaching out and investigating how to make all of our companies function better, more efficient, use less energy, and improve quality,” Frushtick says. “Sometimes you have to spend a little to gain a lot.

“Leonard Automatics decided this was a great time to invest in our company, in a new line of equipment, to firmly position ourselves for growth and the future.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With today’s announcement that it has acquired South Florida-based Q Linen Service, Swisher Hygiene Inc., a provider of hygiene and sanitation products and services, has acquired three laundry service companies in three separate deals in the past two weeks.

Q Linen Service serves the Miami market and provides facilities services such as the delivery of linen, bar towels and aprons to the foodservice and hospitality industries. Giuseppe Calderone, one of the owners of Q Linen, has joined Swisher Hygiene.

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — Gurtler Industries has acquired AuroraChem East, the textile care division of CHT R. Beitlich Corp., Gurtler announced. Terms were not disclosed.

AuroraChem East is a manufacturer and supplier of specialty laundry chemicals and services based in Charlotte, N.C. Its entire staff, sales, service and management team is joining Gurtler.

This acquisition follows Gurtler’s acquisition of its sister company, AuroraChem West, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July.

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.

JOHNSTON, S.C. — Mount Vernon Mills Inc. has entered into a contract to purchase the assets of the Burlington, N.C., facility of Burlington Chemical Co. LLC. The new location will become a part of Mount Vernon Chemicals LLC, which has operations in North Carolina, Alabama, and South Carolina.

“In your experience, what are or have been the most stubborn stains to remove? What tips can you offer those of us who must contend with these most difficult substances that find their way onto and into our textiles?”

Textiles: Elizabeth Easter, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

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LINCOLN, N.C. — The Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) has named Leonard Automatics Inc. Lincoln County, N.C.’s 2008 Industry of the Year. This award promotes and highlights the contributions and exemplary corporate citizenship of existing industry in Lincoln County, LEDA says.