Content about manufacturing

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — Sustainability will be the dominant theme of Texcare International — World Market for Modern Textile Care when it returns here in two weeks.

Show organizer Messe Frankfurt says all international market leaders—including the Alliance International brands, Barbanti, Beirholms Vaeverier, Ecolab, Girbau, Heprotex, Jensen, Kannegiesser, Kreussler, LG Electronics, Lavatec Laundry Technology, Macpi, Miele, Multimatic, Pellerin Milnor, Renzacci and Veit—have registered to exhibit during the May 5-9 show.

Altogether, Messe Frankfurt expects to welcome around 250 exhibitors and 15,000 trade visitors. As in previous shows (the event is staged every four years), the proportion of manufacturers from outside Germany will exceed 60%; the most important exhibitor nations besides Germany are Italy and the United States, Messe Frankfurt says.

“Texcare International is the leading meeting place for the sector,” says Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt. “Only in Frankfurt do the top companies from all around the world launch so many new products. Only here is it possible to make so many business contacts. And only at the world’s leading trade fair for the sector can visitors gather so much detailed information.”

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SUCCESS

One of the main objectives of industrial textile care is sustainable economic development because business success depends greatly on efficient machinery and plant coupled with effective processes and durable textiles.

As an information platform, Texcare International plays a key role by offering a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in the mechanical engineering sector, as well as in the fields of detergents and textiles, Messe Frankfurt says.

Plant and control systems that provide energy at the right time and in the right quantity are the key to the future. Thus, steam-on-demand is the starting point for highly efficient, low-loss heating processes. But other developments in the field of consumption-dependent control technologies are also expected at Texcare.

Recycling is another key issue and includes highly efficient recovery systems for the optimum use of heat energy, as well as the best possible circulation system and practical, economical process-water treatment processes. Additionally, existing technologies, such as solar energy and bioenergy, are generating new impulses in the world of industrial textile care.

IT’S IN THE WASH

Sustainability is also of great importance to manufacturers of detergents and washing additives. With the development of effective low-temperature processes, the chemical industry is making a significant contribution to the reduction of energy consumption.

New, customized concentrations of active agents improve washing results while cutting the need for post-treatment or rewashing. Other important issues at Texcare will include ecologically harmless “green” detergents, washing and impregnating agents. Discussion will be offered on a variety of topics, including nonhalogen solvents that are not marked as hazardous, as well as alternatives to hydrophobizing agents.

Moreover, increased attention is being given to the ecological balance of a product and the sector will pay increased attention to systems such as carbon footprint, cradle-to-cradle and life-cycle assessment.

MODERN COLORS, DESIGNS

Instead of the monotone royal blue and standard twill fabric of the traditional boiler suit, modern colors and designs, as well as multi-faceted materials and surfaces, now characterize the image of trade and industry. Elegance and style have conquered large sections of the workwear sector. Even protective clothing is oriented more than ever before to fashion.

Exhibitors from the textile and apparel industry, as well as the accessories and finishing sectors, will present the latest trends for a modern, functional and professional appearance. Concepts for corporate fashions will also play an important role.

Designs and colors are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fabric manufacturers are taking up decorative elements from the 1970s, using striped patterns in herringbone and satin weaves, creating new Panama looks, reinventing the cavalry style and interpreting denim for workwear applications.

In addition to vintage-look hues, the current color spectrums are supplemented by fashionable natural and earth shades. Other highlights are classics from the world of suits and costumes, such as black, graphite, anthracite and night blue, which are now playing a leading role on the workwear stage.

Streetwear trends mainly influence the collections. The outfits are more robust in appearance, the pockets bigger, the cut more casual although practical, the material combinations and color mix less conventional, and the details more stylish.

INTEGRATING PROTECTION, COMFORT

In the past, the focus was on providing comprehensive protection against as many possible dangers at work as possible. Now, aspects such as moisture management, breathability, climate comfort and freedom of movement are growing in importance.

The latest developments in the fiber, yarn and textile industry diminish the symptoms of physical stress by minimizing the effects caused by perspiration and an increased core-body temperature. Special mixtures make it possible to produce fabrics for modern protective clothing that combines quality protection with a comfortable wearing climate. Additionally, the industry is working on further improvements to the elasticity of protective and professional clothing.

TEXCARE FORUM

Apart from the activities surrounding what is sure to be a busy exhibition floor, the international Texcare Forum will give the sector an opportunity to find out about the latest developments in the fields of science and research, as well as to exchange ideas and opinions with colleagues from home and abroad.

The Association of the Textile Service Industry (Industrieverband Textil Service – intex) and the German Dry Cleaning Association (Deutscher Textilreinigungsverband – DTV), in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt, will treat attendees to a free educational program for two hours each afternoon.

For the first time, each day of the Forum is individually themed. The conference will be of particular interest to dry cleaners and laundries on May 5-6 and to textile service companies and laundries on May 7-8. Here are some of the topics (tentative):

• May 5, Future Day — Professional textile care in 2012; E-DryClean: online instruction for European dry cleaners; experiential marketing of dry cleaning; how textile service providers can face the challenges of the future.
• May 6, Innovation Day — Teamwork between research and practice; recycling of personal protective equipment from the standards and certification perspective; innovative control options for laundry and finishing processes using test fabrics; antimicrobial textiles from laboratory to practical usage.
• May 7, Sustainable Day — Holistic view of sustainability; ISO 26000 standard; energy efficiency; efficiency management in commercial laundries; water and energy savings for laundries.
• May 8, Market Day — Regulatory and market trends for European textile services; the U.S. textile services market; HORECA (hotel/restaurant/café) market and the potential for textile services; professional textile services and the market demand in 2030; workwear developments.

WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION

Texcare will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5-8 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9. Admission tickets can be purchased quickly and easily online at Texcare.com. Cost in advance is 15 euros (roughly $20) for a one-day ticket, 35 euros (roughly $46) for the entire show. If purchasing at the box office, cost will be 22 euros (roughly $30) for a one-day ticket, 48 euros (roughly $63) for the entire show.

For additional show information and updates, visit Texcare.com.

American Laundry News will be attending the show — Watch for updates beginning May 7!

ROANOKE, Va. — Providing an OR towel that has little lint or is lint-free is a universal challenge for all laundry facilities that supply reusable OR towels to a healthcare facility. You can take some key steps to ensure that the product coming out of processing has a minimum amount of lint.

The first is to make sure that you purchase a high-quality reusable OR towel. The quality of the weave and the fiber used in product construction has a direct bearing on the amount of lint that will be generated in processing. As a general rule, the lower the cost of the OR towel, the greater the amount of lint.

Recently, several linen companies have experienced problems with previously reliable sources, as poor-quality cotton has made its way into the production pipeline. Carefully research your options and insist on test-washing any OR towels before committing your business to a particular vendor. This is one item for which you are better off committing all your business to one vendor based on its ability to consistently provide a high-quality product.

Constant vigilance for potential product problems has become a necessary part of laundry management. Product consistency will make, not break, your reputation with your customers.

Next, make sure that reusable OR towels are processed separately from disposable (single-use) towels. Most disposable OR towels are blue in color and of a lower quality than reusable OR towels. In addition, disposable OR towels are sterilized by irradiation, which has a detrimental effect on the cotton fiber.

Because of these two factors, the amount of lint generated by disposable OR towels when washed in the laundry will be much higher than that generated by reusable OR towels. It is therefore recommended that, during the soil-sort process, these towels be sorted into a separate batch. Disposable OR towels can easily be sold to a number of industries once they are properly cleaned.

You must take care during soil sorting to ensure that no foreign objects are placed in the load with the reusable OR towels. It is normal to find pieces of gauze in the bags containing reusable OR towels. These pieces will disintegrate into white pieces of lint during processing. Removing these foreign bodies will eliminate the problem.

I recommend sorting the OR towels twice to make sure that all foreign items are removed. During the initial high-speed sort, some items normally get past the sorters who are trying hard to make production numbers. Sending the OR towels past them a second time will help them catch what they missed the first time around.

I recommend adding one or two green poly-cotton sheets to each wash load of green OR towels. Ray Pierson, one of my supervisors who used to work for National Linen, made this recommendation based on his experience there. I had my doubts at first, but decided to give it a try.

We always fully dry our OR towels before inspecting them by hand and folding them. The process of ironing a damp OR towel will cause fibers to stretch and create thermal shock, which will result in additional linting next time. We have found that the green sheets act like lint magnets when washed and dried with a load of OR towels, greatly reducing if not eliminating the lint.

We inspect each OR towel to ensure the quality of the products that are delivered to our customers. This process greatly reduces inventory management issues. If the OR towels are not inspected, then facilities will order more than they really need. Through inspection, the orders accurately reflect what they really need. Having the responsibility for inspecting OR towels done by the surgical pack room simplifies the allocation between OR packs and loose towels.

The reusable surgical linen business requires a higher quality standard than general hospital linen but, if priced appropriately, can be a great addition to your volume and your bottom line.

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.

An AmericanLaundryNews.com exclusive.

CHICAGO — True marketing and selling is getting personal with your customers and buyers. You need to be able to capture the needs of your associates and develop profiles that will drive the success of your marketing endeavors.

Such a requirement goes well beyond demographics, those statistics being used as you gather data from forms, blanket surveys and conference contacts. They are unreliable at best.

You won’t achieve your contact goals by asking questions like, “What do you really purchase and from whom?” and “What interests you?” Most responses will be notoriously incorrect or even untrue.

Most organizations need to ask common-sense questions to uncover the customer’s role, i.e. business issues, buying habits, types of purchasing formats utilized, etc. Such information, if gathered correctly, should create a highly customized profile that could positively impact selling and purchasing.

Purchasing is a measured, deliberate process. The selling of products is a journey, not a sprint to the finish line. Organizations, particularly those in the healthcare arena, must be transparent with customers and sales groups. Profile customers and develop this information so that it can be tailored to provide an understanding of a product’s influence and true purpose.

Take small steps in developing targeted projects, obtain customer feedback, and relay this information to the manufacturing and distribution arm. Then, and only then, will you be able to sell a product at the right time and the right price. These assessments and tasks are essential and critical. Otherwise, your group will become bogged down in creating something that is not beneficial to your organization—think spinning wheel that never stops.

Many groups fail to automate the marketing and sales portion of their business. Automating and customizing programs that depict customer preferences—what they want, what they purchase, and why—is equally essential. If you develop reliable content that is geared toward the tasks and true objectives, then sales and revenue should follow.

Any advertising must incorporate customer and organizational profile information so that readers can judge if the item is worth their time to consider. If not done, then you’re publishing information that might as well be an insert in the Sunday newspaper—seldom read and never understood.

Those responsible must push for integration of both marketing and sales automation, which will hopefully avoid creating stovepipe situations from which recovery is difficult. Creation of a content strategy that conserves cost and increases intensity to purchase should be the goal for any marketing endeavor.

Marketing efforts must address business goals, automation of web goals, strategic goals, measurement of success/failure, as well as what actions you desire customers to take and what actions you will take once you develop such information—a game plan. Gather the troops to decide when your customers are most engaged and uncover your most influential and active advocates outside of your organization.

Never put your customers “on hold.” If you do, you will eventually have no customers. Give the customer what they want, not what you think they may want.

Seldom are sales achieved at conferences. These events should be where you develop personal relationships with existing and potential customers. No matter if you are a customer, buyer or working in sales, always take notes at these conferences. Establish targets for products if you are in purchasing, targets for personal relationships if in sales.

ALBANY, Ga. — Equinox Chemicals has announced that it has acquired Adco Cleaning Products, based in Sedalia, Mo. Terms of the acquisition were not announced.

Equinox will move Adco’s manufacturing operations to its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Albany, according to Yalda Harris, Equinox’s executive vice president for Global Product Management.

Dr. Jim Schreiner, Adco’s chief product technology officer, will also be relocating, she says.

Customer-service and order-taking staff will remain in Sedalia, and there will be no changes to the way customers or distributors order from Adco, Harris adds. The national sales team will remain the same.

Equinox is a specialty chemical manufacturer with specialty research, innovation, product development and commercialization capabilities that reach markets spanning the globe, the company says.

Adco manufactures a comprehensive line of specialty cleaning chemicals and detergents used in dry cleaning, commercial laundry, and janitorial and institutional cleaning applications. It offers more than 300 proprietary products through the Adco and Laidlaw brands.

“This latest acquisition will continue our aggressive strategy to revolutionize and revitalize the laundry, dry cleaning and cleaning chemical industry,” says Mark Grimaldi, CEO of Equinox Chemicals.

Mentor Partners had owned Adco since 2007.

Textiles: Tom Langdon, Encompass Group

I am vice president of sourcing and purchasing for Encompass Group. I have spent the past 30 years in a variety of roles and responsibilities in the textile industry.

For the last 20-plus, I have traveled the globe, extensively developing and sourcing all types of textile products. My product experience spans from retail home fashions, to protective and military apparel, and into the medical textile products area. I am experienced in woven, non-woven, and knit manufacturing techniques along with all aspects of printing, dyeing and finishing.

My educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree from the Stetson School of Business at Mercer University, along with various continuing education certificates in customs, compliance, CTPAT, supply chain management, and ISO 9000 registration. I sit on the Techtextil North America 2012 Symposium Advisory Council and chair the Medical Educational Section. I see my role on the panel as giving readers the layman’s perspective on each monthly topic and how obtaining the actual textile items is affected.

Two of our biggest challenges in 2011 were the unprecedented run-up in raw-material costs and mitigating the impact to our customers. We also were faced with some historic geopolitical changes in the world, of which the unrest in Egypt created some specific obstacles to our industry.

I was already scheduled to visit Egypt at the end of January 2011, the week before the Mubarak regime fell. I remember spending the first half of the Super Bowl on the phone with my travel agent rearranging my itinerary to cancel the Egypt portion of my trip. Later, I found out that the head of the largest government-owned textile mill in Egypt was removed from his post and arrested.

Probably our greatest accomplishment realized was in educating our customers and others in the industry on market conditions. This entailed explaining how contributing factors such as the price of cotton, energy, and currency exchange rates affect the price, quality, and availability of laundry textile products.

Encompass benefited from an intercompany market update I published monthly, which helped our sales force reach out to all of our customers as well. The price of cotton became such a hot topic at one point that it even made it on to NBC’s The Today Show.

Let’s all hope we have a much calmer and more stable 2012. I look forward to participating on this panel and appreciate being selected.

Linen Supply: Stephen Marcq, General Linen Service

I’m the director of business development for General Linen, with corporate offices and the processing plant located in Somersworth N.H. I’ve been with the company for approximately 22 years, starting as a production manager. I worked as a production and depot manager for several other companies before returning in 1992.

While most of my time with General has been on the service side of the business, I’ve done everything from load diapers (remember those?) to running the service department and then the sales department, which has given me a well-rounded background that has served me well.

Today, I work extensively with the sales and service teams to manage, retain and expand our business presence with large corporate accounts, and especially with a variety of multi-site operations, both healthcare and hospitality. Setting up various customized programs designed to appeal to the particular needs of off-site management or ownership is an accomplishment I am particularly proud of.

We have 3,800 customers in four states, serviced from our main plant and two additional service centers in New Hampshire and Maine. Our plant mix consists mostly of hospitality and healthcare business, with lesser amounts of industrial and dust control.

With both of those areas affected by the economic downturn over the last few years, and healthcare especially hit hard in the last 6-12 months, a major challenge right now is in maintaining margins and sales increases while retaining customers in an increasingly competitive, cost-conscious environment.

We have implemented route optimization software to reduce distribution and delivery expense, installed a stack economizer to reclaim waste heat, increased our sales team, set up a key/multi-site customer and corporate visit program, and have many other projects in progress or in the works.

Our mixed-plant status can be, at times, both an asset and a liability. When one segment is down, we have historically grown in another and been able to protect jobs and revenue. But gaining maximum production and delivery efficiencies can be harder for a mixed plant as well, something that we are doing our best to address.

I am honored to have been selected to serve on the panel, and I am looking forward to contributing during 2012.

Hotel/Motel/Resort Laundry: JR Norris, Delta Linen

I’m the operations manager for Delta Uniform and Linen, the largest family-owned and operated commercial laundry in Albuquerque. I am honored to have been chosen for this panel.

The Randall family established Delta Linen in 1948 as a small drycleaning business. The decision was made to take the business into industrial linen rental, and Delta Linen has since flourished. It now services more than 300 restaurants, casinos and fine hotels, and is growing daily. Delivering clean and wrinkle-free linen and hospitality wear with 24-hour-a-day customer service has contributing greatly to our success.

I worked as a general manager in the restaurant business for almost 20 years, sitting on the other side of the table in dealings with linen companies. This experience has helped me greatly with my transition from restaurants to linen service and having the ability to under a restaurant’s needs. It encourages me daily that Delta Linen has had the same beliefs and integrity for more than 60 years!

I have faced several challenges after diving headfirst into the linen business, but that’s been the fun part. The biggest has been working with and understanding the quality and maintenance aspects of hotel linens.

I have seen sub-par cotton quality coming from many manufacturers over the past 18 months. We have had to change several processes, including how we order and wash, to ensure the longevity of the textiles. Because of this, production has almost been more challenging than the cleaning of the products themselves.

We were blessed with continued growth this past year despite the hard economic times the country faced. We have taken on several new, large accounts, along with a new contract with a resort. And we recently renewed our contract with the largest casino in New Mexico.

We continue to strive for the best every day, with the mind-set and commitment that our service is our contract and it is as good, if not better, than a golden handshake. I intend to see that Delta Linen maintains this philosophy for many years to come.

Tomorrow: Introductions to representatives from the equipment manufacturing and chemical suppy sectors, plus a member at large...
Click here for Part 1.
Click here for Part 2.

CHICAGO — Taking inventory is often cause for headaches at any laundry facility, and a recent webinar on linen inventorying addressed how to make the process work for each individual system.

Barbara Williams has more than 30 years of experience in the textile industry. As a consultant with Standard Textile Co., she frequently speaks about linen process improvements, linen management, and cost-reduction programs for healthcare operations.

During the webinar sponsored by the Association for Linen Management, Williams stressed the many rewards of taking a regular inventory and touched on a few challenges a laundry facility faces during the process.

Among the rewards, Williams says, are balancing supply with demand and assuring that an adequate supply is circulating. Too few linens causes shortages, which can lead to hoarding and a lack of confidence in the system. “Too much inventory can cause misuse and over-utilization of products,” she says.

An inventory also can help a laundry, whether it be on the premises or off site, determine effective allocation of linens, as well as replacement rates.

Determining those rates can lead to a planned purchasing program, thus helping to eliminate panic buying and rush orders. Administrative reporting is another advantage, she says, and allows a facility to have information on hand in the case of an insurance claim after a flood or fire. Budgeting is high priority during these economic times, and taking an accurate inventory can help determine future needs.

Other inventorying goals are ascertaining a facility’s loss rates, determining if a facility has a high rate of “mysterious disappearances” of linens, recirculating so-called “dead” inventory, and identifying locations that may be hoarding linens. As a result, facilities have the opportunity to implement security programs to reduce loss and are able to put some quantities of inventory back into circulation or reallocate supplies.

“As many of you know,” Williams says, “you end up with a lot more in circulating inventory right after a count is taken.”

She recommends taking a proactive approach to linen inventory to identify potential roadblocks or problems and take a closer look at shortages or overages.

Challenges Facing an Inventory

In today’s market, most facilities are being asked to do more with less, which can result in fewer staff resources available to help with an inventory. This can also result in a problem with time commitments and cooperation from a staff that already sees itself as overburdened.

Another challenge can be the large networks that many healthcare facilities are part of these days. “It takes a lot more cooperation and communication,” Williams says, “but many large networks are doing inventory successfully.”

Linen supplies are different from a product kept on a shelf; constant movement of the linens is a cause for concern when contemplating taking an inventory. A healthcare facility, for instance, cannot simply stop the movement of linen, so timing of an inventory is crucial. The number of locations where linen is stored and used, as well as the number of stock-keeping units in a healthcare facility, challenges an inventory manager.

Inventory accuracy often hinges on a cut-off point and a clear delineation between what is to be counted and what is not counted.

A commitment by management, as well as nursing management in a healthcare facility, is essential to an accurate inventory. If the results show a high return on the investment, this can help persuade management to cooperate. Determining what the actual ROI is important as well.

“Are you willing to act on the results of your inventory?” Williams asked participants. “If you aren’t willing to act, then there may be no return on investment. Acting on the results is crucial to making an inventory worthwhile.”

When to Take Inventory

“Today, most large laundries have gone to an annual inventory,” Williams says. “We recommend doing the inventory at the same time of the year so there is a consistency of inventory.”

Williams also recommends semi-annual inventories, more for on-premise laundries than large, shared or pooled laundries. Smaller operations, such as hospitality facilities, can do a quarterly or monthly inventory.

Another possibility is a cycle count. Williams says this works well if a facility doesn’t require a complete inventory, if the manpower is not available, or if there isn’t the level of cooperation required for a complete inventory. She suggests taking one or two of the highest use items and counting those. Then, the following month, select another two items and count those.

When the webinar participants were polled anonymously, 64% indicated they inventory once a year and 9% inventory on a semi-annual basis. Williams was slightly disappointed to hear the remaining 27% don’t take a linen inventory at all.

Also factoring into inventorying is choosing the best day and best time of day during which to act.

Base this on several elements, Williams says: staff availability, low-activity time, nursing practices, shift changes and linen delivery schedules. The important thing, she says, is to be consistent; take inventory at the same point each year, on the same day and at the same time of day.

Tomorrow: Your Inventory Involves What?

BEIJING, China — Texcare Asia, the International Trade Fair for Modern Textile Care, wrapped its three-day run here on Saturday afternoon. Attendance figures from show organizer Messe Frankfurt were not available as of this morning, but activity was brisk throughout the event.

The exhibition was 10% larger than Texcare Asia 2009, a show that Messe Frankfurt had described as the “largest one yet.” The 2011 edition occupied approximately 10,000 square meters (approximately 108,000 square feet) in three halls of the China International Exhibition Center, with one main aisle connecting the three.

There were approximately 130 exhibitors on hand. The show continues to grow as China’s laundry and drycleaning market presents significant opportunities for suppliers of resource-saving technologies as the government implements measures to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2020.

This has created a demand for environmentally friendly products such as centralized laundry systems, advanced drycleaning equipment, green solvents, energy-saving dryers, and water reclaimers, Messe Frankfurt says.

While there were drycleaning elements to the show, it was clear that the emphasis was on laundry services and particularly in high-production systems. Several companies displayed complete tunnel washers.

Alliance Laundry Systems, American Dryer Corp., Dexter Laundry, Dow Chemical, Forenta, Hoffman/New Yorker and Pellerin Milnor were among the U.S. companies listed as exhibitors here.

Some equipment, such as a tunnel exhibited by Sealion, displayed signs warning against the taking of photos. But attendees could be seen freely using cameras, smart phones and even tablet computers to photograph and record videos of equipment demonstrations throughout the vast building.

Despite the language and cultural differences, there were plenty of similarities between Texcare Asia and trade shows held elsewhere in the world. Booth workers handed out bags and other freebies carrying their company’s logo, and pushed brochures into the hands of any willing recipient passing by.

Away from the show floor, experts in professional textile care (PTC) led a series of seminars at the Texcare Forum Asia, co-organized by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co. and CINET International Committee of Textile Care.

Topics included sustainability, laundry technologies, logistics and planning, textiles, outsourcing, and certification.

Everyone who attended Texcare Asia first had to enter through metal detectors, and some were checked further by security wielding handheld metal-detecting “wands.” Uniformed officers were stationed throughout the complex and walked the exhibition floor.

Texcare Asia is scheduled to return in fall 2013 at a site to be determined. This year’s visitors survey asked if attendees would favor Texcare Asia being held annually and in alternating cities in China.

Tomorrow: Learn why a U.S. laundry consultant believes China’s laundry services are many years behind those in the States, plus we have show reactions from U.S. exhibitors.

ARDMORE, Pa. — Thanks to the 100% “bonus” depreciation write-offs created by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, many laundry and dry cleaning businesses are discovering that capital investments in equipment, machinery and other business assets are more affordable today than ever before. Remember, however, the 100% bonus depreciation write-off is available only for qualifying purchases made by laundry services and businesses in 2011.

Those that have hesitated or postponed making capital investments because of the recent economic downturn might now want to consider how the combined use of incentives and the 100% bonus depreciation can substantially reduce the cost of capital investments. Even funding those new-equipment purchases is easier—at least for a while.

Bonus Write-Off Background

Bonus depreciation was originally created in 2002 as a temporary economic incentive by which companies could immediately deduct 30% of the basis of qualifying assets that were placed in service after Sept. 10, 2001, and before Jan. 1, 2005. An increase in the percentage of the deduction in 2003 to 50% expired in 2005. Reintroduced by lawmakers in 2008, bonus depreciation has subsequently been extended three times.

Although the concept of taking the additional depreciation in the first year is quite simple, changes to the applicable percentage, timeframes during which each is available, and variations related to unique types of assets that qualify have made application of the rules somewhat complex.

The definition of property that is eligible for bonus depreciation under the 2010 Tax Relief Act is the same as under prior law, but the percentage and placed-in-service dates have changed. The percentage increased from 50% to 100% for qualifying property placed in service after Sept. 8, 2010, and before Jan. 1, 2012. Those laundries investing in qualifying assets will be able to fully deduct the cost during the current tax year. This will reduce taxable income and taxes paid, resulting in an increase in cash flow that can be reinvested in the business.

Expensing Write-Offs

Last fall’s Small Business Jobs Act increased the Section 179, first-year expensing dollar and investment limits to $500,000 and $2 million, respectively, for 2010 and 2011. The Tax Relief Act included a $125,000 dollar limit and a $500,000 investment limit for tax years beginning in 2012 and expiring after Dec. 31, 2012.

Unlike bonus depreciation that applies only to “new” property, a laundry or dry cleaning business may immediately deduct as a Section 179 expense, up to $500,000 of both new and used business property placed in service during the tax year. The Section 179 expensing write-off is reduced, dollar for dollar, by any property acquisitions in excess of the $2 million investment ceiling, limiting the write-off to smaller businesses.

Extending Leased Property and Other Write-Offs

Before passage of the Tax Relief Act, qualified improvements made to leased property, qualified restaurant property and qualified improvements to retail property that was placed in service before 2010 was included in the 15-year MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) class for depreciation purposes—that is, those expenditures could be depreciated over 15 years under the MACRS standardized depreciation system.

The 2010 Tax Relief Act retroactively extended the inclusion of qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified restaurant property and qualified retail improvement property in the 15-year MACRS class for two years through 2011.

Layering Opportunity

It is not only federal tax write-offs that can help reduce the cost of capital investments. Many laundry and dry cleaning businesses making capital investments during the 2011 tax year can also benefit from state and local credit and incentive programs. In fact, many states offer a tax credit equal to a percentage of an eligible capital investment made in that state.

Eligibility for the credit may depend on industry or particular use of the underlying asset. For example, states like Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oklahoma offer investment tax credits to manufacturing business for assets purchased that will be used exclusively in manufacturing activities. As an alternative formula, Illinois offers businesses predominantly engaged in either manufacturing or retail an investment tax credit for the purchase of all qualified purchases placed in service during the year. Best of all, the assets are not required to be used exclusively for manufacturing or retail activities.

Tomorrow: Opting Out…

An AmericanLaundryNews.com Exclusive

CHICAGO — Based on discussions over the last several years with folks having just completed educational programs sponsored by various entities, I am astonished that many managers in the laundry industry are still unable to complete essential tasks that are key components to making them a success.

It is not totally the fault of teaching establishments. The number of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals in our field is becoming less and less due to attrition and the inability of certain organizations to fill vacancies with qualified individuals who have demonstrated proven abilities in laundry management.

Many new managers (and some old) are not able to properly design a new laundry system. They seem to not know or have forgotten that things like water, steam, air and chemicals are the basis by which one begins the design process. For example, do not start designing a wash system without knowing what type of ancillary design systems exist to support the effort.

You don’t design a new laundry that doesn’t have adequate steam pressure or facilities to support new systems. You don’t build a new laundry without incorporating employee facilities such as restrooms, dining areas, parking, etc. You don’t specify a new item of equipment if you cannot get to the spot of installation.

You specify washing and drying systems based on production capabilities demonstrated in a proposal, and then hold the supplier responsible for meeting those requirements. Never, ever specify how many wash chambers you need for a continuous batch washer, as the technology that has evolved over 10 years demonstrates a vast difference between what top- and bottom-transfer designs can achieve.

Writing specifications for textiles can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be this way. I recently read a specification in which the customer stated only that it desired a 180-thread-count sheet. I was shocked, but not for the first time. Absent were finished sizes/dimensions, fabric construction, shrinkage allowances, colors (if required), fabric weights, types of fabric, labeling requirements, country of origin restrictions/requirements, delivery expectations, and applicable ASTM requirements, and I’m sure I may have missed some other points.

I retrieved some information that was part of the International Fabricare Institute (IFI)—now the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI)—educational program, where you went to school for months, studying everything from operations to the nuts and bolts of laundry and drycleaning chemistry. IFI did much work to restore products for the Smithsonian Institution in those days.

If you are placed in a position to specify a textile product, think of the following:

• Quality of fibers, fabrics and manufacturer

• Aesthetic appeal

• Comfort expectations

• Does it fit the purpose?

• Does it meet the target market?

• How well is it designed and constructed?

• What are the expectations, and will it perform?

While the corporate logistics novice desiring to make a name for himself or herself will never understand or appreciate this, standardization of laundry equipment and systems for an organization or corporate entity goes beyond making any sense (I’m being nice here).

Every laundry is built and designed differently. There are differences in floor structure, roof-load situations, clear ceiling heights, HVAC locations, water conditions, installation requirements, structure access, system loading/unloading needs, production needs, and types of items to be processed. Drain configurations and utility designs always vary from one plant to the next, and all have different ancillary support systems—air, water, chemicals, steam quality and pressure, thermal, etc. Expectations for automation are always unique; I could go on and on.

If you do not know laundry operations and the systems that process laundry, rely on those with true experience and expertise; keep in mind that titles and supporting programs like contracting do not necessarily demonstrate expertise or experience. Buyers should rely on technical expertise before making contractual decisions.

Most importantly, understand that standardization doesn’t permit determining best value and won’t allow one to take advantage of changes in the state of the art, which is always evolving.

I challenge our industry to step up to the plate, to get more involved in educational programs, to develop unbiased experts who can really inform customers and buyers of the pros and cons.

The old warhorses of our industry are fading or have faded away. I am proud to say that I learned from many of these giants. We need to regenerate or create the same type of environment that these true experts left for many of us.

“Our resort has upgraded its linens everywhere, from the guestrooms to the pool to the five-star restaurant. So, the pressure is on to clean, handle and store these goods so they give us the longest useful life possible. What advice can you give me about processing high-thread-count linens?”

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

High-thread-count linens, especially cotton sheets, were introduced to consumers in the ’90s. In the past five years, the hospitality industry has begun offering these so-called “luxury linens” to their customers. Thread counts that traditionally averaged 180-200 have been replaced with thread counts up to 1,500.

There are some misunderstandings about what they actually are. Most people believe that quality, softness and durability increase in a linear way with increasing thread count number. This is not necessarily true. The truth is that it’s just not that simple. Thread count is only one measurement to examine when considering luxury linens.

What are the quality indicators of high-thread-count linens?

• Fiber Quality — 100% cotton sheets are by far the most popular among high-thread sheets. The highest-quality cotton is long staple. Staple refers to the length of the cotton fiber: the longer the fiber, the better. It creates stronger and finer yarns. Among long-staple cottons, the longest are Egyptian extra-long staple and Pima (Supima).
• Yarn Size — This is a measure of the fineness of each yarn: the higher the yarn number, the finer the yarn. The yarn size in sheets is typically between 40 and 100. The size will determine how many yarns can be woven in a square inch. Higher thread counts are created with finer yarns, as more of them can be woven into a square inch. Also, super-fine yarns can be twisted, creating two-ply yarns that can then be woven into sheeting.
• Thread Count (Yarn Count) and Construction — Thread count is the number of yarns per square inch of fabric, i.e. add the number of warp and weft yarns. Construction refers to how the thread count is achieved (number of warp and weft yarns, number of picks in the weft, use of two-ply yarns, etc.) To achieve higher thread counts, sometimes two-ply yarns are used, and sometimes multiple yarns (picks) are inserted into the weft.

Chemicals Supply: Carrie Armstrong, Ecolab, Eagan, Minn.

The upgrade of linens throughout the facility creates an opportunity to develop a partnership with each department. Training the end-user on the linens, development of quality standards, par levels, and linen-abuse potential will assist in linen management. Written procedures and standards that are specific to each department for handling the upgraded linens can then be established and practiced.

Processing high-thread-count linens in the laundry has its challenges. High thread counts provide for luxurious linens and often require specific guidelines for processing. It is important to consult the manufacturer and/or read the care labels before laundering and processing. The manufacturer and/or labels will provide guidelines for processing based on the thread count, fabric type, color and manufacture.

Upgrading to high-thread-count linen does not indicate an increase in industrial wash durability. More often, these linens are more delicate due to the nature of the manufacturing of the cotton, the yarn size, and production of the thread count.

Here are items to review and document when upgrading linen, with a goal of reducing mechanical, chemical and stain damage in processing:

• All linen type specifications
• Wash formulas — revise per manufacturer’s recommendations
• Wash processes — water levels, chemical concentrations, temperatures, wash/rinse/extract speeds and times
• Load weights — do not overload or underload
• Dryer temperatures — do not over-dry
• Spreader/feeder tensions
• Ironer cleanliness and temperatures
• Stain program
• Sorting procedure
• Quality assurance program
• Par levels
• Storage space
• All equipment maintenance — no rough edges, clean
• Test-wash all linens multiple times

After this review, put written procedures and standards into place and begin monitoring. Continued training and education for laundry personnel, as well as the various departments, is necessary. Soon, processing the upgraded linens will be routine, and you’ll be prepared for the challenges of optimizing the life of your high-thread-count linens.

Textile/Uniform Rental: John Shoemaker, General Linen & Uniform Service, Detroit, Mich.

Marriott in New Jersey has a large laundry. Per its policy, processed linens are allowed to “rest” for a 24-hour period. In order to make linens last, be sure to maintain plenty of par and avoid quick wash turnarounds.

Likewise, it would be a wonderful time to have the chemical company visit and do titrations with increased regularity.

Full checks should be done. All four pieces of the “washroom pie”—time, temperature, mechanical action and chemical action—should be addressed to assure longevity of life.

Are the washers being under-loaded, resulting in too much chemical action? Is the temperature too hot? Is the run time correct for the upgraded products? Check and recheck all washroom elements to assure the maximum longevity of your textile products.

Tomorrow: In many ways, cotton is easier to wash, but finishing is another issue …