Building an efficient future for growing business

In terms of trends, laundry exhibitors are still highlighting their ability to help customers save resources and also become more efficient. Increased confidence in the future meant several companies were talking about innovation and of expanding their own business.
Both these themes were reflected at Milnor International, the European arm of the US manufacturer Pellerin Milnor. Thierry Lambermont has now taken over as managing director and he reports that Milnor plans to raise its profile at more exhibitions, even local ones, but international shows in particular. He said that ExpoDetergo is more famous and has a much higher profile.
His main aim at the show was to spread the word about Milnor's resource saving PulseFlow technology. The stand also highlighted MWF washer-extractors, which are made in Milnor's Chinese factory (CSM company) and are now more competitive in the market.
Lambermont said that Milnor International is restructuring and the first step was a re-organisation of its approach to the international market. It plans to reduce the number of dealers and to give each a larger territory. "We are creating three zones, Europe, Asia, and Middle East and re-building marketing and technical teams for each."
It has started with Asia and established a manufacturing base through its ownership of CSM factory in Shenzen, China. The Asian territory is covered by Rick Kelly and Russ Poy and, in addition to China, will include Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.
Similar processes will be adopted for Europe and the Middle East although these will be supplied through the US factories.

Lapauw had just opened a wholly owned subsidiary in the USA to cover the North American market and this was an opportunity for Phillipe D'heygere, president of the parent company to introduce David Bernstein and Michael Squillace, Lapauw USA's president and national sales manager to an international audience.
Barrier washers are now being used in sectors such as food service and pharmaceuticals as well as in healthcare. Lapauw's Mediwave is claimed to take hygiene to a fresh level. D'heygere said that Mediwave is the first barrier to use glass fibre reinforced polymer (GRP) for front and back cover. GRP is chemically inert and the surface is therefore easy to keep clean. Additionally, the patented paint finish reacts with UV light to kill bacteria and the covers' seamless design avoids the risk of dirt traps.
The machine can meet all cleanroom requirements and has proved popular with the sector. The Mediwave was launched in 2013 and at the time of the ExpoDetergo Lapauw had already sold 40 of these washers.
In addition to its strict hygiene, the Mediwave is also ergonomically designed with covers shaped so that operators can stand closer to the machine and the drum has been repositioned for to avoid strain during loading/unloading.

Jensen had built its stand around the theme of automation and increased productivity.
The washroom section displayed a 1:1 scale model of the Universal XL tunnel washer. This is now available with an optional quick soak function that improves wetting out and therefore speeds processing.
Jensen has also developed two additional features that will be introduced on the Universal tunnel and later be available on all tunnels. First, an auto bath control can set bath levels for individual programs to improve the wash action. Second, the angle of drum rotation can be adjusted to suit the linen with a high drop for large pieces and a smaller drop for delicate fabrics.
One of the most significant developments was the WR dryer and Jensen's Gerda Jank said the dryers were believed to be the most energy efficient worldwide, reducing energy use by 10 - 15% and increasing evaporation by 10%.
The remote flatwork loading station now has software that adjusts the linen flow by linen category to minimise program changes and improve production on the ironer line.
The Futurail monorail loading system now uses stainless steel that is harder wearing and provides smoother running than the aluminium used in the 2000 systems. The new rail can also be used to extend older systems.

As the show opened Lavatec Laundry Technology and Girbau Group reached an agreement to share resources in terms of sales networks and widen product ranges. Lavatec will provide its full range of tunnel washers to sell alongside Girbau's Eco tunnel range and Girbau will provide the German company with feeders and folders and flatwork ironers.
Exhibiting separately, each company naturally talked about the benefits of this agreement for established and potential customers.
The Girbau stand was very busy when LCNi visited and Tony Rubies said that the demonstrations were attracting large numbers. The show had good attendance from areas outside the main European market including Asia, Israel, South Africa and from Russia.
CEO Mercé Girbau said that the group had been developing special solutions in each division. For example, the vended machine division had introduced controls that allowed coin-op stores to add extra programs that would bring additional revenue and give customers more choice.
The industrial division's DRB automatic feeder allowed healthcare laundries to increase productivity as it can achieve rates up to 900/hour on hospital sheets.
Mercé Girbau said that the group wanted to improve quality for its customers in all areas. This included individual components such as the Hidrodrain valve, which could be used in all washers and is guaranteed for 2,000 cycles or three years.

Lavatec Laundry Technology (LLT) GmBh has developed continuously since CEO Wolf-Peter Graeser took over the old Lavatec company in 2010. Graeser listed three main achievements since it made its first show appearance at Detergo 2010.
First, it had won back all the customers lost in 2009 through the old company's troubles and re-established the Lavatec brand in the market.
Second, it had won its trademark case in the USA, confirmed also by a district court ruling in November 2014.
The agreement with Girbau was its third achievement and benefits to LLT would include the ability to sell flatwork finishing equipment and so cover all areas of flatwork production.

Stahl, the German manufacturer of washroom and finishing equipment had a good show and managing director Uwe Stahl said this was an important show for Europe in particular. The company was continuing to develop its range, which now covers washers from 5 - 110kg, barrier washers from 14 - 200kg and deep chest flatwork ironers with one to three rolls.
Asked about the general mood of the European market he said that northern countries were positive, while southern Europe was seeing only very slow improvement.
Customers here were very careful in their choice of supplier. Saving energy remained a top priority but they also wanted to work with a single supplier, wherever possible.

Alliance Laundry Systems had dedicated a separate stand to Ipso, and Tijs Denuwelare explained that this was the brand being sold by large exclusive distributors and he stressed that this network operated worldwide.
The display focussed on two areas - on wetcleaning and on the first Ipso machines to come from the Czech Republic factory, which also included a new range of semi-commercial washers.

Bernard Jomard, managing director of Danube international, felt that the show was excellent and he had been able to see a lot of dealers in a short time.
The company continues to develop its range and presented 55 and 66 kg machines that had been added to its barrier washer range. Danube has always worked to develop water and energy saving machines and both the drum and the basket have been designed to minimise water requirements, which in turn reduces energy use. The barrier washers are equipped with frequency-controlled motors that provide control that also contributes to reduced energy consumption. Several features ensure safe operation including a patented device that stops the machine in the inner drum is not locked correctly.
The SII dryer ironer with integrated cross-folder/stacker is designed to save both energy and labour costs and is claimed to be the only drying ironer with a stainless-steel frame. A high evaporation rate provides both high productivity and good quality results. The feeding table can handle variations in thickness and to cotton and polyester fabrics.

For Miele Professional the show was definitely an opportunity to address a broad international market although it has subsidiaries for individual countries.
Jurgen Schäfer, director of product management for laundry, said the focus was on the PM12 ironer series, which has been designed specifically for the OPL market. The series produces a high quality finish and also represents an advance in ergonomics as both working height and position (seated or standing) can be adjusted to suit each individual worker.
Miele also took the opportunity to explain the cost and energy savings available with its heat-pump dryer and its H2O dryer, which can use a variety of hot water sources to supply the energy to heat the air-flow.

Krebe Tippo, the Slovenian manufacturer, is raising its profile in the market. CEO Mojca Krepek said the stand had visitors from the Middle East, Australia, African countries and a great many from Russia.
The company previewed two concept machines planned for 2015. The Smart Laundry Concept offers a washer that can connect to various smart devices, such as a phone or tablet. The machines can be controlled remotely, making management simpler and easier as a smart connection can be used to track work, collect data as well as for operation and maintenance. Hourly demonstrations were held on the stand.
It also showed a concept design that will take the company into the coin-op market.

While Italian laundry equipment manufacturer Imesa has largely concentrated on the commercial laundry sector to date, the company is now looking at larger, industrial laundries with the introduction of 100 and 125kg machines. Both machines feature a patented shock absorber, developed in collaboration with Polo Tecnologico of Pordenone, which is said to last longer than the traditional type and so reduce maintenance costs. The design will support a +/-15% imbalance.

Domus export manager Eduard Colomer felt that ExpoDetergo is now one of the best exhibitions in Europe. He had made interesting contacts in Europe and also in the Middle East and Asia, which are now important markets. Developments focussed on drying and the company previewed a heat-pump dryer that will be available in 2015. The company has also modified dryer design and changes include placing the lint filter in a slide-out drawer to make it easier to remove and clean.
Domus introduced dryer stacks in which each machine has its own controls. The design is available with both 2x11kg or 2x18kg capacities and will help self-service laundries make better use of space. Additionally it will be introducing a touchscreen microprocessor control on washers and barrier washers.

The Turkish manufacturer Tolon was making its first appearance at a European exhibition. General manager Ömer Tolon was very happy with the show and the contacts he had made. He said the company had been preparing to enter the European market for four years but he wanted to wait until all machines carried the appropriate certifications including the CE mark.
The range strategy is simple. He explained that Tolon makes both washers and dryers in 20, 40, 60 and 110kg as this covers most applications. It also offers the full range of features on each machine, rather than having basic and advanced versions. "That simple structure allows lean production and allows us to concentrate on quality," he said.

Schulthess export manager, central Europe, Daniel Kolland had met many new contacts and reported positive feedback from visitors.
The company's WMi washers span 10 - 30kg capacities and these washers featured a USB interface to allow machines to be customised by downloading programs that met specific requirements.
Wetcleaning is a specialist area for the company. Kolland said demand varied according to country but long-term the future was good and the chemistry was improving.

Laco Machinery's export manager Wim Opsomer said that the company had developed considerably since the previous Detergo. Under the Laco machinery brand it had developed the innovative AirStream chest, which improves airflow and is more energy efficient.
It now has a second brand with Secom Machinery, which covers roll sizes of 300 - 370mm and now offers small- to medium-size laundries the benefits of a chest ironer that is within their budgets.
Opsomer said that ExpoDetergo was a good show to demonstrate the effectiveness of Secom chest ironers in competing with the cylinder ironer sector. He added that Secom machines are energy efficient with a consumption of 0.38kW/kg on linen with 40 - 50% residual moisture.

Vera Simon, export manager at ironer specialist GMP, said the show had brought further confirmation of the company's position as a leading manufacturer of commercial and OPL ironers. She said that exhibitions help to raise brand awareness and GMP had spent much time and energy preparing for the show in this respect. Although the brand is well known by distributors, those responsible for making purchasing decisions within the target sectors may be less aware of the name and its market position, even if they have seen the products. GMP is working to change that.
It had commissioned a corporate video that as showing on the stand and is giving this to all distributors to use on their website. A three-year warranty is available on all products from the beginning of 2015, providing distributors with another selling point for these ironers. The E and G ranges were on show.

Indemac, an Italian company founded by Emanuele Palmarini in 2010, was making its first exhibition appearance. The company has just one product, an ironer with built-in folder, designed in-house and built at the company's factory at Ascoli Picerno in the Marche region.
Indemac has already sold the ironer, which Palmarini describes as "unique" , in the international market including countries outside Europe such as Australia , Saudi Arabia and USA. Before founding his own business, Palmarini had been previously working in a similar company. He has now grown the business to an extent where it has eight employees.

At Datamars, the specialist in RFID technology, director Andrea Azzoni said that he thought that more textile rental laundries were taking in interest in this identification system as a means of protecting their stock as well as tracking the progress of work through production.
He also believes that the market has reached volume level that makes investment a realistic proposition.
Azzoni said that the company had introduced its third generation of chips, which had increased electrical performance and could be used in flatwork, garments and mats. Datamars has also developed readers that could handle very large volumes in a short time.
It was also showing a concept for reading linen at the customers' premises. It can handle both clean and soiled linen and supply information immediately.

Chemicals
Ideal Manufacturing, the British specialist in chemicals is keen to expand internationally and this was its first appearance at an international show.
The company had taken great care with its presentation and had conducted a pre-show campaign, "We're taking our Minis to Italy, inspired by the film, The Italian Job, though here Minis referred to the company's mini spotters.
Phillip Kalli said the team had even driven to the show following the route taken in the film. Other Italian features included the bicycle mounted ice cream cart that powered the dispenser giving away samples of the company's products, packed in ice cream style tubs.
Kalli was pleased with this first international showing and said visitors had given the British company a good welcome.

Christeyns launched its Cool Chemistry concept in September 2013 and by the time of the exhibition over 50 laundries were using these water and energy saving products. Initially targeted at the hospitality sector, the concept has now been extended to healthcare.
"Everybody wants low temperature (40C) washing, but our Cool Care detergent is based on a mix of enzymes, not just one, so it can cope with a wide range of stains," said marketing manager Lieve Keppens. It is used in combination with either the Cool Brite bleach for hospitality work, or the Cool Asepsis disinfectant, for healthcare laundering.
Christeyns has designed a well-balanced wash process to make the most of this low impact chemistry.
The company has also recognised that not all users will want to wash solely at 40C and Cool Chemistry will work at temperatures from 40 - 60C and with certified disinfection at both levels, as the German market requires. Keppens says that Cool Chemistry uses less energy, less water and prolongs linen life but also produces bright whites.

The Ecolab stand was divided into three areas: low temperature washing, textile treatments - desizing, softeners - and water and energy solution. The company had just given a presentation at the Cinet conference, and the Oxycare 40 low-temperature system was described as the most important product. The system is specially designed for hotel and restaurant work and ensures whiteness as well as lower water consumption and increased textile life. The company says it is the first and only wash to achieve Ecolabel status, which is valid throughout Europe, and applies not just to a single product but also to the whole low temperature system.

Auxiliary equipment and services
Lamac, the business formed by Yves Lapauw in 2010, caters to a specialist market, producing machines for rolling and repairing dustmats. However last year it broadened the scope slightly with a machine for rolling terry towels, as some hotels prefer this style of presentation. Sabine Lapauw said that some hotels prefer a rolled presentation and this machine was a response.
Mat rolling remains the company's priority and it is developing an integrated strapping function for its mat rollers, the RM18, which is designed for continuous production, and the RM185, which rolls mats individually.

Vitesse of Italy specialises in ironer clothing and accessories and the stand was busy throughout the show. Owner Mauro Vita was extremely positive about the show and said his company had seen contacts from all over the worldwide, and this included contacts in developing markets. He said that he had seen several Russian companies and that this would be an interesting market to explore.
Fewer visitors had come from African countries than last time but this could be due to the political situation.
The company was showing the Texfeld range, which was available in 750 and 850g weights and included both 100% polyester and 100% polyaramide felts.
He was also introducing guide tapes made from a new polyester formulation that included carbonium to reduce electrostatic.

Denis Begasse, director of Fanafel by Valmet, was very happy with the show and as at most shows had a continual flow of visitors. He noted an improvement over the 2010 event and as well as seeing established customers had met potential customers in countries beyond Europe such as Brazil and Russia. The full range was on show but the company was also presenting additions to the Fanafel range including belting specifically designed for feeders, folders and stackers as well as ironer products.

Nuova Folati supplies a wide range of laundry accessories and consumables. Laura Cafaro said that it was important that visitors were aware of the team's technical expertise, such as their understanding of the way steam traps work, for example. Her own responsibilities lay in the field of logistics.
She explained that the company had four main production areas.
Ironer products: As the representative of San-ai industries in Europe, the company can supply spring padding, as well as the consumables including belts and waxes.
Steam-traps: It had produced an energy saving design NEST-STS,
Labelling: The company represents the Thermopatch labelling system
HLP technical linen, for medical applications..
San-ai industries also had a small stand adjacent to its European distributor where Futoshi Motoda was talking to visitors from outside Europe.

Thermopatch also had its own stand and Fred Luiks explained that the company specialised in permanent and temporary marking systems for flatwork. It also has a wide range of corporate identity products such as emblems and transfer systems that were based on heat-sealing.
His impressions of the show were good and he was pleased with the way it had succeeded in growing from its origins as a drycleaning event for the home market to become an international show covering all aspects of textile care.
One of the latest developments on show was FasTag, a very thin labelling material that had stretch properties and could withstand industrial washing. It was therefore a good solution for labelling workwear.
Thermopatch supplied FasTag as a plain material and the customer could print their own designs using an HiQ printer from Thermopatch.
The company also had a system for supplying a white-label with a border that had been pre-printed with the company's name and logo.
These were supplied in roll so that customers could add an employee's name. If the employee left, then changing the name was relatively easy.