OPL washer-extractors

economical, reliable, safe

1 February 2006



LCN examines how suppliers are meeting the needs of the varied range of customers in this market


The OPL on-premise laundry covers a wide range of businesses from those in small care homes and hotels to industrial scale operations run in hospitals, larger hotels, or prisons.

The washer is central to the operation, and regardless of size, factors such as efficient use of utilities, reliability and durability of machines, and increasingly the supplier’s ability to advise and support are customer priorities.

The care home sector is one of the largest sectors. Armstrong Commercial Laundry has many customers in this area and the Bramhall Residential home is typical. Proprietor Reg Mercer put reliability and rapid-response support as top priorities, as the machine is working all day and every day. He also appreciates the range of programs available on the 10kg Primus machine supplied.

Miele’s sales and marketing director Les Marshall sees on site laundering as essential for nursing and care homes. Cost-effectiveness is a high requirement he says, but just important is avoiding infection risks. Miele has addressed this with the New Genn System Sanitise, based on molecules of natural plant oils, which convert into a safe chemical claimed to be effective against viruses and bacteria, and even to kill MRSA in a 40C wash.

Ozone wash systems may prove an effective tool in fighting viruses, bacteria and superbugs. These systems are now starting to come onto the OPL market. JLA has been developing its own system, Otex, compatible with the Ipso washer range, for some time and has subjected the system to extensive testing by independent accredited microbiologists. As well as tackling infection risks, the system will help to cut utility and operating costs.

JHC has also gone to the Ozone route and supplies the O-clean system for machines up to 125kg.

Medium and large size on-site operations share some of the concerns of their smaller counterparts.

Kannegiesser, supplying the UK through its subsidiary, has introduced low consumption technology to its Favorit and Futura washers, employing water recovery tanks, fresh water reservoirs and heat exchangers to reduce both water and steam use.

It has also looked at ways to increase productivity - including the innovative PowerSwing, which swings the drum section into a horizontal position for top loading, then to vertical for operation and tilting forward for unloading.

As well as providing machines for the smaller operations, Armstrong also meets the needs from its industrial sized Lapauw machines.

It has recently supplied three 90kg Combi C1000 machines to Her Majesty’s Prison service at Wormwood Scrubs, London. Here suppliers must put together a business case, based on value for money, and fit for purpose.

But there is another aspect to the purchase. In many ways, says Girbau, requirements in product terms have not changed. The real change has been in terms of service and advice, Customers need more than machines – they need solutions.



Armstrong Commercial Laundry Systems

Product range: Armstrong believes in having a washer-extractor for every type and size of OPL and handles equipment from Primus, Schulthess and Lapauw .
Primus: This range has been extended with the PW5, a 50litre machine with 12,00rpm spin speed and balance control system to keep wear and noise to a minimum. Microprocessor control allows programs to be tailored to suit the individual OPL.
In its established range Primus provides free-standing machines from 7 – 66kg and rigid mount washers with 7 – 35kg capacities. All have inverter drive.
Schulthess: The 6.5kg WS6151 forms the basis of Armstrong’s Amazon laundry centre.
Lapauw: The company’s range is designed for larger-scale on-premise laundries and covers capacities from 50 – 300kg. Single and three-pocket options are offered and tilt functions are a further choice. The Combi pullman (side loading) machines are designed for easy loading and reduced risk of tangled loads. All washers have infinitely flexible electronic controls, digital controls and frequency inverter drives. Safety features include drum inching on multi-pocket machines, and pneumatic bolting on outer doors during use. Barrier washers are available for healthcare use.
Service : Armstrong provides a full support package and can also advice on compliance with regulations and other concerns.



Girbau

Product range: Girbau has two series of machines developed extractors for OPL market. The established 4000 series covering a range of capacities from 7kg to 110kg and its latest 6 series.
Product development: The 6 series HS (high spin) machines cover 8, 13 and 17kg capacities and these washers reach spin speeds of up to 1000rpm. They’re completely free standing.
There is also an MS (medium spin) range covering 10, 13, 17 and 23kg capacities.
The 6 series is designed to provide the same strength and reliability of the 4000 machines.
Three control options are available including one for the coin-op market.
The Logi control, specifically intended for OPL machines, has eight, individually modifiable programs. It has a creaseguard mode, selectable gradual cool-down , failure check and message alarm system. A clock allows the start time to be programmed.
The Inteli control is available for the high spin 13 and 17kg machines only. It provides 20 standard programs and 70 that are freely programmable.
The choice includes professional processes such as wetcleaning and Goretex. Programs can be saved on a memory card and copied on to other machines.



JLA

Product range: The company supplies a full range of machines from the Belgian-based manufacturer IPSO-LSG and these cover capacities from 14 –125lb and includes both rigid and soft mount machines. They are microprocessor controlled.
Type ‘A’ air gaps and thermal disinfection cycles make them fully compliant with all relevant water and health regulations.
Development: The Ipso washer range is compatible with the Otex validated ozone disinfection laundry system which JLA developed and has now launched following exhaustive trials. It can also be retrofitted to the range.
JLA says the Otex system can kill bacteria, viruses and superbugs including MRSA and Clostridium difficile on all wash cycles, and as a further benefit it can achieve substantial savings in utility, detergent and labour costs as it mostly operates with cold water and uses faster wash cycles. To date, more than 1,000 systems have been installed at almost 500 sites throughout the UK.



Miele

Product development: In 2005 Miele introduced Innovation M a four model range of washers with capacities of 10, 13, 16 and 20kg.
These machines have the company’s Profitronic M controls, which are freely programmable, and card reader units fitted as standard. This allows the user to adapt the machines to suit individual requirements. Sixteen programs are offered as standard, but options allows the choice to increase up to 199. The Innovation M range also sees the introduction of the honeycomb drum, which helps to prolong the lifespan of fabrics being washed.
Miele’s Little Giant washers, available in 5.5 or 6.5kg sizes, are also fitted with this drum design, as the result of an upgrade.



Kannegiesser
SWING INTO ACTION: The PowerSwing swings into position for loading, processing and unloading

Product development: The PowerSwing 2800 washer extractor, introduced 2005, speeds loading, wash, extract and discharge times and swings into different positions for each function – horizontal for loading, horizontal for processing, and forward for unloading. Loading options include via chute from an upper floor, from a monorail, or manually from a sling. Linen can be loaded directly into the rotating drum, making maximum use of the drum’s capacity. The current model has a volume of 2,810 litres but a smaller unit will be developed in the future.
The PowerSwing also features IntelliScale which allows the laundry to program the moisture level for each batch and automatically stops extraction at that point., thus helping to speed processing times and ensuring linen is the right condition for the next stage.
Product range: In addition to the PowerSwing, the Kannegiesser range also includes Favorit side loading washers in standard and barrier designs in 12 sizes from 25 to 265kg. Favorit washers are available with various cylinder configurations of one, two, three, four or six compartments.
Futura open-pocket washer-extractors are also available as standard and barrier machines and the four models cover 110- 260kg capacities. Both Favorit and Futura machines feature the recently introduced low consumption technology (LCT) An arrangement of recovery tanks fresh water reservoir and heat exchanger can cut water by 80% and steam by around 60%.



JHC
OZONE: The O-clean system will bring savings and provides disinfection at all temperatures

Product range: JHC is revising and expanding its washer-extractor range for 2006 and will include machines up to125Kg capacity. Whilst retaining the same overall cabinet sizing they benefit from an increase in load capacity (average 10%).
Range changes: During the next six months the following changes will be introduced:a fully freestanding high-spin range;larger door openings for easier loading and unloading; high efficiency electric motors reducing energy costs and extending product life; and Improved low speed start/out of balance technology.
Ozone washing: The O-Clean ozone laundry cleaning system, sourced from the States, was introduced during 2005 and updated for 2006 to include latest oxygen concentrator technology for consistent high output ozone production. The system is in sizes to suit machines up to 125Kgs. The ozone system is claimed to brings savings on laundry operating costs whilst improving both linen life and operator environment and to provide disinfection at all temperatures. It an be retrofitted to many modern washer extractors without the need for expensive machine changes.



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