Taking controlof costs

On-going developments in technology now mean that it is possible for managers of major hotels, restaurants or residential care homes to consider setting up an on-premise laundry as a cost-effective option.

Since laundry is not the primary focus of the business, what they will be looking for is an experienced partner to help run the laundry operation at peak efficiency, so leaving them to concentrate on more productive issues.

The first step will be to assess operating costs and to determine the projected payback of the investment, based on the laundry design chosen.

What type of design will depend upon the type of business – whether it is a hotel, nursing home, hospital, restaurant, prison, school or colleges or industrial business (such as food processing).

The design of an OPL will need to consider basic factors such as the articles to be laundered; the standard of finish required; and the cost of linen and replacement figures. In a healthcare setting, the avoidance of cross-contamination is particularly important. A barrier between the section that receives the infected used linen and rest of laundry needs to be provided.

Perhaps a main consideration is a design that maximises the use of available space. This will take into account the workflow and the required capacity of the machines in the space available.

Overall, laundry technology which has remained very conservative for years has seen big changes over the last decade that have affected the production process in OPL and industrial laundries, according to the Jensen Group.

Together with Jensen projects department (formerly D’Hooge), Jensen has supplied, either directly or via local distributors, more than 50 large OPL installations mainly in Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi, Lebanon and UAE.

The company says that hotel laundries are moving progressively towards a higher level of automation in the production process and especially in the finishing area where the use of folders (lateral and cross folds) and stackers is becoming more common than it was five years ago. According to Jensen’s Karim Ben Yahia: “We expect the demand for feeders to increase significantly as the process of laundry consolidation is currently gathering some momentum.”

Such evolution, says Jensen, will lead to the creation of central laundries for hotels or hotel chains which deal with over 10-15tons a day and will require a high output in terms of finishing. Laundry managers expect controls that are more and more sophisticated, to deal with different types of textiles and soap products and to keep track of the wash process.

In recent years, the choice of industrial laundry equipment has been determined by three main factors, according to David Grendysa, marketing manager at Primus. First, there is the continually rising cost of wages, which has seen an increase in the growth of automation.

Customers increasingly want integrated systems so that they can achieve higher productivity. In particular, demand for ironing machines with integrated feeder and folder has grown.

Demand for tilting machines – especially with higher capacities – has also grown significantly, once again for the purpose of achieving greater output. With its IFF range and FS120 tilting machines, Primus is very much in step with this trend in the market, says Grendysa.

A second determining factor is the level of energy efficiency. As water and power costs continue to rocket skywards, customers are directing their attention to machines that reduce water and energy consumption.

Primus has developed its range of T-dryers with particularly low gas and electricity consumption. Its Radax airflow, a combination of radial and axial airflow, makes the best use of the hot air.

A third major factor is the increasingly strict standards required at hospitals and homes for the elderly that have been introduced to combat any form of contamination. Regulations are no longer making the distinction between small and large size operations, thus forcing smaller institutions to comply by investing in hygienic installations.

With its MB range, Primus offers a comprehensive package for this sector, with eight models. The MB16 is a machine with a capacity of 16kg designed for smaller retirement and nursing homes. The entire laundry process can now also be monitored remotely using Trace-Tech so that customers can be sure that all of the necessary criteria are being met.

According to Lee Wilson, vice president of international sales for USA-based Alliance Laundry Systems, the on-premise laundry is often overlooked in planning. Because it is not thought of as a revenue source, the laundry is often undersized and under-equipped, says Wilson, which can increase energy and labour costs. To determine the size of the laundry room, first estimate how much soiled laundry will be processed in a day.

With that number in mind, floor plans for the laundry room should be designed for 0.1115m2 per kilogram of processed linen.

Because the size of laundry can greatly affect equipment selection, when possible, get two like-sized machines, says Wilson.

For example, a laundry needs two 27kg washers but because of various reasons selects either a single 54kg washer-extractor or a 57 and an 18kg washer-extractor. “This can cause labour costs to go up either as a result of waiting for a full load to accumulate or of trying to keep up because there are not enough washers to do the job,” says Wilson. “To keep costs under control, you are looking for an efficient balance of labour, space and capacity in your laundry room.”

To keep things moving, the ideal laundry room design for a hotel is a “U” shape where there is a sorting area, which leads into a processing area with washers and dryers, then a folding area, and followed by clean linen storage.

Malcolm Martin, product manager at Miele Professional UK, says that a significant change in recent years in the commercial washer-extractor market has been the increased level of customer interest in added value together with greater importance being placed on lifetime costs.

Martin says: “In the OPL market it’s vital for businesses that the laundry equipment purchased is as cost effective and reliable as possible. Energy efficient equipment enables businesses to make a significant reduction in operational costs.”

Miele Professional’s 10kg PW6101 washer-extractor has several features to ensure laundry is processed efficiently. Energy consumption has been lowered, with the latest model said to use 17% less water than its predecessor.

In addition, Miele has developed specialist wash programs that can be downloaded via the chip card.

Profitronic M controls and card reader units are fitted as standard, allowing the user to customise the machines to suit individual requirements and expand usage across a wide variety of industry sectors. A standard 16 programs are offered with an option to increase these up to 199.

The launch of Miele’s Innovation M range also sees the introduction of the honeycomb drum, an innovative structure which enhances the life span of fabrics being washed. The four washer-extractors, with capacities of 10, 13, 16 and 20kg, are said to offer the highest levels of technological innovation and can be tailored to customer needs.

Milnor has equipment capable of meeting the production requirements of a variety of OPL laundries, particularly where space is limited. Its range of suspended washer-extractors can boost washroom production, save overtime costs and conserve floor space because fewer machines are needed. These units have larger cylinders, allowing more goods to be washed and raising productivity.

Milnor suspended models are available in capacities of 25 to 125kg. These models feature a choice of two controls.

The J-series models feature the E-P Plus control with 30 programmable formulae and language options. The W-series models uses the Mark V control with 100 programmable formulae and numerous programming steps for detailed control over every step of the wash process.

Milnor’s open-pocket Staph-Guard washer-extractors boost washroom production in healthcare laundries through innovative cylinder design and a space-saving size.

Goods are loaded on the soiled side through a single inner door and unloaded through one door on the clean side. The minimal footprint makes them ideal where floor space is limited.

Milnor’s small dryers range in capacity from 25 to 86kg. High heat input and airflow rates ensure quick drying, while large baskets permit free tumbling and better exposure to hot air for fast drying.

The dryers use the Phase 7 microprocessor that offers six pre-set dry cycles that are all reprogrammable. Automatic drying helps prevent overdrying and a cooling down program prevents wrinkles. The smaller dryers feature the Fire Suppression System (FSS).

Girbau of Spain has developed its 6 series washer-extractors for OPL market. The 6 series HS (8kg, 13kg and 17kg capacity) washers reach spin speeds of up to 1,000rpm.

Productivity is significantly improved because all its control versions allow the modification and and expansion of programs to suit the needs of every washing type.

The 6 series is available with three control versions – Coin, Logi and Inteli (only for HS, 13kg and 17kg). The prototypes passed all the life tests they have been submitted to, having exceeded more than 30 milion wash cycles.

With the new 6 series and together with the 4000 series, Girbau offer a range of washer-extractors which go from an 8 to 110kg capacity.

The Wäscherei Hugo laundry in Germany installed Girbau’s HS-6017 with Logi control in April. It works continuously from 06.00hr to 22.00, Monday to Sunday, operating at temperatures between 80C and 90C.

Healthcare needs

The Pullman washer-extractors have become very popular in the healthcare sector, says Lapauw export manager Wim Demeyer, especially in small hospitals and nursing homes where there is a need for a silent, reliable and versatile machine able to wash everything from sheets to personal items.

The Lapauw-designed suspension system on the Pullman ensures a continuous, ultra silent and vibration free operation, even at high extract speeds, “a very important consideration for OPLs in nursing homes, small and private clinics”, says Demeyer.

The Pullman series features side loading and unloading. The introduction of the 40kg Pullman is the latest addition to a family that features six other machines – 60, 80, 100, 160, 200 and 260kg. Each machine is available as a standard or barrier version and with two or three compartments.

All professional foodservice operations have high hygiene standards, according to Electrolux; the working environment has to be kept fresh and clean even during rush hours.

Professional catering operators make heavy use of textiles such as rags, towels, aprons and various other clothing, which often becomes heavily soiled.

Any operation dealing with foodstuff has to minimise the risk from potentially harmful micro-organisms. Consequently, laundry becomes a crucial part of any functional kitchen.

Kitchen solutions

With its experience and knowledge, Electrolux presents several energy efficient solutions for the professional kitchen – one of which takes up less than half a square meter and includes both a washer extractor and a dryer.

The W455H has a 5.5kg capacity and is the first washer with the new Electrolux Compass Control.

Instead of pushing a variety of buttons, operators simply turn a single button, until the program appears on the large display, and choose it by pushing the button.

A customer’s two most-used wash programs can be given their own quick start buttons.

With a choice of 12 languages on the display, it is possible to change parameters in the wash programs and to make up to 10 totally new programs. A delayed start feature allows operators to postpone a final wash at the end of one day to next morning, so enabling them to bring the first load directly to the dryer at the start of the next shift.

Domus of Spain has noticed what it says is a growing demand for launderette style operations and a new customer base who might use them: students living or studying near universities; family members of hospitalised people; temporary employees; a population with a temporary home due to a temporary job; immigrants; and an increase of homes for single people or single parent families; and tourism purposes.

Domus is offering a type of laundry which can adapt to this wide range of potential users. There are already seven working in Europe. The complete project includes machinery, decoration and furniture, bearing in mind that the users are inexperienced end-clients. The machines involved are washer-extractors DFi-8 M and DFi-13 M, tumble dryers (models S-11 Edu or S-17 Edu) and mural dryer-ironer CM-1632.