INTERNATIONAL
Datamars, a global leader in RFID solutions for the textile and industrial laundry sector, has launched its latest innovation, the UHF Sorti-Cart, a custom RFID trolley designed to collect soiled textiles in retirement and nursing homes for the elderly. This patented solution addresses a critical issue in this sector: the loss and misplacement of residents’ personal garments during the laundry process.
Managing residents’ personal garments alongside linens and towels poses a recurring challenge for retirement homes and industrial laundries alike. During the collection of soiled textiles, personal clothing often gets mixed with linens and towels, leading to significant losses. Studies reveal that 25% of a resident’s clothing is lost annually, causing frustration for residents and families, as well as inefficiencies and additional workloads for staff.
Datamars partnered with customer Bulle de Linge to develop the UHF Sorti-Cart, a mobile RFID-enabled sorting solution. Bulle de Linge offers a complete outsourcing service for resident laundry at its 12 production units and offers a laundry service for over 75,000 residents at 950 establishments throughout France.
The Datamars system ensures Bulle de Lange can provide accurate sorting of personal garments from linens and towels at the point of collection, preventing garment misplacement. Key features of the solution include:
- RFID-tagged clothing: Residents’ garments are chipped with custom-encoded Datamars LaundryChips (FT403), ensuring traceability throughout the process.
- Patented UHF Sorti-Cart reading system: The Sorti-Cart includes separate compartments for linens/towels and personal garments. RFID readers and antennas within the linen compartments detect misplaced personal garments.
- Real-time alerts: If a personal garment is mistakenly placed in the linen/towel bins, an integrated buzzer and stack light immediately notify the operator, enabling immediate correction.
Datamars says the Sorti-Cart has delivered measurable benefits for industrial laundries and care homes across the value chain, including:
- Reduced garment loss: In one year, the system prevented the loss of an average of 2,025 garments per facility, equating to approximately two garments saved per resident per month, ensuring higher satisfaction for nursing homes and their residents.
- Enhanced staff productivity: By eliminating manual sorting and reducing the risk of errors, laundry processes become more efficient, benefiting both facility operators and industrial laundries.
- Improved resident satisfaction: The solution has reduced emotional stress and strengthened trust between staff, residents, and their families.
According to Datamars, the Sorti-Cart has already been implemented in hundreds of facilities, with demand continuing to grow. These nursing homes now benefit from the streamlined workflows, improved hygiene standards and cost-saving the solution offers. This innovative solution has become a cornerstone for operators seeking to enhance their operational efficiency while improving the quality of life for elderly residents.
Steve Vital, field application engineer at Datamars Textile ID, said: “The Sorti-Cart is more than just a tool for preventing garment loss; it restores dignity and peace of mind to residents while simplifying daily operations for staff. It’s a small change with a profound impact. Beyond being a technological innovation, it strengthens client relationships, optimises workflows, and empowers nursing homes to provide exceptional care to their residents.”
For further info about the Sorti-Cart or Datamars’ innovative RFID solutions, please email or visit here.
