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PCIAW shreds Government decision to write off £8.7bn stock of pandemic-bought PPE
UK The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) has responded strongly to a BBC report that the Government has written off £8.7bn spent on protective equipment bought during the pandemic. According to the BBC, Department for Health and Social Care documents show items costing £673m were unusable, while £750m of equipment was not used before its expiry date, has prompted the Association to say it is “seriously disappointed” by this development.
Carrington Textiles appoints new head of sales, northern and eastern Europe
UK/EUROPE
Global workwear textile manufacturer, Carrington Textiles, has announced the appointment of a new member of its team, Jenni Brown, who takes responsibility for sales in northern and eastern Europe. Brown will be working with the established teams in these markets, to help the company continue its progressive growth in the region.
Christeyns USA expands by acquiring stake in ACI
USA As part of an important step in the company’s next phase to expand its North American operations, Christeyns USA has completed an agreement to invest in Las Vegas-based Applied Chemical Innovations. Founded by Chet Van Orden, ACI specialises in supplying premium quality specialty cleaning chemicals and services to commercial, industrial and institutional end-users across the western US region.
Be alarmed, be very alarmed, about false fire alarms
UK
BBC Fire & Security, a company that designs, installs, inspects and services fire systems highlights information from the Fire Industry Association that estimates that false fire alarms cost the UK more than £1bn per year. It adds: “Much of this cost is from lost production and interruptions to business, but there’s also a dangerous effect on peoples’ behaviour if they inhabit or use buildings that experience a lot of false alarms. Frequent false alarms in a building can cause people to become complacent and less willing to react when a fire alarm actuates which could be fatal.
HMRC not quite so taxing on late tax return penalties
UK Businesses and individuals who are not already among the more than 10.2 million customers who have filed their 2020/21 tax returns by the 31 January deadline, have a little more time to do so – but not that much as HMRC says this leeway only lasts until 28 February.
Rinnai: Out with the old hot water system – but don’t replace with ‘like for like’
UK
The increase in gas prices is causing laundries to reassess their energy consumption and Rinnai is urging businesses looking to renew their hot water delivery systems not to plump for a ‘like for like’ replacement but to trade up to a high performance, energy conscious continuous flow hot water solution. Hydrogen blends-ready Rinnai continuous flow hot water delivery units and systems analysis show 20% (minimum) carbon emissions reduction compared with heated storage systems, says the company.
Commercial laundries close to throwing in the towel over energy hikes, warns TSA
UK The industry is pleading for Government support on energy prices just as commercial laundries serving the hospitality sector think they can see a light at the end of the Coronavirus pandemic tunnel. Instead, they face another crisis, this time because of the massive and unprecedented rise in energy prices. The Textile Services Association (TSA) is warning that if the government ignores the industry again, and fails to offer support, then businesses will fail and the industries that rely on laundries, including hospitality, will face significant challenges.
The inimitable Jeeves – providing the best
NewGen is working with Jeeves International to open a state-of-the-art central garment processing unit in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic. Kathy Bowry reports
Quality of laundering in care home and hotel OPLs
The pandemic has shown that on premises laundries (OPLs) have a significant role to play in avoiding cross infection that can put residents and guests at risk. Richard Neale of LTC Worldwide looks at ways and means for them to achieve clean linen which is assuredly free of pathogenic bacteria and viruses
A bit wary, but still full of fight
The Benelux textile care sector fears tough times in 2022 as the pandemic continues to take its toll on the region’s businesses. However, there is an undercurrent of positivity, as Eugene Gerden reports