NORTH AMERICA
TRSA, the linen and workwear rental trade association for North America, celebrated the best laundry plants of its member companies and their exemplary individual performers at the Annual Industry Awards Dinner at TRSA’s 15th Annual Legislative Conference in February. The top contenders were honoured by their peers for their achievements as employers, service providers, marketers and community leaders.
The ceremony culminated in the presentation of Best Plants accolades to industry-leading facilities for their comprehensive efforts to improve capabilities to supply, launder and maintain linens and uniforms. They cite statistical results across a wide range of indicators from environmental stewardship to productivity improvement. Winners of the highest honour (Gold level) in this category were:
NOVO Health Services, Madison (Nashville), Tennessee – Opened in 2016, the facility underwent major refurbishment of existing equipment in 2024, upgrading two tunnel washers, presses, dryers, ironer/folder/feeders and blanket blasters. The tool room and engineering shop were renovated. About 7,000 square feet of plant space was renovated, with the finished goods end of the plant adding 900-plus feet of trolley storage for garments shipped to depots. A boiler and make up water system/tank were added. The facility produces 55,000 lbs. (24,947 kg.) daily and has 75 employees.
GOLDEN HANDSHAKE: Randy Barsch (left) chair of TRSA Board with Best Plant Winner David Potack, president, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services’ Lawrence, Massachusetts
Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services, Lawrence, Massachusetts – The plant, opened in 2020, produces more than 160,000 lbs. (72,574 kg.) per day and has 221 employees. It scored high marks for technology upgrades, namely a 2024 transition to new business management software (route accounting). Extensive efforts to determine customer satisfaction were cited. Performance measures cover responsiveness, frequency of in-person visits, customer service, transportation and delivery, product quality and overall linen service. Each main linen item’s quality is individually rated.
Other honourees in the Best Plants of the Year category included Silver Award winners Alsco Uniforms’ Vista, California, plant and PureStar’s Norwich, Connecticut, facility.
Honourable Mention winners were UniFirst Corp, Hammond, Indiana; and Wildman Business Group, Warsaw, Indiana.
Including the Best Plants of the Year, the Industry Awards Dinner featured 58 awardees across 11 categories. Honors were awarded in various categories at Gold, Silver and Honourable Mention levels:
- Above & Beyond Service
- Advertising Effectiveness
- Clean Green Sustainability
- Company Community Service
- Diversity Recognition
- Fleet Graphics
- Member Engagement
- SafeTRSA Safety Excellence
- TRSA Legislator of the Year
- Video
The full list of awards and winners can be downloaded here.
For the 2026 TRSA Industry Awards, members are encouraged to visit the awards pages on the TRSA website to learn more about the honours and how to nominate candidates for next year.
