OCTOBER 2016
MIAMI — Commercial laundry equipment distributor EnviroStar Inc. (EVI) reports it has executed a definitive asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of California-based Western State Design LLC, also a distributor of commercial, industrial and coin-operated laundry products, and provider of installation and routine maintenance services. Closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including financing. Pursuant to the agreement, the purchase price is $28 million, of which $18 million will be paid in cash at closing—which is expected to occur by mid-October— and $10 million in shares of EVI’s common stock. Western State Design will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of EVI under its current name, from its present West Coast locations, led by its existing management team and employees, and with the added benefit of EVI’s support and resources to assist Western in execution of its growth plans. EnviroStar, which has served the laundry industry since 1959, also distributes drycleaning equipment, industrial boilers, and related parts, supplies and technical services. ALN
Volume 42, Number 10
Laundry that took ‘half the night’ now done in 1.5 hours, says director of equipment operations BY MATT POE, EDITOR EUGENE, Ore. — Aaron Wasson was a busy man at the beginning of September. As director of equipment operations for the University of Oregon, Wasson was in the middle of getting gear ready for the nationally ranked Ducks’ first football game. He was also overseeing his department’s transition into a newly reconstructed facility. “We’re in the process of moving in as well,” Wasson says. “It’s a pretty big equipment space, and we have construction trailers and tractor trailers, shipping contain-
ers around that we’ve had stuff in for a while.” The new equipment space is part of the university’s new Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center, which was named after the university’s Heisman Trophywinning quarterback (2014). Mariota is now the starting quarterback for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Included in Wasson’s equipment space is a new laundry area, fittingly called the Pond. And as he was preparing the team’s equipment, Wasson was preparing his laundry team for its first game-day processing.
“We’re about three weeks in to using the laundry,” says Wasson. Up to that point, the laundry had only seen workout gear, not
game-day laundry. But, with a doubled capacity, Wasson was sure See OREGON on Page 6
HX: The Hotel Experience expands new look and feel for 2016 edition of show Second year to include more technology, demos BY MATT POE, EDITOR NEW YORK — HX has some exciting new features to highlight this year, now in the second year of a multimillion-dollar rebrand from the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) to HX: The Hotel Experience—Rooms to Restaurants, according to show
organizer Hospitality Media Group (HMG). The rebranded event drew more than 12,000 visitors in 2015, and HMG is expecting the 2016 turnout to be just as strong. “2015 was a year of bold changes for the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS). The rebrand from IHMRS to HX: The Hotel Experience—Rooms to Restaurants thrilled our audiences and gave a whole new life to the show in its 100th year,” says Phil Robinson, HX Group show director. “HX is now well-positioned to serve the sourcing, education and
“HX IS NOW WELLPOSITIONED TO SERVE THE SOURCING, EDUCATION AND NETWORKING NEEDS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY GOING FORWARD” —PHIL ROBINSON, HX GROUP networking needs of the hospitality industry going forward.”
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INSIDE Columnist at Large Eric Frederick discusses the old-fashioned value of loyalty.
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The University of Oregon’s new football laundry features six washers and six dryers. (Photos: Eric Evans, Oregon Athletic Communications)
The 2016 show will take place Nov. 13-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The three-day event will feature more than 400 inventive exhibitors, knowledgeable speakers and eye-catching demos—all on one floor. HX 2016 includes three enterprise feature areas on the show floor, says HMG. HX: TECH, sponsored by MasterCard, is home to technology education and will demo the latest tech tools and gadgets. HX: ONSTAGE-HOTEL will feaSee HX on Page 10
The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
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Panel of Experts Our experts examine what to track in a laundry operation.
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[22] PRODUCT
EnviroStar to acquire Western State Design for $28 Million
University of Oregon football team has brand-new ‘Pond’
SHOWCASE
Late News
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9/16/16 4:12 PM