JANUARY 2017
RIPON, Wis. — On Dec. 6, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed penalties of $124,709 to Alliance Laundry Systems after the agency’s investigation of a July 20 workplace injury identified one willful safety violation, OSHA reports. Inspectors found the Ripon-based company returned a hydraulic press to operation without adding safety guarding after a 65-year-old employee’s right middle fingertip was amputated as he lowered a press used to square parts for washing machines and dryers. In a statement, Alliance says it disagrees with the characterization of the citation as “willful” and is contesting that classification. The company goes on to say it is confident that ultimately it will be proven that there is nothing willful about the case. In addition, Alliance says, “We respect OSHA’s dedication to ensuring worker safety across the United States. We have and will continue to work closely with OSHA to resolve any issues around this particular incident and will immediately implement any actions they deem necessary to prevent future occurrences.” ALN
Volume 43, Number 1
Indianapolis co-op laundry was year from shutting down until new manager made it work, says current president/CEO BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — In 1966, United Hospital Services (UHS) in Indianapolis opened its doors. Today, more than 50 years later, it’s a thriving cooperative healthcare laundry service provider, serving 55 hospitals and more than 700 clinics. It doesn’t sound like a laundry and linen service provider that almost didn’t make it, but it’s true: UHS almost didn’t make it past 15 years in business. Ed McCauley, who has been president and CEO of UHS since
2002, knows the story well. “The previous gentleman [James Hunt] that was running this facility before I got here was here for 27 years,” McCauley says. “He was hired to shut the place down, to get out of contract with everybody because it wasn’t working. “He said, ‘You know what, guys, this just needs good management. You can make a go of this.’” McCauley says the company listened to Hunt and gave him one year to turn UHS around. “Sure enough, he did,” he says. It’s the quality of UHS management staff that McCauley cites as the reason for the company remaining in business to this day. “Why did we stay in business? Good management always comes up,” he says. “You always got to say it’s the quality of the management staff here.” McCauley says he’s done research into the founding of the company, which put its busi-
ness articles together in 1964 and opened its doors in 1966. At that time, there were three other cooperative laundries in the country—one in Baltimore, one
in Boston and one in Los Angeles. “United Hospital Services is the one that remains in business See UHS on Page 6
Power:
Driving force behind laundry operations Experts share thoughts on energy sources, effective new builds/renovations and ways to improve efficiency BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — There are many factors that are necessary for laundry and linen service providers to function, but one thing is certain: without power, a laundry won’t be processing any goods. An on-premises laundry (OPL) or commercial/industrial plant could have all of the latest equipment, the best delivery service, wonderful employees and clients with textiles and linens that need
care, but the laundry won’t be in business without energy. There are several ways to power a laundry operation, and many more ways to improve efficiency and save money. American Laundry News spoke with two experts in laundry design and construction, Ed Kwasnick and Bob Corfield, to get their insights into powering a laundry. Kwasnick is director of business development for ARCO/Murray. The construction company, based
“THE PRIMARY ENERGY IN NORTH AMERICA IS NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC. IN SOME URBAN AREAS, PURCHASED STEAM IS AN OPTION FOR SOME PLANTS.” —BOB CORFIELD, LAUNDRY DESIGN GROUP in Downers Grove, Ill., designs and builds laundry operations across the country. Corfield is president and CEO
www.americanlaundrynews.com
INSIDE Columnist at Large Eric Frederick suggests a critical review of strengths and weaknesses.
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UHS has an aggressive capital investment program for equipment upgrades. (Photo: United Hospital Services)
of Laundry Design Group out of Las Vegas, and assists laundries in creating effective laundry systems. POWER 101
What does it take to power a laundry? There are four main power sources for a laundry operation: natural gas, electricity, steam and compressed air. “The primary energy in North America is natural gas and electric,” Corfield says. “In some urban areas, purchased steam is an option for some plants.” Kwasnick says natural gas is used in burners to heat items such as dryers, ironers, tunnel finishers, See POWER on Page 10
The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
[4]
Panel of Experts Meet the new Panel members and see what they can offer in 2017.
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[16] PRODUCT
OSHA cites Alliance Laundry Systems
Good management key to UHS survival, growth
SHOWCASE
Late News
HEATGENERATING EQUIPMENT
12/16/16 10:46 AM