Skip to main content

American Laundry News - February 2017

Page 1

FEBRUARY 2017

Uniform provider creates mobile app BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Gallagher Uniform recently created its own mobile application, G-Trak Mobile, to provide its customers and every uniform wearer with personalized, live access to uniform delivery tracking and service requests, the company reports. “Customer service impacts customer loyalty. We take service very seriously here at Gallagher Uniform, which is why we use technology to improve communications at every level for our customers,” says John Gallagher, president of Gallagher Uniform. G-Trak Mobile was developed to integrate with Gallagher’s internal garment tracking system, the company says. Utilizing bar codes and radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips on each individual garment, uniforms can be identified and tracked at any point in the rental cycle. According to Gallagher, G-Trak Mobile handles requests for repairs, replacements and size changes; what’s getting delivered next; garment history; cancel collection; and more. Customers and uniform wearers get communication and direct feedback via text or e-mail notifications depending on their preferences. ALN

Volume 43, Number 2

Milwaukee-based hospitality linen service adds equipment, capacity Production, productivity have increased as planned with expansion, GM says BY MATT POE, EDITOR MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Hospitality Linen Service (WHLS) has been a growing business since it first opened its doors in 1996. Keith Scheffler, CLLM, general manager, says that the service was originally designed and built to launder 3 million pounds of soiled hospitality linen annually. The service quickly grew to 5 million pounds. By 2016, WHLS was processing 10 million pounds of hospitality linens, including sheets, towels and restaurant linens—and further growth was on the horizon. The company underwent a $2.3 million equipment expansion,

which it opened with a “sheetcutting” ceremony in December. The expansion will enable the company to double its current capacity. “At WHLS, we are excited to expand,” says Scheffler. “We were working at capacity with the 10-mod tunnel washer and wanted to improve efficiency in staffing.” WHLS provides commercial laundry services for Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ Wisconsin properties, as well as for other hotels in the Midwest. Scheffler says the company services 13 customers, all of which are hotels that provide rooms, spas and food-and-beverage services to guests. “The new equipment, including an additional (tunnel) washer, dry-

ers and finishing lines, will position us to double our capacity over the next five years,” says Tom Mason, senior vice president of Marcus

Hotels & Resorts, who oversees WHLS operations. See WHLS on Page 6

Lessening linen replacement through today’s technology, usage strategies Proper use, maintenance vital in avoiding linen loss via machinery, say experts BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — Linen replacement is a top recurring operational cost for the healthcare and hospitality industries. Unfortunately, the equipment used by laundry and linen services can contribute to linen degradation. “(Linen loss) is caused by the mechanical action of all washers and high pressure from extrac-

tion presses,” says Keith Ware, vice president of sales for Lavatec Laundry Technology. “Overdrying in a dryer can be a potential cause of linen damage. Not properly titrating your chemistry in the washers and routinely monitoring for residual chemical, especially bleach, can also cause linen damages.” Fortunately, today’s laundry equipment is engineered to maxi-

mize laundry throughput and reduce other factors like labor and utility usage. That includes linen loss. “Technological advancements over the years have contributed to unit and linen longevity,” says Rick Murphy, sales manager for Whirlpool Corp. Commercial Laundry. “In turn, high-efficiency washers are manufactured to provide a powerful, yet gentle, wash performance, while dryers are engineered with features to help reduce dry times—helping to increase linen life and reduce utility costs.”

www.americanlaundrynews.com

INSIDE Columnist at Large Eric Frederick discusses the value of the upcoming Clean Show.

0217aln_p01,06,10-11,15.FINAL.indd 1

A Wisconsin Hospitality Linen Service employee tries out the new 10-module tunnel washer, which has doubled processing capacity. (Photo: WHLS)

These technological advancements in washers, dryers and finishing equipment, coupled with proper usage, can help ease wearand-tear on linens and lengthen linen life. “The industry expectation is to increase garment life by approximately 20%,” says Jeff Frushtick, CEO of Leonard Automatics. WASHERS

Washing requires four elements: mechanical action, chemistry, temperature and time. Identifying See LINEN LOSS on Page 10

The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management

[4]

Panel of Experts Our experts discuss employee safety, equipment maintenance.

[16]

[18] PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Late News

1/19/17 8:21 AM


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
American Laundry News - February 2017 by American Trade Magazines - Issuu