AUGUST 2021
Late News
Laundry leadership today, tomorrow Three leaders share how COVID-19 has changed laundry management
South Central Inc. acquires Fibertech Inc.
BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — For David Potack, president of Unitex, a medical uniform and linen service headquartered in Elmsford, New York, a leader is someone who understands how to build a team with a common culture and vision for the future of the business. “A leader needs to be well-versed in understanding the group dynamic they have fostered and how to position members of the team to be successful,” he continues. “A leader cannot or should not feel they are the only person who can make decisions but at the same time, needs to identify when the (Image licensed by Ingram Image)
See LEADER on Page 6
Expanding laundry/linen service business Over the past year and a half, ImageFIRST has added services, regional facilities BY MATT POE, EDITOR CHICAGO — Even before the pandemic took a bite out of the economy, laundry and linen services constantly sought to expand their businesses. Some laundries look at adding products and services. Others, having their sales reps seek and sign more customers. And some can look at expanding their footprint, adding plants and moving into different regions of the country. ImageFIRST, a healthcare linen and laundry company headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, has been growing its business in all the manners previously mentioned—despite the pandemic. Read on to find out how the company added a key microfiber mop program, acquired local service providers and continually seeks to help their customers enhance the experience of their end-users.
PRODUCTS AND CLIENTS The primary way most laundry and linen services expand business is by adding new products and services to their lines and bringing on new customers. When it comes to adding products, Bill Roberts, senior vice president of sales and marketing for ImageFIRST, says that whenever the company looks at any type of new product or service, it’s based on meeting the needs of its clients. Volume 47, Number 8
INSIDE OPL Laundry Cost Analysis Expert explores the costs of setting up and running an on-premises laundry operation.
Healthcare linen and laundry company ImageFIRST always seeks to meet the needs of clients when it expands. (Photo: ImageFIRST)
“We don’t develop anything in a bubble,” he says. “We’ll reach out and speak to a lot of our main clients, the ones that are the ‘movers and shakers’ in the marketplace. “We’ll reach out to, for example, a large health system and say, ‘You know, we’re thinking about this product. What’s your thought? Is it going to help solve a problem? Is it going to help improve the patient experience?’ See EXPAND on Page 10
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[14] PRODUCT SHOWCASE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — South Central Inc., based here, reports that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Fibertech Inc., a manufacturer of highquality, custom-engineered, rotationalmolded plastic products, including laundry carts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The sale allows Bill Scott, the founder of Fibertech, to retire and provides growth opportunities and stability for the business and its employees. “Bill wanted to find a good steward for Fibertech who shared similar values, care for employees and commitment to the community,” says Brent Rasche, COO of Fibertech Inc. “South Central Inc. and the Engelbrecht family check all of the boxes.” The acquisition expands and diversifies South Central’s portfolio of investments across multiple industries. “Fibertech Inc. is a solid company with a history of successful operations,” says J.P. Engelbrecht, South Central Inc. CEO, who has been named CEO of Fibertech Inc. “We are thrilled to help take this local business to the next level by investing in new production capacity, ALN talent and technology.”
Small-Capacity
Dryers
The Commercial Laundry Marathon Commercial laundry development is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, author writes.
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