AUGUST 2022
Late News O’Neil named TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award winner ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Executive Committee of TRSA’s Board of Directors recently voted to honor Brian O’Neil, president of California Linen Services, Pasadena, with the association’s highest honor: the TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award. O’Neil will receive the award on Sept. 15 at TRSA’s Annual Awards Dinner, held in conjunction with its Annual Conference in Nashville. TRSA says O’Neil, 80, has dedicated his career to working in the linen, uniform and facility services industry and continues to lead the staff at O’Neil California Linen, where 25% of its employees have been with the company for 25 years and another 25% have been for another 10-25 years. TRSA Chair Noël Richardson, president, Shasta Linen Supply, Sacramento, California, notes that the Executive Committee’s decision, “allows us the pleasure of extending a heartfelt thanks for Brian’s service to the industry.”
Cost control in laundry operations Is it possible to cut laundry operation costs without sacrificing quality, hygiene, safety and customer satisfaction? BY ROBERT HINES AND DAN LEAVY SAN DIEGO — We’ve all faced a range of challenges over the last 18 months with the supply-chain issues along with the extraordinary increases in textiles, utilities, fuel and wages. At Emerald, it is important that we invest in opportunities that can help us mitigate the cost impacts that we continue to experience. Emerald Textiles has strategically deployed capital, right-sized our business in various areas and has been proactively reducing costs that will provide short and long-term positive impacts for our business. We’ve done this while not wavering from our mission to provide high-quality products and trusted services, helping our customers achieve what matters most: affordable, high-quality service.
(Image licensed by Ingram Image)
BENEFITS OF AUTOMATION At Emerald, we are continually investing in our facilities, technology, equipment, people and customers. Labor is of the utmost importance as we currently employ nearly 2,500 team members. In California, we’ve not only experienced
labor shortages, but also year-over-year minimum wage adjustments. However, the minimum wage increase has not solved the issue of employee retention or the ability to hire new employees. See COST on Page 6
ImageFIRST acquires Edina Laundry Company National healthcare linen provider expands laundry processing capabilities in the Twins Cities with latest acquisition, adding second location in Minnesota
Edina Laundry Company associates have been retained by ImageFIRST with its acquisition of the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, operation. (Photo: ImageFIRST)
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — ImageFIRST, a national provider of linen and laundry services specializing in the healthcare industry, reports that it has acquired Minnesota-based Edina Laundry Company. This acquisition marks ImageFIRST’s second location in Minnesota. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Edina Laundry Co., founded in 1952, provides commercial rental and laundry services for hospitality and healthcare businesses throughout Minnesota, including the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Edina Laundry Co., located in St. Louis Park, will continue to See ACQUIRE on Page 4
Volume 48, Number 8
INSIDE Linen Inventory Assessment A snapshot of linen inventory at Goodwill Laundry & Linen in Milwaukee.
www.americanlaundrynews.com
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Continuous Process Quality How to maintain quality control in a more automated, fast-paced laundry operation.
The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
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Panel of Experts In this issue, the experts share strategies for replacing a retiring, valuable employee.
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