In the world of laundry business, especially in laundries serving corporate and healthcare facilities, the demands are always higher than in the residential segment. The need for increased daily productivity increases with an emphasis on maximum safety measures. Limited capabilities further complicate the situation when equipment requires maintenance.
It is important to understand that the current situation is not an accident, and has shown us what we may need to be prepared for in the future. Equipment sizes, features and technologies that may not have been considered before may now become essential to your operations in a post-COVID-19 world.
If you haven’t thought about upgrading your laundry room yet, create a journal of all your current pain points. Your ideas documented now will be very helpful when you start planning your laundry room remodel in the future. Below are a few options that can help you list your needs.
High G-Force. If increased drying throughput requirements are causing drying bottlenecks, you may want to consider a high G-Force washer-extractor ( 350+ G-Force ). A high G-Force value significantly reduces drying time by removing significantly more water while still in the washing machine compared to a low G-Force value of 85-200. This is also the most effective way to remove moisture after washing.- Moisture sensing. Humidity sensing is another feature worth considering. In line withCDCto wash laundry in the hottest water possible and dry it completely, moisture sensing technology eliminates the need for workers to test laundry for moisture, saving them time and effort. Moisture sensing technology dries laundry to the programmed moisture content and stops the tumbler. This function also eliminates the costly over-drying of things, which leads to wasted utility bills and rapid deterioration in the quality of bed linen (all the lint from the linen ends up in a special drawer).
Laundry management. yishiwashing laundry management systems are perhaps one of the most important new technologies in today's crisis. Offering remote access to a wealth of data, including documentation cycles used (providing process control), maximum temperature reached in each cycle (CDC recommendations are 60-70 degrees to kill bacteria), and more. They control the washing process when the manager is not on site, offering real-time viewing of what is happening. Laundry management systems are an insurance policy that provides quality control to your laundry operation.
Carts and other support equipment : Do you need more laundry carts or an upgraded design that is easier to sanitize? Are your current carts labeled or clearly marked as to which ones are for dirty laundry and which ones are for clean laundry only? Can your storage areas and tables be easily sanitized? Do you have enough spray bottles and rags to wipe down areas as often as needed during this crisis? Do you have enough bags on hand and in the right places to pack dirty laundry?
Service . You may be considering the service and support capabilities of your equipment distributor. With many facilities closed during the crisis, working with a distributor that has video surveillance troubleshooting may be essential for future purchasing decisions. Also, overall service hours and parts availability are equally important. The crisis may have exposed your current distributor’s weaknesses in these areas, or they may have strengthened their position in your facility by going the extra mile. You may also determine the need to have more parts on hand to handle light maintenance work in-house.
Large volume. Have you discovered a need for more throughput in your work? While greater machine throughput may be the goal, managers must also consider the volume of soiled laundry entering the laundry at a time. Often using multiple smaller capacity machines may make the most sense as not all laundry arrives at once - waiting for a larger capacity machine to be fully loaded can waste valuable time. Use this time to notice how much laundry is processed at a time in your laundry room.
Finishing equipment . Are ironing machines a way to improve not only quality but also productivity? When combined with high G-Force washer-extractors, the laundry is often ready for ironing or needs minimal conditioning in the dryer.- High pressure rinse options. Spin washing machines using high pressure rinsing ( OPTISPRAY ) are highly effective at removing chemical residues compared to conventional rinses, which is a huge benefit in long-term care environments where wrinkling is exacerbated by chemical residues in laundry. Because of this, rinse aids can also be used in a crisis situation, such as when we perform a pre-rinse with the drain valve open to remove dirt before starting a wash cycle. When the drain is open, dirt is immediately removed from the flushing cylinder.
- Chemicals. Are your current chemicals and their supplier doing a good job of servicing you? Has the crisis brought about any necessary changes in your chemical needs or wash doses? Is your chemical representative coming to you with new ideas to get better results and quality? Can they also provide supplies for cleaning controls, handles, folding tables, etc.?
There is no doubt that these are tough times… and we are all trying to get the best out of our day and get everything done on time. However, there is also an opportunity to look at our laundry operations with new eyes. Tough times definitely expose process breakdowns as well as equipment deficiencies. Take these tips into consideration and let them guide your purchases and other decisions now and in the near future. This will ensure that your operation is streamlined and strengthened to manage a possible future crisis.
