Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008 - (Page 23)

laundry teCHnology (continued from page 12) The difference between the extraction speeds in terms of moisture retention is great. In a 60-pound load of 50/50 cottonterry blend items, at 200 G-force moisture retention is roughly 67 percent, compared to 57 percent at 300 G-force. While variable frequency drive technology has sent extraction cycles on the upswing, engineers have strengthened frame constructions to keep pace. Introducing Ozone As laundries seek even greater levels of efficiency, many have turned to more outside-the-box technology. Ozone injection units, for instance, are added to washer/ extractors and are touted to have a variety of benefits. Ozone gas is injected into the water to increase the cleaning abilities of laundry chemicals in lower water temperatures. Benefits include reduced water consumption and hot water consumption, lower chemical usage, decreased cycle times, and lower utility costs due to the reduced hot water. “We continue to see on-premise laundries add ozone systems as a way to reduce costs and increase overall efficiency,” says Craig Dakauskas, vice president of sales at Commercial & Coin Laundry Equipment and Service, a laundry equipment distributor based in Gulf Breeze, FL. “I see this technology gaining in popularity in the future as laundries place increased emphasis on trimming costs.” For an average-sized laundry, utilizing two 125-pound washers and an ozone system could cost roughly $20,000. But Dakauskas says money saved due to installing the system can be enough to pay for the unit in a year to 18 months. Historically, the laundry market has been very slow to embrace new technologies, but lately it has been adding features in order to increase efficiency, such as the use of PDA systems. changes, drying technology has advanced more gradually. Like washer/extractors, strides have been focused on improving efficiency. Manufacturers have fine-tuned designs to reduce drying times and utility consumption. “Our approach to drying has always been to strike a balance between heat, tumble action, and airflow,” Shady says. “We’ll continue to tweak those elements to obtain the best results for customers.” Along with that course has been the trend toward microprocessor controls helping laundries better manage the care of linens through more exact drying and cool-down times, as well as temperatures. Again, the benefits of more tailored cycles are better overall efficiency and longer linen life. managers in cutting expenses, including labor.” In addition, Bowe cautions that managers must make ease of use of equipment a priority as well. “Advanced controls and features are great, but they must be userfriendly or you risk losing labor efficiency due to extended training,” Bowe says. Both agree technology, as it relates to the laundry, already is at a high level and future advances will build on current developments. One area that could see increased interest; however, is water reuse systems. “There’s a lot of talk about Green, but it really takes events such as the drought to spark serious interest in such technology because of the additional up-front cost,” Shady says. So while management may be slow in adopting new technology within the laundry industry, conditions and increases in operating expenses, such as utilities, may make them more receptive to the long-term benefits of high-feature equipment. A Glimpse at the Future Drying the Same While the washing side of the laundry has seen a variety of The water crisis in the Southeast, as well as rising utility costs, and the emphasis worldwide on adopting “Greener” methods, should translate into laundries embracing more technology in the laundry. “People buying commercial laundry equipment today need to be thinking about costs in the future,” Shady says. “Technology must be viewed as a tool to assist W Randy Radtke is a public relations specialist for Alliance Laundry Systems, located in Ripon, WI. He may be reached at randy.radtke@alliancels. com. January 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today 23

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008 Contents Executive Corner How Hand-Held Computers Benefit Quality Assurance Programs Shining the Light on ATP Detection Frugal Housekeeper MRSA: Myth or Monster? The Impact of New Laundry Technology I.E.H.A.’s 41st Educational Conference and Convention Wrap-Up Board Briefing 2007 Audit Report The Green Scene 2007 International Housekeepers Week Celebrations! Inside the Industry Product Highlights Advertisers' Index Joint IEHA/ISSA Members New Members Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008

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