AMARILLO — For years, healthcare entities in the Texas panhandle had to send out their linens to be processed.
Sometimes the goods traveled hundreds of miles.
Then, in 2013, a group in Amarillo read about the Evergreen Cooperative Laundry in Cleveland, a worker-owned co-op. That raised a question: Could such an operation could succeed in Texas?
After eight years, North Heights Linen Service (NHLS) is up and running, processing healthcare operation goods in Amarillo.
“This facility was built to provide healthcare linens to the many entities in the Texas panhandle,” says Richard Engler, general manager of NHLS. “Previously much of this work had been sent to facilities out of state as no local option was available.”
Bowden Jones, an NHLS Board member, says that the healthcare system is vital to the success of the city.
“Being able to service this industry locally helps to bring and retain revenue for the city,” he says. “Local servicing also allows for those organizations served to receive cost savings as well, because of the proximity of the laundry to their establishments.”
Jones adds that the laundry was started by individuals who have an interest in improving one of the underserved areas of Amarillo and, thus, improving the city of Amarillo as a whole by using the Evergreen Laundry model.
“(The Evergreen Laundry model … is one of the few, if not the only type of model, that purposes to create a viable business that employees receive the opportunity to have ownership in,” Jones says.
“Many underserved communities such as North Amarillo can be improved through ownership. This model allows that to happen.”
OPERATIONAL SETUP
North Heights Linen Service is housed in a 30,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility, shares Art Jordan, plant manager.
It’s configured with a 10-module, 130-pound tunnel feeding three dryers, two 450-pound pass-through washers and two small conventional machines feeding four more dryers. The clean linen is discharged to two high-speed ironer lines, a blanket folder, a mini folder and two small-piece folders.
“This setup will produce up to 25,000 pounds of clean linen per eight-hour shift,” shares Jordan. “On a five days a week, one shift schedule, we can process over 6 million pounds a year. This is all accomplished with our 20-25 laundry techs daily.”
Takeaway conveyors transport goods to a central packing and shipping area.
“The design of the facility allows for a second tunnel and dryer line, a fourth dryer on the existing line, another pass-through 450, clean and soiled rail, a third ironer, and additional small-piece folders,” Engler says. “The building can be expanded by a third on the existing property when needed.”
He adds that NHLS will apply for Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) certification as well as the TRSA Hygienically Clean certification.
“We have experienced the normal challenges that any startup would face in terms of gaining additional clients,” says Jones. “Hiring the right people, specifically the right person to lead the laundry has been critical and that gives us confidence that success is imminent.”
Engler adds that overcoming the obstacles of building and starting up during the pandemic was a greater challenge than expected.
“As everyone has experienced, many supply and logistics concerns arose while in process and underway,” he shares. “Adapting to extended delays and juggling of schedules to accommodate these continuing changes was the biggest success of the startup efforts.”
Leonard Cantly, production manager 1 for NHLS, says that a great success of North Heights Linen Service is that during Amarillo’s 100-year existence, this is the first company on the north side of town that is geared for the workers needing workable hours for single parents, along with the local community college providing the training center within the facility that teaches finance courses and GED.
Jordan adds that another success has been the outpouring of support in the form of the overwhelming number of applicants at a time where most companies are struggling to find employees.
“This was achieved through our Board members’ tireless efforts in getting the word out about the laundry and ushering applicants to the website and the plant directly,” he says.
“I think that for the future, the company is going to experience significant growth that will ultimately force us to add additional space and equipment to service clients efficiently,” Jones says.
“I also believe that the success of the company is a preview to what is going to happen with the community and that within itself creates a sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Miss Part 1 about NHLS’s beginning and local benefits? Click HERE now to read it!
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].