OSHKOSH, Wis. — Girbau Industrial recently recognized Laundry Systems of Tennessee, in Sevierville, Tenn., with the 2021 GI Business Partner of the Year Award while Panaram International Trading Co. in Bellville, N.J., received the 2021 Girbau North America Business Partner of the Year Award.
Laundry Systems received the award for outstanding sales, technical knowledge and support of GI laundry systems, according to Joel Jorgensen, Girbau North America vice president of sales.
“Laundry Systems has far and away excelled in establishing the GI brand within their territory’s hospitality and cabin rental markets,” he says.
“Jeff Large and his team have made an investment of time and experience in understanding opportunities within the industrial laundry realm. With that, they’ve established great opportunity and autonomy that’s propelled them in their market. We are pleased and thrilled to work hand-in-hand with them.”
Laundry Systems is a full-service distributor offering parts, service and sales to industrial, on-premises and vended laundries. A Girbau Industrial partner for more than 13 years, Laundry Systems is the recipient of three GI Distributor of the Year awards, in addition to this year’s GI Business Partner of the Year award.
“Over the last two years, labor has become a great concern for industrial laundries,” says Large.
“Automation and the GI product have become our go-to answer for labor savings, efficiency and greater productivity. We are glad to work alongside GI as we help laundries cut costs and improve quality.”
Panaram received its award for superior sales and service performance within the carwash industry.
The company was founded by Ira A. Feinberg in 1971 and is now headed by his daughter, Juliette Silver. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBEC) has certified it as a women-owned business.
Panaram has two affiliates: USAtowel.com, which manufactures and markets an entire range of towels and sheets for both domestic and global sales, and Carwashworld.com, which provides the carwash industry with unique and patented carwash cleaning systems, equipment, consulting and supplies for existing and new carwash facilities.
“Panaram is GNA’s oldest national account specializing in the carwash industry,” says Jorgensen. “They bring unique car wash solutions to the industry utilizing GNA equipment and their chemistry and textiles.
“Juliette and her team have taken the legacy of Ira and expanded their success to a phenomenal level. We are thrilled to work with them.”
Panaram’s focus on customer service sets them apart, according to Jorgensen.
Silver, CEO of Panaram/Carwashworld agrees, “For over 50 years, our team has learned the business from a legend in the industry, my late father, Ira.”
“We do things the right way, always, and our customers’ needs always come first. More than 30 years ago, my father forged a relationship with Girbau North America that has continued to this day in the next generation. This family has been a mentor, partner, customer and friend. We would not be receiving this incredible honor if not for the GNA family.”
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