CHICAGO — The Clean Show is set to highlight technological advancements available to the industrial/institutional laundry industry during its four-day stay in Orlando, Florida, in August.
Because of this, American Laundry News’ most recent Your Views survey asked laundry operators about advancements in their plants, where they need upgrades, and how the overall industry needs to move forward in terms of technology.
All the survey respondents say their operations have purchased new equipment recently. Three-quarters indicate they’ve had some type of installation within the past year. The remaining 25% have made a purchase within the past two to five years.
Some of these recent acquisitions have included a bagging machine for wipers, a flatwork folder and bagger, and a 135-pound washer.
The largest upgrade? A “brand-new plant.”
“Everything,” the respondent writes. “Tunnels, dryers, monorail (clean and soil), ironers, small-piece folders, sheet spreader and cross-folders, steam tunnel, automatic folders, conveyors, trucks, trailers, carts, lint blowers, and lint filters.”
When asked, What segment of your laundry operation is due for an equipment upgrade?, tracking, packaging, folding and delivery were each indicated by 25% of survey takers.
Why did respondents select these laundry segments instead of sorting, washing, drying and ironing upgrades? Replies included:
- “The addition of (RFID) chips will increase our knowledge of where the scrubs are.”
- “We need an automated wrapping system.”
- “Improving the quality and throughput of table linen.”
- “We’ve been doing the same thing for many years.”
When asked what segment of the industrial/institutional laundry industry needs to take a leap forward in technology, responses were similar to individual plants. Half of survey takers say sorting needs to improve technologically, followed by ironing and delivery at 25% each.
Advances needed, as shared by respondents, include:
- “Systems—make it easier for people who sort. Not necessarily robotics.”
- “Automated feeding for flatwork ironers.”
- “It is too labor-intensive.”
Technology, in general, is always advancing, and survey takers share that three areas could be better used in laundry operations from a list of seven options (checking all that apply): artificial intelligence (50%), energy sustainability technology (75%) and hardware improvements (25%).
One respondent writes, “Use AI to detect defects in linen and garments.”
“Staging for tunnels, and efficient washing methodology that helps speed formulas,” shares another.
Finally, one survey taker writes, “Our industry has been too slow to advance. We need to step up our game!”
While the Your Views survey presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, it should not be considered scientific. Due to rounding, percentages may not add up to 100%.
Subscribers to American Laundry News e-mails are invited to take the industry survey anonymously online each quarter. All managers and administrators of institutional/OPL, cooperative, commercial and industrial laundries are encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and identify industry trends.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].
