Combining increased speeds with even greater accuracy

Manufacturers of flatwork handling equipment say that optimum and consistent finishing quality at a given speed are the main requirements for the finishing line. This means that the folder has to be able to match the feeder both in terms of speed and finishing quality.
While larger laundries can invest in several specialised finishing lines, dedicated to particular categories such as bed or table linen manufacturers have also responded to the requirement for multi-function machines that can handle a mix of sizes and categories.
The Jensen Group observes that the pressure to increase the productivity per operator hour through automation is driving sales of feeders and folders.
Even though global cotton prices have stabilised they have done so at a relatively high level and so some companies are switching to polycotton blends, says Jensen. Another change is the use of heavier duvet covers.
Laundries therefore require technology that can handle these changes and still produce 100% efficiency on the finishing line. Jensen says that its Logic Plus which can cope with large and small pieces and can be used for sheets, duvet covers and table linen, meets this requirement.

Setting the standard
As the first step in the finishing process the feeder sets the standard for the rest of the line and so it is important to specify this equipment correctly.
The Jenfeed Express with cornerless feeding was introduced on the Jensen Group stand at the 2011 Clean Show 2011 where 30 single sheets were fed into the machine by only two operators at a rate that corresponds to 1,800 pieces per hour.
For this year's Clean Show in New Orleans, Jensen operated two
large-piece finishing lines. A healthcare finishing line for single sheets and draw sheets put the emphasis on speed and featured the Jenfeed Express feeder. At the end of the line this was matched by the Classic S high-speed combination folder for one or two classic half folds, and the Jenstack Max large piece stacker.

Quality finish
The hospitality line for producing a top quality finish on bed and table linen, featured the Jenfeed Logic Plus feeder. This line also included the Jenscan MPS (multi-purpose scanning), which can detect holes and stains as small as
1 x 2mm, the Jenfold Classic E-3 combination folder for 1, 2 or 3 classic half folds and the Jenstack Max Twin large piece stacker.
Jensen offers first-time investors the opportunity to visit its factory, see the machines in operation in the Jensen Academy and gain "hands-on" experience of operation the machines quickly and efficiently.
The company says that even though modern ironer lines react quickly when changing category, Jensen advises its customers to sort linen into categories. This will ensure an even and stable flow of categorised linen from the washroom to the finishing department, to optimise overall production.
Kannegiesser says that in the vast the international market there are distinct differences from one country to another. There can even be a large market variance in the same country.
However, the ever-rising cost of labour is a common theme across all markets. Laundry operators must maximise efficiency while still increasing quality to maintain a competitive advantage.
Equipment manufacturers must be innovative in their approach and work more closely with the customers, says Kannegiesser and its adds that requirements are constantly changing because of the increasing variety of textiles. In addition, there are common concerns about energy conservation, automation, safety and improved ergonomics.
Europe has traditionally been ahead in these areas. Kannegiesser says it has led the way in equipment design and system integration.
The company points out that in North America, Kannegiesser points out that automation of the wash aisle in many laundries has been ahead of that of finishing department but it is the latter that is the most labour-intensive area of the laundry.
The correct use of automation allows for more consistent, high quality output throughout the working day. This in turn reduces overall costs while at the same time it improves the safety, working environment and productivity of the finishing department.
Accurate machine controls were on view on Kannegiesser's stand at the Clean Show in New Orleans in June, where the company demonstrated several flatwork feeding and folding machines and the latest developments in garment processing.

Simple operation
The company says that laundries handling sheets and duvets require feeders that are simple to operate and can handle a wide range of fabrics and linen types.
Its three-/four-station EMT/EMQ feeder is designed to process a combination of work including sheets, duvet covers and table linen.
The EMT feeder can handle small and large items in one or more lanes and it also benefits from design features such as a controllable vacuum chute for different article weights and a spreader function with "intelligent" control. This achieves good results on duvet covers by ensuring a good leading edge. The same principle has been used in the design of other Kannegiesser feeders.
The Kannegiesser EMQ four-station feeder continues to be the company's market leader for duvet covers and table linen. It can also be automatically converted to handle small pieces such as napkins and pillowcases.
Laco Machinery in Belgium agrees that the cost of labour is the main reason for automating the feeding process and where costs are high, the return on investment is the deciding factor in the choice.

Integrated solutions
Laco believes in integrated solutions and its range includes the compact Comfort Evolution, which incorporates the complete ironing line - feeder, chest ironer and folder.
The company says that the Comfort Evolution is enjoying its best year ever, with the larger 800mm roll model accounting for over half the sales. The Comfort Evolution has been sold to on-premise laundries in 4/5 star rated hotels of up to 700 rooms and hospitals up to 2,000 beds.
Laco's smallest model, in this range, with a 500mm roll and 2m ironing width, can cater for hotels of 50 rooms and retirement homes with up to 100.
The Comfort Evolution range can handle up to 250kg per hour on flatwork and can accept pillowcases and duvet covers straight from the washer without the need to pre-dry or pass these pieces two or three times through the line. The machine uses thermal oil that flows at high speed and prevents overheating problems.
Laco also produces chest ironers with built-in feeders. This built-in feeder includes a system to make sure that the linen is placed with the corners flat on the belt, a feature that is usually found in the industrial sector rather than the commercial sector.

Folder trend
The company's range also includes Lacofold primary folders. As with feeders, the trend in folders is towards standardisation, with a focus on quality and cost-efficiency.
Laundries must decide whether to opt for a compact multi-purpose folder or whether it is more cost-efficient to buy a folder specifically developed to handle certain types of linen.
Laco has upgraded its primary Lacofold Evolution folder with a 7inch touchscreen that permits easier programming with a range of options.
New features are the airblast setting per 0.1 of a second and exact airblast pressure per 0.1bar, which is of great benefit in folding multi-layer and light goods.
The Lacofold Evolution has been re-designed to take up only 1,480mm of floorspace including the 600mm folding and stacking table. Available for one- to four-lane operation, the folders can be automatically synchronised with a Laco ironer. Since 2011, the standard Lacofold Evolution has provided three primary folds. Multi-lane options, of up to four lanes, allow lanes to operate individually or coupled for mixed batches.
Laco also reports that customers no longer want "off the rack" solutions on the finishing line, preferring "customised" features for ironing, folding and stacking. Already known for its ironers, Laco says that it is now receiving more requests for extended feeding tables, perforated vacuum feeding belts, feeder connections and folder connections, options that are clearly preferred by bigger laundries, particularly medium to large industrial operations.
Lapauw has an established reputation for feeders and folders as well as for its ironers and the company reports increased interest in its Extra cornerless feeder. This features an automatic corrector that allows sheets to be fed straight into the ironer and ergonomically-designed feeding stations. The Extra is capable of production speeds of up to 14 single sheets per minute, with only two operators.

Air or knife folding
Lapauw's range of folders can be supplied with either air blast or knife folding systems and machines produce standard or French folds. With its Unifold and Superfold, Lapauw covers a wide range of folding applications.
The Unifold folder is suitable for high capacity production lines and as a small piece primary folder. Its modular design allows operators to process a wide variety of items without the need for frequent program changes or sorting before the ironing process.
The Superfold offers the highest standards in folding quality, as it is equipped with standard knife folding on cross folds and primary folds.
All machines can be equipped with the Lapauw Electronic System ELS control developed by Lapauw with Siemens, the specialist in motion control systems.