Looking beyond the price

Price is still the first consideration for many on-premise laundries (OPLs) but, as suppliers and manufacturers in the sector argue, finding the right machine for the specific business means taking a wider view.

It involves factors from machine size and features to reliable service and takes account of future developments both in the business and in the market it serves.

The nature of OPLs varies widely from hairdressers to oil rigs, but two sectors dominate - healthcare and hospitality, (from large hotels to small family-run businesses).

Danger

The market is mature, dominated by replacement sales, but straight replacement can be a danger, says Glen Harvey, technical and marketing manager of Electrolux Laundry Systems. The original machine may have been bought 10 to 12 years ago. In that time not only has technology moved on, but the business will als have changed and should re-assess its requirements.

The purchasing decision should look at how machines are now being used and the exact reason for the current purchase, for example, does the business want to provide an extra service that will affect the specification? Where a normal-speed model may have sufficed, a high-speed may now be needed.

Just as the business has changed, and probably grown since the old machine was installed so it could change in the future. Building in reserve capacity will in the long term avoid accelerated replacement or additional purchases.

"Our starting point when talking about any equipment is to get away from the bottom line cost and look at the needs of the business," says Peter Thompson, commercial director at JLA

Ensuring that the laundry operates with reliable equipment is a priority. If anything does go wrong, support should be readily available, provided by qualified experienced engineers, and a service structure that makes sure they have the right parts. JLA, says Mr Thompson, fixes over 90% of repairs on the first visit.

He also points out that changing regulations should be taken into account. Water regulations now require that OPLs in certain "fluid categories" must have machines fitted with Type A air gaps.

All JLA medicare specified machines meet this requirement.

In the healthcare market, HSG9518, the guidelines governing thermal dis-

infection, are due for revision. Indeed the focus on hygiene control in general is increasing: "I do believe there is more emphasis on hygiene control, not just in the healthcare market but also in the food industry" says Mr Thompson, and in other sectors too.

Right supplier

Finding the right supplier is also part of the package as Malcolm Martin, product manager at Miele Professional points out. With such a varying range of needs to consider, the supplier, be it dealer or manufacturer, needs to have a good track record and be able to put together a set of criteria that will ensure the machine fits its chosen purpose.

Mr Martin says that customers must consider features outside the product. Service back-up must be capable of supporting their operation. Hotel and care home laundries often operate on a seven days/24 hours basis so they need a service that can respond quickly.

The availability of extended warranties could be another point to check.

Miele recently set up a dealer network that for the most part deals with regional customers and these dealers are now an important part of the company's service.

Armstrong Commercial Laundry Systems director, Tom Lowes, is particularly emphatic that there is more to the choice than simple costs. He explains that while people do buy on price, it may lead to the wrong choice. If the machine is too small, the application could soon outgrow its capacity, reducing productivity or leading to early replacement.

The machine itself is obviously central to the purchasing decision. While technical advances in washer-extractor design are now well established, they may not have been available when the original machine was installed.

The two main advancements, as Malcolm Martin at Miele points out, have been the introduction of electronic controls and improved motor technology (inverter drives and frequency control). These have led to machines with a much higher degree of controllability and have opened the route to bespoke requirements. Program times, temperatures, and water levels can be set precisely and individually for specific applications.

Changing programs or adding new ones is relatively straight forward, a job for the laundry's engineer.

Future-proofing

Easy adaptability, explains Mr Martin, results in a degree of future-proofing allowing the business to adjust to operational changes as they occur. OPL managers can take advantage of new programs or energy saving features that manufacturers develop, simply downloading the software via a laptop.

Escalating utility costs mean that all OPLs, particularly the national operations, need to keep a tight control on running costs. Miele hints that it has developed a drum that will represent a big departure from the standard design and will allow more efficient use of water and energy. The machine is due in the later part of the year.

Efficient water extraction is a prime factor in reducing running costs and Tom Lowes at Armstrong highlights the move from rigid mount machines to free-standing high-speed washers. Such machines have lower installation costs (which offsets the higher price), and also reduces drying time and costs.

Higher speeds have also been made possible by the use of inverter drive motors as this eliminates moving parts and allows the machine to ramp-up gradually to maximum extract, saving wear and tear on the machine and up to 40% of the inrush electricity.

A high extract machine has the benefit of being able to handle a variety of workloads, explains Electrolux's Glen Harvey. His company offers a machine with an extract factor up to 350G, but it can be programmed according to load.

The company's high-speed machines also offer the benefits of fully flexible programming.

In control

Electrolux offers three levels of control, electro-mechanical (Classic), Exacta microprocesor control - with fixed programs, and Clarus - (fully programmable electronic). Linked into the control

system, the machines also offer features designed to fine tune loading.

The automatic weighing system (AWS) on high-speed Exacta machines, calculates load size with an initial spin, and then adjusts water level to suit.

Fully programmable Clarus machines offer the option of IWS (integrated weighing system) which uses sensors to physically weigh the load, sending information to the Clarus control and adjusting water to suit. It can also be linked into a dosing system allowing chemical use to be matched to the load.

The dynamic balance system (DBS), another development stemming from electronics, smooths out imbalances in the load. This is particularly important for smaller loads which are always more difficult. DBS also cuts down on machine noise and vibration, making it easier to install machines on upper floors or near to residents, and reduces wear and tear on components, so prolonging machine life.

JLA also emphasises the degree to which the use of electronics, inverter drives and frequency control have increased operational flexibility, improved work quality, and given greater reliability.

Laundries can now have a wider choice or wash actions and extract speed. For example, a gentle action that avoids sudden starts and smoother transitions.

Monitoring performance

Just as electronics have allowed more information to be fed into the machine, so they have also increased the information that can be recorded and fed into a management system in order to monitor machine performance.

The advantage of this has been seized by Electrolux which is introducing CMIS (Certus Management Information System). In its first stage of development the system will monitor up 30 Clarus-

control washers.

OPL managers need to ensure not only that the machines are correctly specified but also that they are used correctly.

Training is often part of the package. Electrolux, for example, will train at the customer's site and show them how to use the machine. Miele, either directly or through its dealers, will provide both operator training and technical courses for engineers. While at JLA, Peter Thompson stresses that the company has staff qualified to train to NVQ standard and can issue appropriate certificates. The company provides guidelines to using the equipment and to routine maintenance.

Again stressing the importance of keeping up with hygiene control trends Mr Thompson observes that these extend beyond individual machines to the whole operation, and to following the HSE guidelines for the handling of infected linen.

Armstrong's Tom Lowes also addresses health and safety and says laundries need to be aware of other aspects such as ergonomics, having the machine at the right height for the operator and of course making sure the machine is

correctly installed in the first place.