Spotlight on Germany

Technology to increase eco and cost efficiency

2 September 2010



After 58 years, Kannegiesser’s in-house exhibition has outgrown its traditional venue at the Vlotho headquarters. The 2010 show, which covered 6,000m2, took place at the exhibition centre in Bad Salzuflen


The 2010 Kannegiesser show attracted over 4,000 visitors from 47 countries who saw technological innovation for all areas of the laundry with energy and water saving systems much to the fore.

Despite the change of venue the exhibition retained its traditional convivial spirit and this was extremely important to Martin Kannegiesser.

Under his leadership, the company has the philosophy of a family business that recognises the value of its workforce, even though the company now operates worldwide.

“Our exhibition was again a real team effort," says Martin Kannegiesser who has great respect for the amazing willingness of his employees to get involved. Over 300 office and field staff took an active role in the event.

"We wanted to show the full range of modern technology and how it can assist in all areas from logistics to marketing and sales," explains project manager Matthias Schäfer, adding that there were developments in all sectors.

Visitors were presented with innovation from the moment they entered the exhibition for directly behind the entrance they could see the Kannegiesser Supertrack Robolift, which represents an advance in bag storage. By designing a lift that can rotate the track holding the bags the company has saved space and opened up fresh ways to organise the distribution of batches of clean and soiled linen.

Correct sorting is essential to achieve the best results from the wash and to minimise the need for rewash. Kannegiesser’s ASS-System is a concept which was first seen at Texcare 2008 and still under development. Schaefer describes it as visionary. He explains that the system, which automates the sorting process by detecting the size, weight, colour and fabric of each piece, represents a great advance on the route to a fully automated laundry.

Maximum savings

Moving on to the washroom, Kannegiesser demonstrated one of the most recent developments in tunnel washing, the PowerTrans Jet machines, which are available with either centrifugal or press extraction. These maximise savings in water, energy and chemicals by taking the extraction unit into the body of the machine.

The system introduces a pre-extraction stage before the rinsing begins and the rinsing takes place in the extractor rather than in a separate compartment. This also saves space as fewer compartments are needed.

Technology extended

Jet technology has now been extended to washer-extractors and Jet rinsing and a defined residual moisture are included in the program options built into the updated washer range, Favorit Plus.

The PowerPress PP13, which takes cakes up to 1,300mm diameter is a further development for the tunnel washer line.

The company has also introduced a series of small, high-performance dryers. The DC series covers capacities from 36 – 100kg.

Efficient use of energy is highly relevant in the current economic climate and Kannegiesser has been very successful in finding ways to re-use energy.

To help visitors understand more about the process, the project team responsible for this area gave a presentation, supported by animations showing a cross-section of a condensing heat-exchanger, two silo tank variants and a heat-exchanger in use.

Resource management and data management are closely linked so the EMS presentation was complemented by a presentation of practical solutions for using data to its best advantage.

In the flatwork area, eight different ironer line layouts demonstrated ways of increasing productivity.

Large piece feeding

The introduction of the ClipMaster EMX provides a highly effective solution for feeding large pieces. This allows such pieces to be clipped only by the short edge rather than by two edges, says designer Lars Herzog.

When used in combination with the CSP batch separator, the ClipMaster EMX can achieve 1,000 pieces/hour with two operators.

The full range of feeders includes machines for all types of linen from small pieces to super-king duvet covers and table linen.

A high-performance, small piece folder and stacker made its debut at the show. The KFS can carry out a variety of folds including French folds.

Folders for varying applications from T-shirts to airline blankets were also on show and innovations included the AFMBR folder, which can handle both bathrobes and towels.

Visitors with an interest in workwear processing could see a complete garment sorting system in action. Matthias Schäfer explained that the company’s conveyor systems can now reach transport speeds of 16,000 garments per hour, which doubles the rate of the previous system.

Robots at work

The system was demonstrated with two FA-X folding robots and this combination allows laundries to sort at high speeds in a very small footprint. The FA-X industrial has recently joined the company’s family of folding robots and this model can even fold bibs and braces.

DressCare Select is the flagship system for the distribution of workwear in hospitals and healthcare businesses. The system is capable of tracking individual garments throughout the distribution chain.

Well-designed showcase

Martin Kannegiesser was more than pleased with the success this event and the way in which “the entire world of modern technology had been shown to its best advantage in a professional and comprehensive manner”.

Designer Jutta Kannegiesser had provided a stylish and modern setting which took care of the smallest detail and had delighted the guests. All areas of the exhibition from reception to catering had been exclusively staffed by Kannegiesser employees who had all asked to be involved.

The show continues to be a very important event for it allows Kannegiesser to demonstrate its technical leadership clearly to the world market and cultivate an active dialogue with its international customers.

Laundries worldwide demand that manufacturers help them to reduce operating costs, increase productivity and flexibility while still ensuring high standards of quality. Innovation must always be geared to achieving maximum efficiency while handling an ever increasing variety of textiles.

Businesses recognise the need to review corporate structures to reduce operational costs. Laundries need to increase the work rate to achieve the maximum productivity from each employee and this can only be achieved by investment in modern, more efficient technology.




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