INTERNATIONAL
Referring to the impact of Covid-19 and the departure of long-serving CEO Steven Renders, laundry solutions manufacturer Lapauw’s owner Philippe D’heygere, who now combines the roles of CEO and president, said: “’Never spoil a good crisis’ is a very famous saying by Sir Winston Churchill. And that is why I have immediately changed a lot of imperfections in the structure of the Lapauw Group.” Renders, whom D’heygere wishes well in his new career, is now pursuing new avenues in the print industry.
D’heygere said: “As the owner of the company, I do have ‘skin in the game’ which proves the best thing to have to rapidly make serious changes.” He goes on to list the changes:
- Overhead costs have been reduced to their most efficient level.
- The R&D department has moved into a ‘War Room’ with a team of excellent engineers not only focusing on producing high performing laundry machines, but also on the very important ecological parameters. “Greener machines for a greener globe: energy recuperation and water saving are the goals we have set for the next generation of machines,” said D’heygere.
- Weekly follow-up, and direct video call contact with all salespeople in daughter companies.
- The Lapauw factory in the Czech Republic will help to reduce the labour cost and add the needed extra production capacity.
“The Lapauw Group is getting lean and mean and is ready to challenge the aggressive competition with our excellent high performing ecological laundry machines,” said D’heygere.
Hygiene hype
D’heygere commented that the Covid-19 crisis means the world has eventually learned that hygiene and healthcare are of paramount importance, and emphasised that this is not news to Lapauw. “We at Lapauw have known this for many years. Precisely because of the importance of healthcare, hygiene and wellbeing of the growing world population, Lapauw has invented and patented the Mediwave (pictured) and the Medistream barrier washers and dryers for cleanrooms and hospitals. We have never sold as many Mediwaves as during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He added that the Hotstream, used for finishing workwear in hospitals, is sold all over the world – even in China. “It seems that the hospitals and the industrial laundries have finally been convinced about the unbelievable decontamination qualities of all our excellent washing, drying and finishing machines for garments.”
Sales surge
It seems the global pandemic is not holding Lapauw back when it comes to sales as D’heygere explained. Lapauw USA has been able to sell a lot of Lapauw ironers, feeders and folders and succeeded in a very rapid professional installation. Lapauw France was able to win a lot of deals all over France, against very aggressive competition. Two Lapauw Combi 3000 have gone into service with the railways in Belorussia and despite difficulties due to Covid-19 a new gas Mono 930 ironer with Unifold has been installed at the Policlinic in Myava, Slovenia. Meanwhile, a Lapauw Duo 900 Steam and a Unifold model were despatched to an industrial laundry in South Africa while a Starfold and stack & fold system have been pressed into service in Sydney, Australia. A Lapauw Pullman 2000 was sold in Germany winning out against a well-known local competitor manufacturer and Protek sold four Lapauw Combi 20003V to an Abu Dhabi laundry.
New appointments
New appointments globally, effective form the beginning of October, include:
David J Kidney – since travel is now quite difficult from Europe to the rest of the world, Lapauw looked hard to find the right person to represent Lapauw in the Asia Pacific Kidney is a very experience technical sales professional who has been working all over the region and knows many hotels and industrial laundries in the region. He will support Lapauw distributors and dealers and help them to increase brand awareness for Lapauw in order to achieve more sales.
Adam Cendrowicz –a highly experienced technical sales professional. who will be in charge for all Lapauw sales in Poland and will get all needed support from Lapauw CEE as he starts his mission.
