All articles by kathy bowry
TRSA celebrates excellence and innovation at Annual Conference
NORTH AMERICA
The much-anticipated112th edition of TRSA’s Annual Conference, held near Palm Springs, California, offered a diverse array of activities for attendees, from dynamic speakers and interactive networking events to a gala honouring distinguished executives for their lifetime contributions to the linen, uniform, and facility services industry, said TRSA, the linen rental association for North America.
Xerafy stages RFID webinar
INTERNATONAL
Managing textile inventory is a daily challenge across industries like healthcare, hospitality, and rental services, says Xerafy, supplier of the RAIN RFID system. A mid-size hotel can lose over $200,000 per year in missing towels and linens. Hospitals throw away soiled items that could be cleaned. Uniform providers struggle with sorting and billing thousands of garments every week. RAIN RFID is running a webinar on 22 May, ‘Wash, Track, Repeat’, whether you’re just starting to explore RFID or looking to upgrade your current setup, to walk you through the essential steps from choosing the right tags and attachment methods to evaluating hardware and launching your first pilot.
Awards announced for the second edition of Texcare France
FRANCE
As Texcare France returns to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from Sunday 16 November to Tuesday18 November, the organiser is launches the Texcare France Awards to reward and promote initiatives that address key challenges in the market.
Podab celebrates 80 years with a new brand identity and new product design
This year Podab celebrates 80 years as specialist in professional laundry equipment. To mark this milestone the company is introducing a refreshed brand identity and an updated product design. With a modern and customer centric visual the global market and reaffirming its role as an industry leader.
Apply now for TRSA Scholarships opportunities
NORTH AMERICA
TRSA, the association representing textile rental laundries across North America, is accepting applications for its 2025 scholarship programme, providing financial support to individuals pursuing higher education or professional development in the linen, uniform and facility services industry. The application deadline is 31 May.
BC SoftWear expands international presence with new partnerships
UK/INTERNATIONAL
Hotel and spa textiles supplier, BC SoftWear, has significantly expanded its portfolio in 2025, with a string of new hotel and spa partnerships across the globe. Having launched a new distribution centre in the Netherlands last year, and forged new alliances across the Middle East, BC SoftWear is now the partner of choice for The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam in Morocco and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
Matt Schlimgen to join ALM Board
NORTH AMERICA
The Association for Linen Management (ALM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Schlimgen, director of managed services for Novo Health Services, to its Board of Directors.
Ledford appointed to key role at Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is reaffirming its long-term commitment to its commercial laundry business with the appointment of Michael Ledford as senior director and general manager, Commercial Laundry, effective since 1 May. This strategic move brings added leadership strength and focused expertise to an already robust team, says Whirlpool.
K-Bro adds to UK businesses with ‘transformative’ acquisition of Star Mayan for £107 million
UK/INTERNATIONAL
K-Bro Linen Inc, the owner of the Fishers and Shortridge commercial laundry businesses in the UK, has announced on the Toronto Stock Exchange its plans to acquire Star Mayan Limited*, creating a top three national laundry business in the UK. The acquisition is transformative for K-Bro, building an international, balanced commercial laundry business that serves both the healthcare and hospitality sectors.
SDA announces new leadership and board members for 2025–2026
USA
The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA), the largest regional affiliate of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute International, has announced its leadership appointments for the 2025–2026 term. Fran Stone-Beale, owner of A-Town Cleaners in Abilene, Texas, has been named SDA President and will serve a two-year term