Right for the job

3 August 2001



Paul Wilkes, Warner Howard sales director, gives his tips for finding an ironer to match the service


An ironer is an ironer, is an ironer. Right? Perhaps there’s more to it than that.

Consider the “Rolls-Royce” of ironers. It’s over 3m long, wide enough to take king-size sheets at a single pass and it dries as it irons so there’s no need to use a dryer. Microprocessor controls enable it to compute temperature and speed for itself. A single operator is all the labour needed. The machine will fold and stack sheets automatically. All in all, the perfect choice for a 160-bedroom five-star hotel.

But what about the guest house with six rooms? Or a care home with 20 beds? Clearly such outlets have starkly varying needs. A 3m ironer has no place in these sorts of businesses. So just how do you go about choosing an ironer that will cope with your requirements?

Well, if you want to avoid some of the problems, take professional advice before making any decisions. Warner Howard, in common with many leading laundry services companies will conduct a professional audit of your business to assess the best type of ironer to suit your needs. One of the key variables such advisors will need to take into account is the “water retention” of the linen as it goes onto the ironer and that means your choice of ironer needs to harmonise with the washer and tumble dryer you have or are planning to install.

Model numbers

When looking through the sales literature, don’t be put off by manufacturers’ model numbers. They may look, quite confusing, but they do actually mean something. Most manufacturers classify ironers by the length of the roller and its diameter. For example, a 35-140 model would have a roller diameter of 350mm and a length of 1.4m and would suit smaller volume sites, such as small hotels or care homes.

At the other end of the spectrum, a 50-320 is a big beast suitable for large hotels or commercial laundries at 500mm wide by 3.2m in length.

It seems self-evident that the amount of ironing you do should dictate the size of the ironer you need, but there is a complex range of interdependent issues that will dictate the final decision. Hence the need for professional help. These are just some of the key variables that should be considered:

• the building

• quantity of washing

• percentage flatwork

• type of materials

• power source

• price

• availability of labour

• type of washer and tumble dryer

It may sound fundamental, but a big ironer needs a large space to accommodate it. If you don’t have the luxury of a large laundry room, this may become the deciding factor and you may need to settle for a smaller machine with consequent changes to your washer/dryer types. Services can also be a problem. Ironers can be powered by electricity, gas or steam. The availability or lack of it may determine the model you choose and have an effect on the running costs.

Flatwork

Rotary ironers are really only suitable for flatwork. If the majority of the washing is bed linen, tablecloths or curtains, then it is likely that a rotary ironer will be the right choice.

Unfortunately, there is no easy rule of thumb that links, for example, the number of bedrooms with the type of ironer to select. Other factors will need to be considered, such as size of sheets and how often they are changed; how often the rooms are turned; occupancy level; linen stocks and number of laundry personnel.

It will be necessary to calculate the total amount of flatwork to be ironed in a given period of time to assess the size and quantity of ironers needed. Try to ensure that the majority of the laundry is cotton, which irons well. Man-made materials really do not give such good results. Naturally, small volumes of laundry will call for smaller machines, but once again rely on the commercial experience of one of the established and experienced laundry system companies to advise.

There is usually a balance between price and performance. Larger ironers are more expensive. If the budget is a problem, this may become the deciding factor. Reputable companies offer fully managed services covering both equipment supply and ongoing maintenance. So lack of capital need not prevent you having your preferred option in ironers.

Labour problem

For large establishments with a high number of bedrooms and large amounts of flatwork, cost and availability of laundry room labour is often a problem. In such cases, it makes sense to invest in more automated machinery. The larger “dryer-ironers” dispense with the need for tumble dryers. The washing is done in a high-spin machine, then put straight onto the ironer, which dries as it irons.

These large ironers will take king-size sheets with ease. The latest models on the market can be operated by just one person, saving perhaps two operatives’ salary. They do this by having the ability to “peg” the sheet at each end, then guiding it through the roller. The linen then passes on to two other modules, which first fold, then stack the sheets; the entire operation being fully automated.

The logic is that the bigger investment in more sophisticated equipment is offset by savings in labour costs and by avoiding the need for a tumble dryer.

Typical set-up

A typical set-up for guest houses and care homes would be a reasonably priced 10kg washer with modest spin speed, a 30 lb dryer and a 35-160 ironer. This will give the right results on a tight budget, although it may mean two passes for folded sheets.

For large hotels or commercial laundries, a drying ironer could be coupled with several 22kg high-spin washers. A tumble dryer would only be required for items other than flatwork.

It is in the interests of both supplier and user to ensure that ironers do not break down. Most reputable laundry system companies like to keep all aspects of the installation under their own control – from initial advice on the type, quantity and location of the ironer through to after sales service. Warner Howard, for example, takes responsibility for arranging and supervising the installation process.

In particular, attention paid at the commissioning stage pays dividends. Staff are usually trained at this stage. Naturally training will cover correct use of the machine, but it should also include instructions on routine maintenance that staff themselves need to carry out on a daily or weekly basis.

This by no means excuses the supplier from his maintenance obligations and a preventative maintenance programme should be part of the arrangement. Under no circumstances should you allow your supplier to complete the installation without ensuring that the equipment is working to your satisfaction and your staff are confident in its operation.

Breakdown

You will come to rely on your ironer. Unless there is more than one, a breakdown could put you out of business very quickly, if the service company is slow to respond. Try to ascertain at the time of purchase just how many engineers the service company has and what response times they work to. What is the rate of first time fix? Ironers are likely to develop faults at some time during their working life. You need to ensure that when it happens, you are fully covered for mechanical breakdown and have confidence that the supplier will get you back in business – fast.



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