UK
In early summer, Micronclean’s Roman Bank clean room laundry facility in Skegness, Lincolnshire, completed one of its most ambitious upgrades to date: the installation of two new industrial washers from Krebe Tippo, representing a £300,000 investment in operational efficiency and customer service. Installed and commissioned over a single weekend, with a phased validation prior to operational use, the new equipment was up and running early in the following week without missing a single customer delivery.
The investment replaces washers that had been in continuous service since 1996 when the dedicated plant first opened. In recent years, a combination of hard-to-source parts and unplanned downtime had put pressure on plant operations, particularly during periods of peak production.
“This decision to change the washers was based on hard evidence,” said Andy Kettle, operations director at MicronClean. “Weeks of analysis and due diligence using the 8D methodology clearly demonstrated the need for change.”
“The success of the project relied on cross-department collaboration across a range of departments, including production, engineering, textile store, quality, laboratory, transport, customer services, IT, cleanroom cleaning and premises”.
As a result, the team was able to generate an hour-by-hour plan, which meant that despite major sections of the plant being offline during the installation, the company maintained full service to customers.
The new washers offer a range of operational benefits, including:
• Automatic weighing for consistent processing.
• Significantly reduced energy, steam and water consumption.
• Quieter operation with lower vibration levels.
• Improved control and monitoring systems.
Early results show an average 20% increase in washing capacity and an estimated 30% boost in drying capacity, significantly strengthening Micronclean’s service capability.
“This installation is more than just an equipment upgrade – it’s proof of what we can achieve when we work together,” said Kettle. “It reflects our SKIEs* values, our data-driven approach, and our commitment to delivering excellence to every customer.”
At Texcare International in Frankfurt last November, LCNi caught up with Anja Uranjek, head of sales and after sales at Krebe Tippo, who spoke about adding a new size to its popular hardworking, hard wearing barrier washer range, which it re-imagined over the Covid years and “made all new inside”, and launched its trademarked HygioVisionhygienic monitoring software system. In 2022 Krebe Tippo launched its Smart Drum concept where machines are equipped with RFID readers and a database to eliminate the risk of linen being lost or mixed. HygioVision is a brand that represents several solutions for laundry optimisation with connectivity created to satisfy the highest global hygiene standards, explained Uranjek.
“MicronClean is a key account. They saw our machines in the market and contacted me quite some time ago. Together we created this project of exchanging the old machinery with brand new Krebe Tippo PCH 1201 Clean Room machines. These are barrier machines of 120 kg that are suitable for high ISO classes. Together Micronclean and Krebe Tippo did a lot of planning to specify the machines and the installation. There was only a short period of time available for the installation but together we did it perfectly.
“MicronClean is an amazing partner and that I am humbled by the fact they’ve decided on our products. The people at MicronClean are hard workers and are highly professional and it was a pleasure to create such a great project with them. At Krebe Tippo we will always do our very best for them. As you know we are a firm believer of long term partnerships and put a lot of effort not only to create and sell the project but also to maintain it,” said Anja. She added: “I would like to thank Andy Kettle who was the one who saw the potential in us and the whole brilliant team of MicronClean colleagues who made that happen.”
Uranjek told LCNi: “Krebe Tippo is concentrating its attention within the clean room market with quality, robust, heavy duty machines for heavy duty laundry needs. Our barrier washers are all produced to ISO clean room standards.”
STRONG BARRIER: Krebe Tippo is getting stronger in the clean room industry and presented a 90 kg capacity machine fully equipped for the very special niche it is proud to be in
“All Krebe Tippo machines are designed to ensure the best quality of washing results with minimum consumption of water, detergent, and energy. Machine construction is robust and stable, designed to ensure the longevity of each and every part of the machine under heavy burdening.”
* Micronclean has been owned and managed by the Fry family since the 1920’s and throughout its history, said the company, it has focused on quality, innovation, attention to detail and customer care. These attributes have been formalised into the SKIEs programme which covers ‘Stewardship, Knowledge, Innovation and Excellence’.
