By David Netusil, Manager-Sales Support and Marketing, JENSEN USA, Inc.
Last week in Part I of Life Hacks for Laundries, Choosing a Tunnel Washer in 10 Easy Steps we looked at the first five ‘life hacks’ for helping you choose the right tunnel washer for your laundry. Today, in part 2 of the article, we’ll take a look at five additional things to consider before you make a tunnel washer purchasing decision.
Step 6: Process
Special wash processes influence the configuration of a tunnel washer. A longer or shorter pre-wash, main wash or rinse zone depending on specific requirements are important parameters.
Special disinfection process needs are also important to consider – whether thermal or chemo-thermal – depending on the linen type and hygiene requirements.
If the tunnel washer is to be linked to external systems, like water heating systems, water recovery and treatment systems, external filters or energy recovery systems, then the tunnel washer needs to be configured to enable these interfaces.
Based on the preferred heating system, the tunnel washer needs to be laid out for either steam or gas heating.
Step 7: Space
Laundry buildings can be very different. Space, height and many other local parameters determine the machine choice, for example less compartments but larger batch size to reduce the length of the machine.
Also, turnkey projects have prerequisites to consider. Quite often, the tunnel washer has to be linked to existing systems like a monorail system. That might determine the batch size and the configuration of the tunnel washer beforehand.
Step 8: Customization
Tunnel washers are always a unique solution: They can be adapted to local requirements to boost their productivity.
Many options and features to consider that could increase its efficiency:
* Integrated heat recovery from waste water to pre-heat the fresh water, if there is no central heat recovery unit in the plant.
* An extra shower in the first compartment for categories with a tendency to float (e.g. under pads, diapers, uniforms, Polyester items) to improve the soaking and increase the pre-wash effect.
* Additional tanks for laundries processing both dark and light colors and with the demand for both highest flexibility and lowest water consumption.
* For an even higher wash quality, process monitoring systems control the rinse process and the fresh water supply together with its hardness to assure highest quality for a brilliant result.
Step 9: Security
Profitability, growth and investment security – these are the three key aspects that each entrepreneur in all business sectors strives for. Also laundry managers planning to invest in a new tunnel washer are looking for technology that helps grow their business in a profitable, sustainable way – in a way that secures their investment in the long-term. The security of working with the right partner for the long term, a partner that has the ability to obtain all equipment and services for the laundry is key to secure the investment.
Step 10: Passion
A tunnel washer is the heart of the washroom area of the laundry which requires passion to do a great job. Knowledge, engineering expertise, commitment and perseverance, as well as the competencies that go hand in hand with these qualities, characterize the attributes you should look for in your equipment manufacturer. You should have a strong partner to obtain all machines, all material handling equipment and automation equipment. That company should support you throughout all phases of the purchasing process through the life of your equipment.
These 10 “laundry life hacks” will guide you through the tunnel washer jungle and lead you to the one tunnel washer that will boost the productivity in your laundry.
If you missed Part 1 of Life Hacks for Laundries – How to Choose a Tunnel Washer in 10 Easy Steps – click here.
About the Author
David A. Netusil is the Manager-Sales Support and Marketing for JENSEN USA, Inc. in Panama City, Florida. He has over 28-years experience in the industrial laundry industry.
