When Alsco Uniforms in Tampa needed to replace aging Challenge dryers in the facility which processes 13 million pounds yearly of hospitality goods, hospital linen, uniforms and mats, Johnny Field, Alsco’s regional engineer turned to Consolidated Laundry Machinery (CLM).
Field, Alsco’s regional engineer oversees 13 locations. He is charged with making equipment improvements while managing capitol for his region and working within Alsco’s designated budget. “I had CLM dryers working in other facilities so I knew they worked well,” said Field. But there were a few other reasons he chose CLM.
Attractive Cost
“Things have gotten expensive,” said Field. “A lot of vendors have increased their prices but CLM’s cost is still reasonable. Their dryer drys as fast as the others and the gas cost doesn’t increase. It’s a good value and easy for operators to use.”
Ease of Replacement
Field says that another reason he chose CLM to replace the Challenge dryers is because the CLM dryer is a direct size replacement which reduced installation costs.
“Most Challenge dryers are coming up on 30-years-old,” says Field. “CLM manufacturers the best replacement. The CLM dryer is an easy swap with the same footprint.”
“There are a lot of other factors that go into replacing a dryer,” he says, “ If the replacement dryer is larger and doesn’t fit well, there can be costly modifications. You have to consider the width and height of the area, the degree of tilt, gas piping, fire sprinkler piping, electrical, rail height, etc.”
He adds that another benefit of using CLM to replace aging Challenge dryers is ducting size. “Different dryers have different burner sizes which require different air flows and back pressures, so the ducting could be different. It’s a lot to consider when you don’t have the right fit.”
Unique Characteristics
“CLM is unique in the industry,” he continues. “The dryer door lowers, it seals closed and rotates with the inside drum. It increases efficiency. There’s is no gap where heat can escape.”
Making the Mark
“We think about gas usage and time because we try to improve on output,” says Field. “The CLM dryer meets all of our criteria. It’s a good dryer.”
PHOTO TOP RIGHT: Dave Jenkins, CLM Service Supervisor
