a fresh approach to on-premises laundrycleanmiddleeast.ae/laundrex.pdf · networking and business...

Special Supplement

LAUNDRY &DRYCLEANING

APRIL 2015

The Region’s Leading Cleaning Industry Magazine

A Fresh approach to On-Premises Laundry

EXPERTEXPERTEXPERTPREFERRED BY ON-PREMISES LAUNDRIES WORLDWIDE

Gulf Protek LLC, Protek FZE,Protek Trade Pvt. Ltd.P.O. Box: 49697. Dubai, U.A.E.T: +971 4 334 1110 F: +971 4 334 2010E: [email protected]: www.proteklaundry.com

Delivering unmatched reliability in hospitality.Delivering unmatched reliability in hospitality.

C35248_UniMac_Expert_CleanAtlanta_Apr15_270x200_v2.indd 1 31/03/2015 14:50

3 CLEAN MIDDLE EAST - LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SUPPLEMENT | April 2015

Contents

www.cleanmiddleeast.ae

07- A look at the laundry markets in Europe: Hartmut Schlimbach talks about the international laundry industry.

08 - Show Preview: A peek into the upcoming Gulf Laundrex-Linen Care Expo

11 - Potential for growth in the regional industry:An interview with Klaus Menker, Managing Director, Menker-Laundry Management Consultants

18 -The washing workforce: Hotel Laundry Managers in the region give their perspective on the industry

Show Preview:

05

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08

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14

18

21

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News

Product Diary

View Point

Show Preview

Industry Insight

Cover Story

Laundry Professionals

Tips

GlobalAppeal14

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11

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Editor’s Column

Dear Readers,Welcome to the first edition of the Laundry and Dry Cleaning supplement of the Clean Middle East. When I first started work on the supplement, I found out that there is more to laundry and dry cleaning than it being just a household chore.

While the Middle East market has so much growth potential there is not much written about it. Which is why, through this first supplement, I have tried bringing out the different aspects of the laundry and dry cleaning industry. Over the last few months, we have been closely interacting with laundry experts in the Middle East and international market. We have Hartmut Schlimbach, from Hohenstein Laboratories GmbH and Co, giving us a comprehensive view of the European laundry market while Peter Furnell from Jenson and Klaus Menker from Menker-Laundry Management Consultants talking to us about the Middle Eastern market.

Through our cover story, we have featured a classic example of the immense potential the international and regional On-Premises Laundry has through a leading brand in the industry - Alliance Laundry Systems, specifically its brand UniMac and its strong partnership with Protek FZE.

Don’t miss the special feature on laundry managers from the UAE, who give us a peek into their world and the future they see in the laundry market. And find interesting tips on how to cut down on laundry dosing system costs. Last but most importantly, there has been a lot of buzz about Middle East Cleaning Technology Week, where the laundry industry across the globe will be showcasing the latest technology solutions through one of its concurrent shows Gulf Laundrex-Linen Care Expo. Held for the first time in the region, exhibitors from the show talk about their expectations in a special preview about the show.Happy Reading.

Megha S Anthony Editor

Reproduction in whole or in part of any matter appearing in Clean Middle East magazine without the prior written permission of the publishers is prohibited by law. Opinions and views expressed in Clean Middle East do not represent the views of the publishers and the editorial staff of the magazine. The publishers do not guarantee the accuracy of the information; neither will they indemnify any losses arising through the use of the information. All marketing information is subject to approval by clients.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FOR LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING 2015

4 CLEAN MIDDLE EAST - LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SUPPLEMENT | April 2015 www.cleanmiddleeast.ae

General ManagementPublisherMedia Fusion LLC, P.O. Box: 80260DUBAI, UAE. Tel : +9714 2970512, Fax : +9714 2970513Website : www.cleanmiddleeast.aeRegisterd with: Licence No: RAKIA 92 - MFZ 04 08 1070. Media Fusion FZE

CEODr. Kayyum Ali BohraE-mail: [email protected]

Head of Sales & MarketingTaher Patrawala, mobile: +971 55 1091443E-mail: [email protected]

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AccountsSankesh Pandey, E-mail: [email protected]

EditorialEditorMegha S AnthonyE-mail: [email protected]

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News

April 2015 | CLEAN MIDDLE EAST - LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SUPPLEMENT 5www.cleanmiddleeast.ae

Bubble Dream Laundry obtains Hohenstein Ral certificationThe fast growing hospitality market in the Emirates is leading to a continuous professionalization in the sectors value chain. The latest example on the supplier side is the brand new Bubble Dream Laundry in Abu Dhabi. Built from scratch in a modern air conditioned production hall in the new Mussaffah ICAD 3 area.

The machines are not only the most sophisticated currently available on the market but they are also organized in a way to allow a quick and smooth flow of linen through the site.

Storage areas are large and clearly indicated. In combination with RFID identification of each piece of linen,

Bubble can work with its customers in complete transparency. Each single textile can be located: at the customer, in the washer, in the rewash, on the truck etc. Better availability and planning based on realistic numbers are the result.

Having the best equipment helps to produce good quality and to satisfy customers.Another important ingredient is to work properly. The Bubble team has invested

heavily in putting in place a complete quality management system, including maintenance, daily functional controls and cleaning of surfaces, machines, filters etc.

The Bubble management did not stop there. To be really sure that the right quality is delivered, you have to control - preferably by an external independent body - and to benchmark your results. That is why Bubble applied for the Hohenstein RAL certification.

The linen quality (whiteness, wear, colour-change, incrustation) are controlled 10 times per year and a yearly inspection by a German expert of all equipment, procedures and consumption numbers is realized.

Especially during the start-up phase, it was also a good training for the new associates.The results of the first inspection and measurements are, compared to the average of the 390 laundries in Europe and worldwide, clearly above average.

Hence in line with the ambition of the hospitality sector in the Emirates. The next step for Bubble will be the construction of a dedicated hospital laundry in 2015.

After 28 years, Clean Show returns to Atlanta Professionals from all facets of the laundering, dry cleaning and textile care industry will convene once again April 16-19 for the biennial World Educational Congress for Laundering and Dry Cleaning—better known by many in the industry as the Clean Show. In its 38th year, the Clean Show remains the premier event for the commercial laundering, dry cleaning and textile service industry.

Thousands of people from all points of the globe come to see and learn about the newest and most technologically advanced products the industry has to offer. With more than 400 exhibitors at this year’s show will not only provide an arena for networking and business opportunities, it also presents professionals in the industry this year with more than 40 hours of educational sessions.

Recognizing the importance of education in a time of technical and environmental changes, the show frequently has other related associations

participating in the formal educational program.Over the years, the Clean Show has become the most anticipated event in the industry.


TAMCO Textiles for Laundry is a division of TAMCO group of

companies from Europe. The laundry division is established in

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Product Diary

Industrial laundry equipmentALKA laundry equipment supplies the brand ‘UniMac Industrial Laundry’ equipment into the region which can provide the maximum efficiency and profit to this industry. Durable construction and cost saving programs makes the equipment more efficient. It comes in ergonomic designs where price, quality, performance and productivity factors are totally considered to provide the optimum throughput in the long run. This is the best laundry solution, equipment’s at the best price available in the market.

Software solutionsWhether you want to maintain a clear overview of your washing activities, seek to optimise your entire production or look for the ultimate washing management system, Christeyns has the right solution for you through two softwares – ‘Laundry X-pert’ and ‘Laundry Dashboard’. ‘Laundry X-pert’ is the ideal management information software to monitor and control the cost and efficiency of the washing process. The Laundry X-pert software provides real-time information about the chemicals and the washing process, data that is continuously logged. Via standard reports, laundry managers see at one glance where the operational efficiency can be improved and costs can be saved.‘Laundry Dashboard’ gives you real-time insight into every aspect of the performance of your laundry. This innovative solution enables you to easily optimise your profit. Laundry Dashboard measures and analyses energy consumption, machine performance and employee productivity. This user-friendly system is web-based, so you can access it from anywhere at any time. And that means that you never ease your grip on the costs, performance and results of your laundry.


View Point

A look at the laundry markets in Europe

The question was to give a picture of the international laundry market. Being French

and German and having lived in each country half of my life I started to make a fact check on those two countries. And the numbers are more positive then we could expect when we listen to stories about price wars and deindustrialisation.

Between 2006 and 2012 the industrial launderers have realised an average growth of 4%. The strongest increase comes, no surprise from the workwear business with 5.4% average rise in sales. Outperforming the overall growth (of 1.5% average) of Germany.

The same picture is found for the hotel business. Between 2006 and 2012 there has been an increase of 2.8% more beds each year and plus for the laundries in sales. However, the lowest growth is found in the health care market with a yearly 1.3% increase. If we look at France, the picture is slightly different and in some respect similar. The work wear sector realised from 2011

to 2012 a slight growth of 1.2%, despite the fact customers like Peugeot or Mittal reduced their activity.

When it comes to the hotel business, the rise was small with just a 0.7% increase. But the hotel sector itself had a downturn of 2.8% during the same period. And finally the health care sector grew 4%. Unfortunately, this sector is small for the private sector as most hospitals in France have their own laundries.

Beside the slight difference in BIP growth (with an average of 1.5% vs 0.7%; IMF 2015), both laundry industries outperform the average economy and succeed even in shrinking markets.

The explanations are similar in both countries. The laundry business manages to introduce constantly new services which are often driven from the demand side like Personal Protection Equipment, which more and more customers rent for their employees in order to respect the legislation and to reduce the number of accidents. Typical examples are high visibility, heat resistant, and chemical resistant textiles.

In the health care sector, the willingness to reduce the risk for the patients as for the workers leads to more strict disinfection and logistics in order to guarantee a germ-free textile. The current danger coming from new superbugs is a real issue for laundries, who have the chance to cut the spreading with a disinfecting washing process or to spread them with a non-disinfecting one.The structuring of customer

markets with groups like Korian (596 Care Homes) or Helios (110 hospitals) certainly add pressure on the prices but adds also a professional approach. They want to respect the legislation and more in order to minimize any risk for their brands.

Ten years ago the care-home market did not know groups, the textiles typically have been washed in the basement with household-similar washing extractors. Today, laundry can offer germ-free mop or mattress coverage to reduce the infection risk via appropriate laundry design, equipment, and processes. For the hotel business, textile rental companies offer best-buy solution for the growing budget hotel segment and individual textile for the 5-star hotels.

Technical progress is certainly another factor why the laundry business is doing well. New laundry equipment offer - beside always better washing and finishing results – more transparency where the linen is and at which time. Laundry chips technology is starting to be used for flat linen, finishing all discussions about lost items and reducing out-of-stock situations for the end-customer.

So even in a stagnant market like the two biggest European economies, the laundry industry has opportunities to realise strong profitable growth.

* Sources: Wirtex, IFM, Hotelier.de, Cinet, Deloitte – InExtenso, GEIST-Infos 2012, and Hotels France. (The author is the Head of Sales Laundry Division, Hohenstein Laboratories GmbH and Co)

By Hartmut Schlimbach


Show Preview


High expectations from the laundry and dry cleaning industry T he commercial laundry and

dry cleaning business has been growing in the Middle East at a

notable pace especially in the GCC, with UAE dominating this segment due to the rapid growth of the hospitality industry and related sectors in the country. Further, with the hospitality and healthcare sectors continuing to grow in all parts of the region, there is bound to be demand for products and services.

Having witnessed this growth and demand in the region over the years, VIS Exhibitions & Conferences presents a new trade show, Gulf Laundrex – Linen Care Expo, the first event in the Middle East dedicated to the laundry business. Held under the umbrella of Middle East Cleaning Technology Week (MECTW),

this premier event will bring together leading professionals from the regional and international markets under one roof.

The show will also see a one-day free conference where international speakers will discuss relevant topics in the industry. This is an ideal event that provides excellent business opportunities and ample scope for networking and interacting closely with top manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and other industry experts.

Held between November 2 and 4 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gulf Laundrex-Linen Care Expo is one show you certainly want to have on your calendar of events.

Alireza Najmechi, CEO, Natronic International INC.: “This could be a good venue to represent our innovative packages containing quality & advantages; by introducing our different solutions in partnership with trusted brands; creating top of the line solutions for prestigious clients such as five star hotels, and central laundries in the UAE. It is also a good opportunity to launch & showcase the leading trends of laundry equipment and machineries to potential clients, as well as meeting and interacting with new potential customers and interested investors & end users especially those that are from outside UAE.”

Sajal Nanda, Managing Director, Protek: “We are particularly excited to be a part of the only exhibition specific for this industry in the Middle East. By being a part of Gulf Laundrex - Linen Care Expo we are looking forward to see firsthand new business opportunities, meet new prospective customers and also lend our support to the potential laundry market in the Middle East.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Concurrent shows – Gulf Car Wash - Car Care Expo and Clean Middle East Pulire

• The event brings together leading owners, dis-tributors and manufacturer of machinery for laundries and linen suppliers, from the regional and international markets.

• A one-day free conference will be held with international speakers pre-senting relevant topics from the industry.

With a lot of buzz around the show here is what some of the exhibitors have to say…


Philip Santosh, Marketing Manager, World Trading Services (ALKA Laundry Equipments & Boilers), Saudi Arabia: “As an establishment specialized in laundry and dry cleaning equipment we are particularly excited to be a part of the only exhibition specific for this industry in the Middle East. For us - in joining ‘Gulf Laundrex’ we are looking forward to seeing firsthand and meet new business opportunities - manufacturers, clients, competitors and to be oriented with the existing market growth drivers, current trends and structure so as to establish base business projection, expectations and feasible opportunities for the coming years.”

Sreejit Narendran, Principal Consultant, Magnarab Equipment Trading:“We will be looking to have more workshops or discussions on subjects of general interests like stain removal techniques, details on RFID in small applications, marking systems and so on. I believe this would attract the masses as most of the big shows do not address them.”

Keith Watson, Division Manager, Reza Hygiene: “The Reza Hygiene Group of Saudi Arabia and the Christeyns Group of Europe have partnered together to form a Laundry Technology Division for the GCC states and are looking forward to showcasing their products and services at Gulf Laundrex.”

Alexander Seitz, Executive Director and Partner, SEITZ GmbH: “SEITZ is an innovative German family owned company with an international reputation for manufacturing the highest quality textile cleaning care products. In Gulf Laundrex, we are excited to interact with existing as well as potential clients and exchange ideas on how to further improve our services and solutions.”

Abdul Ahad, Technical Sales Engineer, Tamco Textiles for Laundry – UAE: “We expect Gulf Laundrex to be one of its kind, a special and dedicated podium for people involved in creation, planning, development and implementation of highest possible standards in personal hygiene. We at Tamco Textiles for Laundry are dedicated to offering the highest possible quality of spare parts for commercial and industrial laundries and are ready to invest in research and development.”

Juan de Dios Zornoza, Laundry Director, Prime Automatic Laundry, “The laundry industry in the Middle East is growing but it needs to focus on reaching the same level of success as compared to other developed countries. As part of MECTW 2015, we hope to get more information about the new and modern equipment in laundry field. We also hope to find new opportunities through meeting people in this field.”


Industry Insight


The expanding laundry market in the Arabian Peninsula

The GCC’s hospitality market is growing fast, and that’s because of

many reasons. In Qatar - host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup - for instance, 45,000 rooms are scheduled to be built within the next few years. In Dubai, up to 280 new hotels may be built to accommodate the many tourists that are attracted to this fantastic holiday destination. Everything will be right in time for 2020, when Dubai will host the 2020 World Expo.

With these new developments will come the need for a higher laundry volume, which in turn, will require more automation and better use of utilities such as water and energy. Also the travel destinations in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are looking for sustainable laundry automation, since water is scarce, and the lifestyle of the people living in these areas calls for premium linen solutions.

Furthermore, top class healthcare services are required. Here are some alarming global figures as to why hospital laundry hygiene should be much higher than in other laundries, such as garments or hospitality. These figures have the potential to be dramatically increased in the case of viral infections such as MERS, SARS etc. • 3-5% of all Hospital patients are getting an infection.• Approx. 0.5% will die as the result of received infection.

• 48% of all infections are related to an operation• 14% of all infections are related to wound infection

In Europe, processing of such items must be done according to the Medical Devices Directive (MDD). Therefore, certain special regulations have to be considered. These regulations are becoming prevalent in more countries in this region as well.

As a global trend, we can say that the volume of linen to be processed in industrial laundries is growing. There are more tourists and business travelers - and admittance in the healthcare sector is on the rise, too. We are in a fortunate position that our markets are growing, which makes our industry attractive to invest in. It is not a bed of roses, alas: the pressure along the value

chain is hitting laundries and manufacturers, not only in the pocket.

The cost pressure is of course still the primary concern. The cost reduction programs for public as well as privately owned hospitals and the competitive pressure in the hospitality market severely impact the figures of the laundry. The sales price per piece of linen is in the best case stagnant, in the worst case, laundries have to process more linen to achieve the same turnover.

Also the paradigm shift in our societies influence the daily management of laundries, with more people having access to higher education, we face a shortage of skilled workforce. In societies that have been climbing up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, work becomes less a resource of satisfaction. Work-life balance is the word of our times. The changing focus from 100% career to a more healthy mix of work, family, leisure and others do affect the employment market and the way we plan our human resources.

Thanks to our expertise in heavy-duty laundry automation with a clear focus on sustainable solutions, Jensen is making a difference and a contribution to the development of industrial areas in the Gulf Area.

(The author is the Regional Sales Manager - Arab Peninsula, JENSEN-GROUP, Dubai)

By Peter Furnell

April 2015 | CLEAN MIDDLE EAST - LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SUPPLEMENT 11

Industry Insight


The laundry market in the Middle East is an emerging one. In an interview with

the Laundry and Dry Cleaning Supplement, Klaus Menker, Managing Director, Menker-Laundry Management Consultants, tells Megha S Anthony that while there is a lot of potential for growth in the laundry industry investors need to have lots of patience. What is the current scenario of the laundry market in the Middle East?The Middle East industrial laundry market is mainly dominated by individual bigger local laundries. Laundry chains which are operating in the whole region do not exist. On the other hand, we find a lot of smaller laundries with comparable equipment to in-house laundries. On a long term, it will be difficult for these laundries to survive, except they find their niche.

Textile leasing concepts as an additional business model are dis-cussed since years. But it doesn’t exist as a general business model at present. First hotels started to request such services, but it is unknown if the laundries have the required investment capabilities and know how to realize this kind of service. Based on the growing hotel industry the segment will still grow within the next few years, but I see challenges in profitability.

What are the challenges faced by the industry?The challenges are multifarious. The laundry market is price driven which leads to low-profit margins. But with low profits a company will not grow, except they get money from somewhere else. New laun-dries will possibly come up within the next years which will lead to additional competition. To get high professional laundry experts in the region is difficult be-cause most laundries try to avoid high salaries. In addition, the avail-ability of qualified laundry man-agement is limited which leads to the general risk of inefficient laun-dry operations and higher costs than necessary.

But a big laundry is finally a factory and an adequate management is required. To take care of these structures and individual processes, overall and deep laundry knowledge is required. The Middle East region has no big family owned and managed laun-dry. So finally we see only investors in the laundry business without op-erational laundry background. This may lead to a different view of the business and different expectations. In summary, more professionalism in laundry is required to maintain a profitable business.

What are the key cost factors in the laundry industry?In terms of accounting it is the staff. But a laundry is an interwo-ven system and accounting figures reflecting not the accrual of costs and the reasons.

In summary, around 20% of re-sources could be saved with a well organized laundry operation. In ad-dition, an increase in staff efficiency is possible as well at the same time. And laundries could operate more linen with the same amount of re-sources, equipment and number of staff. All these would lead to a sig-nificant reduction in costs and an increase in profitability.

What is the future of the Middle East laundry market?The main question will be if the existing laundries are able to avail the optimization potential they have in their operational costs and to change their mind from a laundry operator to a textile service provider.

In general I see three different sce-narios. - We will see more and more laun-dry factories. But these laundries will be only successful if highly qualified management is set up to lead this business. It is not import-ant to be the first, it is important to do things on the right and in a pro-fessional manner.

- The present big players in their local market do their homework, in-crease their operational profitability and grow. In this case, it will be diffi-cult for new laundries in the market to get a relevant market share.

- Big local hotel groups centralize their laundry operation. Instead to have an in-house laundry in each hotel or outsourcing to commercial laundries, they set up their own central laundry to minimize the costs and to guarantee the required standard.

Potential for growth in the regional industry

VISIT US at Booth: 448The Clean Show, Atlanta

Come and be a part of Middle East’s first Laundry and Dry Cleaning Show

EXHIBITORSCO - LOCATED WITHrd

A part of

to book your stand or for sponsorship opportunities, contact : Fatema Bohra, Mob: +971507467174 | Tel: +9714 2970512 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.gul�aundrex.com

WWW.MECTW.COM

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COVER STORY


In any part of the world, and for a variety of different sectors, laundry plays a discrete but important role.

Clean bed sheets and soft towels set the tone for the perfect stay in a luxury hotel; crisp tablecloths and napkins compliment a first-class dining experience; hygienically laundered linen and clothing within a hospital or healthcare environment is essential for maintaining patient and staff wellbeing.

In all of these markets, Alliance Laundry Systems (ALS), the global leader in commercial laundry systems, is able to satisfy the needs of its customers with its UniMac range of commercial laundry equipment. UniMac is the acknowledged expert in on-premises laundry (OPL) solutions, matching a comprehensive range of highly reliable, durable and proven products and technologies with a design, fulfilment and after-sales service and maintenance operation that is second to none.

It is no surprise, therefore, that UniMac can rightfully claim to be the preferred choice for OPL Professionals Worldwide, and that includes professionals in the Middle East where the response to the UniMac brand, and the commitment of ALS, has been remarkable.

John Bannister, Director of International Sales – Middle East & Africa, confirms that the Middle East as a significant growth opportunity for the business. “Our systems are ideally suited to all elements of the hospitality sector, and especially hotels, where we already have relationships with most of the major brands,” he says.

“They have realised the significant competitive advantage that our systems can deliver, and the on-going investment in developing new systems that use less water, less power, and that are more environmentally friendly, reliable and hence more cost-effective than ever

UniMac machines share a common set of values and bring the very latest quality, reliability and innovation to the commercial laundry sector

A Fresh approach to On-Premises Laundry

Serious about laundry.


before. They also recognise that we are serious about laundry, and how our experience and expert advice can deliver tangible results.”

Growth opportunitiesForthcoming major events including the 2020 World Fair and the FIFA football world cup in 2022, have led to a significant increase in hotel construction in the region, which is good news for those working in OPL.

Alliance already enjoys a preferred supplier status to many of the major brands including Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt, and is looking to further extend its reach. With a report last year (the STR Global Construction Pipeline Report) predicting that 130 new hotels are set to open in the Middle East and Africa in 2015 alone, and hundreds more in the pipeline, there is plenty of opportunity.

Alliance does not sell direct, and will continue to invest to support its distributors with a new range of products and services over the next two years and beyond.

The focus is not on the hospitality sector alone, but also in other areas such as hospitals, care establishments and schools. In certain Middle Eastern markets, there is a significant investment in new hospital facilities, and a clear demand for UniMac’s specialist Barrier Washers that are not only intrinsically ‘safe’ to enable customers to conform to the most stringent health regulations, but they can also deliver the highest capacity for the smallest footprint in cleanroom facilities where space is often at a premium.

All of UniMac machines share a common set of values in that they are compact in design, rugged in construction, and bring the very latest quality, reliability and innovation to the commercial laundry sector. But ALS knows that standing still is not an option; its products constantly need to evolve to address the changing demands of its customers.

TotalVue™ Powered by UniLinc™Its latest innovation, and a major focus at Clean2015 in Atlanta is a further development of its UniLinc system, a system that accurately monitors and records laundry performance data to put operators in total control. The Research and Development team within UniMac has now designed TotalVue™ Powered by UniLinc™ a further enhancement that gives managers and executives complete visibility to key performance statistics in their laundry operation—from individual machines to operations spanning multiple locations.

John Boyle, Training and Development Manager within ALS, says that TotalVue™ Powered by UniLinc™ provides UniMac and UniMac customers with exciting possibilities. “It enables operators to quickly and easily measure the efficiency, productivity, utility expenses and capacity utilization of all of the equipment installed with up-to-the-minute details,” he explains. “It also allows them to track ongoing data and set internal benchmarks for specific machines and single or multiple locations, helping operators make immediate improvements to their laundry operation.”

“Our systems are ideally suited to all elements of the hospitality sector, and especially hotels, where we already have relationships with most of the major brands.”

John Bannister, Director of International Sales - Middle East & Africa


UW130 Washer Extractor


COVER STORY


What is especially innovative about the new technology is that it allows operators to access data via the cloud, instantly connecting to equipment data within seconds via a web browser. “As the name suggests,” John continues, “TotalVue™ Powered by UniLinc™ gives operators total visibility of critical performance data and reports, with easy-to-understand dashboards so that they can quickly and seamlessly transform critical information into actual actionable results. Put simply, it enables operators to run their laundry operation as though it were their own business.”

Soft Mounted Washer ExtractorsAnother key area of focus for UniMac is its new UY series of Highly Efficient Soft Mounted Washer Extractors. These machines are designed for sites that require the ultimate flexibility in terms of installation and design, where costs need to be tightly controlled and value for money clearly demonstrated.

Freestanding and lightweight in design, the machines can be installed anywhere, on any floor. A built-in suspension minimizes vibration and noise, maximizes performance and durability and ultimately reduces maintenance costs.

The machines also feature a patented washboard drum design that achieves maximum wash efficiency and uses significantly less power and less water than competitors’ models. This unique design, combined with faster spin speeds, delivers less residual moisture which in turn leads to less drying time, reducing the time and cost of each laundry cycle.

A particular feature of the UY series is the use of an intuitive microprocessor control known as PROForm that makes the equipment both easy and logical to use. Minimum staff training is required and system downtime is avoided should an operative be unavailable. What’s more, each machine can store up to 99 individual programs giving operators total flexibility.

“Whenever there is a need to justify the cost of keeping a laundry in-house, whether the customer is a major hospital, facilities management company or international hotel, equipment is required that delivers maximum wash efficiency for minimum use of water and power consumption,” John Boyle continues. “It needs to have high reliability and low maintenance, and help customers to address their environmental concerns without compromising performance. Most of all, it has to deliver an optimum clean, every time, and all of this can be achieved with the UY series machines.”

Hard Mounted Washer ExtractorsComplementing the soft mounted designs is UniMac’s UW series of Hard Mounted Washer/Extractors that deliver maximum productivity and optimum control for the busiest laundry environments.

The new generation of UniMac UW hard-mounted washer extractors completely re-define the ‘rigid’ category, delivering the same, if not better, wash performance than soft-mounted machines, but with further reduced maintenance, utility and operational costs and maximum productivity.

“We have successfully established our name as one of the biggest suppliers to the hotel industry and the commercial laundry sector, meeting the demands of our customers in the fastest and most cost-effective ways possible.”

Sajal Nanda, Managing Director, Protek


UniMac UY Washer Extractor


Designed for the highest volume users and capable of running around the clock, the rugged, stainless steel construction supports a machine capable of achieving a 400 G-Force extraction (unique for this category) to allow the maximum amount of water to be removed in the fastest possible time to further accelerate the washing cycle. This is complemented by a patented, feature-rich program and monitoring technology that puts operators in total control of their OPL facility.

Strong partnershipsThe success of Alliance Laundry Systems, and the success of its UniMac brand in particular, is in no small way down to the strong relationships that it forges with local specialists, and there are few stronger than its partnership with Protek FZE in the UAE.

Originally founded in 2007 by Sajal Nanda, over the last two years, Protek FZE has been working closely with the UniMac team to deliver best-in-class solutions to their mutual customers. Protek is the sole UniMac distributor to customers within the UAE and Oman,

“We started as a laundry equipment and parts supplier to the Middle East,” Sajal explains, “and we are now a one-stop-shop for all of your laundry needs, including laundry consumables, laundry chemicals, flatwork ironer supplies, laundry hangers, spotting chemicals, genuine spare parts and RFID based Uniform Room Automation Systems. We have successfully established our name as one of the biggest suppliers to the hotel industry and the commercial laundry sector, meeting the demands of our customers in the fastest and most cost-effective ways possible.”

By ‘one stop shop’, Protek FZE means that they deliver the complete solution, from an initial site assessment through to installation and commissioning, and the training of laundry staff. It also provides ongoing service and maintenance. As well as championing

the UniMac washer/extractors and tumble dryers, Protek FZE also provides additional equipment such as marking machines, material handling equipment, drycleaning machines, laundry and drycleaning presses, flatwork ironers, feeders, folders, stackers, dry-set vacuums, lint collectors and so on.

Rocco Di Bari, Senior Vice President EMEA for Alliance Laundry Systems says that UniMac is delighted to be working with a committed local distributor with proven expertise and industry knowledge, “We work in true partnership,” Rocco explains, “and share a commitment to both growing the market, and the UniMac brand, in the areas that Protek FZE can justifiably claim to be a leader.”

The strength and breadth of UniMac’s commercial laundry solutions are unrivalled. It is able to offer customers a total solution from a single platform in even the most challenging markets where specialist technologies and capabilities are required. But it knows that it can never rest on its laurels. It knows that it needs to continue to respond to customer demand, to remain the thought leader. It is why 2015 promises to be an exciting year for those committed to excellence in OPL.

“We work in true partnership and share a commitment to both growing the market, and the UniMac brand, in the areas that Protek FZE can justifiably claim to be a leader.”

Rocco Di Bari, Senior Vice President EMEA for Alliance Laundry Systems


UniMac UY Series Washer Extractor




Successfully running a hotel is almost like the movement of the army - all the various teams and squads

coordinated in sync for a common goal. And indeed, the staff at a hotel is often a virtual army, with any departments’ work invisible to the outside world. Especially when it comes to the laundry department of the hotel, these almost invisible taskforces work day-in-and-out to not only ensure that the tables and beds look immaculate in a hotel; they are also responsible for making sure the rest of the staff and guests look up to scratch.

Speaking to laundry professionals in the Middle East, Megha S Anthony finds out what it takes to be in the hotel laundries. For most, it’s all about having the right attitude. “I am always on the hunt for people with the right attitude as skills can be worked on if the people have the right attitude,” says Anand Mehra, Director of Laundry, Al Ain Rotana, who has over 14 years of experience in the laundry industry.

Agrees Sarfraz Ahmed, Director of Laundry, Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach, who has been in the hotel since 2008. Talking about the recruiting strategy for the hotel, Sarfraz says that they look for candidates keeping two aspects in mind – aptitude and attitude. “Often, we can teach someone the tactics, skills and knowledge they require to do a job but attitude is something that comes from within. I look for individuals who display a balance of both. For instance, when I conduct an interview, I look for

that spark in their eyes and observe their body language throughout the session to see what type of eagerness they display towards the role,” he adds.

Challenges Apart from handling the laundry, as a laundry manager one has many more responsibilities ranging from operations, quality control, administration, human resources to revenue and expense control. And with such responsibilities that the position entails, comes with its own set of challenges.

How a hotel presents its level of cleanliness through clean and thoroughly pressed linen is very important. “One of the main challenges, therefore, is in maintaining linen to have a stain-free finish. The challenge here is that each stain has to be treated differently. The treatment of most stains requires immediate action and it is virtually impossible to guarantee the removal of a stain. Operating in a hotel with a large footfall to our restaurants means that on many occasions, we are asked to urgently remove stains for guests who have had mishaps while dining. Food and drink spills such as oil and coffee embed heavily in fabrics. In order to maintain a 5-star service to our guests, we feel the pressure to work as hard as possible to remove these stains and keep our guests pleased,” says Sarfraz.

For Anand, the challenging aspect of his job is to create a balance in maintaining highest standards of quality within limited

The washing workforce

“I’m always on the hunt for peoplewith the right attitude as skills can be workedon if the people have the right attitude.”Anand Mehra


resources. Even Paul Armstrong, Director of Laundry Services, Resort Laundry Department, Jumeirah Beach Resorts, says, “In the hotel industry people can often move to progress in their careers which sometimes can slow projects or planning down. Sometimes it can feel like a bit of a start and stop process, but as a company we continue to move forward which can be very rewarding in the end. On the operation sides we always need to be on our toes when dealing with guest laundry, there are so many fake brands out there which do not stand up to normal processing and can cause shrinkage, colour runs or pilling.”

When it comes to the challenges the industry is currently facing, Sarfraz states that the key challenge is in maintaining a sustainable operation. “We review our energy consumption levels on a monthly basis against the occupancy and industry trends. Some steps we have taken is to invest in washers with high-speed extraction capabilities thereby reducing the amount of water needed during a wash cycle while simultaneously cutting down on dryer time. We have also installed G-force washers as a smarter choice to working sustainability. Projects in the pipeline include working with our Environmental Health and Safety team to create an in-house water recycling plant, which is aimed at recycling up to 70% on water consumption. Lastly, we work closely with our Housekeeping team to enforce the Rotana Earth programme where one such initiative is placing environmental

cards in the rooms to advise guests on our sustainable practices. We have also started to use re-usable fabric suit bags for our employees instead of plastic,” he adds.

Over the last few years, health and safety have been a focal point in the industry. Apart from this, Paul says, that change in the industry itself is a challenge. “Colleagues don’t always like change and it can be challenging to get people to understand the need for change, training and good communication are essential to keep the colleagues working together as a team to help move the laundry forward and keep up with change,” he adds.

ChangesOver the last five years, the laundry industry has witnessed a lot of changes in terms of technological advancements, multifunctional equipment and even conservation of water and energy. Anand elaborates, “Over the last five years there have been many commercial laundries that have been opened. Still people are interested in the laundry business because people are getting busier, with not much time to wash and press their clothes and everyone wants a comfortable life. In fact, most of the hotels have started outsourcing their laundry.”

The ‘going green’ trend has changed the laundry industry as well and most laundry managers have even seen a difference in modern equipment that helps achieve these goals. “Our central laundry has installed

“It always gives me great pleasure totrain and groom new talent for their future in hospitality.”

Sarfraz Ahmed

Paul Armstrong


a Tunnel Washer to help reduce energy consumption as well as increasing production and other benefits, we have also installed a green earth dry cleaning machine which uses silicon rather than Perc,” says Paul.

But the major change one has seen in the last five years is in technology. Technology, Sarfaraz says, has changed the laundry concept almost entirely. “These days you can control washing units and adjust all washing formulas through your computer. We have an automatic chemical dosing system in place. At the same time, we generate all reports directly on the computer in order to simply find out chemical costs and are looking at software which can scan garments and help us track the progress of jobs efficiently,” he adds.

Job satisfaction Laundry is a department where most aspiring hoteliers start their career. And there are those who find immense content with the section of hospitality. Be it by learning about new textiles, meeting people from different nationalities or even by training new talent, laundry managers find their jobs not only challenging but enjoyable as well. “Working with so many different people, different cultures and different nationalities has been an enjoyable experience. You realise how in many ways we are so different but in many ways we are also the same. Also seeing progress in laundry is very rewarding and the installation of our new Tunnel Washer last year was definitely my greatest achievement so far within Jumeirah,” states Paul.

For Sarfaraz, training and grooming new talent give him immense pleasure. “It always gives me great pleasure to train and groom them for their future in hospitality. I impose a mandated training and succession programme to ensure that my team members are constantly working towards to improving themselves and attain the required standards to be promoted within a healthy period of time. Rotana is continually expanding and this provides greater opportunities for them to move through the ranks,” he adds.

But what most laundry managers find satisfaction is with the constant learning and updating themselves with new textiles and technology.


April 2015 | CLEAN MIDDLE EAST - LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SUPPLEMENT 21

Tips


Laundries operate in a crowded industry and are constantly seeking ways

to reduce their overheads in order to remain competitive. This has a direct influence on chemical manufacturers and installation engineers, whose products’ and services’ value and price are questioned and fiercely compared by laundry owners. As an installation engineer or a chemical manufacturer, you can do little to reduce the costs linked to your core products or services. The key lies in the choice of laundry dosing equipment you select and associate with your brand.

Contrary to popular belief, the purchasing price per dosing unit isn’t the main driver when it comes to reducing costs. Look beyond the acquisition cost and study the entire life-cycle of the installation. Here are three important questions that you need to ask your laundry dosing system manufacturer to ensure the most cost-effective solution to your customers.

1.What is the lifecycle of the laun-dry dosing pump tubes, and what are the alternatives?The most common pump available in the marketplace is the peristaltic pump suitable for low and high flow. As laundry requires consistent and reliant dosage of chemical to achieve the best wash quality, the pump

tube is a critical component in the performance of any dosing system.

Chemicals can react and may cause the tube to split and leak, or degrade the tube slowly over a long period of time. To overcome this, check to see if your manufacturer is willing to work with you to find the best tub-ing material to suit your chemical. Can they offer you free compati-bility tests to ensure that you are equipped with the right peristaltic pump tube?

An alternative to peristaltic dosing is the membrane pump – also called diaphragm pump. Available mostly for high-flow applications, the membrane pump presents ex-cellent dosing characteristics, with renowned stability of pumping rates. It also rarely needs servicing as the pump barely degrades with time. As all advantages come with a cost though, membrane pumps usually require a higher investment than peristaltic pumps.

2.Is the system simple to install and operate?Space is precious in laundry en-vironments and compact instal-lations with multiple pumps are in high demand. These particular pumps are also easy to install and to maintain thanks to the quick tube change configuration. As the business grows, industrial laundries often need to upgrade their dosing station to cater for a greater variety

of chemicals. Make sure the dosing pump you have chosen enables an easy upgrade to avoid extra equip-ment and maintenance costs. When it comes to the acquisition cost of the system, you need to consider the price of the computer software. Some manufacturers offer the software for free, while others treat it as a separate purchase. Another aspect to look at is how user-friend-ly the computer software is. The aim is to be provided with a simple and intuitive solution that enables you to assume total control of the laundry unit. Wireless dongles are fast becoming hot property in the industry, and have been designed to make awkward-to-reach units more accessible to programme.

3.Is training provided?Investment in equipment only pro-vides long-term value if it is profes-sionally installed and maintained correctly. The best way to gain this knowledge is through a comprehen-sive training session with your laun-dry equipment manufacturer. The course should cover the basics for selling and maintaining the systems, as well as in-depth guidance on full installation and programming. After the unit is installed, it is important to train all users on operational proce-dures. Improper use of the system will result in underperformance, poorly washed fabrics and potential damage to the laundry equipment.

(Contributed by Brightwell Dispensers)

Laundry SolutionsThree ways to cut down laundry dosing system costs


Global Appeal


The tagline - ‘TRUTH. VALUE’ of Magnarab, a highly specialised laundry

equipment consultant and equipment supplier, is more of an internal reminder than a promise to its customer, on why the company exists.

So far Magnarab’s journey has been a very exciting and commercially successful one. And the credit goes to the team behind the company, the careful selection of products and services offered by the company. The organisation holds immense importance to both the words ‘truth’ and ‘value’ in the company tagline. The company classifies its customers into channels and end-users and the way they see value in their association with Magnarab is very different. Tolon is a specialist manufacturer from Turkey, and offers a wide range of heavy-duty Washer Extractors and Dryers from 20 to 110 kgs in capacity, besides high quality towel and linen folders. The brand has appealed to all their target markets because of the unique combination of ‘values’ the brand is consistently able to put together. With high level of reliability, excellent looks, flexibility in operation and world class service culture, the customers of the company feel protected. The Magnarab team shares the same ‘values’ of service culture and dons a

customer-centric attitude across all departments. With installations ranging from small commercial laundries to large central laundries, palaces to 5-star hotels, Magnarab has proven that when product excellence partners with service competence, the result is a sustainably growing family of happy customers. Carbonell is a veteran company headquartered in Spain specializing in large scale Continuous Batch washing systems, and complete laundry solutions. Carbonell has decided to make a grand entry to this market and have chosen Magnarab as their regional partner, owing to the same aforesaid ‘values’. Carbonell has an installation already in Abu Dhabi, which processes work wear and hospitality linen. With several brands of CBW systems already in the market place, the company feels a CBW system renowned for its ultimate flexibility, reliability and modular construction will have a market share where emphasis is on performance and ROI matters for the laundries. Watermug is another brand owned by Magnarab and is a private label for semi-commercial models of washers and dryers for light duty applications such as staff accommodations, small laundries, large households and so forth. For dry cleaning machines, the organisation partners with Sovrana,

a premium brand from FMB group in Italy. Sovrana offers a wide range of dry cleaning machines that uses Perc, Hydrocarbon and Greenearth solvents. Other services Magnarab offers are business advisory assignments and market studies for all segments of laundries. This service is very unique as they associate with their customers in so much detail that not only includes market study and business models, but often stretches to project management and operational support during start-up stages. They are able to achieve this efficiently as the Magnarab promoters also co-own one of the biggest and most automated laundries in India called Magnamind, which successfully handles all segments such as retail, semi-institutional and institutional laundry services. And they understand the day to day affairs of a laundry and can get surprisingly close to the business realities. This is where Magnarab maintains a competitive edge over other players, The experience in operations drives all their decisions on taking up a brand, servicing them and so forth. Magnarab is now expanding into other GCC countries either through acquisitions or with direct representations and are seeking active partnerships across the region.

Driven by values

P.O. Box: 80260, Dubai United Arab Emirates.Tel: +9714 2970512 , Fax. +971 4 2970513Email: [email protected]

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