Services we offer

  • We provide a wide range of expert consultancy & training across all Industries involved with Laundries and Textiles.

 

Training

For any business to be effective – training is required at ALL levels of employee. From the boardroom to the factory floor, training improves efficiency, productivity and PROFIT.

Our training courses a based on the latest technology and have been successfully used Internationally – and are both generic as well as ‘bespoke’ to fit your specific requirements – ranging from ½ day to 3 days both ‘On the job’ as well as ‘Classroom based’ – using overhead presentations and demonstrations where relevant.

Some of our generic courses are:

We have a wide range of training materials available covering all aspects of the Laundry and Drycleaning sectors.
Please contact us for details of any aspects on which you would like training for either yourself and or your employees/colleagues.

The costs of training are based on a per capita per daily rate of ZAR 2,000 (GBP 150.00 or US$ 240.00) based on a minimum of 8 delegates and are always fully inclusive of (unless otherwise previously agreed):

  • Training Manuals for each delegate;
  • Refreshments during the workshop/seminar;
  • Hire of the training venue and presentation equipment;
  • Trainer costs

Costs NOT included are:

  • Delegate travel to attend the training venue;
  • Delegate over-night accommodation (if required).

Fault Appraisal

During the Laundry and Drycleaning process there are many things that can go wrong that can affect the appearance, handle or life expectancy of a textile item.

In all instances where things have ‘gone wrong’ the responsibility will invariably be with either:

With drycleaned items the responsibility for the fault can often be identified by detailed examination of the item without either destructive or laboratory tests.

With laundered items they sometimes need more detailed examination and laboratory testing or even further test washing.

In all instances:

The costs for our ‘Fault Appraisal’ service are:

  • Examination report with conclusions and responsibility – ZAR 2,000 (GBP 140.00 US$ 220) plus return packaging and postage

The following is a ‘short-list’ of some of the additional test work that may be required (often for laundered items only):

Test Purpose ZAR GBP (£) US ($)
Cuprammonium Fluidity To determine fabric damage 1090 75 120
BS EN ISO 13934-1 Fabric strength – Strip method 550 38 60
Wash tests BS6330 Shrinkage assessment Per wash/dry cycle 220 15 24
Whiteness Reflectance and/or Brightness Per item 220 15 24
Thread Count Number of picks/ends 220 15 24
Fabric mass (g/m2)   220 15 24
Yarn linear density Mass of yarn used warp and weft 1240 85 135
Towel loop tenacity Force required to extract the loop 870 60 95

Please note:

Textile Specification & Analysis

The above range of textile related issues are becoming increasingly common-place with batches of new textiles after they have been subjected to just a few laundry processes.

The ‘blame’ for these issues is often placed on the laundry – who in turn blames the detergent/chemicals supplier. However, in many instances, these problems have occurred because either the incorrect textile has been purchased (has not been specified correctly) or the textiles received are not to the quality or standard required.

The purchasing of textiles can be a mine-field for any buyer, particularly with many manufacturers working in different time zones and with language barriers – both when speaking as well as when using technical terms to specify the product(s) required.
It is also necessary, having placed your order for a new consignment of textiles, to ensure that what has been ordered has, indeed, been delivered.

In recent years – due to natural disasters and increased pressure on arable land to produce food – the costs of cotton and polyester (Oil derivative) have more than quadrupled. This means that:

(a) To remain competitive, some textile manufacturers are ‘cutting corners’ to reduce the cost of the finished item; or
(b) Lower grade products are being offered – which, for the unwary buyer, can mean disaster.

If purchasing budgets are to be achieved, all textiles purchased must endure for the required period and provide the service they were purchased for throughout their useful life expectancy.

There are a number of essential key steps to ensuring that the right textile is purchased and that it meets your performance requirements.

Step 1.

Step 2.

What type of fabric (cotton or polyester cotton)? – and to what technical specifications? E.g. Dimensions after laundering (shrinkage), fabric mass, fabric strength, yarn linear density, picks & ends.

Step 3.

Obtain quotations and samples – and assess the samples against the specification.

Step 4.

Place the order and ensure that copies of the manufacturer’s Quality Control certificates are submitted for comparison against the original specification BEFORE the fabric is shipped.

Step 5.

On delivery of the consignment, ensure that each item is uniquely identified to that each consignment can be readily identified once it is placed into circulating stocks and that samples are taken and cross checked against the specification.

We provide buyers and users with detailed guidelines on how to put together the correct technical specifications based on International Standards in terms of both the fabric construction and performance as well as how the finished items are produced based on the end-use application.

Then, having correctly specified the fabric we then develop a range of simple in-house tests and procedures to help ensure that what has been delivered was what was ordered and the product is fit-for purpose.

Once a container with 5,000 Duvet covers costing R250.00 each – (R1¼million) has been delivered and found to be faulty – it can be difficult to return it to Asia – especially if it has already been paid for!

Because each user has different requirements - it is not possible to specify exactly how much time – and therefore cost - is required to set up the system and procedures, train assessment staff as well as the Key performance Indicators for assessing textiles.

Textile Specification & Analysis

It can require as little as 2 days – or as many as 6 days – and therefore prices for this service are quoted based on local specific requirements at a daily rate of R11,000 (GBP 750 US$ 1,200) plus Expenses as incurred at cost.

Quality Assessment

The key concerns of many laundry users are:

Invariably many launderers are unable to answer these questions accurately – because they themselves do not know.

The BS EN ISO 14065:2002 Textiles – Laundry – processed textiles – Biocontamination system is a standard designed to guide the launderer through the steps to ensure that not only are all textiles returned to the user hygienically clean – but to the right quality standard.

The Quality and Hygiene audits are designed to be the first step in this process as well as providing the launderer with an accurate assessment of the standards they are currently achieving versus Internationally accepted targets and how to achieve the required standards.

The ‘Quality Assessment’ involves assessing not less than 100 items, taken at random, of each principle classification and checking them for:

It also involves checking on Quality Control procedures, packing count accuracy, Re-wash levels and causes.

Quality Assessment

A ‘Quality Assessment’ normally requires one full day ‘On site’ plus a further 1-1½ days to collate and summarise all of the information into a detailed report with recommendations for future action in order to achieve the target quality standards.

Hygiene Audit

The Hygiene Audit involves the identification of the critical control points throughout the laundry from the time that the soiled items are received – through the complete laundry process and delivery back to the user.

The ‘Critical Control Points’ will vary somewhat between different laundries depending upon the volumes of work processed and the existing procedures in place.
The audit uses either ‘contact dip-slides’ and/or swab tests that are used on all critical control points.

The micro-organisms normally tested for are:

Wash process procedures to validate thermal disinfection is taking place on all textiles able to withstand thermal disinfection temperatures as well as the monitoring procedures in place to ensure that all equipment is correctly calibrated are checked.

Items that can only be chemically disinfected (Heat Labile) process checks are made to ensure that the correct dosing is taking place and operators understand this aspect of the process.
Cleaning regimes throughout the factory are checked as well as the use of anti-bactericidal hand cleaning methods – and staff use these.

Hygiene Audit

This audit normally requires one full day ‘On site’ plus a further 1-1½ days to collate and summarise all of the information into a detailed report with recommendations for future action in order to achieve the target quality standards.

Production Audit

The Production audit is designed to review the equipment currently in use and the services to the equipment and to assess the actual output being achieved versus the optimum for the equipment.

This process involves assessing the condition of each major piece of production equipment and reviewing the operational procedures used by the employees. For example, production from a Continuous batch Tunnel Washer can be delayed due to say, incorrect sequencing of work loaded into the CBTW or the membrane press may not be correctly tuned and the CBTW goes into a holding pattern whilst waiting for a Tumble Drier to discharge its load.

Production on multi-roll ironers can be reduced if the clothing or roll vacuum are not set correctly and so on.

The production audit will often identify production bottle-necks and off-set the need for additional equipment being purchased/installed by merely ensuring that existing equipment is fully functional and operators are using the correct safe systems of work and operational procedures.

Production Audit

The time for a ‘Production Audit’ can vary depending upon the size of the laundry and the quantity of equipment installed. As a general guide, 1-2 days on site are required plus a further 2 days to complete the detailed report with recommendations.

Energy Usage (Carbon Footprint)

The second greatest cost for any launderer or drycleaner is the cost of energy – and is a cost that will continue to increase as the Worlds resources are depleted. Added to this, as each of us continue to use more energy, the amount of carbon monoxide and dioxide in the atmosphere is contributing to Global Warming.

We all therefore have a financial and environmental responsibility to make whatever reductions we can in the amount of energy we each use.

The sources of energy commonly used in laundries and drycleaners will often be a combination of several types – each with their own unique common unit of measurement, e.g.

With the wide range of energy units commonly in use (calories, joules, BThU, Kwhr) – it can be a daunting task trying to determine just what energy is being used, where it is used and if this is too much or too little.

The Energy Audit is designed to review the various types of energy used in the plant and reduce it to a single unit of energy (Kwhr) and relate this to volume of work being processed in the plant to produce your Kwhr energy usage per kg dry weight of work produced – which can then be related to International standard targets as well as forming the benchmark against which any improvements are made.

The audit identifies where the energy is used and projects the financial implications of changes based on:

1. No financial investment;
2. Medium term investment; and
3. Larger long term capital investment.

For example, the reduction of the dip level on the Main wash stage of a wash process will reduce steam consumption – and will be at no financial investment. However, the introduction of a ‘Flash Steam’ recovery system may well be regarded as a longer term capital investment.

During the audit potential areas of reduced energy costs are identified and are detailed in our report – broken out by the above three categories for management application.

Energy Usage (Carbon Footprint)

The time for an ‘Energy Audit’ will vary depending upon the size of the laundry and the quantity of equipment installed.
As a general guide, 1-2 days on site are required plus a further 2 days to complete the detailed report with recommendations.

Product Assessment

New products are constantly entering the market-place – often accompanied by claims by the manufacturer (or sales people) that have either not been substantiated or have been demonstrated in the laboratory but not proven in the field – or the product itself is viable but to achieve its full potential additional support may be required – or it may work in the small environment but not suitable for the larger environment.

Alternatively, you may be considering a well tried and tested product – but you are not sure if it is suitable for your specific application and environment.

Such new products and or technology will often have potentially significant benefits for the Users and will come with a large price-tag. However, if they don’t work in your situation – the costs to your business can far exceed the initial investment.

For example, the introduction of a new chemicals/detergent system may offer unrivalled improvements in Quality or increased productivity via shorter wash processes – but if the system reduces the fabric life by 50%, this could be sufficient to put you out of business.

Due to our in-depth knowledge of both textiles as well as the laundry industry operating environment – we are able to explore and extrapolate the implications of new technology, products and systems aimed at the industry.

Product Assessment

As new products and systems vary considerably it is not possible to indicate the associated costs for this type of work.
It very much depends upon the product and the anticipated environment – and therefore a quotation is made depending
upon the circumstances.

Plant Design & Layout

The way in which the machinery in any laundry is placed will dictate not only the work-flow (and therefore efficiency) of the laundry – but may well have an adverse effect on the risks of cross-contamination of the cleaned textiles as well as any potential future growth.

Most major laundry machinery manufacturers or suppliers will generate a CAD design for a new laundry – indicating placement of machinery as well as the positioning of power supplies, water, steam, gas and drainage. However, many of the manufacturers may well be excellent engineers and have experience in plant layout – but very few are launderers and may well not have the practical hands-on experience of managing a laundry and having to contend with either insufficient working space or obtaining the correct work-flow for the various classifications.

The selection of the right type and capacity of machinery is also a major influencing factor. It is essential that accurate data is available relating to the production requirements – both present and in the future – are known in order to ensure the correctly sized equipment is used and it is designed to cater for the work load envisaged.

For example, if there is sufficient of any one classification of a similar level and type of soiling to keep a Batch washer occupied full time – then a cheaper single skinned Batch washer will suffice. However, where there are multi-classifications or variable levels and types of soiling – then a Batch washer with individual programmable compartments is required.

Balancing each department to production levels is also essential as is ensuring there are adequate services (KVA electrical rating; Size of water and steam lines; Effluent discharge capacity and so on).

Installing a multi-roll high speed ironer capable of producing 1,000 sheets per hour is of little benefit if only 400 sheets per hour are required; Having a 20,000litre water softener and storage tank will be of little use if the laundry requires 50,000 litres per day – it will come to a stand-still by lunch-time each day!

Plant Design & Layout

As new plants vary considerably in size or selection and placement of additional equipment can vary, it is not possible to indicate the associated costs for this type of work. It very much depends upon the project and the local conditions – and therefore a quotation is made depending upon the circumstances.