COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY
Cutting Down Costs
The laundry sector is a competitive marketplace and laundrettes and suppliers are constantly seeking ways to reduce costs in order to remain competitive. Laundry equipment is often one of the first things to come under scrutiny, and although the acquisition cost per dosing system plays an important role in reducing costs, it is not the only factor at stake. Companies need to look beyond the price tag and instead evaluate the entire operational cost over the life cycle of the installation. This means analysing all associated costs of the laundry dosing system that may affect future performance and contribute to increased overheads.
Let’s take the case of equipment failure as an example. It can be disruptive to a business, not to mention costly, and downtime associated with breakdowns, part replacements and installation can play havoc with productivity. While breakdowns are largely inevitable, launderettes are constantly searching for new ways to minimise the negative impact of maintenance and equipment repairs on their operations. The same can be said for chemical manufacturers and installation engineers who are also aiming to reduce breakdown-related call-outs.
When costs begin to escalate, we often end up asking ourselves the same questions: why did this happen? And could it have been avoided?
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With every effort being taken by laundry operatives to keep costs down in order to remain competitive in the marketplace, Brightwell Dispensers tell us how choosing the right dosing systems could play a key part reducing expenditure.
Pump Maintenance When it comes to laundry dosing system downtime, pump tubes are among the top offenders. Peristaltic tubes, which may seem like the most cost-effective option in the short term, may ultimately cost you more in the long-run in terms of maintenance and pump life-expectancy. They are prone to degradation and can adversely react with chemicals, causing the tube to split and leak. To overcome this, it is recommended to check with your supplier to see if they are willing to work with you to find the best tubing material to suit your chemical. Chemical compatibility testing is one of the most effective ways to test suitability. Test procedures should include pumping tests to determine the average life cycle and submersion tests to identify any erosion or compatibility issues with standard raw materials.
An alternative to peristaltic dosing is the membrane pump. Available mostly for high-flow applications, the membrane pump has excellent dosing characteristics, with renowned pumping rate stability. Its thick membrane and strong chemical resistance allows for the use of some of the most aggressive laundry chemicals. Membrane pumps generally require a higher investment than peristaltic pumps, however the pump barely wears down over time thus eliminating the need for periodic tube maintenance and downtime.
Installation And
Programming Space is precious in laundry environments and compact installations with multiple pumps are in high demand. Double pump-head systems such as those featured on Brightwell Dispensers’ BrightLogic OPL systems make the dosing station as compact as could be. This system consists of a patented double pump- head making the pumps easy to install and maintain thanks to quick tube change configuration.
As business grows, industrial laundries often need to upgrade their dosing station to cater for a greater variety of chemicals. Even if upgrading isn’t top priority at the moment, there’s no harm in projecting future needs. By initially installing dosing systems which enable an easy upgrade, you could save on future installation and equipment costs. Some dosing systems on the marketplace allow you to connect additional pumps in minutes, without even having to take the pump off the wall. These plug-and-play modules
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