2020 Tunnel Vision
A modern tunnel washer will not only save money in a laundry but can help to improve green credentials as we try to head to a ‘carbon neutral’ future.
Perhaps the most significant steps in recent times in the development of continuous batch washers involve energy and water saving possibilities as manufacturers develop systems which recover and reuse these vital resources as well as minimising detergent use. This alongside greatly improved flexible control of the process and the ingenious engineering inside means its time for a look at the latest on offer for those investing in a tunnel washer. Jean Anderson reports.
Kannegiesser’s Powertrans series is designed to provide uncompromising hygiene and diversity for years to come
Laundries are confronted with ever -changing market requirements through social developments, demographic changes and a shortage in natural resources, says Kannegeisser’s Ellie Stowe. “In many countries, and particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are adhering to strict rules when it comes to hygiene. “
The Kannegiesser Powertrans Vario is designed to provide uncompromising hygiene and diversity – a machine that can work at your side now and for many years to come.”
Stowe cont inues: “All Kannegiesser equipment and machinery is designed with cost effectiveness at the forefront of our minds. The Powertrans is no exception; minimising water consumption, energy and chemicals means that these savings are passed to customers. The reduced consumption of natural resources is evidence of our remarkable progress in the field of environmental sustainability.”
Developed to handle heavily soiled garments and challenging hygienic conditions, by design, the Powertrans eradicates unused space in both the inner and outer drums, tanks and piping – all places where soiling and micro-organisms can settle. All process components and parts that touch the product are made from stainless steel and are robot-welded to ensure the highest manufacturing quality. “Separate batch washing ensures process control of each singular batch. This means that no washing liquid will mix between neighbouring batches, allowing for individual treatment, which, so far has only been possible with washer-extractors.” Stowe continues: “The variety and volume of laundry articles and processes continues to increase. The Powertrans offers the highest degree of flexibility comparable to high performance washer-extractors, where performance is high and consumption is low.
“Most textile and colour load mixes can be individually adjusted to suit your logistical chain and specific laundry requirements.” Individual batch processing is based on ration metric dosing and batch separation, each batch is treated individually according to category and size. Optimised drum design, precise manufacturing methods and intelligent controls enable a greater degree of operational flexibility. Incompatible batch mixes never compromise performance. There is no counterflow, no liquids are mixed therefore colourfast textiles are never compromised – the finished batches remain high in quality and hygiene.
Stowe said: “You are able to achieve a performance volume that enables the highest possible output within the space available. The ‘straight drum’ design enables high loading ratios and overload safety without compromising on the quality of wash or finish.”
She adds: “It is important to us that our customer’s laundry runs smoothly and steadily, therefore we only use material and components of the highest quality. This, combined with guaranteed manufacturing, installation quality and a close-knit service network is how we ensure you have a long lasting, resilient partner by your side.”
The Milnor PBW™ washer has taken true top transfer tunnel washing another step forward, says Ross Weir. Weir, MD of HJ Weir Engineering Company, the UK and Ireland distributor of Milnor, said: “The interrupted counter flow enhances the chemistry’s efficiency by allowing more time to work on the goods before dilution. “It still lifts and drains the goods before transferring them into the next processing stage.”
He continues: “What distinguishes a Milnor tunnel washer from the competition is better dilution, higher wash quality, and more rugged construction. Properly designed batch washers can wash better, faster, and at a lower cost than any washer-extractor. “The Milnor PBW™ is ideal for light to medium soil processing and can be configured with various options to process heavy and industrial soil. In addition to higher wash quality, other advantages are savings in utilities and labour, as well as faster processing of small batches.” Weir believes that a great solution for the smaller setup is the five-mod 76028 PBW™ laundry system. The compact design gives smaller laundries (with limited space) the ability to install a tunnel washing system based on the proven design and technology of the Milnor CBW® tunnel washers.
“This allows both small and large laundries to process their lower volume production in an automated fashion. The five-mod 76028 PBW™ tunnel has a 50kg capacity with individual compartments, allowing different types of goods to be processed simultaneously. “Laundries processing every goods classification have enjoyed unprecedented savings thanks to PulseFlow technology – in a small footprint.” he said.
Weir concludes: “For the highest return on investment, the reliability and cost efficiency of our laundry machinery allows a laundry to be more profitable by reducing energy, fresh water consumption, and the necessary labour force in your laundry.
The Milnor PBW™, available from HJ Weir, is ideal for light to medium soil processing and can be configured with various options to process heavy and industrial soil
Alpha by Jensen combines proven Jensen technology, cost-base manufacturing and fewer specification
Clean, cleaner, UVClean from Jensen: the new economical and ecological way to kill germs, bacteria and biofilms in the tunnel washer
“The five-mod 76028 PBW™ is not a new design. Customers around the world have seen unprecedented water, utility and labour savings since installation.” “Making our machines more environmentally friendly and saving resources remains a focus in all of our product development,” says Jensen’s head of communications Gerda Jank.
As the future is smarter, greener and more digital, Jensen continues to always be a step ahead – by creating the future in laundry automation. “The brand new Jensen UniQ tunnel washer with integrated ExQ press combines proven premium technology with new innovative features and guarantees best performance and short ROIs. Thanks to the open drum design, the transfer times are 10 per cent faster than in any other tunnel washer.” The laundry process includes a machine, filled with linen, water and chemicals. There is a lot going on between all these different components. Water is the link that connects these essential laundry components. The amount of water in the wash can influence the final wash and only with the right amount of water every time, can one deliver a perfect wash result every time. “This is one of the reasons that Jensen tunnels dispense both water and chemicals based on the actual linen batch weight,” says Jank.
“FlexWash and FlexRinse technology guarantee full batch integrity in the entire machine, with complete batch separation and full process flexibility. “Lowest water consumption of only 1.6 l/kg or 0.19 gal./lbs confirmed for the BlueEdition version is ensured thanks to a patented rinse process for quickest dilution and an outstanding water recovery concept. With an investment in an SL version, with its patented washing process and 100 per cent recovery without tanks, three core factors are of particular importance: Sustainability, hygiene and flawless washing results – with the most economical consumption ever.”
The new UVClean system (patent pending) in Jensen tunnel washers prevents bacterial growth in double drum sections automatically and without any chemical supply – it is the most natural, most ecological and most efficient way of eliminating germs and bacteria. Contrary to chemical methods, bacteria cannot become resistant to UV radiation, said Jank.
“Every laundry has unique needs, and they must make investment choices that can meet both their financial and operational goals. “As part of Jensen’s two-tier brand strategy, the Alpha by Jensen machine range offers solutions with limited options that can still deliver reliable high-quality washing results. “The Alpha TW5 tunnel washer uses Jensen’s legendary Archimedian helix drum design, offering higher mechanical action, reliable batch transfer, total batch separation in the pre-wash and main wash zones, and excellent drum strength. It also reuses water and energy internally. “For many laundries, a standard solution from Jensen that can offer high efficiency, productivity and availability are enough for them to simply get the job done,” said Jank.
Girbau UK’s TBS-50 continuous batch washer processes up to 1,360kg of laundry per hour. “A modular, adaptable solution, the TBS-50 delivers the ultimate in productivity, efficiency and simple operation to medium and high-volume laundries across the globe,” says Girbau’s marketing manager, Jo Emmerson.
“Thanks to a smart , dual-drum modular design, the TBS-50 is less costly and simpler to install than comparable machines on the market, uses less water and energy, runs quietly, and delivers a quality wash for any fabric type. TBS-50 is an extremely flexible tunnel washer that can be configured with five to 12 modules to meet the unique production needs of any application.”
The TBS-50’s superior programmability along with its series of identical, highly flexible wash modules, allows for infinite configurability to meet specific laundry needs. Each module is individually programmable for water temperature and levels, duration of the wash cycle, mechanical action, bath partitions, rapid draining, chemical dosing, closing parameters and more. Said Emmerson: “It allows users to manage more than 999 client accounts and offers 99 washing programmes and can include inlets for water, chemicals, drainage, temperature probes and more. “Steam inlets and chemical ports can also be added years after installation. Girbau’s sales engineering team can custom configure the system’s features at the time of order, or months or years after installation to meet future needs. “Girbau’s CBW is quite possibly the most flexible tunnel washer on the market.” The TBS-50 reuses water at specific points during the wash process. The freshest rinse water is used on the cleanest linen to ensure pristine wash results. Once the linens are rinsed, the used rinse water is redirected to a holding tank and used a second time to wash another load of soiled linens. It can recycle water up to three times.
Emmerson cont inues: “Configurable to properly clean and disinfect soiled goods – critical for laundry processed for hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities – the TBS-50’s steam injectors and intermediate filter tanks work to ensure particles from the rinse cycle aren’t recovered and reused during the wash process. “The washer’s independent water level and chemical modules totally permeate linens at the temperatures and conditions required to properly disinfect laundry. “Each module has the option for a steam inlet, and the outer drums of each module ensure proper chemical dosing at every stage of the cleaning process. Chemical dosing and water are automatically adjusted to perfectly fit the load’s weight – eliminating chemical overuse or underuse which result in damage to fabrics. “The TBS-50 comes with remote support – offering immediate online help, maintenance advice and distance troubleshooting.”
Case study: Royal Oldham Hospital
“The five-mod 76028 PBW™ is not a new design. Customers around the world have seen unprecedented water, utility and labour savings since installation.” “Making our machines more environmentally friendly and saving resources remains a focus in all of our product development,” says Jensen’s head of communications Gerda Jank.
As the future is smarter, greener and more digital, Jensen continues to always be a step ahead – by creating the future in laundry automation. “The brand new Jensen UniQ tunnel washer with integrated ExQ press combines proven premium technology with new innovative features and guarantees best performance and short ROIs. Thanks to the open drum design, the transfer times are 10 per cent faster than in any other tunnel washer.” The laundry process includes a machine, filled with linen, water and chemicals. There is a lot going on between all these different components. Water is the link that connects these essential laundry components. The amount of water in the wash can influence the final wash and only with the right amount of water every time, can one deliver a perfect wash result every time. “This is one of the reasons that Jensen tunnels dispense both water and chemicals based on the actual linen batch weight,” says Jank.
“FlexWash and FlexRinse technology guarantee full batch integrity in the entire machine, with complete batch separation and full process flexibility. “Lowest water consumption of only 1.6 l/kg or 0.19 gal./lbs confirmed for the BlueEdition version is ensured thanks to a patented rinse process for quickest dilution and an outstanding water recovery concept. With an investment in an SL version, with its patented washing process and 100 per cent recovery without tanks, three core factors are of particular importance: Sustainability, hygiene and flawless washing results – with the most economical consumption ever.”
The new UVClean system (patent pending) in Jensen tunnel washers prevents bacterial growth in double drum sections automatically and without any chemical supply – it is the most natural, most ecological and most efficient way of eliminating germs and bacteria. Contrary to chemical methods, bacteria cannot become resistant to UV radiation, said Jank.
“Every laundry has unique needs, and they must make investment choices that can meet both their financial and operational goals. “As part of Jensen’s two-tier brand strategy, the Alpha by Jensen machine range offers solutions with limited options that can still deliver reliable high-quality washing results. “The Alpha TW5 tunnel washer uses Jensen’s legendary Archimedian helix drum design, offering higher mechanical action, reliable batch transfer, total batch separation in the pre-wash and main wash zones, and excellent drum strength. It also reuses water and energy internally. “For many laundries, a standard solution from Jensen that can offer high efficiency, productivity and availability are enough for them to simply get the job done,” said Jank.
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