Central Dakota Hospital Laundry Manager Greg Lorenz was faced with a challenging question. When do you replace an existing and efficient Milnor tunnel system?
The answer: when the financing is too good to pass up. With their financing in place and approval from the board, CDHL looked to Minnesota Chemical Company for a new Milnor tunnel washer. Minnesota Chemical, the local authorized Milnor distributor, sold the original tunnel system back in 1992. Their seven-module 76032 CBW® tunnel washer had been in excellent shape—effectively processing 3,200,000 lbs. per year of healthcare goods from two local hospitals, after 17 years of continuous operation.
Minnesota Chemical’s Denny Franson worked with Lorenz to determine the most appropriate equipment for the updated laundry, based on their production goals and the linen demands of both hospitals. With all of those factors considered, they chose to replace the “mint condition” tunnel with an eight-module, 110 lb. capacity (50 kg) 76028 CBW tunnel washer, a single stage press, and three 64058 pass through dryers with 200-320 lb. (91-145 kg) capacity. Also recently installed in the laundry are: Chicago Imperial 232 flatwork ironer, Skyline S16 large piece folder, two AirChicago XL small piece folders, and one Chicago KingEdge feeder.
The laundry relies on a Milnor CONWA weighing conveyor to both weigh the goods and introduce goods into the Milnor CBW when the system calls for the next load. Greg uses clean, dry weight of goods to assess costs to the customers, as it is a better system than costing by soiled weight. After the goods are sorted and loaded into the tunnel, laundry staff place empty carts underneath the pass-through dryers to wait for goods to discharge. CDHL staff also feeds the ironers and packages the processed goods for distribution to the two hospitals Monday through Friday, in 8-hour shifts.
This modernized, automated wash-to-dry process and automated flatwork processing is vital for CDHL because it insures overall efficiency and reduces linen loss from transport. Now, with this new system, there is less production downtime and reduced linen loss, which positively affect the laundry’s bottom line and promote excellent patient care.
While the Milnor machinery is paramount to CDHL’s success, so is the laundry’s management and dedication to preserving their success. Denny Franson shared his thoughts on why CDHL gets the job done so well, “Greg is meticulous, as is his mechanic Jay Seeberg. This is the cleanest, most well-maintained laundry you’ll ever visit. You could eat off the floor!” That is quite a compliment considering the laundry processes surgical linen, hospital bed linen (among other healthcare goods).
Another vital component to an efficient laundry is proper machinery layout and installation in order to have any tunnel system perform to its full potential. Minnesota Chemical and CDHL worked with Milnor’s Application Engineering Department to design the conveyor system, the tunnel system layout, and flatwork side. Once the machinery locations were confirmed, the real challenge began—getting the old system out and installing the new one in under seven days. Throughout the weeklong installation (the average tunnel installation is fourteen days), Gary Halloran, Milnor’s Field & Service Engineer, worked swiftly and accurately to meet the strict deadline. Gary worked with four Minnesota Chemical Co. service technicians, who came in from both the Iowa and Minnesota branches to assure that the job got done in time.
Meanwhile, Greg and his staff worked overtime to process the incoming linen in their three Milnor Q-Series washer-extractors originally installed with the system in 1992 (two 90 lb. capacity, one 50 lb. capacity). To prepare for the installation, Greg had arranged to have the installation performed at the time of lowest linen usage of the year. He met with hospital staff to conserve linen as much as possible, and he built up his linen par level at the hospitals.
Gary Halloran affirmed, “I had lots of good people to work with, from the rigger, to the Minnesota Chemical staff, down to the people who worked in the laundry.”
With teamwork and a plan, Halloran made his deadline, with hours to spare. After a few test loads, the new tunnel’s wash quality was approved. Greg Lorenz and staff were so pleased with the outcome, Greg personally wrote to Minnesota Chemical President Mike Baker, “During the install Denny was here to keep things organized and moving along, he isn't afraid to pick up a broom, turn a wrench, or do anything that will keep the job moving along. I have never met a salesperson like Denny who is so dedicated to the satisfaction of his customer. I hope to be working with Denny and Minnesota Chemical for many years to come.”
With this new and improved system, the laundry has seen excellent results in utility savings, process times, and overall processed linen poundage. In fact, the laundry had to slow the tunnel to keep up with the pre-sort area. And, since they have switched from a two-stage press to the 50 bar single-stage press, it takes 4-5 minutes less (per dryer) to dry each load! Moreover with 3:14 transfer times, the entire laundry’s output per hour has increased 8.5% since the new tunnel was installed.
Central Dakota Hospital Laundry has a staff of 19 full-time employees, with an average tenure of 15 years. With all of this experience and dedication, it is no wonder why the seventeen-year-old tunnel washer was in great shape!
So, where is the “mint condition” 1992 CBW washer now?
It’s installed in Carolina Linen Management’s commercial laundry plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, where its superior design and rugged manufacturing helps process 11 million lbs. of linen per year.
Sam Cole was anxious for Carolina Linen Management to purchase this 1992 Milnor tunnel because he knew just how well it would perform. (They had two other 1992 Milnor tunnels before purchasing CDHL’s.)
After purchasing the tunnel, Sam proclaimed to Denny Franson, “Milnor strives to make quality machines using the best and latest materials and technologies. This combination makes a high quality laundry machine that brings many years of service.” He continued, “The second best tunnel in the world, besides a new Milnor, is a pre-owned one!”
For more information on Milnor tunnel systems or to find an authorized dealer in your area, please call 800-469-8780 or 504-712-7656, or visit www.milnor.com.
The answer: when the financing is too good to pass up. With their financing in place and approval from the board, CDHL looked to Minnesota Chemical Company for a new Milnor tunnel washer. Minnesota Chemical, the local authorized Milnor distributor, sold the original tunnel system back in 1992. Their seven-module 76032 CBW® tunnel washer had been in excellent shape—effectively processing 3,200,000 lbs. per year of healthcare goods from two local hospitals, after 17 years of continuous operation.
Minnesota Chemical’s Denny Franson worked with Lorenz to determine the most appropriate equipment for the updated laundry, based on their production goals and the linen demands of both hospitals. With all of those factors considered, they chose to replace the “mint condition” tunnel with an eight-module, 110 lb. capacity (50 kg) 76028 CBW tunnel washer, a single stage press, and three 64058 pass through dryers with 200-320 lb. (91-145 kg) capacity. Also recently installed in the laundry are: Chicago Imperial 232 flatwork ironer, Skyline S16 large piece folder, two AirChicago XL small piece folders, and one Chicago KingEdge feeder.
The laundry relies on a Milnor CONWA weighing conveyor to both weigh the goods and introduce goods into the Milnor CBW when the system calls for the next load. Greg uses clean, dry weight of goods to assess costs to the customers, as it is a better system than costing by soiled weight. After the goods are sorted and loaded into the tunnel, laundry staff place empty carts underneath the pass-through dryers to wait for goods to discharge. CDHL staff also feeds the ironers and packages the processed goods for distribution to the two hospitals Monday through Friday, in 8-hour shifts.
This modernized, automated wash-to-dry process and automated flatwork processing is vital for CDHL because it insures overall efficiency and reduces linen loss from transport. Now, with this new system, there is less production downtime and reduced linen loss, which positively affect the laundry’s bottom line and promote excellent patient care.
While the Milnor machinery is paramount to CDHL’s success, so is the laundry’s management and dedication to preserving their success. Denny Franson shared his thoughts on why CDHL gets the job done so well, “Greg is meticulous, as is his mechanic Jay Seeberg. This is the cleanest, most well-maintained laundry you’ll ever visit. You could eat off the floor!” That is quite a compliment considering the laundry processes surgical linen, hospital bed linen (among other healthcare goods).
Another vital component to an efficient laundry is proper machinery layout and installation in order to have any tunnel system perform to its full potential. Minnesota Chemical and CDHL worked with Milnor’s Application Engineering Department to design the conveyor system, the tunnel system layout, and flatwork side. Once the machinery locations were confirmed, the real challenge began—getting the old system out and installing the new one in under seven days. Throughout the weeklong installation (the average tunnel installation is fourteen days), Gary Halloran, Milnor’s Field & Service Engineer, worked swiftly and accurately to meet the strict deadline. Gary worked with four Minnesota Chemical Co. service technicians, who came in from both the Iowa and Minnesota branches to assure that the job got done in time.
Meanwhile, Greg and his staff worked overtime to process the incoming linen in their three Milnor Q-Series washer-extractors originally installed with the system in 1992 (two 90 lb. capacity, one 50 lb. capacity). To prepare for the installation, Greg had arranged to have the installation performed at the time of lowest linen usage of the year. He met with hospital staff to conserve linen as much as possible, and he built up his linen par level at the hospitals.
Gary Halloran affirmed, “I had lots of good people to work with, from the rigger, to the Minnesota Chemical staff, down to the people who worked in the laundry.”
With teamwork and a plan, Halloran made his deadline, with hours to spare. After a few test loads, the new tunnel’s wash quality was approved. Greg Lorenz and staff were so pleased with the outcome, Greg personally wrote to Minnesota Chemical President Mike Baker, “During the install Denny was here to keep things organized and moving along, he isn't afraid to pick up a broom, turn a wrench, or do anything that will keep the job moving along. I have never met a salesperson like Denny who is so dedicated to the satisfaction of his customer. I hope to be working with Denny and Minnesota Chemical for many years to come.”
With this new and improved system, the laundry has seen excellent results in utility savings, process times, and overall processed linen poundage. In fact, the laundry had to slow the tunnel to keep up with the pre-sort area. And, since they have switched from a two-stage press to the 50 bar single-stage press, it takes 4-5 minutes less (per dryer) to dry each load! Moreover with 3:14 transfer times, the entire laundry’s output per hour has increased 8.5% since the new tunnel was installed.
Central Dakota Hospital Laundry has a staff of 19 full-time employees, with an average tenure of 15 years. With all of this experience and dedication, it is no wonder why the seventeen-year-old tunnel washer was in great shape!
So, where is the “mint condition” 1992 CBW washer now?
It’s installed in Carolina Linen Management’s commercial laundry plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, where its superior design and rugged manufacturing helps process 11 million lbs. of linen per year.
Sam Cole was anxious for Carolina Linen Management to purchase this 1992 Milnor tunnel because he knew just how well it would perform. (They had two other 1992 Milnor tunnels before purchasing CDHL’s.)
After purchasing the tunnel, Sam proclaimed to Denny Franson, “Milnor strives to make quality machines using the best and latest materials and technologies. This combination makes a high quality laundry machine that brings many years of service.” He continued, “The second best tunnel in the world, besides a new Milnor, is a pre-owned one!”
For more information on Milnor tunnel systems or to find an authorized dealer in your area, please call 800-469-8780 or 504-712-7656, or visit www.milnor.com.
Thursday, January 28 2010
