Dryers can be simple or complex, depending on what you’re after. There are a number of features and options worth knowing about before making a decision, many that are unique to commercial models. We’ve broken it all down for you and put together this Buyer’s Guide, helping you to find the right dryer for your business.
When it comes to commercial dryers, there can be more than meets the eye.
Capacity is an important factor when purchasing a dryer. Capacity refers to how many kilos of dry laundry will fit in each load. The capacity you need is driven by four major factors: your par levels of linen, the number of people and estimated personal garments, your required turn-around times, and the number of hours per day/per week your laundry will be operating.
We’ve created a general guide to dryer capacities, but we recommend speaking to one of our laundry experts for a deeper analysis on the right capacity for your business:
| Washer Size | Baskets |
|---|---|
| 5 - 7kg |  |
| 8 - 13kg |  |
| 18 - 24kg |  |
| 35kg |  |
| 35kg+ | Speak with us |
When selecting a commercial dryer, we recommend choosing a machine that is fully programmable, giving you control over the care of your linen and garments. The best machines come with factory installed programs, designed for specific material types. Using these programmes will extend the life of your linen as well as create machine efficiency, lowering your energy bills and saving you time.
IPSO Over-dry Prevention Technology (OPT) reduces drying time, utility and labour costs, using special sensors located within the dryer to determine the extract moment that the linens are dry. This helps to eradicate over-drying and increases productivity. As well as saving your linens, OPT will save you money on your utility bills.
IPSO ECOdry-Technology features a lower energy input and therefore a lower energy usage, compared to classic tumble dryers. This equals to overall utility savings of around 5% annually. It saves your business money, while also saving the environment.
| Feature | T-Shirts |
|---|---|
| Vended | Vended machines can take coins, tokens, or cashless payments that allow the machine to start. |
| Programmable controller | A programmable controller allows the machine to treat each fabric specifically to their characteristics, adjusting the water, spin speed, cycle duration, and chemical dosing. accordingly. It ensures a better quality clean, better care of your linen , and better use of your resources. |
| Ergonomic design, including a large door opening | Higher employee satisfaction, minimised work related injuries, and increased productivity. |
| Machine footprint | The machine dimensions are not the only thing to factor in when measuring up for a new washing machine. Enough space needs to be allowed at the front of the machine for trolleys, as well as at the back of the machine for utility connections and for machine servicing. |
| Operation height/plinth | The operational height refers to the height of the door. This is an important factor in caring for the health and safety of your laundry staff. We always recommend purchasing a plinth along with your washing machine. Plinths are customisable so they can be matched to your specific laundry environment for the best ergonomic design. |
| Material quality of the drum | Stainless steel is the best quality material choice for a washing machine drum and tub. It's sturdy and will last longer than alternative materials. Any other material is simply just inferior. |
| USB portal | Allows machine programming to be uploaded and downloaded. |
| Reversing | Reversing refers to the drum's ability to rotate both ways. Not all commercial dryers are fitted with this feature. Reversing revents linen from getting tangled, |
| Combustion Auto Response Equipped (CARE) system | A safety system feature in gas dryers that monitor the temperature within the drum. If an excessive temperature is detected, linen is prayed with water as an early fire prevention method. |
| Axial Airflow Vs Radial Airflow | Axial Airflow is considered to be more energy efficient than radial airflow, drying linen in the same amount of time using less energy. However, because axial airflow relies on a concentrated stream of air to move through the linen, it becomes less effective with large loads. You will find dryers of around 50kg and upwards will use radial airflow for this reason. |
Our smaller dryers, as well as our stacked washer-dryers are available for delivery only or delivery and installation. Depending on how your laundry is set up you may be able to simply plug in the machine yourself, and not require an installation. If you're not sure, you can always check with us.
For our commercial sized dryers, we highly recommend our Professional Installation team install your machines. This ensures that the machine is installed to the manufacturer's specification, preserving your product warranty and guaranteeing a quality installation of your brand new asset. Read more on Our Process.
Caring for your dryer regularly will help you continue to get the best out of it, as well as extend its life. Simple actions such as reading the manual, gaining feedback from your staff, and regularly cleaning the machine to prevent build up of grime and nasty smells, can make a big difference in looking after your dryer. Read more on our post on DIY Laundry Preventative Maintenance.
When purchasing a commercial dryer, we strongly recommend signing up to regular machine servicing. Even the best commercial laundry brands require preventative maintenance to ensure they are performing at their best and keep on top of any wear and tear before it becomes a costly breakdown. It's important you partner with a laundry team you can rely on. Check out our industry leading Protection Plans to learn more.
It's inevitable that over the years, especially as your tumble dryer starts to age, that it will break down. Commercial dryers are solid and durable, but with any machine that is used as often as they are, it's expected they may fault from time to time. That's why it's important to partner with a laundry team who are quick to respond and have spare parts on hand, ready to get your machine up and running ASAP. Learn more about our Urgent Repairs Service.
Speak with our laundry experts to help you with machine selection, technical information, site issues, and any other laundry support you need.
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