How Much Does Commercial Laundry Equipment Cost?

The cost of commercial laundry equipment isn't necessarily just in the price tag

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Many elements make up the cost of commercial laundry equipment, and they may not necessarily be included in the price tag. There are the more obvious components, such as brand, features and size. Then there are the less obvious, but equally important, components that contribute to the overall cost of commercial laundry equipment. Such hidden components can include the expertise and support of the company you are making the purchase from, gas versus electric, high-spin (soft-mount) versus moderate-spin (hard-mount), as well as regular machine servicing.

Bringing Laundry In-House Saves Money

The biggest benefit of having an on-premise laundry is of course the money your business will save overtime. Although an on-site laundry will require some up-front capital (finance options are available), outsourcing your laundry processing is significantly more expensive in the long run. This is due to the mark-up commercial laundries must add to cover their delivery, administration, management, marketing and sales costs. In addition to the savings, an on-premise laundry will give you better control over the quality, as well as increased convenience with linen at your fingertips. If you have the space, bringing your laundry in-house can really add value to your business.

Benefits of Commercial Laundry Equipment

There are many benefits to investing in commercial laundry equipment versus domestic laundry equipment. First of all, the durability of a domestic machine does not come even close to that of a commercial washing machine, dryer or iron. Domestic washing machines and dryers are built to last approximately 5,000 cycles over their lifetime. Whereas, industrial washing machines and dryers are made for 30,000 cycles, equating to 8 cycles a day, 7 days a week, for 10 years. Putting a domestic machine in a commercial setting will end up costing your business more because of the many repairs and replacement parts it will require, not to mention having to replace it much earlier.

There are other benefits that should be taken into consideration when purchasing an industrial washing machine or dryer, such as the capacity and cycle times. Domestic machines are simply not available in the capacities that commercial laundry machines are. Our range of commercial washers and dryers start at around 7kg and go all the way up to 295kg, and everything in between. As well, the cycle times of a commercial washer or dryer are significantly shorter than their domestic counter parts. Extra time for laundry loads can add considerable costs to your business.
Thermal disinfection is another benefit of commercial washing machines. To achieve thermal disinfection the load needs to be washed for no less than 10 minutes at a temperature of 65 degrees Celsius or no less than 3 minutes at a temperature of 71 degrees Celsius. Most domestic machines can’t achieve a temperature more than 60 degrees Celsius, and even those that can, cannot guarantee how long for.

Investing in a commercial washer or dryer will mean peace of mind when it comes to warranty. Domestic machines only have a warranty that covers them for in the home. When they’re used in commercial settings that warranty is void.

Buying on price alone can cost you more in the long run

Some suppliers will be happy to sell you an industrial washing machine or dryer that’s low cost, even though it may not suit your business needs, simply to appear the most “competitive”. However, this may cost you more in the long run. Machines that are too big, or too small can decrease operational efficiency and reduce the life of the machines themselves. Leaving you stuck with a machine that doesn’t answer your needs, or machines that need replacing in a couple of years.
Commercial laundry equipment can be a complex purchase, particularly if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Being able to lean on the knowledge of your supplier, to make a machine recommendation custom to your business’ needs will save you money in the long term. It’s important that you partner with a laundry supplier that you can trust with an excellent reputation and expertise.

Domestic Brands Versus Commercial Brands

There are some amazing brands in the commercial laundry market, and they may not necessarily be brands that you’ve heard of. It can be easy to mistake a domestic brand that you recognise, as a brand that will perform in the commercial laundry space. Commercial machines differ from domestic machines as they are made to be used over and over again, day in day out, for several years. Be sure to do some research, ask questions, and find a commercial brand that is known for its reliability and longevity. We’ve been selling the IPSO brand since 1974. It’s not unusual for us to come across customers that have had their IPSO since the early 1980s. They’re renowned for their durability and their performance.

Invest in Energy Saving Features

Although Energy Saving Features can add to the upfront cost of a machine, they will save your business money in the long term. For example, the cost of over-drying by 10 minutes on just one 32kg commercial clothes dryer can cost up to $1424 in additional utilities annually. By the same calculations, that’s up to 60+ hours of wasted time. Many commercial clothes dryers have an optional over-dry feature that uses sensors to know exactly when the load is dry and automatically stops the machine. Equivalent technology features can be found in commercial washing machines. The best version of this technology will use water absorption verification to optimise water, energy and detergent consumption as well as total cycle time. IPSO’s SmartWAVe technology can reduce water consumption by 6% and electricity consumption by 9%, annually. With those kinds of annual savings, it’s easy to see that if your budget does allow for energy and water saving features, then it will cost you less over the life of the machine.

Gas Vs. Electricity

You will find electric commercial clothes dryers have a lower price tag than gas heated dryers. However, historically, gas has generally been a cheaper fuel than electricity. Then again, if you have access to solar power, then electricity is significantly cheaper than gas. In this case it may be best to not be distracted by the price tag of the machine and consider which is best for your business and the fuel types you already have access to.

High-Spin Vs Moderate-Spin

Moderate-Spin washers are also known as Hard-Mount washers because their installation requires them to be bolted to the ground. High-Spin washers are referred to as Soft-Mount washers, because their design does not require them to be bolted to the ground. Hard-Mount washers are the OG when it comes to commercial washing machines and often have a lower price tag than the soft-mounts. However, because of their more complex installation requirements, the cost to install them is often higher; almost evening out the price difference. Also worth noting, is that each machine has different benefits and are suited to different types of laundries. For example, hard-mount washers are better in laundromats because they’re less likely to become unbalanced from underloading and overloading of the machine. Soft-mount machines may require a little more care but they extract water from the linen much better, leading to reduced drying times. We highly recommend speaking with a laundry expert to find out which will suit your laundry best. Be on the lookout for suppliers that just want to give you the best price and not necessarily a machine that suits your unique needs; not all laundries are the same.

Expect Regular Machine Servicing

Although it won’t be included in the upfront cost of the machine, it is reasonable to expect to pay for regular servicing of your commercial laundry equipment. Everyone understands the benefits of regularly servicing their cars – it helps them to run at their best, and it will extend the life of its parts and the car itself. Most people wouldn’t dream of not servicing their car at least once a year. The same mentality should apply to commercial laundry equipment. While these machines are industrial grade, designed for heavy use and made to last, they require regular servicing. Depending on how much they are used will affect how often they require servicing, however we recommend servicing biannually at a minimum. Keeping your machines running at their best and catching any faults early on will increase your return on investment.

Size

As with any other options surrounding a commercial washing machine or dryer purchase, it’s important to choose based on your unique requirements rather than price. On the contrary, some may be tempted to think bigger is always better, which is not always the case. Things that are important to consider when deciding on a size include, laundry space, linen processed daily in kilos, how many operators you employ (or intend to), hours the laundry is open, types of linen and fabrics you’re processing, and whether or not you have a backup machine. We highly recommend speaking with a laundry expert to get the best size recommendation for your needs.

Commercial washers and dryers come in a vast range of sizes. Our range of commercial washers start at 7kg and go all the way up to 295kg, prices starting at just over $2,000, excluding GST, delivery and installation. Our range of commercial dryers start at 8kg and go through to 250kg. Prices starting at $1770 for an electric model and $2140 for a gas model.
Coin laundry machines starting prices are a little higher. A coin operated washing machine starts at $2920; whereas, a coin operated dryer starts at $2,950. They are available in several payment options, including coin, token, card and tap ‘n’ go.
Industrial ironers are bigger, more complex appliances; therefore, their starting costs are much higher. There are several types of ironers too, made to suit different industries. Their capabilities can range from processing 25kg an hour to over 900kg an hour. Some tend to think of ironers as a “nice-to-have” because of their higher price tag. However, ironers can actually save your laundry time and money, depending on your laundry objectives.

Laundromat Start-up Costs

A common question we get when it comes to the costs of commercial laundry equipment, is “how much does it cost to start up a laundromat?”. This very much depends on the type of laundromat business model and the size of laundromat. You can expect to invest anywhere from around $90,000 to $400,000 for the total laundry equipment setup. It can be an appealing business investment as some see it as a revenue maker with not much effort required. While this can be the case later down the track, this is certainly not the case to begin with. If you do decide to invest in starting up a laundromat, you will need to put your best effort in at the beginning in order to set the business up for its best potential. Here’s a great place to start [Your Guide to Setting Up Your Own Laundromat] and if you still have questions, contact us, we’ll be happy to help.

Summary

There are many elements to consider when purchasing commercial laundry equipment. While it may be tempting to go for the cheapest price, the cost of an industrial washing machine, dryer or iron, isn’t just about the price tag. Some important things to consider are your laundry’s objectives, size, staff, daily processed laundry amount, and fuel access. A machine that isn’t suitable for your business’ needs can end up costing you more. That’s why it’s so important to not just buy on price, but buy from a company that you can trust, that will make a customised recommendation that will achieve your goals, and will be there to support you. At Aqualogic, we pride ourselves on our excellent customer support and technical service. We have a whole range of commercial washing machines and dryers for sale, available in both on-premise and coin operated. Call us on 1300 222 119 or make an online enquiry and we’ll be happy to assist you with all your laundry needs.

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Aqualogic were very proactive and comprehensive in their approach to solutions. The whole process has been made so simple because it has all been taken care of by Aqualogic. As a busy holiday park, we are very pleased with the new machinery, the cashless systems and the ongoing maintenance service.

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Aqualogic have over time consistently provided competitive pricing, high quality product and dependable service. They understand our business, our guests and the demands the staff are under. Their laundry solutions have always placed our business first, which is critical for a busy 4 star resort in a regional location.

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7 Costly Mistakes You Must Avoid

When Buying Commercial Washing Machines

7 Costly Mistakes You Must Avoid

When Buying Commercial Dryers

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