2022 has seen some significant shifts in the commercial laundry space; from colourful laundry design, through to new laundry equipment being developed. Here are the top 5 trends currently happening in commercial laundry.
Unconventional Interior Design for Laundries
This fun trend started in the domestic laundry, and has thankfully made its way into laundromats and communal laundries, such as those found in shared living accommodation. For so long the laundry was often the room that was hidden away and forgotten about, merely a room for functional purpose and not really somewhere you would want to spend any more time in than necessary. Thanks to popular renovation television series, such as The Block and House Rules, the humble laundry is on the way out!
Bold Colour Choices
Not only are we seeing designer tiles, chic benchtops, and ambient lighting, but colourful washing machines and clothes dryers too.
While today’s commercial washing machines and dryers are often as chic looking as their domestic counterparts, their limited to white and stainless steel. So, where did colourful commercial laundry equipment come from? It’s simply been laminated, which helps to add to the overall laundry design and experience – a real positive in laundromat businesses and other shared laundry spaces. We can’t wait to see how creative people get with this trend.
Sustainability
Sustainability as a trend continues to gain momentum in 2024, reflecting a broader shift towards eco-conscious business practices. Laundromat owners are increasingly incorporating recycled and environmentally friendly materials into their spaces, not only to reduce their ecological footprint but also to create visually appealing and unique interiors.
Some popular sustainable materials being used include:
- Recycled wood for countertops, benches, and decorative elements
- Bamboo flooring and furniture, known for its rapid renewability
- Recycled glass for countertops and decorative accents
- Low-VOC paints and finishes to improve indoor air quality
- Reclaimed metal for industrial-chic design elements
These materials are chosen not just for their environmental benefits, but also for their ability to add character and warmth to the space. For example, recycled wood can bring a rustic charm, while recycled glass countertops can create a modern, sleek look.
Laundromat owners are also incorporating other sustainable design elements such as energy-efficient LED lighting, water-saving fixtures, and even integrating plants for a biophilic touch. These eco-friendly choices not only appeal to environmentally conscious customers but also often result in long-term cost savings through reduced energy and water consumption.
By embracing sustainable materials, laundromats are transforming from utilitarian spaces into inviting, eco-friendly environments that reflect a commitment to both customer comfort and environmental stewardship.
Laundry Industry Trends
Genesis – The Newest Automated Laundry Machine from Chicago Dryer
The newest automated laundry machine from Chicago Dryer, Genesis, is especially exciting. Not only is Genesis completely hands-free, but it uses A.I. technology including vision technology and robotics. It uses this technology to automatically separate and pick towels, as well as to recognise towel corners for accurate folding; all without any human interaction or assistance. It will also automatically discard any linen that is of the incorrect size, eliminating any items that have ended up there by mistake. The Genesis is available in two sizes, Genesis ATM and Genesis Care. This intelligent machine can take care of hand towels, bath towels, pool towels, and bath mats, and feeds nicely into and automated folder such as the Air Chicago.
Card Payments over Coins
Laundromats and other coin laundries, such as caravan parks and motels, are increasingly adding Card Payment Systems to their laundry machine payment options. As we move closer to a cashless society (cash tipped to be ditched completely by 2025), Digital Payment Systems are gaining massive popularity. Rightly so, as they not only provide convenience for customers, but for the business owners as well. It provides coin laundry owners digital marketing opportunities, increased security, remote access, business reporting and insights, flexible discounting and promotions, and can be the point of difference between the local competition. [Read: What is the best payment system for coin laundries].
Businesses Bringing Laundry In-House
This year we are seeing more businesses bring some or all of their laundry to be managed in-house. This is particularly true in the accommodation and aged care markets for a myriad of reasons, including being able to structure laundry processes around the business’ operational needs, reducing costs long term, and providing guests with a laundry service. We expect to see more of this in the coming year, as staff levels return to normal and businesses have time to re-strategise. [Read: 6 benefits of having an in-house laundry].
Press Extractors Over Centrifugal Extractors
Extractors are a necessary accompaniment to Continuous Batch Tunnel Washers. Which type of extractor your commercial laundry operation decides to go with will generally come down to the type of linen and type of fabrics that you are extracting. However, the Press Extractors are far more popular, and here’s why:
Centrifugal Extractor
– A laundry will usually require 2 Centrifugal Extractors if they process any linen that is 100% cotton. This is because this particular fabric will stick to the sides of the machine. The machine has “inflatable ribs” that push the linen off the walls, so it can then be moved onto the next phase of the laundry process. This adds to the time required and can slow down the laundry flow and cause a backlog without having a second extractor.
– Centrifugal Extractors require a longer shuttle to move the linen to the next stage of the laundry process
– The machine takes up more floor space than a Press Extractor
– Is best for clothing as it will preserve buttons and other haberdashery items
– Takes longer than the Press extractor (the shortest time being 2.5 minutes
– Reaches 6-800 g-force
– Good for washing mats
– Not as good at removing water as the Press extractor, with 70% water retention
Press Extractor
– Requires less floor space than the centrifugal extractor; and doesn’t have the same issues regarding cotton, which means you will likely only require 1 rather than 2
– Much faster, requiring around 80 seconds
– Better at extracting water, with 50% water retention.
– Some customers worry that that the press extractor induces hard to remove wrinkles from the linen
Check out Aqualogic’s range of Extractors here.