Volume
Milnor positions the CBW for laundries processing at least 363 kg (800 lb) of linen an hour. Below that, the investment is hard to justify.
Continuous batch washers
Milnor CBW tunnel washers with PulseFlow technology
Wash tonnes of linen every shift while using a fraction of the water of conventional washers.
CBW overview
- Built to order around your laundry
- Fewer modules for the same output as longer bottom-transfer tunnels
- Set temperature and chemical levels for every bath
- Top transfer for higher output and tighter chemical control
- Double drum construction
Getting the fit right
Is a tunnel washer right for you?
Linen types
Tunnels suit steady streams of similar goods, such as sheets, towels, table linen and uniforms, that can be sorted into consistent batches.
Floor space
A tunnel is long and narrow. You need a clear run for the modules, plus room for loading, a press or extractor and dryers.
When extractors win
Lots of small, mixed or specialty loads? A bank of washer-extractors is often the better choice.
Not at tunnel volumes yet? Look at the Milnor MWF Series suspended washer-extractors, 45 to 125 kg per load.
The process
How PulseFlow works
Every module repeats the same four steps. Goods move forward towards cleaner water while water flows back towards the dirtiest goods, so the last water your linen meets is fresh.
- 1
Goods enter
A batch of soiled linen is loaded into the first module and wetted out quickly.
- 2
Standing bath
For about 70% of each cycle the water stays still around the goods, so chemicals work at full strength instead of being diluted by flowing water.
- 3
Counterflow pulse
A short, high-velocity rinse flows backwards through the module, carrying soil and spent chemical away from the goods.
- 4
Top transfer
True Top Transfer lifts the goods up, lets free water drain away, then slides them into the next, cleaner module.
True Top Transfer
Goods move up and over. Dirty water stays behind.
Higher productivity
Proven in more than 1,000 installations worldwide. A perforated scoop lifts each batch out of its bath and drops it into the next module, so there is no stopping to drain and refill between baths. Better dilution means better soil removal and faster washing than other tunnel designs.
Better chemical control
Water isn't pumped forward with the goods, so every bath stays independent and chemicals stay where the formula puts them. They don't drift into later baths, which makes pH far easier to control.
A variety of arrangements
Built to order, batch by batch
Every CBW is configured for the laundry it goes into. Add modules for more output, and place water inlets, drain valves, steam and chemical supply exactly where your formulas need them.
Fast loading
A conveyor or overhead bag system feeds the load chute.
Mentor control
The operator enters a goods classification number. The matching formula then follows that batch all the way to unloading from the dryer and on to finishing.
Efficient washing
Each module has a fixed shell holding the bath and a perforated inner cylinder that turns. Any module can run a different bath.
Temperature control
Any module can be fitted with a steam inlet and temperature probe.
Supplies
Supply inlets can go in any module. Mentor decides how much is added, when, and whether it is added at all for each batch.
Post-wash
MultiTrac passes each batch's needs to the extractor, shuttle, dryers and conveyors, shows where every batch is, and stops incompatible batches sharing a dryer.
Benefits
Less water, stronger chemistry, faster throughput
Water
Water use can be as low as about 2.5 L/kg (0.3 gal/lb) for lightly soiled linen, and around 4 L/kg (0.5 gal/lb) for most heavy soil.
Chemical performance
Standing baths let chemicals do their job, and solid welded partitions keep each bath separate. RecircONE wets goods out fast in module one, and ChemRatio matches chemical dosing to the weight of each load.
Energy
Less water means less to heat. The system suits low-temperature chemistry, runs inverters on its drives and pumps, and can be specified with steamless heating.
Speed
Top transfer washes roughly 30 to 40% faster than bottom-transfer tunnels. That means fewer modules, a shorter footprint and no separate rinse modules.
Construction
Built to last
A tunnel runs for years, shift after shift. The CBW is engineered around that, and its wash performance is independently tested and Hohenstein certified.
- Double drum in every module
- Solid welded partitions, with no seals below the waterline
- Large drums with about 67% perforated area
- Steam injected through a venturi at the bottom of the shell
- Optional steam disinfect
- 430 micron lint screen
- Divided fresh and reuse water tank built into the frame, so no external tanks
Controls
Mentor and Mildata
Mentor
The controller at the machine.
- Up to 1,000 wash formulas
- Guided troubleshooting on screen
- Password levels for operators, supervisors and technicians
- One-step backup
Mildata
Oversight across the whole laundry.
- Links Milnor washer-extractors, tunnels, extractors, dryers and materials handling on one network
- Central programming without interrupting running machines, ideal for multi-site groups
- Reports on machine and staff production, formula mix, formula cost and machine errors
- Live production monitoring, including from remote locations
The complete system
One line, controlled together
- 1Load conveyors or bag systems
- 2CBW tunnel washer
- 3Extraction press or centrifugal extractor
- 4Shuttle
- 5Pass-through dryers
Each piece talks to the next, so batches move through without waiting. See the wider Milnor range.
Models and sizes
CBW models
| Model | Construction | Capacity per batch | Drum diameter | Drum depth | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76028 | Sectional (sections of 3, 4 or 5 modules) | 50 kg (110 lb) | 1,930 mm (76 in) | 711 mm (28 in) | 2,311 mm (91 in) | 2,755 mm (108.5 in) |
| 76039 | Sectional (sections of 3, 4 or 5 modules) | 68 kg (150 lb) | 1,930 mm (76 in) | 990 mm (39 in) | 2,311 mm (91 in) | 2,755 mm (108.5 in) |
| 92048 | Modular (each module has its own drive) | up to 120 kg (up to 260 lb) | 2,337 mm (92 in) | 1,219 mm (48 in) | 2,572 mm (101.3 in) | 3,290 mm (129.5 in) |
Overall length by number of modules
| Modules | 76028 | 76039 | 92048 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5,440 mm (17.8 ft) | 6,160 mm (20.2 ft) | 7,530 mm (24.7 ft) |
| 4 | 6,220 mm (20.4 ft) | 7,180 mm (23.6 ft) | 9,110 mm (29.9 ft) |
| 5 | 7,000 mm (23 ft) | - | 10,680 mm (35 ft) |
| 6 | 8,340 mm (27.4 ft) | 9,770 mm (32.1 ft) | 12,260 mm (40.2 ft) |
| 7 | 9,120 mm (29.9 ft) | 10,790 mm (35.4 ft) | 13,840 mm (45.4 ft) |
| 8 | 9,900 mm (32.5 ft) | 11,820 mm (38.8 ft) | 15,420 mm (50.6 ft) |
| 9 | 10,680 mm (35 ft) | 13,380 mm (43.9 ft) | 16,990 mm (55.7 ft) |
| 10 | 11,460 mm (37.6 ft) | 14,400 mm (47.2 ft) | 18,570 mm (60.9 ft) |
| 11 | 12,800 mm (42 ft) | 15,420 mm (50.6 ft) | 20,150 mm (66.1 ft) |
| 12 | 13,580 mm (44.6 ft) | 16,440 mm (53.9 ft) | 21,720 mm (71.3 ft) |
Connections
- Water inlets76 mm (3 in) and 50 mm (2 in)
- Quick drain203 mm (8 in)
- Steam51 mm (2 in), or 76 mm (3 in) on the 92048
- Compressed air12.7 mm (0.5 in)
Specifications and appearance subject to change without notice. Every tunnel is configured to the site; our team will size it with you.
Watch
PulseFlow Technology Explained
PulseFlow Technology Explained
Why Aqualogic
From first sketch to full production
Laundry design and linen flow
We plan the room around how linen moves, from soiled to folded.
Project management
One team coordinating trades, services and timelines.
Installation and commissioning
Our own technicians install, connect and commission the line.
Operator training
Your team learns to run, load and look after the system.
National service and parts
Maintenance plans, fast repairs and genuine parts.
Finance options
Spread the investment with finance to suit your business.
Talk to our laundry design team
Plan your tunnel washer project
Tell us about your volumes, linen mix and site. We'll work out whether a tunnel suits you and how it should be configured.
- Response within one business day.
- Sizing and layout advice from people who install these systems.
- Finance options available.