Adding one machine, Marriottt Textile Services Increases Production 40 Percent

• 
• 

Details

Created on Wednesday, 02 January 2002 14:32

Written by Susan Whitaker

Since installing a new Kannegiesser spreader feeder and folder / cross folder on one of their ironer lines, Marriott Textile Services (MTS), a central laundry facility based at the Dallas Forth Worth Marriott, has increased productivity by an estimated 40 percent on the finishing line which it was installed.

On an average day, Marriott Textile Services, a subsidiary of Marriott International with 2,200 hotel locations worldwide, processes between 25,000 and 30,000 pounds of linen while servicing eight full-service hotels in the Dallas Fort Worth area. But until this year, the central laundry facility was utilizing a manually fed ironer for its table linens.

Time For Change
To keep pace with their growing workload which includes contracted services to other Dallas Forth Worth hotels, modern, more automated equipment to increase productivity and quality was needed.

Marriott Textile Services researched major manufacturers equipment, conducted trial runs on various vendor’s products, and found that Kannegiesser had the solution they were looking for --- a spreader feeder and cross folder.

“The reasons for this choice included the increased productivity potential with the Kannegiesser feeder and folder, as well as the overall flexibility and the quality of the equipment,” said John Hopper, general manager for the laundry. “What this machine does that others don’t do is that it measures the piece and will run it in either one or two lanes on the ironer. That’s a unique function, explains Hopper who adds that it was one of the reasons they chose Kannegiesser’s machine. In today’s industry, it’s important for a business to reach maximum production to meet budgets, he says.

Currently the 53 full-time Marriott Textile Service employees operate the laundry with a Kannegiesser Passat 9 pocket Ultratandem tunnel washer with four Kannegiesser dryers. They feed two ironer lines consisting of a Jensen Logic spreader feeder and a Kannegiesser spreader feeder feeding 2 Dhooge ironers that are utilized to finish sheets and tablecloths. Small pieces are fed into a JRK single roll ironer, to a Jensen bottom up stacker. Also in use are a Jensen Silverline folder, 2 Jensen jet folders, a Jensen triple sort butterfly folder, and a three-lane Kannegiesser Foldmaster, where each lane with its own measuring wheel and electric eye.

Since installing the new Kannegiesser equipment Marriott Textile Service has been able to increase their pound per operator hour production from 128 to between 132-135. And an added bonus is their ability to take on new accounts.

“The new equipment has also made a big difference to the laundry’s full –time employees,” says Hopper. “They feel more comfortable because their job has been made easier.”