What s New for the Kitchen and Laundry
by Janet Groene

What s New in Laundry

Exciting new laundry-related products large and small are turning up in southern hotels and restaurants, many of them a triple win for management, for guests and for the environment.

According to general manager Jack Eck, the Wilderness Resort in Wauwatosa WI is saving $83,000 annually since purchasing a new, $45,000 ECOWASH ozone laundry system. The new technology has been so successful that the parent company, Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort in Sevierville TN is considering making the change too.

Eck says, It does not require hot water, which in itself provides significant utility savings. It reduces our chemical and detergent use at least 35 percent; and we anticipate a reduction of overall water consumption by as much as 35 percent."

Ozone, or O3, is simply three atoms of oxygen linked together (O2 +O1 = O3). This simple but powerful molecule is naturally used by the earth to clean the atmosphere. Ozone is chemical-free, non-combustible and converts back into pure oxygen shortly after use. In this commercial ozone laundry system, ECOWASH uses an oxygen concentrator, which converts air into 90% pure oxygen. The ozone generator then separates oxygen atoms using an electrical arc and reassembles them into groups of three. This is ozone.

The ozone is made soluble by a unique diffuser and when it is injected into the water in the washing drum, it immediately begins attacking soils and bacteria. Ozone is more effective and kills bacteria more quickly than hot water or chemicals. Additional advantages include reduced wash and dry time; superior disinfection and extended textile life and quality.

* Green Garmento garment bags replace the tons of dry cleaning bags that go into hotel trash each year. The new, reusable garment bag can also double as a duffel bag or hamper. Available imprinted with the hotel s logo, the bags can also be custom imprinted for a special group or event. They re already being used in some Four Seasons and Hyatt hotels throughout the South. www.TheGreenGarmento.com.

BleachSafeHome offers towels in many colors, designs, weaves and logos, allowing bleachable custom designs to be ordered for hotel kitchens, guest rooms, spas and salons. They retain their crisp look and bright colors even when sanitized with chlorine or other laundry chemicals. One hotel that has already adopted the brand is the Fontainebleau, Miami Beach. www.BleachSafeHome.com

* Norchem, the laundry chemical company has branched out into new areas including its Norflow-Win G-3 dispensing and wastewater treatment system and a water recycle/reuse system. Learn about it at (norchemcorp.com)

*If water pressure drop in on-demand water heaters is a problem in your laundry, there s now a new Cold Water Injection System, trademarked CWIS by Hamilton Engineering. With the new system, cold water enters the heater first. Pressure and flow are not restricted.

* Now available from Ellis Corporation (eeliscorp.com) , known for its industrial laundry equipment is SmartRail, an automatic garment sorting system.

* A new line of bulk laundry carts from Meese Orbitron Dunne (MODlaundry.com) feature internal ribs for structural strength and lockable lids and doors. The company s round-trip cart can be used for both pick-up of soiled linen and delivery of clean laundry.

* How do your laundry costs compare with others? According to Rich Fitzmorris at laundrytoday.com, linens and terry laundry operations cost 30 to 35 cents per pound and, in the kitchen and dining areas, costs run 50 to 70 cents per pound. The process equipment and the quality grade of the textiles make a difference, Fitzmorris says.

* Lastly, one hotel that still relies on the tried-and-true is the 123-unit Hampton Inn & Suites in the Outer Banks at Corolla, North Carolina. We like Tide and Downey, a housekeeper sums up simply. So do their guests.

What s New in Kitchen Equipment

* Sterno has launched its new, eco-friendly chafing dish heat, Sterno Green. Induction hotplates are also popular with many restaurants that host buffets or have food stations for large parties.

* Culinary Software Services, which won the IQ Award for its software, has debuted ChefTecEleven, the 2011 version of its programs for the professional kitchen. Features include purchasing, inventory control, ordering, sales analysis, recipe costing and nutritional analysis.

* Based in Peachtree City (metro Atlanta) GA, Clean X-press rents out carbon and grease removal tanks by the month. They are serviced monthly; no long-term contracts are required. Many sizes are available, or the company will provide a tank customized to your needs.

* A Miami company, Tropical Commodities, Inc. has introduced four new pasteurized peppers in plastic, one-quart jars. Chefs who make their own salsas can now choose peppers in four flavors: Thai chili, Jalapeno, Red Habanero and Orange Habanero.

* Vito Oil Filters are said to reduce oil costs up to 50 percent while improving the quality and taste of fried foods.

* Energy Star guidelines change and new types of products are constantly being rated, so stay green by checking in often with energystar.gov. Presently under development are ratings for climate control equipment, data center storage, heat/energy recovery ventilators, laboratory grade refrigerators and freezers, luminaires, pre-rinse spray valves, small netework equipment and non-interrutable power supplies.

* Manitowoc Foodservice, chosen by Darden Restaurants to outfit its massive new test kitchens in Orlando, Florida, adopted an open concept plan with kitchens adjacent to one another. Culinary staffs can share ideas and suggestions as they develop new dishes for brands including The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, Seasons 52 and Red Lobster.

Best-in-class brands installed in the new facility include Delfield refrigeration, (reach-ins, pass-thru units, drop-in ice cream freezers, pizza prep tables, refrigerated equipment stands, and custom stainless tables); Cleveland Ranges (steamers, kettles, skillets); Merco/Savory (warmer lighting); Lincoln conveyor ovens; Merrychef high speed convection/microwave ovens and Kolpak walk-in coolers and freezers.