No matter the industry or business, every manager or facility head looks for ways to improve their organization’s bottom line. For those part of the healthcare industry, additional cost savings can come in the form of the linen products being purchased and used. For example, disposable linen has become popular recently for its cheaper costs when compared to reusable linen. If your healthcare facility is trying to make ends meet, switching to disposable linen products is a reasonable idea.

However, what if your disposable linen products weren’t as “affordable” as initially advertised? In fact, what if all aspects of disposable linen vastly underperformed when compared to reusable linen? You’d be in for quite the shock! Well, here’s the truth: disposable linen products aren’t all they are hyped up to be. Allow Yamamoto North America to explain:

The True Costs of Reusable and Disposable Linen

When disposable linen first hit the market, its biggest draw was its affordability. Rather than spend thousands purchasing reusable linen and the machinery to launder it, you would only spend a fraction of the cost on the alternative without requiring extra equipment. If these cost savings continued well into your facility’s transition to disposable linen, it’d be hard to argue against its affordability. Yet, such isn’t the case.

While it’s true that reusable linen products have a higher initial cost, disposable linen is precisely as it says: disposable. This means you are stuck buying large quantities of new linen products each month as you toss out what has already been used. In turn, the repeated purchase of new linen continues to add up. Conversely, reusable linen is bought once and must only be replaced after numerous uses.

Also, while laundry equipment, such as that Yamamoto NA provides, is an added expense, the cost to launder your linen versus the cost to transport and dispose of linen is slightly lower. Surprisingly, this means it costs more for a facility to utilize disposable linen rather than rely on reusable products.

Do Disposables or Reusables Work Better?

Well, if you don’t save money using disposable linen, at least it’s more effective as a barrier between your patients and chemicals and waste, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly true, either.

Disposable drapes and surgical gowns have the benefit of being microbe-barring, meaning they’re designed to keep infections and viruses out. However, where disposable textiles fail to perform is in their absorption ability. Because disposable cloth isn’t as absorbent as reusable, it can lead to greater messes during surgical or medical procedures.

While absorbability might not seem like an immediate issue, it matters for a health facility trying to uphold the highest sanitary standards. If liquids cannot be immediately cleaned, they risk the spread of infection and can cause unsafe working conditions for your doctors and staff. Reusable textiles, on the other hand, can more easily absorb liquids. Also, while single-use products may seem more effective on paper, properly laundered and sterilized reusable linens can provide just as much protection against microbes.

What About Environmental Impact?

Sadly, disposable linen isn’t getting much better in terms of its environmental impact. In fact, you can say that disposable cloth has the highest impact on the environment compared to reusable linen, which isn’t good.

First is how disposable linen is produced. Much of the materials and chemicals producing disposable, microbe-barring cloth are non-renewable resources. In other words, just manufacturing disposable cloth products drains our earth’s resources. This production process isn’t the most “carbon-friendly,” leading to an increased ecological footprint.

Second is the waste caused by disposable products. After the use of a gown or drape made from disposable cloth, where do you think those products go? That’s right, in the trash and, inevitably, our landfills. The unfortunate truth of disposable linen is that it does little more than offer a slight convenience to those using it while the resulting waste takes up space.

In turn, reusable linen isn’t tossed after one use. With the right laundry equipment (like Yamamoto’s industrial washers), a medical facility’s dirty linen can be laundered quickly and affordably. Modern laundry technology such as Yamamoto NA draws significantly less water and electricity, meaning any waste produced is minimal at best.

Secure the Right Equipment for Reusable Linen

Of course, if you plan to invest in reusable linen rather than waste time and money dealing with disposable products, you’ll require proper washing equipment. Fortunately, Yamamoto NA has precisely what healthcare facilities require! We manufacture high-quality industrial washers for affordable prices, helping our clients achieve peak cleanliness without breaking the bank. Best of all, our machinery emphasizes lower energy and water usage, helping laundry operators save on utility costs while protecting the environment.

Whether you wish to learn more about the differences between disposable and reusable linen, or you are interested in Yamamoto NA’s suite of washers, dryers, and automatic towel folders, you can call us today at
309-827-4303. Help your healthcare facility achieve greater cleanliness with reusable linen products and Yamamoto NA’s exceptional laundry equipment!

If your business’s successful operation hinges on its cleaning capabilities, having the right equipment for the job is crucial! For example, somewhere like a gym or health facility would need to keep up with the daily cleaning of linen products. The same can be said for healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing businesses. Yet, what machines can meet your cleanliness needs? Your standard residential washers and dryers won’t cut it! Depending on your business’s precise linen cleaning requirements, it takes either commercial or industrial washers. Fortunately, high-quality commercial and industrial washers are readily available from Yamamoto North America. Call today to learn about the unique advantages of each washer type and how they can best be utilized for your facility.

What’s the Difference?

So, what’s the big fuss over the differences between commercial and industrial washing machines? In truth, both share the same primary function and achieve the same results. However, commercial washers’ design and operation differ from their industrial counterparts. More to the point, commercial washers are built tough but don’t share the same size, capacity, and durability as industrial washers. Where you might find a commercial washer getting wide usage in an apartment complex, industrial washers are better utilized in a hospital setting or large linen cleaning facility.

Washer Load Capacities

Although the standard commercial washers you find, and the ones Yamamoto manufactures, can boast impressive washer load capacities, they don’t compare to what an industrial washer can handle. Even Yamamoto’s largest commercial washer model holds less than our smallest model of industrial washer. For comparison’s sake, Yamamoto’s commercial washer load capacities vary from 30 lbs. to 100 lbs., while our industrial washer models can hold between 150 lbs. and 275 lbs.; quite the difference!

Usage

The durability of industrial versus commercial washers must also be considered. Although washers of all types are expected to be strong and reliable when built for professional usage, even commercial machines have trouble running 24/7. On the other hand, industrial washers are specifically designed to run continually. Commercial washers fit the bill if a facility’s linen washing needs are urgent but not constant. Otherwise, an industrial washer is the better choice if you always expect washing machines to run.

Size

Perhaps the biggest difference (literally) between commercial and industrial washers is their size. If the maximum capacity sizes for each hadn’t already tipped you off, industrial washers are significantly larger than commercial washers. As such, industrial washers have a greater footprint than commercial washers, requiring more area, water and electricity to run. Commercial washing machines are preferred for facilities where space is a concern and utilize less water and electricity than industrial equipment.

Operation

Typically, commercial machines are easier when laundry operators learn to use industrial or commercial washers. This is because commercial washers are designed with the user in mind. An expectation with commercial laundry equipment is that anyone who is slightly knowledgeable about residential machinery can manage initiating a cycle on a commercial washer. While this means industrial washers tend to be more complicated to operate and maintain, Yamamoto NA has made great strides in our machine design to allow for easier function and maintenance for all our washing equipment.

What’s Your Best Option?

When choosing a commercial or industrial washer for your business, how can you pick? Although commercial washers can’t compare to the durability and capacity of industrial washers, industrial washers take up a large footprint and can be more challenging to operate/maintain. Here are some examples of the businesses that can utilize washing equipment and their best washer types:

Commercial washers excel in businesses with limited space for laundry operations, or laundry operators are the customers themselves. Businesses that use commercial washers include:

• Athletic Centers
• Schools
• Apartment Complexes
• Hotels
• Laundromats
• Small Restaurants
• Spas and Salons
• Medical Offices

Industrial washers require more space to operate, meaning they are more commonly found in larger industrial and manufacturing facilities. Businesses that use industrial washers include:

• Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
• Factories and Manufacturing Plants
• Textile and Garment Industries
• Food Processing Plants
• Pharmaceutical Production Facilities
• Military and Government Facilities
• Commercial Cleaning Services

Discuss Your Washer Options with Yamamoto NA

No matter the linen cleaning needs of your facility, Yamamoto NA can match you with the washing machines best suited to your unique business. We manufacture different models of commercial and industrial washers, in addition to combination washers/dryers and automatic towel folders. Better yet, every machine we produce is manufactured with exceptional precision and high-quality components and sold for a price anyone can afford. If interested in the benefits of owning a Yamamoto washer, call our team at 309-827-4303. Yamamoto NA’s main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701, serving clients all across the United States.

From staffing the front desk and handling customer questions to working on your company’s material acquisition and financing, facility managers and business owners have their hands full! And if your business manages linen cleaning, the last thing you need is to be bogged down by overly complicated laundry washing management. Fortunately, with the right equipment and trained operators, the linen cleaning side of your business can practically handle itself. But, to further guarantee the simplicity and ease of laundry operations, an investment in Yamamoto washers is worth your while. See just what makes Yamamoto North America’s equipment easy to use.

Completely Sealed

Before learning to operate and maintain your washing equipment properly, it’s important to know it will not fail you and make a mess of your facility. You should always invest in a machine that’s built tough and can stand up to wear and tear. Fewer issues with your equipment arise, meaning your laundry operators or repair specialists won’t have to step in to resolve them.

Yamamoto’s washers, for example, all feature heavy-duty post and pin-style door hinges with stainless steel locking mechanisms and triple seal protection. Not only are our washer doors easy to open and close, but their risk of failure and leakage is vastly reduced compared to equipment with lower-quality sealing.

Easy Access for Maintenance

The same as you need to change the filters for your HVAC unit or do maintenance check-ups for your vehicle, washing equipment needs constant quality care. Unfortunately, not every commercial or industrial washer on the market is the easiest to maintain. These large, complicated machinery pieces sometimes require specialized care from trained professionals to keep them functional.

For such reasons, seeking laundry equipment with easily accessible valves and filters proves the most beneficial. Rather than hiring outside help to keep your machines in decent shape, your laundry operators can manage simple repairs and maintenance themselves. Yamamoto equipment takes the idea of easy access and embraces it! Our washers all feature one-of-a-kind metal housing drain valves that don’t require special tools to access. Furthermore, our washers’ valves, filters, and drains are easy to reach, enabling simple cleaning and replacement of these components.

Digital, Automated Controls

As technology advances, so too do the automated capabilities of commercial and industrial washers. Yet, the operation of these machines isn’t always the simplest. However, you shouldn’t have to hire a genius to operate your laundry equipment, either! It’s all about investing in easy-to-use washers that allow for exceptional customization and automation.

Yamamoto washers are one such example of laundry equipment entering the modern age. Our machines all feature touch-screen digital controls. While our industrial machines might take slightly longer to learn and understand, our commercial machines are easy to spin up and begin washing right away! Best of all, the innovative technology incorporated into Yamamoto washers allows laundry operators of all experience levels to practically automate their laundry cycles. You just need someone to load and unload linen in between cycles!

Why Simplicity Should Be Your Concern

Although it’s not the only thing you should look for in a new washing machine, the simplicity of its use and maintenance should be one of your considerations. After all, simplicity isn’t just for those working on your laundry equipment. Thanks to the simplification of linen cleaning, your facility can look forward to benefits such as:

• Reduced training time for staff, allowing employees to become productive more quickly.
• Minimized chances of errors in operation, leading to fewer disruptions in workflow.
• Lower maintenance costs due to straightforward troubleshooting and repairs.
• Increased efficiency in laundry turnarounds, helping the business meet higher demands.
• Enhanced staff satisfaction with easy-to-use equipment, improving overall workplace morale.

See What Yamamoto Has to Offer

Thankfully, when searching for affordable washing equipment that doesn’t require a degree to operate, Yamamoto North America has you covered. Check out our commercial and industrial washing machines, or see our combo washers/dryers and automated towel folders for something more unique. We strive to offer high-quality, long-lasting products for affordable prices, which is exactly what you can expect with our washers. Call 309-827-4303. Yamamoto NA’s main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701, serving clients all across the United States.

The same incredible minds that brought you the Yamamoto Washer and, more recently, the Yamamoto Towel Folder are helping laundry operators across the globe achieve peak production and energy efficiency at all stages of the linen cleaning process. To this end, Yamamoto is introducing our latest offering to the laundry sector: Yamamoto’s new industrial tumble dryers!

That’s right; you read that correctly. Yamamoto equipment will not only help you wash and fold your linen products, but now we have machines for drying, too! Yamamoto has produced combination washers/dryers for some time now. Still, we wanted to offer exceptional drying capabilities to laundry operators who already have much of the required washing equipment. It was an obvious next step to separate the dryer from our combo units and offer it as a standalone machine. Best of all, our customers can expect the same excellent quality, productivity, energy efficiency, and affordability that all of our laundry equipment boasts.

Take a Peek at Our Incredible Dryer Tech

With the introduction of the VUG line, Yamamoto hopes to help laundry operators achieve unparalleled performance and efficiency in the laundry sector. The design of our industrial/commercial tumble dryers aims to empower laundry facilities in terms of productivity, efficiency, and strength. Yamamoto dryers implement much of what we’ve learned that makes our other machinery so effective, with additional components exclusive to Yamamoto.

Are you excited yet? You should be! Here’s some of what you can expect from Yamamoto’s new tumble dryers:

• Greater Strength & Durability – Inside and out, our dryers are built tougher than anything our competitors can hope to offer. We utilize the highest quality components and materials, opting for almost zero plastic parts in all our dryer systems. As a testament to how much stronger and more durable our machinery is, our dryers are nearly two times heavier than leading competitors with matching equipment sizes!
• Faster Speeds and Shorter Drying Times – The faster your facility can process laundry, the more linen products you can successfully clean in a day. To assist in the productivity of your laundry operations, Yamamoto dryers enable faster, shorter dry times than ever before. Our systems utilize axial airflow that pushes hot air around the dryer basket back to front rather than top to bottom. This makes loads more evenly dry in less time than other commercial dryers. Additional components like oversized blowers and a dual inverter driver further optimize and speed our machines’ drying capabilities.
• Simple Operation – Like Yamamoto’s washers and automatic folders, our dryers feature digital touchscreen controls. With a bright screen with clear text, our dryer controls make it easy for operators to precisely control dryer heat and tumble speed, minimizing potential damage caused by improper drying. Furthermore, Yamamoto dryers have plenty of pre-programmed settings and dozens of language options, ensuring that laundry operators of all experience levels can use our equipment.

What More Can Yamamoto Customers Expect?

When designing our new dryers, we thought of everything! From reliable safety features to the space our machines occupy, nothing was forgotten when developing the laundry industry’s latest and greatest drying equipment. As a company that places longevity, energy-efficiency, and affordability at the forefront of our product offerings, we hope to provide our clients the very same with our new industrial dryers. Thanks to Yamamoto dryers, your facility can benefit from:

• A Reduced Footprint – Yamamoto has built our dryers more compact than those of our competitors. Rather than constructing your dryer in-facility, our dryers are pre-built and small enough to fit through 36″ doorways.
• Enhanced Safety – Our dryers incorporate various systems to ensure the safety of operators and laundry facilities. For example, all Yamamoto dryers come standard with a lint screen reminder system and highly-optimized burners, helping avoid potential fire hazards.
• Less Maintenance – Our dryers differ from our competitors in implementing a direct drive motor system. The system lacks standard dryer machines’ belts, rollers and pulley systems. This enables our dryers to run quietly and last longer, with fewer components to maintain.
• Peace of Mind – Like all Yamamoto equipment, our dryers come standard with our 5-Year ALL PARTS Warranty. If problems occur with your system, we’ll quickly provide replacement parts. Additionally, we price our dryers more affordably than similar quality equipment, meaning you’re always getting the most bang for your buck.

Get Ready to Transform Your Facility’s Laundry Game

With Yamamoto’s newest addition, our industrial tumble dryers, laundry facilities can finally run their operations entirely with Yamamoto equipment. From beginning to end of the linen cleaning cycle, you can count on Yamamoto for precision, speed, and efficiency. You’ll be able to learn more about our dryers soon as we begin rolling them out for customers across the United States! In the meantime, check out some of Yamamoto’s other amazing products by calling 866-204-0519. Our office is located at 205 S. Lee St., Bloomington, IL 61701, and we serve clients across the United States.

When purchasing washing equipment from Yamamoto NA, you hope it will last a long while. After all, even with the reduced costs for our industrial washers, commercial washing equipment is still a significant investment. Thankfully, our machinery is built tough and has easily accessible filters and valves for easy maintenance. Speaking of which, there are simple things you or your laundry operators can do to maintain the condition of your Yamamoto washer or other industrial washing equipment you might possess. Here are a few helpful washer maintenance tips from Yamamoto North America!

Read Your Manual

It might seem like an obvious point, but a surprising number of people neglect to read the manual when they have questions about their equipment. Consider this first tip a gentle reminder to check out the manual with your equipment if you haven’t already. Your manual will provide plenty of information that can assist with the general care of your machinery, such as utility requirements, proper detergent levels, information on accessing valves and filters, etc.

Inspect and Clean the Washer’s Exterior

Before you get into every intricate system of your industrial washer, it’s a great idea to do a simple check and clean-up of its exterior. Every day, you can use a damp cloth with soap to wipe down your washer and remove any lint or debris that might get caught in its motors and intakes. This will also allow you to check for any dents, cracks, or other abnormalities you’ll want to avoid.

Check Valves, Filters and Screens

Regular use of your machine will mean its filters, valves and lint screen need cleaning or replacement fairly often. Thankfully, Yamamoto washers make it easy for operators to check these components. Ensuring your filters and valves are clean will improve the performance of your machinery, and cleaning out your lint screen daily will ensure you avoid potential hazards or severe breakdowns.

Clean Out Soap Dispensers

After every use of your machine, the soap dispenser will slowly build up more residue left behind by detergents. If you don’t address this residue build-up before it worsens, it can clog your dispenser entirely. Imagine your surprise after doing a laundry load, only to be soaked without any detergent! Clearing out soap dispenser clogs is also helpful for avoiding corrosive damage to your system’s interior.

Look for Leaks

Regularly checking for leaks in your industrial washing equipment is crucial to maintaining its longevity. Even small leaks can lead to more significant problems and costly repairs if left unaddressed. Not to mention the potential water damage a leaky washer can cause to your facility’s interior! Make sure to inspect all hoses, valves, and connections regularly for any signs of leakage and address them immediately.

Inspect Any Belts

Your washer can only spin its drum with the help of a belt looped around and connected to the motor drive pulley and the drum (or tub) of your system. However, if this belt breaks, your washer will cease operation. A belt breaking suddenly can also cause additional interior damage to your washer if you’re not careful. For such reasons, inspecting your washer’s belt before it can break is essential. Check for any cracks or tears in a belt that can worsen, and have it replaced ASAP.

Talk with the Professionals

If you have other concerns about your washer or it’s been some time since a professional inspection, it might be time to call a washer technician! Plenty of maintenance specialists are available to perform preventative maintenance on your machinery. Otherwise, if you are using a Yamamoto washer, feel free to reach out to us directly! We can help with basic troubleshooting, order replacement parts, or connect you with local technicians familiar with Yamamoto equipment.

Or, if you’re looking for entirely new washing equipment, call Yamamoto NA. Our washers are easy to operate, not difficult to maintain, and are some of the most affordable machines on the market. You can rest assured that when you purchase a Yamamoto washer, you won’t need another one for a long time. Contact us today at 866-204-0519. Our office is located at 205 S. Lee St., Bloomington, IL 61701, and we serve clients across the United States.

What are you doing for your hotel, motel or resort to increase guest satisfaction? Are you offering complimentary breakfast? Do your rooms have access to high-speed Wi-Fi? Most importantly, are you ensuring fresh linen products for every new guest? Your guests’ comfort, care and happiness are of the utmost importance in the hospitality industry. Yet, the facilities that don’t operate with some form of linen cleaning capability are leaving opportunities to enhance the guest experience on the table! As such, your hospitality business must invest in industrial washers, dryers, and additional linen-cleaning equipment. Learn why hotel and resort managers across the U.S. are counting on companies like Yamamoto NA to provide high-quality washing machines.

Cleanliness is More Important Than Ever Before

If one “positive” can be pulled from the recent pandemic, it shined a spotlight on cleanliness overall and the cleaning considerations for people-centric businesses. The renewed focus on cleaning standards for industries like hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and more has led to the embrace of businesses already placing cleanliness at the forefront of their operations.

Investing in your facility’s linen cleaning capabilities guarantees that towels, bed sheets, and other linen products are always thoroughly cleaned, sanitized and stain-free. While a happy guest might not mention the “quality” of cleaning, clean linen products help reflect the quality and enjoyment of their entire stay. After all, it’s hard to be upset when hopping under clean, fresh-smelling sheets at the end of the day.

First Impressions are Everything

Ideally, you want to create a guest experience that has people positively talking about your hotel, recommending it to others, and returning themselves. That’s why first impressions are so important! And while your guests might not notice every little extra you provide, they will undoubtedly notice everything you don’t (such as poorly washed linen).

High-quality industrial washers guarantee spotless sheets and robes for your guests, making it a pleasure to stay at your facility. However, if everything is covered in stains and not completely fresh for new arrivals, don’t expect them to want to come back. The best way to secure your guests’ loyalty and keep people talking is always to present them with the best upfront. Hence, expertly cleaned linen is a must.

Give People Something to Talk About

Do you want to be known as the hotel with dingy, poorly maintained towels, sheets, robes and linen? Or would you prefer to be known for your cleanliness? You’d rather be the latter! But this emphasizes a crucial point: people talk, whether their feelings are positive or negative. If you seem to not care about the quality of your hotel’s linen, that’s the first thing past guests will mention when speaking to others or reviewing your business.

However, that pendulum swings both ways! If you have the freshest smelling, brightest looking, cleanest feeling linen products of any hotel facility around, your guests will take notice. Additionally, if you invest in laundry equipment with minimal environmental impact that encourages energy savings and water conservation, you give something more for guests to rave about! Reviews and word of mouth can make or break your business; it’s best to ensure you do everything possible to relay the best guest experience.

Increased Guest Satisfaction Starts with Yamamoto Washers

As crucial as clean linens are to the operation of your hotel or resort, the right washing equipment can be a significant investment. Rather, it can be if you don’t go through the proper channels. Yamamoto NA, for example, offers high-quality, expertly crafted industrial washers that cost less than what other manufacturers offer. We believe every industry should have access to the best equipment to maximize cleanliness. If you wish to vastly improve the linen cleaning capabilities of your facility, Yamamoto North America can help! Call
866-204-0519. Our office is located at 205 S. Lee St., Bloomington, IL 61701, and we serve clients across the United States.

Exciting changes are afoot at Yamamoto North America! In recent weeks, the Yamamoto NA office has packed our bags and boxes and moved… a few blocks down. While we aren’t moving offices very far, we’re renovating and expanding our current facility and offices. After completing our recent renovations, we hope to better organize, expand and refine our operations for employees, clients, and vendors alike. See what all the fuss is about at Yamamoto NA!

More Space Than Ever

Guess what the “biggest” new feature of the Yamamoto NA expansion is: space! Because Yamamoto NA is growing its team of sales specialists, support reps, and machine experts, we want to make sure there’s plenty of room for everyone. As such, an increase in workspace was an absolute necessity. In addition to our existing warehouse and offices, Yamamoto NA’s new facilities add:

• Spacious Welcoming Area/Showroom Floor – The perfect way to greet guests and clients and where we can show off Yamamoto’s latest and greatest industrial washing equipment.
• Large Conference Room – For talking with new prospective clients or getting the entire team together for an in-person meeting.
• Adjoined Sales Department – Before, our sales department didn’t have their own area of Yamamoto’s offices to call their own. Now, our facility brings our sales team together!
• Multiple Private Offices – Suited to meet the needs of Yamamoto NA’s team as it continues to grow.
• Kitchen/Dining Area – An ample central space equipped with various appliances, counter space and seating for prepping meals or grabbing a quick snack.

What Does Yamamoto NA Hope to Achieve?

With the addition of new space comes more excellent opportunities for Yamamoto NA. One of the most crucial advantages of the increased area is Yamamoto’s ability to centralize company departments under one roof. Before, our sales department may have been located in a different building from our parts department, another building apart from our financing department, and so on. Now, all our departments can easily converse and collaborate without walking a building over.

Beyond centralization, the expanded facility size allows Yamamoto NA to expedite order processing more efficiently, offering greater capacity and flexibility when managing large equipment orders from our clients. Furthermore, the company culture and morale of the office have significantly improved, with larger offices, greater organization, and a change in décor to thank for the uplift in the working environment.

See some photos of our new office’s interior and exterior:

Your local community has everything you need: a little grocery store on the corner, some quaint family restaurants for dining, a nearby gym, etc. The only thing missing: a laundromat! While it’s true that a significant percentage of households in the U.S., about 80%, possess the means for washing laundry at home, there’s still a portion of homeowners without such capabilities. That being said, you can fill a crucial role for your community by introducing a local laundromat. And if you are considering a venture into the linen cleaning industry, why not have the best, most affordable equipment through Yamamoto North America?

Laundromats Provide an Essential Service

As we’ve said, about 80% of U.S. households possess a washer and dryer for their laundry needs. However, what about the other 20%? Clean, sanitized linen products are essential for maintaining one’s health and well-being. As such, laundromats provide an essential service for those without the money or space for laundry equipment. Even if a family’s washer and dryer are temporarily out of commission, laundromats help fill a household’s need for clean linen products.

A Great Employment Opportunity for Fresh Employees

A laundromat helps create jobs for your community, as does any new, local business. However, laundromats are unique, as they can provide the perfect jobs for people new to employment! From assisting customers with their laundry to cleaning machines and the facility, operating a laundromat is a straightforward position for anyone. As an entry-level position, laundromat attendants learn how to be responsible for customers, equipment, and facility operations as a whole.

Help Your Community Go Green!

Thanks to modern advancements in linen cleaning tech, today’s laundry equipment is more environmentally friendly than ever! This means laundromats have a significantly lower carbon footprint and can help others in your community lower theirs. By relying on energy-efficient, non-wasteful washers and dryers, laundromat customers do their part to protect the environment, helping cut down on energy and water usage in the home.

A Better Clean

While standard washers and dryers will “get the job done,” older machines can lose their cleaning effectiveness. Especially if machines are inherited from previous owners, a home washer and dryer might be less safe and clean than you might expect. Conversely, washers and dryers in a reputable laundromat are meticulously cleaned and maintained. For those using laundromat machines, this means cleaner clothes without fighting with old, malfunctioning equipment.

Economically Enrich Your Community

A community can economically benefit from the addition of a laundromat in a variety of ways. For example, on a personal level, those using a laundromat to clean their clothes don’t have to invest in washing equipment and save money on monthly utility costs. On a broader level, a new laundromat can attract additional business to your area or pull in new customers for nearby local businesses. When your community gets a new laundromat, everyone benefits financially!

Find the Best Equipment for Your Laundromat with Yamamoto NA

The exceptional growth, opportunities, and convenience a laundromat can bring to any community is undeniable. If you are considering opening a laundromat yourself, you should start on the right foot. That’s why investing in Yamamoto NA washing equipment is your best option. Thanks to Yamamoto, laundry facilities across the U.S. and worldwide can achieve quicker, more effective linen cleaning with minimal environmental impact. Best of all, even with some of the industry’s most advanced features, Yamamoto machinery is some of the most affordable on the market! When building your new laundry facility, Yamamoto washers are the obvious choice.
If you or your company are interested in Yamamoto NA’s lines of commercial, industrial, and combo washer/dryer units, contact us today at 866-204-0519. Our North American office is located at 205 S. Lee St., Bloomington, IL 61701, serving clients across the United States.

Technology has come an impossibly long way in just a short time. Just over 100 years ago, we were producing our first consumer vehicles; now, in 2024, vehicles can drive themselves! As for laundry machines and the linen cleaning industry, technology has developed in much of the same fashion, focusing on automation. The possibilities for new linen-cleaning machinery are endless with the development of robotics and the recent leaps and bounds made in AI programming. At Yamamoto, we strive to be at the forefront of innovation in washer tech. While our machines already assist operators with the essential functions of laundry washing, there’s more in store for the future of Yamamoto equipment.

Robotics in Laundry Operations

Great news: modern washing machines already offer many features and programs that allow operators to automate much of the process. As such, most industrial laundry facilities are already embracing the benefits of automation in their equipment. The next step is to find help loading and handling linen, much more than human hands can manage. This is where the introduction of robotics can “bridge the gap.”

The same as you might see robotic arms helping on an automotive assembly line, laundry operators hope to implement similar tech. However, as linen products are malleable and not solid, it has been difficult to program robots to grab, fold, and transport textiles effectively. Sewts from Munich, a German tech start-up, has been working on a solution to this issue in robotics. Using IDS cameras and AI programming, Sewts’ robotic technology can analyze linen textures and patterns, tell each apart, and implement proper handling based on the linen product.

In practice, robots are being used for simple labor tasks that otherwise take laundry operators’ time that can be spent elsewhere. For example, some industrial laundry facilities have begun using robots to feed linen products into a folding machine. A robot can grab a towel from a trolley, recognize where its corners are, and place it correctly onto a conveyor belt leading to the folding machine. Although it doesn’t seem like much, this one task has the potential to assist facilities with significant labor shortages.

Artificial Intelligence in Laundry Operations

While robotics fills the need for physical labor, artificial intelligence accomplishes tasks that require thinking. We’ve already mentioned how AI helps refine robotics by making the analysis and identification of linen products easier. AI can do more for laundry operators, helping to refine linen processing and making laundry facilities more efficient.

With the introduction of AI technology, laundry machines can become “smarter” and make decisions of their own volition. Say, for example, a machine uses more water than is necessary for the size of the load. Through AI technology, a washer can determine this discrepancy and take action, adjusting water levels automatically. As a result, your facility wastes less water, helping keep utility costs more manageable. And this is just one example of what AI can analyze as part of your linen cleaning process.

Ultimately, the idea behind AI isn’t to eliminate labor but to shift the roles of your laundry operators. Rather than mindlessly monitoring equipment to make manual adjustments, washers can monitor their selves. This allows your team to take on different laundry tasks that require more skill or move into positions better suited to their talents. In the future, laundry operators may also be able to control machines remotely, with washers providing detailed reports outlining productivity and areas that need improvement.

The Future is Soon

The laundry industry is still a few years away from complete automation. While AI has significantly improved, there are still concerns with its algorithms that prevent full integration into washing systems. Even robotic equipment, which can now grab and organize linen, is still not fully implemented worldwide for laundry facilities. As such, perfecting robotics and artificial intelligence for laundry operations will take time. However, Yamamoto is hard at work, researching technology and developing machinery that pushes the envelope. In the not-too-distant future, our laundry machines will run themselves!

In the meantime, Yamamoto washers are the perfect solution for your in-house laundry operations. Our equipment is green-centric, highly efficient, and affordable for any business or industry. If you’d like to learn more about the power of Yamamoto washers, call us today at 309-827-430. Yamamoto equipment can be found worldwide, with Yamamoto NA serving clients across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

As a manager of a nursing home or eldercare facility, you know keeping your building clean and free of contaminants is a constant battle. Whether contending with sick patients/residents or cleaning up after accidents that tend to happen in assisted living, there are any number of concerns that can impact the cleanliness of your facility. For such reasons, Yamamoto North America strives to do its part for nursing home facility managers, providing top-of-the-line laundry equipment designed to keep up with the demands of elder care.

Common Challenges in Care Facility Laundry Rooms

Yamamoto has seen countless problems that create cleanliness issues and contamination in elder care. Ensuring optimal hygiene standards are met while keeping up with the demand for clean linen is always an uphill battle for facility managers. As such, Yamamoto strives to create equipment that alleviates some of the challenges elder care centers face. Some of those challenges include:

Attending to a Variety of Unique Linen Products

Elder care facilities must manage a broad spectrum of linen products, each with unique care needs. This includes standard bedding and towels but extends to items like specialty mattresses, personal clothing, and various incontinence products. Also, elder care facilities often accommodate residents with allergies or sensitive skin, necessitating hypoallergenic detergents and fabric softeners. Catering to these diverse linen requirements underscores the complexity of the laundry operation and highlights the meticulous attention to detail needed to provide a comfortable and safe environment for older adults.

Hygiene and Infection Control

Infection control is a critical aspect of laundry in any healthcare setting, and elder care is no exception. The laundry must adhere to stringent standards to prevent the spread of infections, especially in facilities where residents may have compromised immune systems. Contaminated linens, towels, and clothing can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which is why proper handling, washing, and drying techniques are crucial. Moreover, laundry equipment used in these facilities must also be regularly maintained and cleaned to prevent the spread of germs and maintain a hygienic environment.

The Urge to Optimize Resources

With a growing elderly population, the need for elder care is increasing, amplifying the demand for laundry services. Optimizing resources, including energy, water, and labor, thus becomes an enormous challenge, especially when balancing it against needing a quick and efficient turnaround. Furthermore, the wear and tear on laundry machines due to continuous usage can lead to frequent breakdowns, disrupting the crucial flow of clean laundry. The resulting equipment downtime is detrimental to the care of residents and your facility’s bottom line.

How Do Yamamoto Machines Help?

As troublesome as these issues can be for elder care facility managers, they can be easily overcome with the right laundry equipment. Thankfully, Yamamoto equipment features everything your team needs to meet and exceed the laundry needs of your residents. You can guarantee immaculate linen produced quickly with dual soft-mount suspension, steam injection, and more. As such, some of our laundry machines’ best features include:

• Precise Controls
  • While unique linen products require different washing techniques and chemicals to be applied, our washers are easily adaptable. With programmable controls and many pre-programmed cycles that might already match what you need, you can set our washers to the perfect settings for a variety of linen products. From heavily soiled bedsheets to the delicate material in your residents’ clothing, there’s nothing Yamamoto machines can’t wash.
• Perfectly Clean Linen
  • Because our washers are used across various industries, they are designed to adhere to the strictest cleaning standards. Eldercare facilities are no different! For example, our machines utilize standard steam injection for precise temperature control, helping eliminate germs and contaminants in linen products. Additionally, our non-toxic detergent options work exceptionally well with our equipment, completely sanitizing every load.
• Less Waste
  • To help your facility cut down on waste, save on utility bills, and ultimately keep up with the linen cleaning demands of your residents, we incorporate strong suspension systems and green-centric technology. Oversized bearings and our dual soft-mount suspension help prevent wear and tear from consistent use and high-speed extractions for large load sizes. In turn, high-speed extractions and additional environmentally friendly features help cut down on water and energy usage, thus saving your facility on utility costs in the long term.

Do Something More for Your Elder Care Facility!

Why should you continually struggle to keep up with the volume and cleaning difficulty of linen products for your care facility when there’s a better way? Investing in Yamamoto equipment will help resolve many of your facility’s problems and won’t require you to break the bank for high-quality machinery! To learn more about Yamamoto North America’s commercial and industrial washers, contact us at 866-204-0519. Yamamoto NA’s main office is located at 205 S. Lee St. Bloomington, IL 61701.