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Unfortunately, even the laundry and linen industry can’t escape the impacts of inflation! Not to mention, with costs for laundry operators on the rise, as Yamamoto NA has previously discussed, managing money and budgets for your commercial facility has become significantly more complicated. Thankfully, Yamamoto NA is here to help. At Yamamoto, we intimately understand the problems you face when managing in-house laundry operations. Not only do our machines provide convenience and longevity, but they’re also great for businesses looking to make linen cleaning more affordable. That’s the power of a Yamamoto washer!

Save On Utility Costs

As part of Yamamoto’s commitment to sustainable development, we design our equipment to maximize its potential while consuming minimal water and energy. Not only do the water and electricity savings afforded by Yamamoto machines positively impact the environment, but they also affect your wallet! Because utility costs have grown as of late, having equipment that minimizes utility usage proves incredibly beneficial for your business’s bottom line.

Save On Equipment Care Costs

With daily use and for constantly running machines, maintenance might be required for your equipment now and again. However, the older your machine gets, the more likely it will break down. And when your machines continually break or malfunction, it doesn’t just cost money to repair; equipment downtime can cost you productivity.

Needless to say, laundry operators don’t want to be footing the bill for equipment repair all the time. That’s why many operators rely on Yamamoto machinery. Nearly 95% of the manufacturing required to develop Yamamoto equipment is handled in-house from raw materials. This allows us to source the highest quality components, promising your equipment will outperform and outlast the latest washers from our competitors. Best of all, no matter how old, if your Yamamoto machine requires repair for any reason, we will always carry the replacement parts for affordable prices.

Save On Labor Costs

There are more and more the latest industrial washing machines can do. New equipment from Yamamoto can practically run itself! For this reason, business owners and facility managers have begun investing in Yamamoto equipment to resolve labor costs (or shortages).

In truth, businesses have problems finding labor to operate equipment or can’t afford the required labor. Yamamoto’s washers resolve both concerns. With hundreds of automatic washer cycles and programs, all included as part of our washers’ digital controls, you don’t need multiple “overqualified” operators to manage your equipment. As a result, Yamamoto washers can help you save tons on labor.

Save On Equipment Upgrades

As mentioned, older equipment can cost your company more to maintain. Investing in new equipment might be your more affordable option between excess utility usage and continual breakdowns. However, finding new equipment that meets your facility’s linen cleaning needs while not breaking the bank can sometimes prove challenging. That’s why Yamamoto offers the most affordable equipment in the industry!

We understand how troublesome upgrading from old equipment can be for a business’s bottom line. So, to help laundry operators, we price our industrial machinery lower than our competitors offer. And with this lower price, you still receive a washer with premium features, high-quality components, and the best cleaning capabilities.

Save On Outsourced Laundry Operations

You might want to reconsider if you think you’re already doing your part to save on laundry operation costs by outsourcing your linen cleaning. While having another laundry facility manage your linen can be convenient and save you money in the short term, it cannot match the savings of in-house linen cleaning. The extra money you pay upfront for acquiring industrial equipment is well worth the cost, as you’ll no longer have to rely on outside parties for clean towels, clothes and more. And while costs for linen cleaning services can sometimes be unpredictable, you always know what you’re paying for with on-site equipment.

Talk to Yamamoto NA

Although costs for linen cleaning and business operations are continually rising, an investment in Yamamoto washers might be what your facility needs to manage laundry cleaning more affordably. To see the incredible power, durability, and cleaning capabilities of Yamamoto’s industrial extractors, call the Yamamoto NA team today! Contact us at 309-827-4303 to begin saving more with Yamamoto!

If your business manages large amounts of laundry, you likely outsource dirty linen cleaning to an external partner. And while outsourcing your laundry operation gets the job done, there are some disadvantages to using third parties for linen cleaning.

First, the cost of using these industrial laundry facilities will surely add up. Not to mention, cleaning your linen outside your facility removes any quality control you may have had. And for environmentally conscious businesses, you can’t guarantee the companies managing your linen care about their environmental impact.

For these reasons (and more), bringing laundry operations in-house is the best choice you can make for your business. To prepare your facility for the addition of new industrial washers, here are a few helpful tips from Yamamoto NA!

Make Room for Your New Washers

For the significant task of managing your facility’s dirty linen, you will need a large industrial washer (or a few). However, that also means you’ll need the space to house your new washers. To ensure peak efficiency for your laundry machines, you’ll require an open space large enough for several washers and easy access to water and electric hookups.

Additionally, your space needs depend on how much linen you clean. For example, a small restaurant might only require one washer tucked away in a private corner of your kitchen. Otherwise, hotels or hospitals, which clean multiple loads of linen daily, will need a designated room with space for multiple machines and operators.

If needing to design a new space for your washers, make sure you plan the layout of your laundry area accordingly, with attention to operator safety and OSHA guidelines.

Find the Right Equipment

When selecting industrial washers for your facility, you want machines with high-capacity limits, improved efficiency, and excellent cleaning capability. Unfortunately, not every machine you’ll find fits this bill, and the few that can are often relatively expensive! And if you overspend for your equipment, you defeat one of the primary purposes for bringing your laundry operations in-house: cost savings!

Thankfully, if you know where to look, you can find machines that can achieve everything you need and won’t break the bank. Yamamoto NA produces high-quality equipment that boasts longevity, efficiency, and highly effective cleaning for an affordable price. If you want to get the most “bang for your buck,” Yamamoto’s industrial washing machines are the way to go.

Be Wary of Financing

Speaking of the price of your units, it’s important to consider the financial impact of industrial washers on your business’s bottom line. While there are plenty of cost savings to be had, that’s only after you’ve had and used your washers for a time. Otherwise, upfront investment for industrial washers must first be met.

Companies like Yamamoto NA try to meet buyers part-way with our lines of affordable laundry equipment. We understand how expensive starting an in-house laundry operation can be, but we also know how beneficial it is for businesses to have their own machines. To this end, we hope to allow more clients to invest in industrial cleaning machines without worrying about their bottom line.

Train Your Staff

Now that you have new laundry machines in place, who will run them? For something like one machine in a small facility, hiring and training an individual to load and unload linen is unnecessary. However, having consistent laundry managers might be necessary for commercial laundry operations or larger facilities like hospitals or hotels.

Thankfully, no matter your staffing needs, Yamamoto’s washers were designed to be operator friendly. Yamamoto machine operation is quick to learn and only takes a little longer to master! With the many pre-programmed wash cycles (and the ability to program your own), Yamamoto equipment practically runs itself. Ideally, you won’t waste much time and money getting employees up-to-speed on operating a Yamamoto washer.

Invest in In-House Laundry Operations

If your facility needs increased linen cleaning capabilities, has the space, and can financially support the decision, bringing laundry operations in-house is the right choice you can make for your business. And an even better decision is an investment in Yamamoto’s industrial washing machines!

To learn more about our high-quality, long-lasting, affordable and environmentally friendly washers, call Yamamoto NA today at 309-827-4303. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701.

Your first thought about industrial washing machines might not be how they impact the environment. However, it’s an important question to ask! With the volume of electricity, water, and cleaning chemicals used by commercial washers, it’s only natural to wonder what sort of effect they have on the preservation of nature. Unfortunately, for some washing machine manufacturers, the answer isn’t always what you wish. Thankfully, Yamamoto takes the initiative in designing cost-effective, energy-efficient, and water-conscious industrial washing machines. Talk to Yamamoto North America today to learn about the environmentallyfriendly nature of Yamamoto washers.

A Commitment to Sustainable Development

To do the most good for our environment and the world, Yamamoto follows the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals. The SDGs are 17 integrated goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs act as a call to action worldwide to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure the peace and prosperity of all people by 2030. Although it’s a lofty aim, it’s one that Yamamoto believes deeply in. As such, we implement machine designs, materials, and facility operations to closely align with several of the most essential Global Goals. These Goals include:

• Good Health and Well-Being –Unhealthy living conditions threaten the health and well-being of individuals worldwide. Yamamoto washers are designed to combat germs and bacteria in every wash, ultimately protecting communities from illness and unhealthy living where our washers are implemented.
• Clean Water and Sanitization – Yamamoto’s washing equipment doesn’t use otherwise “toxic” chemicals as a part of their cleaning process. We aim to not contribute to water pollution, helping keep water safe for consumption. Additionally, our machines are always designed with water conservation in mind to guarantee water availability for communities where it’s lacking.
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Yamamoto is leading the linen and laundry cleaning industries to create fast, efficient, long-lasting, environmentally friendly,and affordable equipment. To this end, we are constantly innovating our washer designs to bring the best, highest-quality machines to market and leading the way for other manufacturers to do the same.
• Responsible Consumption and Production – To ensure clean water is available to all, our machines were designed to maximize cleaning with as little water as necessary. In doing so, we enable laundry operators across the globe to participate in responsible water (and energy) consumption, preserving water for those who need it most.
• Climate Action – Unfortunately, global warming and greenhouse gas emissions threaten to cause irreversible harm to our climate and environment if our world doesn’t act! Yamamoto washers do their part to protect the environment through incredible water and energy conservation and use non-toxic chemicals and materials during production.

A Commitment to Our Customers

In addition to adhering to the Sustainable Development Goals, Yamamoto is deeply committed to the needs of our clients. As such, we enable our customers to implement sustainable development in their own manner, using our industrial cleaning equipment. With Yamamoto, you can expect environmentally-friendly guarantees like:

• Non-Toxic Chemicals and Materials – Yamamoto produces our equipment using materials, chemicals and equipment that isn’t harmful to the environment. As recently as 2019, we changed the paint on our machines to be non-toxic!
• Customizable Machines – Not only is the customizable nature of our machines to laundry operators’ advantage but to the benefit of the environment too! Having precise control over washer features such as water volume helps conserve our Earth’s resources.
• Forever Equipment – Yamamoto wants to be your “forever company” for laundry equipment. For example, if you have a Yamamoto machine that’s 10+ years old and is no longer in production, we’ll still make and provide replacement parts for said machine. And by supporting your machines forever, we reduce product waste and help our clients save money.

See Our Equipment for Yourself!

Yamamoto’s industrial washing machines are unmatched in their longevity, cleaning capabilities and affordability. We implement the latest features and technology into all our washers that your standard manufacturer would only offer for a premium. In alignment with the Global Goals, we enable laundry operators to accessenergy-efficient, water-saving cleaning equipment anywhere and at affordable prices. If Yamamoto can help create a cleaner and safer world through industrial washers, we can be satisfied with our commitment to sustainable development and our clients.

To learn more about Yamamoto washers or find a distributor near you, contact Yamamoto North America today at 866-204-0519. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701.

2023 has presented the Yamamoto North America team with some exciting new opportunities. Not only are we building new partnerships and relationships throughout the linen cleaning industry, but we’re getting ready to begin offering some incredible new products. And to add to much of the excitement surrounding Yamamoto this year, our North American-based teams were invited by Yamamoto Manufacturing to see our company’s headquarters and experience some of the incredible sights, sounds and tastes of Japan.

Thanks to Our Top Distributors!

Yamamoto NA hosted different teams of distributors throughout the trip as thanks for the hard work of each. Distributors earned their tickets by being top earners, having the best sales performance for 2021. Of those present, we had representatives from Spin Techs of South Bend, 24/7 Laundry of Indianapolis, Consolidated Laundry of Raliegh, ECW Inc. of Los Angeles, National Laundry of Nashville, Hermes Equipment of Bloomington and SaveMore Equipment of Gadsden. Needless to say, we had a diverse group of team members for our trip!

Touring Yamamoto’s Facilities and History

Our trip took place during the first week of April, from the 1^st to the 7^th, during Japan’s famous Cherry Blossom Season! The visit included two nights in Tokyo, a night in Onomichi, and two nights in Hiroshima city. On arriving in Japan, we were greeted by the friendly folks at Yamamoto Manufacturing and given a proper tour of the area and some of Yamamoto’s facilities.

During our factory/property tours, we saw the newly renovated conference center in Yamamoto’s main office. The conference center featured a moveable wall that had been graphically designed to show the history and philosophy of Yamamoto Manufacturing through the years. It chronologically depicted the growth and changes in equipment lines of Yamamoto, as well as company culture since Yamamoto’s founding.

After seeing the new conference center, we were given a guided tour of each part of the factory. We were also shown additional facilities recently built to support the increase of production coming from growth in the American market. The consensus among our distributors was how impressed they were with the volume of automation and robotics used to create Yamamoto equipment. Through this automation, we recognized Yamamoto’s unique ability to control production and quality at a higher rate than traditional skilled laborers.

A Peek at What’s to Come

Upon completing the guided tours, our distributors got down to business with Yamamoto’s local teams to discuss some future products Yamamoto is close to releasing!

The standout products were Yamamoto’s OPL dryers. Each was 55lb and 75lb capacity units that operated using a worm gear rather than a belt and pully system. This allows for a smaller footprint and gives the dryers a competitive advantage in the market. Additionally, the switch to worm gear operation eliminated several parts that are traditionally service-heavy and costly over the machine’s lifespan. The dryers were also designed with a unique airflow system to help them achieve higher efficiency than most other brands while maintaining industrial-level performance.

In addition to the OPL dryers, we were shown the Yamamoto RSF Ironer, a re-modeled WUN275 with a smaller footprint, and some of the latest coin-operated laundry units. Excitingly, consumers can expect to see these new products and product redesigns on the market soon!

Enjoying Our Downtime

Of course, our trip to Japan wasn’t only “business related.” Much of our time was spent enjoying everything Japan had to offer! During our trip, we were shown some incredible sights and famous locales throughout the country, including a visit to the Senkoiji Temple, Usui Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Peace Park, Shinjuku Station, Mr. Yamamoto’s home, a ride on Japan’s bullet train, and more! And during the evenings, we sampled some of the fine and unique cuisine offered throughout Japan’s districts. There was no shortage of delicious foods, incredible sights, and exciting activities to experience in Japan!

Thank You, Yamamoto!

At Yamamoto NA, we couldn’t be more thankful for the incredible opportunity Yamamoto Manufacturing offered us. Seeing Yamamoto’s facilities first-hand and learning about the vibrant history of our company has given our distributors a new appreciation for the products they help sell. Moreover, our trip to Japan allowed our distributor network to come together to cultivate stronger bonds with the Yamamoto family and brand. Yamamoto NA is excited about everything to come, and we can’t wait for our next visit to Japan!

For decades, industrial businesses and commercial laundry facilities have utilized the power and efficiency of Yamamoto machinery. However, while Yamamoto washers prove effective for industries like healthcare and hospitality, they find less use in facilities like apartment complexes and laundromats due to a lack of coin-operation features. For those of you that visited Yamamoto North America at our booth during the 2022 Clean Show, you know this is all about to change! Yamamoto has begun designing and producing new coin-operated washers/dryer units, soon to be available in the States!

What Makes Our Coin-Operated Machines Unique?

In everything Yamamoto creates, we continually strive to push the linen cleaning and laundry equipment manufacturing industries to new heights! And for our coin-operated washers/dryers, Yamamoto’s goal is no different.

Our coin-operated equipment features unique functions like automatic soap injection, wash and dry combination units, and full or ½ sized load options. While these features will be standard for our coin-operated machines, they aren’t what you usually find with American-manufactured laundry equipment. We hope to attract an entirely new market of interested clients wishing to invest in or update their coin-operated machines to Yamamoto’s more efficient, convenient and versatile washers/dryers.

What YOU Had to Say

Our intention in showcasing our coin-operated equipment at the 2022 Clean Show for the first time was two parts: the first to preview the exciting new equipment Yamamoto has on the horizon, and the second to learn folks’ initial thoughts on our first entry into the coin-operated laundry space. And we have to say, your observations on our coin-operated equipment did not disappoint! With the insights gleaned at the 2022 Clean Show, we can directly respond to the most common feedback we received.

Some of our biggest concerns in introducing our line of coin-operated equipment were how it functioned so differently from our competitors’ machines. But we quickly found the features unique to our coin-operated equipment were what visitors at our booth flocked to investigate.

For example, some visitors viewed our machine’s automatic soap injection as an opportunity to sell detergent built into the wash programs to every customer that uses the machine. Rather than giving machine operators the option to use outside detergents or buy small quantities from a nearby vend station, showgoers saw an opportunity to market the laundries as “eco-friendly” or “organic” by controlling the type of “green” detergents being used in the washers.

Initially, we were also concerned with operator errors involving loading (or overloading) machines. For our machine’s drum to wash and dry linen effectively, load sizes must not exceed a specific size. Suppose our combo washer/dryer’s standard user isn’t familiar with the proper load sizes for our equipment. In that case, it could cause customers to be unhappy and negatively impact the image of investors and the quality of our equipment. However, this concern wasn’t something our booth visitors were worried over, saying an attended laundromat could easily manage Yamamoto machines and ensure customers don’t overload them.

When Can You Expect Yamamoto’s Coin-Operated Equipment?

The Clean Show 2022 was Yamamoto’s first time introducing our coin-operated equipment to the American market. And thanks to the countless laundry operators, business owners, and equipment manufacturers that visited our booth, we learned what we were doing right and what still needed improvement. All this to say, while you can expect Yamamoto’s coin-operated washers/dryers in the near future, we can’t tell you a date just yet! However, we promise it won’t be long before you can begin equipping your apartment complex or laundromat with the linen cleaning industry’s fastest, most efficient and most affordable washing machines. Within the next 12-18 months, be on the lookout for our coin-operated machines and more exciting additions to Yamamoto North America’s laundry equipment line-up.

Learn more about the latest Yamamoto North America has to offer by calling today at 309-204-0519. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701.

2023 marks the beginning of the fourth quarter of a century of service for Yamamoto Manufacturing. That’s right, Yamamoto has supplied the best industrial washing machines to industries across the world for over 75 years! And in celebrating our success and looking toward the future, we first consider the humble beginnings of Yamamoto and how we grew to be an industry leader for industrial linen cleaning equipment and machinery.

Humble Beginnings

Yamamoto’s story begins in Onomichi, Japan, with company founder Takuji Yamamoto. In 1947, the neighborhood Takuji lived in was home to a local cleaner, to who Takuji provided regular equipment service. It wasn’t until after a few years of repairing and maintaining laundry equipment that the owner of the local cleaner challenged Takuji to design and manufacture a more reliable machine. Takuji accepted this challenge, and the first Yamamoto washer was created!

Takuji’s experience servicing washing equipment gave him a greater understanding of the key features that most impact a unit’s performance. As such, he helped lay the foundation for Yamamoto’s competitive differences. It didn’t take long before Takuji’s repair service transformed into a linen cleaning industry leader within the Japanese market.

When Takuji’s son, and current Yamamoto president Shohei Yamamoto, took over his father’s business, he wanted to bring his father’s concepts and machine designs to the rest of the world. Shohei’s leadership built Yamamoto’s presence on the international stage. In hopes of making his hometown of Onomichi known for the world’s best laundry equipment, Shohei began entering several international markets. Staying true to his Japanese roots, Shohei grew Yamamoto on the belief that happy employees lead to better products, and better products lead to happy customers.

Now, Yamamoto’s machines are used worldwide in commercial and industrial facilities, providing high-quality cleaning for reasonable prices. Yamamoto continues to supply businesses with parts and products made in-house, guaranteeing incredible longevity and increased cleaning capability for our equipment. In fact, Yamamoto’s machines are so durable and long-lasting that they’ve earned the title “Forever Machines” in the linen cleaning industry.

Yamamoto’s Future

As Yamamoto North America looks back fondly on our company’s roots, we continue to supply companies throughout the United States and Canada with the excellent cleaning products they’ve come to expect. The future for Yamamoto in 2023 is exciting, with plenty of new plans in the works. You’ve already seen our latest product, the FUT10BT Towel Folder; however, this is only the first of several products Yamamoto has lined up for this year! With new dryer tech and coin-operated machines on the horizon, Yamamoto plans on making this last quarter of a century its best yet!

Thank you to all our clients for your trust in Yamamoto over the years, and we look forward to your continued support! Here’s to a new year in linen cleaning with Yamamoto!

There’s a lot that happened for Yamamoto in 2022! This year, we got to go to the Clean Show for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. At the Clean Show, we also showed off some exciting new machines and product ideas we wish to implement this year fully. However, even as Yamamoto North America is celebrating a happy end of 2022, the laundry industry is still contending with challenges from years past. As we look toward the future of the laundry industry, we have some ideas of where industry trends are heading and how Yamamoto plans on helping laundry operators adapt!

2022’s Biggest Challenges

Many of the challenges the laundry and linen services industry faced this past year (and the last few) have thankfully begun to change for the better. However, there are still issues linen cleaning and production facilities will continue to see into 2023, with an end not yet in sight. An example of these laundry industry woes has been a problem other industries have faced: labor shortages. Unfortunately, filling open positions has proven difficult due to initial pandemic restrictions and now low unemployment.

Additionally, while shipping problems and material shortages have significantly improved throughout 2022, they still have a long way to go. Both challenges have led to reduced production across the board regarding linen, machinery, cleaners, components and more. While the situation continues to improve, manufacturers are looking for ways to “future-proof” their facility if shipping is bottlenecked again.

Finally, with utility costs on the rise and inflation significantly impacting the price of goods, laundry and linen manufacturing facilities have had to adjust their finances. For some facilities, this meant raising the cost of goods. For others, this meant fewer goods produced. Overall, inflation has proven problematic for the laundry and linen service industry, as it has for everyone else.

What Does This Mean Going Forward?

It’s unfortunate to admit, but those part of the laundry industry (including Yamamoto) believe most of the same challenges will continue to plague businesses and manufacturers through most of 2023 and potentially beyond. As such, many industrial laundries have begun to shrink operations to survive and adapt. Rather than spend time and money on expanding operations outward, much of the laundry industry has begun to focus on business closer to home, serving smaller territories as a result. However, for this trend to continue and for businesses to be successful, advancements in industrial cleaning equipment must be made. Thankfully, Yamamoto NA has been thinking ahead!

How Yamamoto is Adapting

To best cater to the likely trend of laundry facilities shrinking their operations, Yamamoto is producing smaller, high-volume equipment. Our more-compact industrial washing machines will allow laundry operators to fit more into less. Furthermore, high-volume capacities lend to greater productivity, reducing the loads required to complete daily linen cleaning.

Also, Yamamoto is investing more in ”re-use” technology to reduce labor and utility usage. Our latest tech and upcoming machines include features like water reclaims, heat exchangers, multi-pass drying, etc. Although these features intend to significantly reduce the need for water, electricity and labor when operating laundry equipment, it has another benefit: a reduced carbon footprint! Yamamoto hopes to change the culture of laundry by making a significant improvement on our “green thumb” as an industry.

Lastly, Yamamoto has made recent strides in automation as we bring our new Towel Folder to market. Such automation further allows laundry operators to streamline the linen cleaning process and reduce required labor. If finding new employees continues to be a challenge for laundry facilities, some automation can fill in the gaps.

The Future of the Laundry Industry

Yamamoto has always been behind some of the best innovations in industrial cleaning technology. We continually push the envelope for what’s possible for modern-day laundry operations. Our 70-plus years in laundry machine manufacturing have led us to produce innovative, durable, and efficient washer designs for affordable prices. For the best laundry equipment that matches the direction of the laundry and linen services industries, business owners rely on Yamamoto North America. To learn more about our products and how they can help your facility survive and thrive, call today at 866-204-0519 for a quote. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701, serving clients throughout the United States.

No industry is safe from rising costs and inflation, and the laundry and linen industries are no exception. As laundry operators are brainstorming new ways to cut costs and keep commercial laundry cleaning affordable, Yamamoto is also coming up with cost-saving ideas for our equipment! If addressing some of the main points of contention for laundry facilities, such as labor, utilities and textile costs, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure your laundry operations stay cost-effective. Allow Yamamoto North America to discuss why laundry operators continue to fight rising costs and what can be done about it.

Problem 1: Labor

Commercial laundry facilities, hospitals, hotels, and other businesses need the labor necessary for quick and easy linen cleaning. However, as the cost of living continues to rise, so too do the compensation needs of your employees. And as a business owner or facility manager, you want to do right by your staff and ensure operating costs are manageable. Unfortunately, the solution for many companies to save on labor costs is to reduce hiring or let go of employees. While this can provide temporary relief, employee retention can become an issue if you’re not careful.

Problem 2: Utilities

Running commercial washers and dryers consistently every day can add up over time. Utility costs for water, gas and electricity can be challenging to cut when you require your machines to run! Moreover, depending on your location, gas and electric costs are rising at alarming rates. In the residential space alone, some households’ electricity bills have doubled or tripled! Now, imagine how an already expensive energy bill for a commercial facility might be affected. The bottom line: utility costs continue to confound laundry operators.

Problem 3: Textiles

With shipping delays still a consequence of the global pandemic, the cost of goods and materials is in constant flux. The West’s reliance on production and supplies from Asia is no longer guaranteed, and there has yet to be a replacement for consistent textile products. This disruption in the textile industry has caused cotton prices to double, polyester fiber prices to rise, and negatively impacted supply chains across the globe.

What Can Be Done?

To ensure your laundry business can sustain itself with rising costs and a potential recession on the horizon, there are steps you can take that improve costs related to textile, labor and utilities. If you manage these three areas, you can overcome the worst of inflation. Here are some helpful tips for fighting increased expenses and creating a cost-efficient laundry program:

• Consider Automation – Automation for your business is easier to reduce labor without placing extra responsibilities on your employees. Luckily, much of laundry cleaning already relies on automation. As long as laundry operators can load and unload machines, industrial washers and dryers take care of the rest. And with additional equipment, such as Towel Folders, you can also automate the post-cleaning process. Thankfully, Yamamoto has the equipment you need to further your facility’s automation.
• Invest in Greener Solutions – As utility costs won’t decrease anytime soon, the only way to reduce your bill is to use less. Older laundry equipment is the biggest offender in extraneous gas, water and electricity usage. While newer equipment requires an upfront investment, the utility cost savings will make up for the difference in no time.
• Bring Laundry Operations In-House – Most of these points to reduce laundry operation costs assume, as a laundry operator, you already utilize industrial cleaning equipment on-site. However, some industries (such as healthcare or hospitality) choose to outsource their laundry operations. While outsourcing laundry cleaning might allow you to forgo equipment costs, third-party cleaner costs can be worse!

How Yamamoto Can Help

While Yamamoto NA can recommend increased automation and investment in new laundry equipment, what good does it do if said laundry equipment cannot accommodate your laundry operations? Thus, Yamamoto continues to develop new and innovative laundry cleaning solutions that perfect automation and greener cleaning methods.

Our latest washer and dryer tech utilizes advancements in “re-use” technology. For example, water re-claim, heat exchangers, and multi-pass dryers are becoming the standard for Yamamoto equipment. Yamamoto’s industrial washing machine designs help reduce labor and utility usage to help laundry operators’ bottom line and, more importantly, reduce the carbon footprint of laundry facilities. Our ultimate goal is to change the culture of laundry by making significant improvements to our “green thumb” as an industry.

Learn More About Yamamoto Equipment

Investing in the right laundry equipment is the best step to fighting rising costs in the laundry and linen industries. As such, Yamamoto continually strives to supply the most affordable, durable and cost-effective machines available. If you wish to learn more about our industrial laundry equipment and how it can help your linen cleaning operations, call today at 866-204-0519. We are located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701.

Although high-quality industrial laundry equipment is built to withstand extreme pressure and experiences minimal wear and tear, even Yamamoto’s machines can benefit from preventative maintenance! In previous blogs, we’ve discussed some of what needs to be done to maintain your commercial washing equipment. However, why do you need to? What are some of the benefits of preventative maintenance, professional or otherwise? Allow Yamamoto North America to show you why standard maintenance and upkeep of your washers and dryers are crucial to your business’s operation.

Staying Productive

If in charge of the laundry operations of a hospital or hotel, you likely have countless loads of laundry that need processing every day. So, when a washing machine suddenly stops working, the laundering capabilities of your facility can become compromised. And such machine downtime can significantly impact work and cleaning productivity, thus costing you valuable time and money. However, with preventative maintenance performed on your washing equipment, breakdowns are much less likely. Ensuring filters and belts are functioning and undamaged can help you avoid future repairs.

Avoiding Repair Costs

Speaking of avoiding future repairs, preventative maintenance can catch potential problems with your industrial laundry equipment before it becomes worse. Although Yamamoto washers come with a five-year ALL PARTS warranty, labor to fix severe breaks can become costly. Especially if more than one machine breaks within a short period, you begin to wrack up repair costs. Thankfully, the few steps you can take to monitor the condition of your equipment are enough to identify issues before they require fixing.

Ensuring Quality Cleaning

Yamamoto washers can provide high-quality cleaning and sanitization with every load. However, even Yamamoto equipment can fall victim to neglect. For example, if filters aren’t cleaned, they become clogged, impeding water flow into a machine. If too little water is used in washing, your linen cannot be thoroughly cleaned. Or, if you don’t keep loading doors open between periods of use, you risk your washer drum not fully drying and developing a musty smell. Ultimately, this unpleasant odor can affect subsequent loads of laundry. Monthly cleaning and inspection of your machines can avoid these problems and ensure your machine’s cleaning capabilities are to the level they should be.

Lowering Utility Costs

In addition to avoiding repair costs, preventative maintenance can help you save on your utility bill. If parts of your system become dirty or start to break, they work less efficiently. In turn, a less effective commercial washer might draw on more power or water when attempting to wash loads, resulting in increased utility costs to run your equipment. Thankfully, it isn’t difficult to optimize the efficiency of your machines. Yamamoto washers feature easy-to-access metal housing and drain valves, so operators can easily inspect and clean its most crucial components.

Less Stress with Yamamoto

While Yamamoto North America will never deny the incredible benefits of preventative maintenance for your industrial washing equipment, we strive to manufacture machines that outperform what our competitors can offer. Yamamoto washers utilize advanced tech, high-quality materials, and durable parts, making our products some of the longest-lasting on the market. Even without preventative maintenance, our machines outlast similar products from other manufacturers. Thus, with the consistent upkeep of your Yamamoto washer, you can expect it to run for decades!

If you are interested in Yamamoto North America’s line of industrial washing machines, or you’d like to learn more about the benefits of preventative maintenance, call us today at 866-204-0519. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701, serving clients throughout the United States.

For years, Yamamoto has made great efforts to design cleaning equipment that provides the best clean and simplifies the linen cleaning process. However, once laundry loads are washed and dried, that’s as far as Yamamoto’s equipment can assist. Today, that’s no longer the case! With the introduction of the FUT10BT, Yamamoto’s automatic towel folder, we can now assist laundry operators from start to finish! Read on to learn more about our new towel folders and how your business could benefit from this small addition of automation.

How Our Machines Work

Yamamoto’s towel folders are an innovative and compact piece of equipment that can quickly and easily integrate into any business’s laundry procedure. With a range of helpful features, Yamamoto looks to set the FUT10BT apart from other auto-folders in the linen cleaning industry. From our new towel folders, laundry operators can expect:

• Auto Sorting
  • As the operator loads towels into the machine, it will fold and sort towels in a manner the operator decides ahead of time. The folder will identify the types and sizes of linen products fed into it and perform the preferred folding process based on selected settings. Once folded, the machine will sort linen by size, to different locations and using pre-determined heights.
• Precision Folding Quality
  • Other brands of towel folders blast air to lift the edges of the towel into the folding pattern. However, this method can cause inconsistent results and a lesser quality fold. Conversely, the FUT10BT uses a metal flapper blade to create sharp folds for towels and linen. Additionally, our machine uses an automatic feeder sensor that only allows the belts to move once a towel is loaded. This ensures the linen goes in smooth and flat, preventing jams and poorly finished folds.
• Multifunctional Touch Screen
  • The FUT10BT uses touch screen controls, giving operators access to customized programs for their equipment. Changes to a programmed folding process can be made on the fly without special software. Operators can also manually activate each feature of the FUT10BT independently in the unlikely event of towel jams or maintenance. Finally, the touch screen controls track each operator’s performance so staff can be audited for speed and accuracy.
• Different Unloading Positions
  • The FUT10BT has several options for unloading, which helps operators adopt the equipment into their facility. The folder’s relatively small footprint allows it to fit into smaller areas. Furthermore, the machine’s side or rear feed options allow it to be tucked tightly against other equipment without interfering with existing workflows. All machines come standard with base rollers for easy moving of equipment.

Why Does Your Business Need Auto Folders?

While the laundering process is relatively simple, it can become time-consuming without the right equipment. Not to mention, keeping up with the volume of linen needing folding requires multiple employees and significant time. Automating linen folding can solve concerns of time and labor while ensuring consistent folding quality.

• Time
  • Towel folding by hand is not challenging for laundry operators. However, a towel folder can fold more at once and at a quicker pace. Per American Laundry News, the average person can fold, sort and stack different-sized towels at a rate of 120 pieces per hour. Compare that to the 650 pieces per hour a FUT10BT can manage; you significantly increase production and save time on folding.
• Labor
  • Linen folding and sorting is the most labor-intensive part of the laundering process. While the task isn’t overly complex, it’s effort your operators could be placing elsewhere. And if you wish to help that process along faster, you must introduce more operators into the mix. Conversely, a towel folder can completely automate the folding and sorting process. Your auto-folder can cut labor hours by as much as 87%. Additionally, it only takes one operator to use your FUT10BT.
• Fold Quality
  • Leaving your towel folding to individual operators can mean inconsistent and lower-quality folds. Even the most skilled operator lacks the same consistency of an automated towel folder. With the FUT10BT, you get consistent, high-quality folds with every load. And fold quality matters when preparing fresh linen for storage and transportation.

Check Out the FUT10BT

If you’d like to see Yamamoto’s latest addition to our line of industrial cleaning equipment in action, you can watch a video of our towel folder operating on YouTube. Or, if you have any questions about the FUT10BT, its cost, and when you can begin ordering it, contact Yamamoto NA at 866-437-2550. Our main office is located at 507 W Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701.