Commercial Washers for Vended Laundries

ExpressWash Energy-Efficient, Soft-Mount Frontload
MG-Series High-Performance, Hard-Mount Frontload
M-Series Hard-Mount Frontload
L-Series Hard-Mount Frontload
Econ-O-Wash Topload

Commercial Washers for On-Premise Laundries

E-Series Energy-Efficient, Soft-Mount Frontload
MG-Series High-Performance, Hard-Mount Frontload
M-Series Hard-Mount Frontload
L-Series Hard-Mount Frontload
Econ-O-Wash Topload

Commercial Dryers for
Vended Laundries

ExpressDry High-Performance Drying Tumblers
E-Series Dry Compact Drying Tumbler
Econ-O-Dry Small Load
Efficiency Dryer

Commercial Dryers for On-Premise Laundries

ProSeries II High-Performance Drying Tumblers
E-Series Dry Compact Drying Tumbler
Econ-O-Dry Small Load
Efficiency Dryer
Gear Dryers for Fire Departments

Commercial Ironers for
On-Premise Laundries

Heated-Roll High-Performance Flatwork Ironers
Heated-Chest High-Volume
Flatwork Ironers

Folders & Stackers for
On-Premise Laundries

FT-LITE Drywork Folder
FL-LITE Flatwork Folder
AP-LITE Stacker

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Washer-Extractors
Gear Dryers
Drying Tumblers
Flatwork Ironers

Case Studies

View Case Study: The Soft-mount Washer – When You're Tight on Space & Light on Foundation  04.2012
View Case Study: Smother Cancer Exposure with Clean Gear  02.2012
View Case Study: Clean Gear – Critical to Firefighter Safety  01.2010
View Case Study: Knoxville Fire Dept. brings laundry in-house; saves $40,000 per year  01.2009
View Case Study: An Issue of Safety: Why Industrial Washers Often Qualify for Grant Dollars – Fire Chief  01.2006
View Case Study: Clean Gear Protection Against Disaster – Fire Chief  01.2005
View Case Study: Dirty Gear It's No Badge of Courage – Fire Chief  01.2004
View Case Study: Soiled Gear - Fire Chief  01.2003
View Case Study: Dirty Gear Isn't Cool, It's Dangerous – Fire Chief  01.2002

Resources

Gear Laundering for Fire Departments – View the brochure on how gear washers and dryers are designed specifically for fire departments.
Grant Writing Info Sheet – Find out why laundry equipment qualifies for AFG grants and how to get started.
Washer Sizing Reference Sheet – Find out what size you washer you need.
Selecting the Right Washer-Extractor for Turnout Gear Care – Turnout gear demands specific cleaning care to remove contaminants and prevent fabric damage.
Combating MRSA Infections – Proper storage and cleaning practices of all laundry is key to avoiding MRSA.
Contact your nearest distributor to request a quote!

Fire Department & EMS Market Case Study

Dirty Gear isn't Cool – It's Dangerous

January 2002 | Download case study as a PDF

Fighting fires in soiled gear used to be “cool,” according to Fire Chief Bob Carter of Hudson Fire Dept. in Hudson, Ohio. “Today we know it's not,” he says, “because soiled gear can expose firefighters to biohazards and contaminants that can cause illness or even death.”

fire chief in hudson fire department laundry room Safety is Carter's number one concern as head of a department with 34 firefighters. By requiring his staff to launder their turnout gear in a Continental washer-extractor, he is helping to ensure their safety while extending the life of the gear. Since a set of quality turnout gear runs from $1,000-$1,500, and because professional laundry services are so costly, Carter says he couldn't afford not to install an on-premise washer. Hosing down gear and scrubbing it with a long-handled brush wasn't cutting it anymore.

Contaminants from a fire can expose firefighters to cancer-causing carcinogens, and eventually weaken the gear meant to protect them. That's why the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association, Inc., recommends washing soiled turnout gear immediately after exposure to fire or body fluids. “If there is fabric breakdown,” says Carter, “you have a potential for burns or death.” By cleaning the gear promptly and thoroughly in the Continental machine, Carter says the department will extend the life of the gear by 50 percent—a definite cost savings.

With the help of Continental distributor Advantage Equipment, Kent, Ohio, Carter chose a Continental Pro-Series™, high performance washer-extractor, because of its flexible microprocessor control and programmable extract speeds that reach 387-G force. The easy-to-operate control allows firemen to select extraction speeds and rinse cycles. Typically, contaminated garments are rinsed four times at the highest extraction speed in order to remove particulate matter and excess water. With only one set of gear per firefighter, Carter says it's critical that the washer removes nearly all of the water from the fabric, reducing drying time. “Wet turn-out gear is dangerous because it can cause terrible steam burns,” he says. “With only one set per person, we need to be sure it dries quickly.”

Another benefit of the Continental machine is that it is not necessary to bolt it to an expensive and permanent concrete foundation—saving time and money. Chief Carter had the washer-extractor installed in a spare space in the firehouse's mechanical room, per the advice of Advantage Equipment. “It sits about 10 feet from my office on the other side of a wall and I can hardly hear it running,” he says.

Carter maintains that he's pleased with the service provided by Advantage Equipment and with the performance of the Continental washer. Most of all, he feels good knowing that Hudson's fire-protection gear is finally getting clean and doing its job to keep his firefighters safe.