Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Parker Boiler’s New Vertical Water Wall

Everyone has their own set of thrills.  For instance, some guys get excited about cars; my wife tends to be enthusiastic when it comes to jewelry; my blogger is motivated by chocolate; and I have a thing for boilers.  So, imagine my reaction when I learned that Parker Boiler has a new process boiler under development.  While this sort of thing isn’t new to Parker – their engineers are constantly developing, reworking, and improving equipment and processes, and even though their Water Wall tubing design and the Low NOx Metal Fiber burner system is top notch, they’ve found yet another way to improve upon it.
 
Here are just a few advantages when choosing this model:
  • Safety – Parker’s tube bundle is extremely flexible and provides a long-life with a 25-year warranty against thermal shock.
  • Large Heating Surface – This provides increased efficiency, long boiler life, and reduces chances of scaling.
  • Sealed Combustion – Reduces the heat loss and increases efficiency to 84%.
  • Variable Speed Blower – which provides a wide turn-down ratio for production matching steam supply, saving on utility costs.
  • Internal Accessibility -- Cabinet inspection panels are easily removed for service access to the burner, tubes, and steam storage drum.
  • Heavy Insulated Cabinet – The cabinet is constructed to effectively reduce heat loss.
Plus, we get all the great Parker traits we have all grown to expect like 100PSI in 10 minutes and extra dry steam from the large horizontal steam drum.  Of course, this model will be manufactured in conformance with UL Standard 795 & ASME-CSD-1.  But to top it all off, this Parker Boiler from 9.6 H.P to 24 H.P will easily pass through a 35” door .......BAM!!!

TriState is a proud distributor for Parker Boiler equipment, and if you have questions about our Parker Boiler equipment, please contact us.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Laundry Equipment Removal and Installation Project in California

In October, we shared an update on a laundry equipment removal project we’d been working on with RW Martin & Sons, Inc. out of Kent, Ohio.  That project, which was in Brockton, Massachusetts, led to another large hospital project, which was in Los Angeles, California.  Our company may be called Tri-State, meaning we are in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, but believe me, we are all over the place these days.

This was a big job, done in several phases.  During the first phase of laundry equipment removal, Tri-State staff tore everything out of the facility – Milnor tunnel washers, dryers with shuttle systems, and so on.  This was a large facility with a lot of big commercial laundry equipment.  In about 6 weeks, we got it down to bare bones.  After the tradesmen got the new electrical, plumbing, and such completed, Tri-State went back to receive the equipment on the docks, stage the equipment, and then complete the installation.  In about 3 weeks, we installed a large Milnor tunnel washer, dryers, a conveyor system – everything you would need to make a facility like this run smoothly and efficiently.

I must stop here because I’m making it sound way easier than it was.  This facility was going from a steam powered production plant to a plant running without steam, now using two Parker Boiler T6800s to heat their wash, no steam up needed.  This required assistance from our friends, Gulf Steam Company out of Florida, to get the plant running.

In all, we spent about 9 weeks making these changes, and I have to say that I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.  Check out the photos to see for yourself.  I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of an organization that gets to upgrade the equipment for some of the finest healthcare facilities in our country.




Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Ultimate Dry Cleaner Receives Award

In last month’s blog post, we shared with you a project we’d been working on with a long-time customer whose operation had been destroyed by fire.  After we posted the blog, we learned that that cleaners – Brothers Cleaners in Raleigh, North Carolina – received the grand prize from American Drycleaner magazine in the 57th Annual Plant Design Awards.

What made this plant so special?  The plant is designed so that the soiled work comes in the side door at the 5 - 90LB RealStar Heated Hydrocarbon machines, is sorted, and then cleaned.  Once cleaned, it goes to the adjacent finishing area and flow down isles to the Metalprogetti Assembly Conveyor where they are assembled by customer and continue through the auto bagging station and automatically sorted again to the corresponding customers route storage conveyor.  Besides the efficient workflow, this plant's boiler requirement of 75 horsepower led us to suggest that they install two boilers, a Parker Boiler 105-70 H.P and a Parker Boiler 104-50 H.P. The 70 H.P provides the needed steam to operate the plant on most any given day. Adding the 50 H.P and setting the on-off limits will have it fire only when the 70 falls a little behind.  In addition to Parker Boiler and RealStar, the plant boasts equipment from Sankosha, Leonard Automatics, and Covers, Etc.  Finally, their front counters are made of recycled glass bottles and resin product.


“We are honored to have been chosen by Brothers Cleaners to help with this project,” said Kevin Lawson, Vice President of Tri-State Laundry Equipment.  “They showed their complete confidence in our judgement and capabilities.  This was an all-encompassing project for our company, requiring most of our staff and capabilities for virtually two years. First by building a complete temporary facility in a leased building, while designing and planning for the rebuilding of their facility.  This project was a tremendous undertaking for Tri-State, and in my opinion, the most rewarding too.  All our folks were very proud to have been there for the Hilker Family and Brothers Cleaners when their whole world had come down around them. I will always be proud that they turned to us and put their total faith in our ability.”

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Steam Systems Design for the Ultimate Dry Cleaners

I recently designed a large, state-of-the-art dry cleaning and laundry facility for a long-time customer whose plant had been destroyed by fire.  The new plant would consist of five 90-pound Realstar heated hydrocarbon dry cleaning machines, six Sankosha dry cleaning finishing bays and four Unipress Double Buck shirt finishing bays with six Unipress hot head finishing units for jeans, touch up, and linen.

To ensure the plant ran properly, I had to calculate the steam requirements accurately, so I began by referring to all the manufacturers specs for each piece of equipment.  Then, I could take the boiler horsepower required and determine the pounds of steam per hour required and size the steam supply and return headers.

This plant's boiler requirement of 75 horsepower led me to suggest to the owners that they install two boilers, a Parker Boiler 105-70 H.P and a Parker Boiler 104-50 H.P. I know you’re adding this up, and it's greater than the 75-horse requirement I stated earlier.  That's because the 70 H.P will provide the needed steam to operate the plant on most any given day. Adding the 50 H.P and setting the on-off limits will have it fire only when the 70 falls a little behind. 

Here’s the logic behind my recommendation:
  • We can almost get enough BTU’s out of a stack economizer on the 70 H.P. to heat all their shirt laundry water with a storage tank and circulating pump.
  • Hot water generated from a stack economizer is truly free energy because you have paid for it, and it’s on its way out of the stack.  Why not harness all that energy?
  • The 70 will be the master and carry most of the load.  We want it on and firing on high as much as possible to carry the load and make hot water.  Additionally, flue gas heat exchangers don’t make a lot of ROI unless your boiler is 50 H. P. or higher.  You simply can’t get enough BTU’s to do the job.
  • One issue with this type of water heating system is that it’s making hot water the entire time the boiler is firing, and if you don’t have the demand, your storage tank weeps or pops off due to overheating.  Then you have wasted water down the drain, giving up your free BTU’s.  The 50 H.P comes in when, in the afternoon, they no longer have the demand to make hot water while perhaps finishing up some shirts or running dry cleaning for the next day.  They can turn off the 70 and finish up with the 50.
  • They will also just use the 50 on Saturdays to run dry cleaning machines only and maybe press some dry cleaning for a head start on the week.
  • The steam header is also designed with valves for the header to separate the high-pressure and low-pressure sides allowing them to open or close for fewer loads and not building steam pressure throughout the plant and wasting energy. Of course, this would be done using the 50 H.P because boiler requirements are low and there is no need for hot water.
  • One final detail that I consider to be very important but almost always overlooked or misunderstood is when designing steam headers, you should slope the supply and return so the system drains the condensate, and it is pushed by pressure on the return side.  A slope helps it drain completely after shutdown, avoiding corrosion and hammering on startup.  Parker Boiler engineers recommend 1” every 20’.
If you need to look at your plant’s steam system requirements and are unsure where to start, give Tri-State a call at 1.866.885.5218. We are happy to help.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Electrolux Barrier Washing Machines

I found several on-line articles that talked about how most washing machines are crawling with bacteria; throw your clothes in for a wash, and they could come out being dirtier than before.  There are several industries out there – hospitals, medical labs and facilities, nursing homes, and food manufacturing – where that’s simply unacceptable.  These businesses require washing machines that are designed for disinfecting; where items go in unclean and come out free of germs, bacteria, micro-organisms, and dust particles.  That’s where the Electrolux Barrier Washer comes in.

Here are just a few things we like about this washer:
  1. Guaranteed Hygiene – Electrolux is a global expert in linen hygiene, and their Barrier washers offer an ideal solution by allowing unclean clothes to be loaded through one side of the machine and then clean items to be unloaded on the other side of the machine, reducing any chance of cross contamination.
  2. Economical – Electrolux designed a unique drum and uses their own specialized dosing system that utilizes less water and detergent to help lower costs.
  3. Reliable – Electrolux builds their machines to last, and the Barrier washer is no different with its unbalance detection system, translating to less vibration and wear and tear on the machine.
Here’s a photo from a VA Hospital we recently worked on where control is extremely important, so we have a glass separation wall between the incoming wash side and the outgoing drying and finishing side.  Of course, this operation is on a much larger scale than most, but an Electrolux Barrier Washer can adapt in any facility.


If your business needs a washing machine that offers a guaranteed line of defense from spreading germs, bacteria, and micro-organisms, then Tri-State believes you should look at the Electrolux Barrier Washer.   To learn more, feel free to contact us online or call us at 1-866-885-5218.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

American Dryer Corp.’s New I-Series Dryers

Y’all have heard that quote about boys versus men and the cost of their toys.  Most men get excited over new televisions, stereo systems, motorcycles, boats, and while I love all those things, I also get really excited about new laundry equipment.  It’s true, and American Dryer Corp.’s (ADC) new I-Series Dryers are sweet.

What’s new about the I-Series Dryers?
  1. They are calling them the I-Series, ‘I’ standing for intelligent airflow design; ADC continues to fine tune and make improvements with each model they introduce, and with this series, they’re boasting shorter drying times and safer, more reliable operations.  
  2. ADC has also developed and patented an Automatic Airflow Compensator, which can be added to the I-Series. This automatically adjusts and compensates for the high static pressure caused by airflow restriction.  This compensator senses, calculates, and maintains proper airflow through the drying process, resulting in faster dryer times, lower energy costs, and more efficient use of personnel time.
  3. ADC’s Sensor Activated Fire Extinguishing System (S.A.F.E.) completely removes any concerns about dryer fires because it instantly senses fire, quickly delivers water to that area, and then shuts itself down whether it occurs when in use or sitting idle.
American Dryer Corp. has always been known for high performance and outstanding reliability. This new series delivers all of that with a sleek-looking design, stainless steel basket and front, and self-cleaning lint screen. It comes in both gas and electric for any facility connection.  If you are in the market for a new commercial dryer, give Tri-State a call at 866-885-5218.  We are happy to answer any questions you might have and to get you started in the right direction.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Laundry Equipment Removal Project

Tri-State is working with RW Martin & Sons, Inc. out of Kent, Ohio on a project at a hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts.  You might be wondering how a partnership between a company in North Carolina and a company in Ohio came to be.  Well, Kevin Lawson and Shawn Martin met while serving together on the board for the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), the two developed a friendship based on a mutual love of all things laundry and dry cleaning equipment related, and the rest is history.

Tri-State spent approximately 4 weeks removing 3 – 800 pound, 2 – 400 pound, and 5 - 150 pound washing machines along with feeders, ironers, folders, an immense soil sorting system, laundry trolley system, all tanks, pump stations, and air compressors. Our knowledgeable combined staff ensured that as much as could be salvaged or re-used would be. Much of the equipment will be scrapped and recycled, while the remaining will go into storage until the renovations are complete.



Commercial Washing Machine Soil Sorter - Pre Removal

Soil Sorting System before removal

Commercial Washing Machine Soil Sorting System - During removal
Soil Sorting System in the process of being removed


Post Removal
Soil Sorting System removed in 4 ½ days

400 Pound Washing Machine being prepped for removal
400 pound washing machine being prepped for removal

Worker removing mounting bolts of the commercial washing machine
Removing the mounting bolts of the washing machine

Commercial washing machine being carried away
Washing machine being removed for scrap


The renovation will take approximately 1 – 1 ½ years to complete and after that the stored equipment along with new, up-to-date equipment with the latest technology will be installed.  We are so excited to be a part of this project and look forward to sharing more photos as it continues.

Not only does Tri-State Laundry Equipment repair, sell, and service new and used dry cleaning and laundry equipment, as you can see, we can also clear out old and dated equipment, leaving the space a fresh, clean, blank slate ready for the latest and greatest.  If you need help updating your facility, give us a call at 866-885-5218.