La Nuova Laundry, located in Taranaki, New Zealand, faced increasing challenges in maintaining efficiency as their laundry volumes grew. Committed to becoming the most automated laundry in the country, they sought out Inwatec’s innovative solutions to enhance their operations. The results? A remarkable boost in productivity and a much-improved work environment for their team.
In the beginning of the implementation process, we identified several key challenges hindering La Nuova’s efficiency:
- Growing Demand: As laundry volumes increased, the need for more efficient processes became apparent.
- Manual Labor: The reliance on manual sorting and handling was not only time-consuming but also presented potential risks to employee safety.
- Technological Gap: To stay competitive, the laundry required a technological upgrade.
Before implementing the Inwatec system, La Nuova faced challenges with heavy, repetitive, and physically demanding manual tasks that put a strain on employee health and productivity. These “not-so-nice jobs,” as owner Brad Craig described them, contributed to an inefficient workflow and lowered employee satisfaction. The laundry also needed to address concerns about job security, ensuring the team understood that automation would enhance their roles rather than replace them.
By automating these unpopular tasks, La Nuova significantly improved efficiency and employee well-being, while maintaining a stable workforce through natural attrition. The system allowed the team to focus on more meaningful work, leading to increased satisfaction and continued growth in production.
The Solution
With the automation of the soiled sorting area Inwatec provided La Nuova Laundry with a solution tailored to these challenges:
- Advanced Sorting Systems: Inwatec’s automated sorting system streamlined operations, minimizing the need for manual input and significantly boosting throughput.
- Safety Enhancements: The ODIN X-ray scanner was integrated to detect and remove hazardous items from the laundry stream, safeguarding workers from potential harm.
- Easy Maintenance: Local support from the JENSEN-GROUP and remote assistance from Inwatec ensure quick support to the laundry if needed.
“We were keen to ensure that it wasn’t a case of spending a whole lot of money to get rid of a whole lot of people. We managed to do that quite successfully. Even now, after everything is up and running, the feedback from the team was hugely positive. We have taken out those aspects of their role that they didn’t necessarily enjoy as much, so the feedback was really good”– Brad Craig, Managing Director at La Nuova
La Nuova’s Inwatec Solutions
Sorting system:
- Thor.Robot: Automated sorting to handle high volumes with precision.
- Heimdail.Camera and RFID: able to classify the article based on RFID technology or visual appearance
- ODIN X-ray Scanner: Detects foreign objects to improve safety.
- Standard bins allow for even batches of soiled sorted items. A batch is directly sorted into a bag system, this allows for a fully automated flow in the soiled sorting area, directly into the tunnel washer.
Implementation and Results
The implementation of Inwatec’s systems was a resounding success, resulting in a substantial productivity boost. La Nuova Laundry can now handle larger volumes with fewer errors and less manual labor.
In 2023, La Nuova was awarded not one, but five(!) prestigious awards at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, among other things in the categories “Technology Excellence” and “Innovation Excellence”. Moving his family-owned laundry towards an automated laundry system Craig became a true pioneer in New Zealand – and his success proves him right.
Employees have also benefited from a safer and more ergonomic work environment, with new technology making their jobs more engaging. The transition to the automated systems was smooth, with minimal training required.
La Nuova Laundry’s journey to becoming New Zealand’s most automated laundry highlights the transformative impact of embracing new technology. Partnering with Inwatec didn’t just improve their operations—it created a safer, more fulfilling workplace for their team.