Dracula Loves Clean, Green, Sequin-Friendly Laundry
Jersey Opera House installs Samsung Professional Laundry equipment
Since Jersey Opera House installed Samsung Professional Laundry machines it has had nothing but compliments from visiting companies about the wardrobe facilities. The cast of Dracula said they were the best they had encountered on tour.
The equipment, which is designed for use in a wide range of businesses including hotels, care homes, leisure centres, B&Bs and restaurants, is here used primarily for visiting companies to launder costumes and soft prop items, such as table dressings. “It has to cope with a wide variety of washing, from heavy fabrics to delicate pieces with intricate sewing and sequins,” says the Opera House’s technical manager, Chris Wink. “The machines’ range of feature and functions was a key reason for choosing Samsung.”
Jersey Opera House has two Samsung WF431 professional washers, each of which has a 110 litre capacity, and two DV431 dryers, with capacities of 240 litre. The machines were supplied by laundry specialist Francis & Co. The dryers are stacked on top of the washers, using special stacking kits, in order to save space. The washers run off normal 13 amp socket and the dryers run of a dedicated 32 amp supply for speed and efficiency.
The amount of laundry the Samsungs have to do varies depending on the show, but it can be a very heavy workload. “A typical run of a musical would involve between four and eight loads of washing and drying per performance,” says Chris. “This is where the load capacity and speed of the Samsung machines has really helped us to improve the facilities we are able to offer.”
Visiting companies who use the laundry won’t have time to read the manual, so simple operation is essential. “The ease of use of the machines is a big bonus.”
Jersey Opera House is committed to sustainability and the Samsung machines score well here too, using Ecobubble technology to cut energy costs whilst delivering excellent wash results. Ecobubble dissolves detergent in air and water before the wash cycle begins, penetrating fabric quickly, evenly and deeply, which means operators can wash at lower temperatures and still achieve perfectly clean results, reducing energy consumption by up to 70%. “The appliances’ green credentials certainly fit in with our sustainability and energy-saving policies,” says Chris.
Before installing the Samsung machines Chris and his team looked long and hard into various laundry options, from a range of manufacturers. “The Samsung products stood out from the rest,” he says. “This was due to a number of factors, including load capacity, cycle time, functions, temperature ranges and energy efficiency. The support network and warranty were also big points, since having a machine out of action could have a severe impact on a performance.”
An additional factor was cost – the Samsung machines retail at up to 60% less than leading competitors’ machines. “Samsung manages to achieve what we require with a price tag that is outstanding.”
The range is available in the United Kingdom through principal distributors Francis & Co and Uropa Distribution, via a national network of dealers and laundry equipment specialists. Samsung is one of the world’s largest brands. Samsung Professional Appliances distributes throughout Europe. All products are backed by a full parts and labour warranty.
For more information visit www.franciscopro.com or www.uropa-distribution.co.uk