Winterhalter cleans up after 1,400 Liverpool students

Latest Winterhalter MTF makes light work of washing up at university’s Carnatic House

A modern British university is far more than just a place for study. None more so than Liverpool University, whose principal student halls of residence – Carnatic House – is full during term time. Carnatic House is more than just accommodation for up to 1,400 live-in students: it also hosts a thriving business in conferences and events during the student vacation.

For House Manager Sarah Cook, dishwashing has always been the unsung but essential support issue.

“We generate a huge amount of dirty dishes here,” she says. “Most students have breakfast and dinner. On top of that, with the conference and banqueting trade, we are working – and washing – seven days a week, throughout the year. There’s hardly a day off, certainly not during term time.”

Carnatic House installed its last flight-type dishwasher over 20 years ago, and this worked well, long beyond its expected lifespan, she says. “That’s mainly because we looked after it so well. The staff know how to look after equipment, and we are careful to clean it properly, use all the right chemicals and water treatment, and train new staff properly in its operation.”

In recent times, however, while the old machine had continued to wash adequately, it had started to break down, maintenance was taking longer and spare parts were getting hard to come by. Sarah and her team knew they had to consider a more modern replacement.

“Like every educational site our budgets are under pressure, but we wanted to make sure the replacement was going to be as good value as the old machine. We looked at all the major large-scale dishwasher brands and drew up a shortlist, and they all came and gave us presentations.”

When project specialist Douglas Graham of Winterhalter was called in to tell them about the latest Winterhalter MTF flight dishwasher, he was amazed to see how well Sarah and her staff had looked after the venerable old dishwasher.

“The staff at Carnatic House were well organised and obviously know how to use and maintain kitchen equipment, which is why it’s lasted so long,” he said. “But time has moved on, and I was able to show them that the MTF was going to give a faster wash, giving better quality results at the right price, and that running costs were lower too.”

Winterhalter’s latest MTF large-scale warewashers incorporate technologies that highlight these benefits. For example, the machines feature Mediamat, a purification and filtration system that keeps the washwater cleaner for longer, while a ‘detergent saver’ option routes some of the first-rinse water to the pre-wash zone to cut chemical consumption substantially.

Power consumption in the new models has been reduced significantly by redesigning the rinse cycle to use a staged temperature increase.

Also in the latest Winterhalter MTF models is a Heat Pump facility that recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted. It uses the excess heat, acquired in the rinse zone as the tableware cools down, to preheat the incoming cold water, and in the process removes any excess steam to deliver cool air back into the kitchen.

Winterhalter MTF machines can save a further 12 kWh per day by recovering the heat from air that would otherwise be lost as it emerges from the drying zone.

The MTF can be programmed to start up at preset times, ensuring it’s ready for operation as soon as it is needed, while the AutoClean facility is saving Carnatic House a huge amount of time that used to be spent cleaning the old machine.

Meanwhile, a full hygiene log, called SelfControl, allows precise monitoring and recording of all wash processes to full HACCP standards.

Sarah adds that Winterhalter also seemed best aware of the needs of Carnatic House, and how to install and commission the new system without disrupting service. “That was something that really gave us confidence,” she recalls. What’s more, she felt they offered the best aftercare deal and training.

The new machine is a simply excellent versatile system, says Sarah Cook. “It can handle the expensive crockery and glassware for special banquets as well as the everyday ware for student meals. It’s very easy to operate and to clean, and it makes good use of the space in our kitchens.”

Winterhalter provides a total solution for warewashing, from pre-sales advice to after-sales service, training and maintenance. Alongside its market-leading dish and glasswashers, the company’s range includes utensil washers, advanced water treatment machines, cleaning chemicals and detergents. For further details, call Winterhalter on 01908 359000, see www.winterhalter.com/uk-en/, or email info@winterhalter.co.uk.