As work progresses on the new Wollongong commercial laundry, sustainability remains a key consideration throughout the facility’s design. The new plant is being built with a focus on using resources more efficiently, reducing waste and supporting Alsco Uniforms’ long-term sustainability goals.
We sat down with Kurt Petherbridge, Regional General Manager, to learn more about the initiatives being incorporated into the site and how they are expected to contribute to a smarter, more efficient operation.
1. Sustainability is a big focus for the new Wollongong commercial laundry. Why was it important to build it into the project from day one?
Alsco Uniforms believes in using resources responsibly and continually looking for ways to improve efficiency. With older plants and buildings, incorporating the technology available today to minimise energy use can be more challenging. Building this plant from the ground up gives us an opportunity to incorporate new systems and equipment designed to reduce resource consumption and support our broader sustainability goals.
2. What are some of the design features that will help reduce water and energy use at the new plant?
The new plant will incorporate a range of features designed to improve water and energy efficiency. These include enhanced ventilation to help manage heat build-up, solar energy systems, low-water-consumption washing machines, a high-efficiency boiler, heat recovery technology, modern insulation methods, wastewater treatment systems and high-capacity equipment designed to optimise operating efficiency.
3. The new laundry has been designed to increase capacity while reducing environmental impact. How do those two goals work together?
By increasing production capacity while incorporating technology designed to improve resource efficiency, we aim to meet customer demand while helping to minimise the additional environmental impacts associated with growth.
This approach can support our customers’ changing volume requirements without placing unnecessary pressure on energy infrastructure. It also aligns with broader community and industry sustainability goals for the region.
4. How will automation and smarter technology help make the operation more efficient?
By incorporating AI-enabled systems, automation and modern industry technology, we aim to improve operational efficiency and support our ability to meet customer demand without relying on additional labour or less employee-friendly operating hours.
Automation can also help reduce some repetitive and physically demanding manual handling tasks, supporting our broader workplace safety initiatives.
5. What does a more efficient laundry mean for our customers and the communities we serve across the Illawarra and South Coast?
A more efficient operation can support a better experience for both our employees and customers. For our team, it can contribute to more sustainable working arrangements and better work-life balance. For customers, it can help us continue providing quality products and services while managing operational costs responsibly.
The facility has also been designed with greater flexibility, helping us respond as our customers’ requirements change and positioning us to support the region’s future growth.
6. When you look ahead, what are you most excited about from a sustainability perspective once the new commercial laundry is operational?
I’m excited to see how the new technology supports greater operational efficiency and how the energy-efficient equipment performs once the facility is operational.
I’m also looking forward to seeing how automation can help reduce manual handling requirements and support our team. Most of all, I’m excited about the facility’s potential to help us respond to fluctuating customer demand during peak periods, with less operational pressure on our employees and customers.