Press releases

Low-cost perfection – with an OPL with Miele laundry technology

Gütersloh/Hanover, March 25, 2014 No. 017/2014
H2O-Trockner und andere Innovationen senken den Verbrauch

H2O dryer and other innovations slash consumption

Washing, drying and ironing large volumes of laundry in the shortest of times in an operation scaled to the individual needs of nursing homes: This is a service provided by technology from Miele Professional in many on-premise laundries. At the same time, these machines reduce both water and electricity consumption thanks to their superior efficiency, for example through new heating systems on tumble dryers and through highly energy-efficient wash programmes.

Commercial washer-extractors from Miele are available with a variety of load capacities ranging from 5.5 to 32 kg – tumble dryers are available for 6.5 to 40 kg of dry laundry. Thanks to numerous programme packages, attention is paid to all the needs of nursing home laundries: The 'Disinfection' programme package for washer-extractors, for example, contains various programme cycles for thermal and chemo-thermal disinfection which subscribe to the parameters required by the Robert Koch Institute in their laundry disinfection guideline. Throughout these disinfection programmes, the temperature is closely monitored. There are also special programmes for professionally washing and drying duvets and pillows containing for example a wool, cashmere, camelhair or silk filling.

Furthermore, washer-extractors from the latest generation offer optimised programme cycles to further reduce energy requirements: The 'Cottons 60°C' programme on a 13 kg machine, for instance, reduces water consumption in combination with a hot-water fill to below 10 l/kg, without compromising either washing or rinsing performance. The new 'Eco' programme requires even less water: Specific consumption is as low as 7.5 l and 0.03 kWh per kg.

Operating data acquisition for washer-extractors and tumble dryers

In order to get a handle on hotel OPL consumption costs on an ongoing basis, Miele Professional is now offering integrated data capture for all modern washer-extractors and tumble dryers. The display on machines with Profitronic M controls provides information, for instance, on current water consumption M controls provides information, for instance, on current water consumption and laundry loads as well as on energy and detergent consumption. Data from up to 300 cycles can be saved using a special operating data module and, where necessary, ported to a computer for further processing.

These machines can also be connected to a peak-load negotiation or energy optimisation system which ensures that less vital equipment is switched off at periods of high demand. Washer-extractor operation can, for example, be automatically suspended during the midday rush hour when work in the kitchen is hotting up. Depending on the application, this can help level out peaks in demand and thereby reduce overall electricity costs by up to 25%.

Saving money with alternative heating methods

Alternative approaches to heating offer even greater energy-saving potential on laundry machines. H2O dryers, for instance, allow the use of inexpensive hot water as a source of heating. The hot water can be produced using solar-thermal arrays, district heat, waste heat from the laundry itself or as a spin-off product from cooling co-generation plant. This hot water transfers its latent heat in a heat exchanger to the process air of a tumble dryer, available with drum volumes ranging from 325 to 800 l and load capacities of 10 to 32 kg of laundry. The drying programmes on these machines are specially designed to operate at lower process air temperatures.
Energy bills can also be slashed with Miele heat-pump dryers, available with load capacities ranging from 6.5 to 16 kg. These operate with a closed air circuit and do not therefore require any vent ducting. Waste heat is recuperated in a separate closed circuit using heat exchangers.

Switching to gas heating can also reduce operating costs. Miele Professional offers washer-extractors, tumble dryers and flatwork ironers which run on this advantageous primary source of energy. As the price of gas is considerably lower than that of electricity – in Germany it costs only around a third – a switch to gas can result in considerable savings.

Top-class ironing finish produced 'in-house'

Miele flatwork ironers, available in a variety of sizes through to a maximum working width of 3.50 m, produce a first-class finish in on-premise laundries. These high-performance flatwork ironers are able to process more than 200 kg of laundry per hour, equating to more than a tonne of laundry per day. A display showing all machine parameters allows machines to be quickly configured to the work in hand, for example by modifying contact pressure to ensure that cotton tablecloths are ironed just as fast as thinner, more light-weight fabrics. All Miele flatwork ironers feature the patented EasyFold outfeed table with a honeycomb structure and perforations. Colder room air drawn in from below by rising heat is able to permeate the flatwork, allowing items to cool down fast.

Further user convenience offered by all Miele flatwork ironers is achieved through optional extras such as a heat-retaining cover which prevents heat losses through radiation. This reduces energy consumption and keeps temperatures in the close vicinity of the machine low, representing a further convenience benefit.

(836 words, 5.683 characters incl. spaces)

Company profile: Miele is the world leader in the field of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floorcare products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2012/13 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.15 bn, with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of around 17,250 with two-thirds in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany. 

Download as PDF Download incl. media (zip)
Your contact

Anke Schläger
+ 49 5241 89-1949
anke.schlaeger@miele.com

Media information

Description Download
Laundry at the Cohaus-Vendt nursing home in Münster: The washer-extractors are connected to an automatic liquid dispensing system which precisely meters detergents and disinfectants, thereby reducing consumption.
High Resolution JPG
Reducing the cost of an on-premise laundry: A new H2O dryer from Miele Professional (left) at a nursing home in Wietze close to the northern German town of Celle.
High Resolution JPG
Makes for a top-quality laundry finish: One of four new Miele flatwork ironers able to give around 200 kg of laundry an hour a perfect finish. 
High Resolution JPG