• Washing machines for disinfection and dryers with matching programmes

• Flexible financing plans simplify investments

Non-medical half-masks can afford added protection against the transmission of viruses in the workplace – providing that other hygiene recommendations are also complied with. To assist with reprocessing, Miele offers companies, care and nursing homes, hotels, restaurants and catering businesses machines designed perfectly for the job. Flexible financing arrangements simplify procurement.

For decades, Miele has been developing commercial laundry technology and wash processes relying on high temperatures as well as special-purpose disinfection programmes to combat viruses, bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. These programme cycles can also be used successfully to beat Covid-19. Thermal disinfection in the main wash takes place either at a temperature of 90°C with a holding time of 10 minutes or at 85°C for 15 minutes. Chemo-thermal or chemical disinfection is recommended for temperature-sensitive fabrics. Lists of suitable disinfectants are provided by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Association for Applied Hygiene (VAH).

Wash up to 2100 masks per cycle

Masks reprocessed in commercial washing machines from Miele with load capacities ranging from 6 to 32 kg are available in large quantities. The precise number of masks reprocessed in a single cycle depends on the weight of individual items and whether masks are washed in laundry nets to prevent ties from becoming entangled. Mask counts range from 240 to as many as 2130 per cycle. 

Masks should be dried after washing as any lingering moisture promotes the growth of germs. Programmes on the dryer should be selected according to the symbols on the care label. Items should be dried to at least 'Normal dry'; better still would be the 'Normal dry Plus' drying stage. After thorough drying, masks can be stored centrally and issued to employees as and when needed.

Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has eight production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Romania and Poland. These are joined by the two plants belonging to Miele's Italian medical technology subsidiary Steelco. Turnover in the 2018/19 business year was around € 4.16 bn, with a share of business outside Germany of approx. 71%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. Throughout the world, the family-run enterprise, now in its fourth generation, employs a workforce of around 20,500, whereof 11,050 are employed in Germany. The company has its headquarters in Gütersloh in Westphalia.