TRSA recently concluded its Second Annual Marketing & Sales Summit. Key topics discussed by the linen, uniform and facility services industry’s marketing and sales professionals included customer growth and retention, social media and digital opportunities, employee hiring and retention, emotional intelligence, and more.

Commercial laundry industry veteran Bill Albright recently signed on as a regional sales manager with Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc. Based in Joplin, MO, he will be responsible for working with customers in eight Midwest states and reports to Keith Ware, vice president of sales for Lavatec, according to a news release.

Brim Laundry Machinery Co. Inc., Hutchins, TX, recently announced the addition of Sam Swinton as a regional sales representative for 11 states in the Western U.S., according to a news release.

Through a combination of new construction, acquisitions and moving quickly to replace service coverage to hospitals where healthcare launderers have left the market, the Healthcare Linen Alliance, a group of independent companies that collaborate on bids on regional and national contracts, is achieving significant growth, according to a news release.

Gurtler Industries Inc., South Holland, IL, recently announced that John Bukowski has joined the company as the director of its Wastewater Division. Bukowski has more than 30 years of experience in the laundry chemical industry, including a broad background in laundry wastewater technology, according to a news release.

Given the explosive growth of various package-delivery businesses, including everything from groceries to construction materials, we wondered what impact this trend could have on the truck market. Specifically, how will today’s robust demand for delivery vehicles impact the ability of linen, uniform and facility services companies to expand their fleets? Rich Tremmel, vice president of sales and marketing for Morgan Olson, Sturgis, MI, agreed to answer a few questions on these trends in the truck market.

Jiangsu Sea-lion Machinery Co. Ltd., a leading Chinese manufacturer and worldwide distributor of commercial laundry equipment, recently marked a half century of business with celebrations, speeches and entertainment at its new headquarters building in Leyu Town, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu, China, according to Ed Kirejczyk III, a veteran laundry machinery executive who oversees the company’s U.S. subsidiary, Sea-lion America.

TRSA has commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to build a market opportunity assessment for the linen, uniform and facility services industry across 13 countries in six regions to explore market demands and forecast market, service and product opportunities. Based on evidence-driven research, interviews with industry experts and demand sector outlooks, EIU will premiere results at the World Textile Services Congress (WTSC) June 18-19, 2020, in Frankfurt, Germany, immediately prior to the Texcare International trade show.

Paris Companies Inc. recently achieved Clean Green re-certification. Founded in 1918, Paris Companies supplies uniform services, hospital and healthcare linen services to Pennsylvania, New York , Ohio and West Virginia through laundries located in DuBois and Williamsport, PA and Ravenna, OH. This re-certification reflects their continued dedication to operational efficiency and sustainability.