Clean ’19 – ‘Best Place for Networking’
A number of laundry operators contacted by Textile Services Weekly offered up words of praise for the 2019 Clean Show, which ran from June 20-23 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
“I enjoyed Clean,” said Johanna Ames, president of Ames Linen, Cortland, NY. “In fact, in spite of my best planning, I ran out of time and could have used another day! The balance of new technology and equipment and educational sessions was well managed.”
Roger Harris, president and CEO of Metro Linen, McKinney, TX, and a former equipment dealer, said he was impressed with the technological advances he saw on display. “I was surprised by the amount of new designs, innovations and attention to improvements – both in equipment design and application engineering – addressing issues that the industry is dealing with. Examples being ceramic filtration, wastewater handling, washing systems, both continuous batch and washer/extractors, as well as finishing equipment.”
Another operator, Patrick R. Garcia, president of Division Laundry & Cleaning, San Antonio, said the show booths he visited were brimming with innovations. “We saw for the first time a machine that stacks washcloths,” he said. “We saw sheet feeders that could hold and stack 50 sheets in the air and feed them at a certain pace. On the tunnel washers, there’s so much more information on the computer system. If you can think of a question, you can get the answer in the software program.”
Paul Jewison, CEO of Textile Care Services, Rochester, MN, said he too was pleased with the technology he saw on display at the show, and with the responsiveness that vendors have shown in addressing the needs of laundry operators. “In my opinion, the show was awesome,” he said. “People are very interested in innovation, and it’s beginning to take hold in our industry, due to the lack of labor and pressure to create super clean laundry.” He added that, “Many manufacturers are building machines that fit into tighter spaces. There’s been a lot of refinement that’s making quite a big difference in some of the major components.”
The social aspects of the show, with many longtime friends and colleagues meeting in one place is also valuable, he said. “Feels kind of like a big high school class reunion. Good to see everybody and of course it’s a great place to catch up on the industry.”
Garcia also complimented the opportunities that the show provided to make and renew personal contacts on the floor and at social and educational events. “This is the best place for networking,” he said. “In a few days you can see hedge fund people; you can see vendors that support our industry. They’re well represented there. If you use your time wisely, you can accomplish a lot.”
Judging from the show’s attendance figures, a large number of people who came to Clean ’19 did just that! Clean ’19 was the second consecutive sold-out Clean Show, following the 2017 event in Las Vegas. Clean ’19 drew 11,108 attendees to a show that sold 224,500 square feet of booth space. Clean Shows in Las Vegas typically draw a slightly larger crowd, but Clean ’19 in New Orleans had almost as many attendees as the 2015 Clean Show in Atlanta, which drew roughly 11,200 attendees. The size of the show floor in New Orleans also exceeded that of Atlanta, which had about 200,000 square feet of booth space. This larger show floor may be why some attendees said the floor in New Orleans seemed less crowded to them than previous shows. The sale of booth space for Clean ’19 represents a 9% growth trend, year over year, dating back to Clean 2011 in Las Vegas. The Clean Show is slated to return to Atlanta on June 10-13, 2021.
This year’s Clean Show in New Orleans got off to a rousing kickoff on June 19 with TRSA’s Welcome Reception that took place one day prior to the formal opening of Clean ’19. The reception took place at the Mardi Gras World Float Den and Grand Oaks Mansion near the convention center. “I thought you couldn’t have planned it any better than starting with TRSA’s Welcome Reception at Mardi Gras World,” Garcia said. “You got great photo ops with animated displays and you get a Hurricane (cocktail) on your way out. You stroll out to the Grand Oaks mansion. What an event that was! It was a great social gathering.”
Several of the people we contacted for this article said they benefited from the show’s educational offerings and opportunities to confer with design engineers and supplier executives at the booths, who were available to answer questions and make deals. “I had a lot of fun. I could go talk to Curtis Pellerin (Pellerin Laundry Machinery),” Garcia said. “Then I’d go talk to Mark (Thrasher; Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc.). I’d go talk to Simon Nield from JENSEN. I got with his team. Then I’d talk to Phil Hart at Kannegiesser. We’ve been working with all these people currently and through the years. When we have questions, you need answers fast. I didn’t find it difficult to network. It was just great. The professionalism at all the booths, the exhibits, was really good. I think all these companies brought in their experts, as they usually do. It was well done.”
Along with networking, Garcia, like many other operators, concluded business deals on the show floor. In his case, Division Laundry bought a new Lavatec tunnel washer with 12, 225 lb. compartments. Finalizing the purchase took quite a bit of time in the Lavatec booth for Garcia and his son, Patrick A., who assisted with the paperwork. However, other members of the Garcia family took advantage of the Clean Show’s educational sessions, including a luncheon organized by TRSA’s Women in Textile Services Committee. Garcia said his wife Mary Helen and daughter, Theresa, enjoyed this session that examined career obstacles and opportunities for women in the linen, uniform and facility services industry. “I think it was a great idea for TRSA to have the Women in Textile Services lunch,” Garcia said. “I say kudos to TRSA because I really think this needs to evolve into something bigger and greater. I applaud you all.”
Ames said that she too was pleased with this program. She described the Women in Textile Services luncheon as a “value-packed session and well attended by operators and suppliers.”
Harris said he was so involved in equipment purchases that he wished he’d had more time for the educational sessions and networking opportunities at the show. “I did not see a great deal of people and booths I was hoping to, due to the amount of time buying and negotiating on equipment we knew we wanted,” he said. “This show saw us commit, or begin the purchase dialogue on more dollars in investment than we have ever seen.”
Given his priority list, Harris sought to make the most of his time in New Orleans. “We did participate in several hospitality events and were invited to more than we could effectively track and visit,” he said. “All were professionally planned and executed. It makes one realize what a great industry we operate in and the quality, intelligence and great people we are exposed to in the process of doing business. All in all, I would have to say it was one of the better Clean Shows that I have attended.”