Interview Mr. Redmer Aarnink: “In the Roadmap to 2050, standing still Is the Greatest Risk”
As part of the GLOBAL Professional Textile Care (PTC) Strategy Study 2026 – Roadmap to 2050, CINET spoke with Redmer Aarnink, owner of Aarnink Laundry Consultancy. As an independent consultant with decades of experience in the PTC sector, Aarnink operates on an intercontinental level, advising laundries on everything from initial plant design and independent audits to full process optimization — from “soil to clean.”
In addition to his consultancy work, Aarnink works in laundry logistics and recently introduced an innovative sorting system for personalized clothing across healthcare, food, and industrial sectors, as well as a buffer system for flatwork (linens and towels). These uniquely developed solutions align with the Roadmap to 2050 studies and are ready for usage in laundries around the globe.
His message to the industry is clear: automation, simplicity, and affordability will determine who remains competitive in the decades ahead.
A Global Perspective on Market Pressure
Working across continents and market segments, Aarnink observes a consistent pattern: laundries worldwide are under unprecedented pressure to reduce costs while increasing efficiency.
Rising energy prices, structural labor shortages, and tightening margins are forcing operators to rethink their entire operational flow. According to Aarnink, the demand is no longer limited to large industrial players. Mid-sized laundries are urgently seeking automation solutions that are accessible, scalable, and affordable.
“The ability to remain flexible toward client needs while keeping internal costs low through smart, intuitive technology is the key success factor today,” he explains.
Automation as the Only Sustainable Answer
Looking toward 2050, Aarnink identifies operational efficiency and labor efficiency as the sector’s most critical challenges.
The global shortage of skilled personnel is not a temporary issue. It is structural. In many countries, finding staff for repetitive and physically demanding tasks — particularly manual sorting — has become increasingly difficult.
Aarnink feels: “Efficient automated sorting systems are indispensable; the newly introduced sorting and buffer storage technology exemplifies why efficient automated sorting systems are now indispensable. By eliminating sorting errors and significantly increasing throughput, laundries can multiply productivity without relying on highly skilled staff.”
Aarnink highlights the emergence of affordable sorting solutions that can operate up to ten times faster than traditional Paternoster systems. Unlike complex legacy systems, these new sorting and buffer technologies are designed to be robust, low-maintenance, and less technically sensitive — minimizing downtime while guaranteeing high throughput.
“Future technology must be plug-and-play,” Aarnink states. “It should not require specialized training; it must reduce physical strain on staff and it should cut labor costs significantly. Crucially, the supplier must be available 24/7 with immediate service and support, because in the laundry business, downtime is killing.”
Transparency, Traceability, and Hygiene Guarantees
Client expectations are also evolving. Increasingly, customers demand full transparency, traceability, and documented hygiene guarantees. These requirements can only be reliably met through IT-driven systems that minimize human error.
According to Aarnink, the transformation toward automated and digitally controlled processing is not optional — it is the only viable response to labor scarcity and rising compliance demands.
Opportunities for Small and Mid-Sized Operators
While large-scale industrial laundries often lead in automation, Aarnink emphasizes that small and mid-sized companies can remain highly competitive.
By adopting scalable and affordable automation solutions, smaller operations can achieve efficiency levels comparable to major industrial plants — without losing their agility and customer proximity.
This democratization of technology may reshape competitive dynamics within the PTC sector in the coming decades.
Winning Market Share from Domestic Washing
Automation also strengthens the industry’s competitive position against domestic washing.
High-speed, error-free processing improves efficiency and reduces environmental impact. Combined with professional care standards and hygiene guarantees, this creates a compelling value proposition for both commercial and retail clients.
The Greatest Threat: Doing Nothing
For Aarnink, the main threats facing the industry are clear: rising operational costs and the critical shortage of personnel for manual, repetitive tasks.
But above all, he sees one overarching risk.
“In the Roadmap to 2050, standing still in process optimization is the greatest risk,” he warns.
His key message to professional textile care operators worldwide:
Innovate now in automation that eliminates human error and multiplies capacity. The laundries that proactively embrace intuitive, affordable, and scalable automation will not only survive the structural shifts ahead — they will define the next generation of Professional Textile Care.
