Meet the GBPAP18’s outstanding PTC showcases: Berazategui (Argentina)

For the coming period, we will present you week by week, the most outstanding PTC showcases that were officially nominated for The Global Best Practices Awards Program 2018. The profiles of these companies are also present in the WOPCOM platform, which you can access here.

Berazategui (Argentina)

A superior laundry for superior healthcare

Lavadero Berazategui is a company that has been specializing in industrial washing, conditioning, provision, rental and sale of medical clothing since 1987. It is situated in Platanos Industrial Park in the city Berazategui in Argentina. The current industrial plant was inaugurated in 2013 and has 3550 m2 of facilities available and a production capacity of more than 30,000 kg/day.

The company’s goal is to be able to count on the permanent satisfaction of its clients, providing an integral service in washing solutions. It works in the continuous professionalization of its communication channels, both with their clients and the industry in general, so that they are aware of the new investments that are made that allow the company to improve their services.

Many measures have already been taken to promote the plant. Last year, the company renewed their institutional image and their website. They created an institutional video to publicize their plant, show their equipment, their way of working, and demonstrate the level of professional growth they have had in recent times. Meanwhile it has become well-known.

Dedication to health

Currently the laundry has a staff of 76 people. With the accreditation of OHSAS 18001: 2007, the company is strongly committed to care and protection and the health of its workers and all those involved in the processes is ensured. It is also committed to implement, maintain and continually improve an Integrated QHSE Management System.

The working system aims at continuous improvement of its processes and an organisation identifying, assessing and controlling environmental aspects and risks associated with the activities. The implementation of safe and reliable processes that ensure the protection of the environment and the wellbeing of people creates a healthy working environment and prevents pollution.

Quality focus

Berazategui Laundry since 2010 complies with the ISO 9001 (2008/2015) quality standard where the quality of the services is endorsed by directly prioritizing the objectives of its clients and managing their needs. With respect to ISO 9001, Lavadero Berazategui was one of the first companies of its kind to implement such a quality system.

Together with ISO 14001: 2004 (environment) and OHSAS, it holds three certifications that guarantee the quality of services for the customers and tailor them to their needs. Also the systems provide an opportunity to consequently improve the internal procedures. The desired achievement of certifications are great, but of course the real goal is to walk the path of real continuous improvement for all processes.

A superior laundry for superior health care

The development is underpinned by high standards of safety and hygiene and is achieved by a balanced combination of cleaning techniques and antibacterial actions. These are vital to achieve effective levels of hygiene minimizing the use of chemical disinfectants (both type and quantity). The use of the sanitary barrier involves a set of procedures, operations and facilities involved in the treatment of textiles, to prevent pollution and achieve total hygiene.

Sustainability

As said, with the certification of the Environmental Management System the company ensures its commitment to protecting the environment, reducing environmental impact and compliance with current legislation. The company also invested in technical equipment for more efficient use of resources like energy, water and gas.

The control of the dryers and washing machines is optimized by developing a monitoring system that measures all variables in the use of resources. Some of the measures with respect to maintaining a sustainable business taken in the past are:

  • Avoiding accumulation of dissolved solids in the boiler and increase efficiency by installing an automatic purge.
  • Reduce heat transfer to the environment and realize the maximum energy efficiency of the system through the insulation of all steam distribution pipes.
  • Reduce the contents of soluble salts of calcium and magnesium from water by installing a water softener system seeking to reduce the consumption of cleaning supplies.

All used chemicals like deodorizers and softeners meet the highest standards and are especially designed for the care of the environment. Recently the company also began to use a per-acetic acid as a low temperature bleach to replace oxygenated, which allows to reduce the temperature from 80 to 60 Cº. Lavadero Berazategui has implemented a recycling system for the polyethylene bags. There is intensive water separation in the company as well. Medical textiles that are end-of-life are sent to a foundation that is responsible for making garments that are then donated to low-income people.

Using hightech, innovative equipment for a high-end service

With the opening of the new plant in 2013, Lavadero Berazategui became the first industrial laundry in an industrial park in Argentina. The machine park among other things contains CBW equipment, and several 200+ kg wash extractors. In 2016 a new line of ironing Brand Image of Thai origin, with an ironer of 2×1200 mm with an output of 700 sheets / hour was introduced. Not long ago a new tunnel washing system of 4 dryers allowed a 50% increase of the daily production by reducing the processing capacity from 15 to 9 hours.

Lavadero Berazategui claims to be the first company in Argentina that implemented an RFID system. Its traceability solution drastically eliminates all contingencies, errors, downtime and weaknesses in inventory control. With the RFID chip to be developed all stages of the logistics of the garments can be controlled electronically, and information can be accessed in real time from any provided computer and even from mobile devices. The information is available to the company but also directly to the customers making them able to manage their textiles in real time. Some of the benefits are more precise billing and control, management and tracking of clothing movement.

RFID offers extra customer value

For the laundry company to satisfy its customers all aspects involving the knowledge of new technologies and their application are taken into account. All policies focus on constant improvement of the total quality in all business. To keep on the forefront of innovation, forums, conferences and fairs worldwide are attended, promoting laundry solutions where the cleanliness of the garments is fundamental to patient care.

Lavadero Berazategui is a family owned company with 30 years of experience in the Argentinian industrial laundry industry of which it is extremely proud. Along with the new investments in machinery and the professionalization of management and work team, the company has managed to distinguish itself and stand out from all competitors. Lavadero Berazategui is a company of great excellence.