Page 31 - CleanIndiaJournal October Digital Issue

COVER STORY

in for on-premises laundries”,
shared Srivastava.
“We expect a lot of growth in
the commercial segment. The
educational sector has grown
a lot. Earlier, institutes would
purchase equipment themselves;
now, there is an equal division
between end-user purchases and
laundry contractor purchases”,
said Mahapatro.

Niche segments
Manufacturers of premium
textiles and branded garments
need to test their products in
washing and drying equipment
in textile labs. “These labs
constitute a big chunk of our
business”, said Harish Tiwari,
Senior Manager - Laundry
Business, Wang Hospitality
Made in India steam presses, stain removing Equipment. “On-board laundries
on merchant ships, navy ships
machines, calendering machines
This edition of the Expo saw and trolleys. “Earlier, there and cruise ships are another
indigenous manufacturers of wasn’t much focus on finishing client segment that not many
laundry equipment make a mark. machines. Now, flat work ironers know about”.
There was an Indian alternative are much in demand”.
for every conceivable fixture in The HoReCa segment is also
the laundry business. Client demand becoming a major player for the
laundry business. Equipment
Prachirith, for example, suppliers are themselves being
showcased its decades-long The fastest growing segments asked to set up a laundry on
legacy of making in India, in the laundry industry are the premises of a client, and
with every part – other than laundromats, healthcare, process linen on a per kg
the V belt and shock absorber hospitality and pharma. basis. The large tents put up
– being manufactured in According to Bacon, there has by caterers are another small
India. “Buying from an Indian been exponential growth in the
manufacturer guarantees timely laundromat segment, with the but significant part of what this
delivery and better after-sales number of laundromats almost sector needs laundered.
service. We are 8-10% more doubling every year. This boom The last word goes to one
affordable, and export our isn’t restricted to metro centres, who explored each stall. Gerard
products to clients as far away with enquiries coming in even Mascarenhas, Proprietor, Hill
as Thailand and Canada”, from rural areas, Odisha and the Road Cleaners, Mumbai said:
revealed Hemal Srivastava, North Eastern states. “The Laundrex India Expo was
Sales Head, Prachitirth. The healthcare and hospitality the most extensive in terms of the
Only the drain valve needs segment have also turned to variety of equipment and services
to be imported, stressed more professional linen care on offer. Thanks to this, I was
Nelachal Mahapatro, MD of services. “Medium sized able to finalise on software for
LDF Machinery Pvt Ltd, which hospitals used to give their linen my business and have zeroed in
manufactures 15-120 kg washer to unorganised players; in the on equipment I plan to purchase
extractors, tumble dryers, past few years, they have gone in the future.”

Clean India Journal•OCTOBER 2023 31
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