Management of thermal energy within a small industrial laundry service
Royal Jersey, in association with the Textile Services Association would like to find innovative solutions which can help them to manage their thermal energy needs throughout their industrial laundry process within their premises in Dagenham. The process includes the washing, drying and ironing of the linens, which are currently isolated processes, as well as improving the thermal comfort for the staff working in the factory. They also provide dry cleaning services for workwear used in the hospitality sector.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
31/10/2025
Challenge closes
31/12/2025
Benefit
Royal Jersey in association with the Textiles Services Association invites solutions which can address the challenge of managing their thermal energy needs (heating and cooling) throughout their industrial laundry process. Selected solution(s), where possible, will be trialled at their factory in Dagenham.
Background
Royal Jersey is a small family-owned industrial laundry company based in Dagenham. They specialise in providing premium laundry services and dry cleaning for the hospitality sector. The laundry process includes the sorting, washing, drying and ironing of 40-45 tonnes of hotel linen, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The dry-cleaning service is located on the upper level of the factory, along with the industrial dryers and offices. The lower-level houses three industrial washer extractor machines, three tunnel washers and the four steam ironing machines. There is some available space on the lower level. Outside the main building, space is very limited.
The site uses high temperature steam (180C, 8 bar) generated from gas boilers which are housed in a separate building. The steam is transported from the boiler, through a heat network to deliver the heat to the various parts of the laundry process i.e. hot water for washing (55 degrees centigrade) and steam for ironing (180 degrees centigrade).
The work environment within the factory is particularly uncomfortable on the upper level during the summer months. The ventilation is via multiple extractor fans in the dry-cleaning area and windows in the office space. On the lower level there are several roller shutter doors (equipped with PVC strip curtains) which are open for most of the day allowing for cooler air and ventilation. Heating the building up is not a problem, cooling it is.
Most of the machinery within the factory is driven by high efficiency electric motors and Royal Jersey have installed solar PV on the roof. They do not currently monitor or manage the laundry process as a whole system.
Royal Jersey is in the process of installing;
Three heat exchangers to capture waste heat from the Ironers.
Two 5000ltr water storage tanks which will store the waste heat at 55 degrees and 40 degrees consecutively.
They have already installed variable speed compressors to upgrade the waste heat.
They are now looking for solutions which can further reduce the waste heat from the laundry process and address the cooling challenge at the site.
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