Linen Management at Southern Railway

In the last few years, the growth of mechanized laundry in the Indian Railways has been manifold. One of the largest segments requiring linen wash, the Railways, has installed laundry set ups at various zones. Mechanised laundry, commissioned by the Southern Railway and operated by Orion Ventures, washes linen of over 42 overnight trains.

The Comprehensive Linen Management by Orion Ventures for the Southern Railways includes collection of soiled linen, washing in the mechanized laundry, packing, loading in the train, transporting of soiled and washed linen from station to mechanized laundry and vice versa and providing manpower for distribution of linen.

 Operating at the Basin Bridge Junction yard provided by the Railways, the laundry was set up at a cost of approximately `117.5 million with an installed capacity of six-tonne (per shift). The laundry involves steam wash, automatic drying, pressing and folding processes. It has the capacity to handle 18 tonnes in three shifts, and it is presently catering for 42 trains on an average per day.

“The Electrolux equipment installed offers energy and water savings, besides high quality wash results and the dryer gives us excellent drying results due to shorter drying cycle and less creasing of linen,” says Arif K, Partner, Orion Ventures.

“The life-cycle of the linen is enhanced with the smart, eco-friendly programs of the equipment. With hygiene of linen being maintained, the number of passenger complaints has come down drastically,” he adds.

There are three Washers (W41100H), two Ironers (C.FLEX 1230.1) and one Dryer (T41200) operating at the Chennai facility. “Electrolux washers & dryers give the owner significant utilities savings and being heavy-duty can withstand the most demanding environments. The very high daily load requires our full service support and expertise in maintaining the equipment lifecycle,” says Saj Kumar, Head of Service, Electrolux Professional India.

Following the success of Chennai operations, Orion has also executed a similar project with Electrolux equipment in Thiruvananthapuram. This laundry, set up near the Kochuveli terminal, is operating on 10,000sqft area and providing laundered bedrolls to eight mail and express trains originating from Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kochuveli and Nagercoil. About 300 bedroll sets, each comprising two bed sheets, one pillow, and a face towel, weighing one kilogramme, can be handled in a single shift. The three-tonne capacity (per shift) automatic laundry involves steam wash and automatic drying, pressing and folding processes. The washer, dryer and ironer have been imported from Electrolux Professional Laundry equipment factory in Sweden.

The Thiruvananthapuram operation, a `100 million investment by Mallapurambased Orion, has around 18 staff members. It is also equipped with an effluent treatment plant to discharge the water from the unit as per Pollution Control Board norms.

Orion is setting up its third unit in Ernakulam.