By Becca Anderson

In modern industrial laundries, connectivity increasingly ties every part of the operation together. Equipment systems can communicate with operators, maintenance staff, management software and, in some cases, directly with the manufacturer itself. The goal is faster troubleshooting, less downtime and better production visibility.

To illustrate how this works in practice, we asked Jensen to describe some of the digital tools it is currently building into its systems.

Digital tools shaping laundry performance

As laundries face increasing pressure to maximize uptime and operate with leaner maintenance staffs, digital tools are becoming a larger part of plant operations. Jensen says its focus has been on simplifying troubleshooting, improving access to information and reducing delays when equipment problems occur.

Equipment performance is defined by equipment speed and uptime. Preventing and responding quickly to unplanned disruptions depends on skilled technicians (who are increasingly hard to find). Jensen says its approach has been to address these challenges through connected service and monitoring tools. These tools are intended to reduce manual tracking and speed troubleshooting for operators and maintenance staff.

The Jensen Customer Portal—The Digital Service Hub

One area Jensen emphasized was accessibility of information for maintenance staff.

The Jensen Customer Portal brings machine-specific manuals, spare parts lists, service requests, and parts ordering into one intuitive platform that is accessible instantly, anytime and anywhere, from any device.

It eliminates the need to search through paper manuals by providing instant access to machine specific content. Parts lists are connected to Jensen’s parts webshop that display real time stock levels. In addition, machines now feature QR codes that bridge the offline-to-online interface, providing access to a machine’s information with a single scan.

The Customer Portal is accessible from any browser or is also available as an app. By centralizing service information, the system is designed to help maintenance teams respond more quickly and reduce downtime.

Another development involves visualization tools built directly into the operating system.

iJOS—Digital Twin technology driving productivity

iJOS is a new operating system standard on all new Jensen flatwork equipment. It presents a real-time 3D visualization of the machine—also known as a digital twin—enabling visual monitoring and troubleshooting directly from the PLC.

The Digital Twin concept works like a home printer that visually indicates the location of a paper jam. Similarly on flatwork equipment, iJOS shows where an issue is occurring—such as an open service door or linen jam—and provides a precise alarm description. The goal is to simplify troubleshooting and make maintenance tasks easier for less-experienced staff.

Furthermore, the iJOS system is designed for simplicity, making set up and operation easier than ever. The intuitive interface requires minimal training for operators, and relatively inexperienced engineers are capable of making parameter adjustments.

Jenassist—remote and instant support

With Jenassist 2.0, Jensen brings expert support directly to the laundry through secure remote access. Once connected, a Jensen technician can log in to the plant’s system to diagnose issues, analyze data, and guide repairs in real time, without the delay of travel. According to Jensen, remote support can reduce response time when problems occur and help plants avoid extended interruptions.

Remote diagnostics also allow technicians to review problems without waiting for an on- site visit, potentially shortening delays in production.

Creating the future, digitally

The systems Jensen described reflect a broader shift taking place across the industrial laundry industry. Connectivity is no longer limited to production data alone; it increasingly includes maintenance access, remote diagnostics, operator guidance and real-time system visibility. As labor shortages and uptime demands continue to pressure plants, these kinds of connected tools are likely to become more common throughout the industry.

(For more information on Jensen’s connectivity, visit the website.)

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