How Metro Laundry Service Maximizes Equipment Life

By Bob Wolff

In the hospitality industry, it’s a day-in, day-out grind. Even when the rest of the world is celebrating a cherished holiday, there are no days off when servicing hotel clients. You need dedicated, hard-working people running reliable, high-performance equipment to get the job done every day.

About Metro Laundry Service

Steven Young and the crew at Metro Laundry Service (MLS) in Capitol Heights, Maryland (a suburb of Washington D.C.) have been taking care of business and delivering outstanding service to brand name luxury hotel clients since 2004. I caught up with him after a run of tireless days during the Independence Day weekend celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, which filled hotels throughout the Washington, D.C., area.

As the Chief Operating Officer, he joined the award-winning company after completing his education in 2004. He manages daily operations and a staff of 140 people, and oversees new business development. MLS operates Lavatec Laundry Technology wash aisle equipment, and Young was there when they added the LT60 15-compartment bottom transfer tunnel washer.

The remanufactured machine provides 132-pound capacity per chamber. It was installed at MLS in 2012, but has a service history dating back to 1993, which Young said was one factor in the purchasing decision.

Reliable Equipment Starts with Reliable Maintenance

“Longevity plays a vital role and is one of the top influencers in purchasing decisions,” he said. “Longevity ties directly into ROI, and this was a factor with Lavatec equipment, especially tunnel washers.”

Young credits much of that longevity to a proactive maintenance philosophy.

“Staying ahead of the curve with preventive and predictive maintenance is the key. My advice is don’t wait until something breaks or fails before replacing it,” he explained.

“If a part of a component shows significant wear and tear, replace it, even though it may still be functioning. Doing this gives you control over downtime and scheduling. The alternative is waiting until it fails, which will inevitably happen at a very inopportune time and lead to more severe downtime and lost production. Stockpiling critical parts is key to this approach.”

Three years ago, MLS added another Lavatec gas dryer to the six already on the production floor, along with a bypass system to reduce the number of times the tunnel washer goes on hold. More recently, a 50-bar LP581S LavaPress single-stage extraction press improved workflow.

Modernizing to Extend Equipment Life

Young indicated modernizing has helped extend equipment life.

“We upgraded the software and control panels. We also learned that you can maximize the life and efficiency of Lavatec tunnel systems by staying up-to-date, as long as you maintain the hardware components, such as the steam lines, bearings and wheels.”

He shared some thoughts on the importance of finding equipment that becomes part of the long-term foundation for a business.

“The key, from our perspective, is compatibility and sticking with what you know. If your production and maintenance teams are comfortable with using and servicing a specific type of equipment and/or brand, they will likely maintain it better. Personal preference, ease of maintenance, and access to equipment parts all play a role.”

Intelligent stewardship

Young also has some advice for newer operators about investing in equipment designed for long-term performance, rather than short-term savings.

“Think of it like buying a car. For years, the most popular vehicles have been Honda and Toyota,” he remarked. “The longevity and maintenance are the main reasons why their vehicles lead every year in sales. They can last for many years after the car note is paid off. That’s how you get the most from your laundry investment and maximise ROI. ”

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Editor’s note: For more information on Metro’s history and success, see our December 2025 story in Over the Border.