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OCTOBER 2025 NEWS
DLI Provides National & Regional Education, Meetings, Socials
Nov. Opportunities include ProfitFest, Heat Stress Prevention & Meetups
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute and its regional partner associations offer a robust lineup of webinars, workshops, and networking events this November. Industry professionals are invited to connect, learn, and grow their businesses.
Featured Monthly Webinar
November 19 at 1 p.m. Eastern DLI presents “Staying Cool Under Pressure: Heat Stress Prevention for Drycleaners” with Katey Kratz of Safety and Environmental Compliance Consultants and co-Executive Director of the Heartland Fabricare Association. Kratz will explore practical strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond to heat stress in the drycleaning industry. She will review current legislation, discuss affordable prevention measures, and share tools to keep employees safe and compliant—without overheating your budget.
Member Virtual Reception & Orientation November 5 – 3 p.m. Eastern
New and experienced DLI members are encouraged to attend this interactive session showcasing the many powerful resources and benefits of DLI membership. Receptions are open to all garment care professionals who are considering DLI membership. All inquires are welcome.
Weekly Peer Networking Meetings Every Tuesday – 11:30 a.m. Eastern
DLI’s weekly Peer-To-Peer meetings offer a platform for members to share experiences, challenges, and creative solutions in a supportive environment.
Regional Events
DLI encourages all drycleaning industry professionals to engage with regional events tailored specifically to their local markets. All DLI members are invited to participate in all of DLI’s regional partner events. Members may contact the hosting regional associations directly for further details and registration information.
- MAC Maintenance Masterclass November 6 – 1 p.m. Eastern
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Cleaners (MAC) will hold its popular maintenance-focused webinar, offering valuable insights and practical tips for equipment maintenance.
Visit MACassociation.org for more information. - NEFA ProfitFest ’25 November 8 – 9
New Ideas, Clean Profits – Elevate Your Business
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Visit: NEFA.org
Dedicated to Member Success
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) offers drycleaning business professionals unparalleled resources, tools, and networking opportunities to foster success and industry leadership. More information is available at DLIonline.org/Membership or 800-638-2627.
SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS
Seminars for Success Wows Again
Integrity Mechanical Hosts Seminars for Success – Threading the Needle: Business Planning in Changing Times
Integrity Mechanical once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing the success of Canada’s laundry and drycleaning industry by hosting its annual Seminars for Success program in Calgary. This year’s theme, “Threading the Needle – Business Planning in Changing Times,” focused on equipping operators with the technical skills, business strategies, and leadership tools needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving market.
The two-day event, offered free of charge, remains the only professional education program for retail laundry and drycleaning operations in Canada in 2025. With more than 35 business owners attending from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, the program blended advanced technical training, strategic business sessions, and valuable peer-to-peer networking.
Friday, September 19: Technical Training Focus
The opening day emphasized skill-building and innovation:
- Jeff Schwarz, A.L. Wilson Chemical – Led an in-depth morning session on basic and advanced stain removal. A.L. Wilson is recognized as a global leader in stain removal products, and Jeff’s workshop equipped attendees with practical solutions for today’s toughest stains.
- Chris White, Business Development Manager, Kreussler Textile Care – Hosted an afternoon classroom session and live demonstration on modern wetcleaning. Kreussler, the originator of modern wetcleaning, is celebrating 34 years of its eco-friendly and highly effective Lanadol Wetcleaning Systems. Supporting Chris were Frank Wagner, Technical Sales Representative for British Columbia, and J.P. Renaud, Technical Sales Representative for Ontario, who answered technical questions throughout the weekend.
- Kevin Marois, Integrity Mechanical – Opened the program with a warm welcome and outlined the weekend’s focus on collaboration and professional growth.
- Muhammad Tahir – Presented Your Business Plan, offering owners practical guidance for aligning long-term business objectives with operational realities.
- Industry Equipment Suppliers – Delivered an Industry Innovations: Clean Show Review, highlighting the latest machinery, automation, and technology shaping garment care.
Saturday, September 20: Business Leadership and Innovation
Day two carried forward the theme of “Threading the Needle – Business Planning in Changing Times” with an agenda centered on leadership and financial acumen:
- Chris White, Kreussler Textile Care – Being a Leader in the Era of AI, exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming decision-making, customer engagement, and workflow optimization.
- Dino Kantzavelos, Canadian Fabricare Association – Shared updates on CFA’s initiatives and its advocacy role in supporting operators nationwide.
- Muhammad Tahir – Returned with Your Business Plan—The Details, expanding on actionable implementation steps.
- Frank Wagner, Kreussler Canada – Led a session on Budgeting, providing tools to strengthen financial planning and control.
- Patrick Merz – Presented Understanding Financial Statements, giving attendees the confidence to interpret financial data and make informed business decisions.
- Richard Reese – Delivered insights on Motivating and Retaining Staff, tackling workforce challenges head-on.
- Mike Tungesvick – Discussed Automation and its role in boosting operational efficiency and scalability.
- Jeff Schwarz, A.L. Wilson Chemical – Returned to address Cancer, raising awareness and encouraging industry-wide support for health initiatives.
Strengthening Canada’s Garment Care Industry
“Integrity Mechanical continues to invest in the success of our clients by delivering education that is both technical and strategic,” said Kevin Marois, Owner of Integrity Mechanical. “Our Seminars for Success program is about more than training—it’s about building community, sharing knowledge, and helping Canadian operators adapt to changing times.”
Alongside its comprehensive agenda, the event fostered meaningful dialogue, networking, and camaraderie among participants—further solidifying Seminars for Success as a cornerstone of professional growth for Canada’s garment care industry.
About Integrity Mechanical
Based in Calgary, Alberta, Integrity Mechanical is a provider of technical service, equipment, and support for Canada’s drycleaning and laundry operators. Known for its commitment to client success, the company helps businesses adopt innovative technologies, optimize performance, and remain competitive in a fast-evolving market.
For more information on future seminars, contact: imi@telus.net
Harco Co. Ltd. recognized by Onnera Group
Harco Co Ltd was recognized by Onnera Group with the 2024 Sales Achievement award. Following on the heels of the company winning the Fred Maytag Award from Maytag, it seems to be a banner year for Harco.
DLI Announces 2025-2026 Board of Directors
Each year DLI’s Board of Directors brings on new members as other members retire or move into Executive Committee positions. This August DLI’s Board bid farewell to Chairperson Kathy Benzinger of Benzinger’s Clothing Care in Hamburg, NY, and Allan Cripe, District Six Committee Member at its Summer Board Meeting.
Kyle Nesbit moved to the Chairman position while Toran Brown became President for the 2025-2026 term. Ray Kroner became President-Elect and Don Holecek was elected Treasurer. All Executive Committee positions are for the 2025–2026 term.
All Executive, Director, and District Committee Member leadership positions are volunteer. DLI greatly appreciates the time and resources all members of the Board of Directors share in guiding the Institute.
Middle Row (l-r): Mark Albrecht, Allied Trades Director; Jeff Jordan, Allied Trades Committee Member; David Grippi, District One Committee Member; Ryan Fish, District Seven Director; Rhonda Eysel, District Three Director; Ray Rangwala, District Eight Director; Danny Bahlman, CGCP®, District Six Director; John Rothrock, District Six Committee Member.
Back Row (l-r): Norman Way, District Two Director; Chris Edwards District Two Committee Member; Larry Fish, District One Director; John Mertes, District Four Director; Dan Sims, District Five Director.
Maytag® Commercial Laundry Announces 2025 Distributor Award Winners
Honorees recognized during awards dinner at The Clean Show in Orlando.
Maytag® Commercial Laundry proudly announced the recipients of the 2025 Distributor Awards, recognized during a celebratory dinner held during Clean Show in Orlando. The event brought together distributors from across the globe to honor exceptional achievement, service and results in the commercial laundry industry.
For more than six decades, Maytag Commercial Laundry has celebrated distributors who demonstrate the highest standards of performance and dedication to the brand. This year’s honorees exemplify the qualities that drive lasting success, innovation, reliability and a deep commitment to their customers.
2025 Fred Maytag Award from Maytag executives.
The 2025 award recipients are:
- Harco Co Ltd – Fred Maytag Award
- Wash Laundry Systems – Multi-housing Excellence
- Coinamatic Commercial Laundry – Multi-housing Excellence
- Hercules – Multi-housing Excellence
- Superior Laundry Equipment – Vended Excellence Award
- Automated Laundry Systems – OPL Excellence Award
- Mendenhall Commercial Laundry Equipment – NAR Quality Partner of the Year
- PT Triton Internasional – NAR Distributor of the Year
- Blue Badger Wholesale Ltd – Outstanding First Year Performance
- Sill Do Brasil – Market Expansion Award
- Excellence Appliance Technologies – Marketing Excellence Award
- Dependable Laundry Solutions – INTL Quality Partner of the Year
“Recognizing our distributors in person during Clean Show makes this celebration especially meaningful,” says Michael Ledford, senior director and general manager, Commercial Laundry. “The 2025 honorees demonstrate exceptional dedication, initiative and results in their respective markets. We are proud to acknowledge their achievements and the impact they make for their customers and for the Maytag Commercial Laundry brand.”
Looking ahead, Maytag Commercial Laundry and its distributor network remain focused on evolving, adapting and working together to deliver meaningful value for the customers they serve.
Spindle Partners with Acumino
Acumino, a Renton, WA-based company focused on general robotic intelligence, and Spindle, Woodridge, IL, announced a partnership. This collaboration will integrate Acumino’s AI platform with Spindle’s automation systems to create the next generation of smart robotic solutions for the commercial laundry sector.
The partnership will address the commercial laundry industry’s most pressing challenges, including chronic labor shortages, rising operational costs, and the need for increased efficiency and reliability. By combining Acumino’s hardware-agnostic AI and human-to-robot skill transfer technology with Spindle’s industry expertise and robotics platforms, the two companies will deliver automation solutions for the linen, uniform and facility services industry.
“Our mission at Acumino is to bring general robotic intelligence to any industry that can benefit from it,” said Patrick Jarvis, president of Acumino. “Spindle Robotics’ deep understanding of the commercial laundry landscape makes them the ideal partner to bring our AI technology to this sector. Together, we can provide solutions that not only solve the immediate labor challenges but also significantly improve the efficiency and quality of laundry operations, leading to a rapid return on investment for our customers.”
The integrated solutions will enable robots to perform a wider range of complex tasks, from delicate garment handling and sorting to adaptive problem-solving in dynamic laundry environments. This will allow commercial laundries to automate tasks that were previously too complex for robotic systems, freeing up human workers to focus on higher-value activities.
“Spindle Robotics is focused on bringing practical, impactful automation to the commercial laundry industry,” said Tom Abbett, business development director at Spindle. “This partnership with Acumino allows us to take a quantum leap forward. By embedding Acumino’s AI into our systems, we will offer our customers a level of robotic intelligence and flexibility that was previously unimaginable. We are excited to work with Acumino to co-develop a new generation of robotic solutions that will set a new standard for the industry.”
For more information, visit www.spindlelive.com.
Unipress announces addition of new Independent Regional Factory Representatives
Unipress announced a mutually beneficial alliance with Eric and Josh Singer of Zellermayer Corp. as new Independent Regional Factory Representatives. These experienced professionals bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization, enhancing Unipress’s ability to serve its clients with even greater dedication and efficiency. Their extensive backgrounds will empower the company to build stronger relationships and deliver exceptional service. This collaboration will enhance the Northeast region, and responsibilities will include sales, service, and skills training for Unipress equipment.
Zellermayer Corp. will continue to manufacture and supply pads and covers under the guidance of David Singer for their customers, as they have done for over 90 years.
Unipress Corporation is a design and manufacturing company specializing in laundry/dry-cleaning finishing equipment, spotting tables, and packaging equipment. All manufacturing, from cutting steel to final steam testing and inspection, has been performed at its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, since 1982.
For news earlier than the articles above, please visit the New Archives.
Can our Canadian Scholarship cover the cost of the webinars for non-members?
EDITOR’S NOTE: We checked with Mary Scalco at DLI, and she said that scholarships can be used for online classes, just like in-person courses.