MAY/JUNE 2018 31 • Tensioning topper • Coat-O-Matic form finisher • Sweater table Laundry Department • Flatwork ironer (120 inches or more in width to avoid creases) • Temperature-controlled soak sinks • Tensioning collar/cuffer • Tensioning heated collar cones • State-of-the-art shirt units • Tensioning unit for non-standard-sized shirts, blouses, and lab coats • State-of-the-art programmable washers/dryers • Starch cooker to service customer demand for heavy starch • Shrink-wrap machine • Fine household linen blocking frame or table for ornate and vintage table clothes Specialty Departments • Leather spray booth • Shoeshine station • Garment restoration processing and storage areas • Disaster restoration processing and storage areas • Rug cleaning department • On-site cleaning system • Pillow refurbishing machine • Garment photography station for before-and-after photos (when appropriate) • Packaging area for specialty items Staff Area • Internal staff communication system • Staff lunch/break room inside the plant • Comfortable staff break area outside of plant (out of cus- tomer view) Plant Maintenance • Air hoses throughout to keep equipment clean and free of lint • Jet propeller-type fan for lint removal • Magnetized extension rod to pick up metal debris (i.e. pins and staples) on floors • Organized maintenance/tool area Fleet • Van washing bay to maintain cleanliness of the fleet • Real-time fleet GPS tracking for flexible dispatch and serv- ice to immediate and added stops en route Sales And Marketing Department • Call center • Materials development area • Professional-quality copier/printer Clearly, this list is not comprehensive, but you may find it useful in planning the next additions to your current plant, a renovation of your existing plant, or a completely new plant at a new location. Determine what additions are appropriate for your oper- ation now and in the foreseeable future to best meet the goals and plans you have for growth. Expansion can be pos- sible if excess space is subleased for a period of time until you need it for your higher-capacity requirements. Diana Vollmer is managing director of Methods for Management (MFM) Inc., a consultancy specializing in drycleaning businesses. You may contact her at dvollmer@mfmi.com, (415) 577-6544. BULLE TIN NO. 762 Sweater table (Photo: Fimas USA). Pillow refurbishing machine (Photo: Harris Pillow).