200G Force vs. True High Speed Washers

Here's something I don't understand. Why listen to the constant banter of people who've never owned a Continental Girbau, Wascomat/Electrolux, Maytag or Primus (Alliance) store equipped with True High Speed industrial quality softmount washers? I guess that much of the negativity is repeated by salespeople promoting a brand that doesn’t yet manufacture big industrial quality softmount washers. It’s much easier to promote the concept that 200G force washers are high-speed extract then to actually manufacture and get approved by our government regulations a true high-speed washer.

If you have reviewable data supporting a higher failure rate or shorter life for any large softmount washer, please tell me where I can find it. The rubber, plastic, steel, stainless, stamped metal, coin drops, drums, computer boards, wiring, electronics, valves and dump valves are the same parts or quality as the 200-G models being built and sold by the manufacturers.

Why would these parts fail quicker because of their different mounting systems? Do you think manufacturers cheapen up their 400-G washers to fail quicker than their 200-G models? Do you think they use lower quality steel, screws or bolts? The only significant difference between hardmount and softmount big washers is the spring-shock absorber design. A reasonable concern would be if there were any evidence supporting a belief that repairs or failures were higher in softmount versus hardmount models. Unfortunately for those manufacturers who currently do not make or sell big hardmount washers, the answer is no facts supporting any increased maintenance or a shorter useful life exists.

Big softmount washers are not new washer concepts. They have been built and sold in Europe for at least 40 years. Hotels, motels and OPL facilities have used them for decades. Historically Laundromat owners have been a frugal bunch (some label us cheap) of business owners. Limited demands by owners means slower technology advances.? As a result of manufacturers prejudice, these superior washers have not been offered to the Laundromat marketplace. I am going to assume most owners can distinguish between the quality and construction of a Horizon versus a Speed Queen Gold series washer, so put aside the objections to home-style 20-LB washers and actual industrial quality machines. Let's compare apples to apples and not apples to grapes.

The advantages of the spring-shock absorber designs are the exact solution for mounting of washers on thin concrete floors or second stories. The downside to big industrial quality softmount washers is they cost more money than hardmount models. If I were building a current Laundromat for my own, I would only look at softmount equipment.

What’s so great about Softmount washers?

Here are some, but not all, of the advantages and benefits of True High Speed washers:

1) This is a well understood technology that has been in use for decades. It is not a new experimental concept. Large industrial users, OPL and industrial/commercial laundries have embraced their use.? They were first widely manufactured in Europe, where utility savings have been at the forefront for decades.

2) The time that customers spend in a Laundromat is significantly reduced, averaging 30 to 45 minutes because of shorter drying times. Customers like their Laundromat visits to be short.

3) Shorter drying times mean the need for the number of dryers is reduced. This saves money at the time of design/purchase and eliminates customers waiting for a dryer on busy days.

4) Shorter total drying time means quicker turn-around time for Laundromats providing WDF for their customers.? More work can be done in less time and your workers can be more productive.

5) The clothes coming out of these washers are cleaner. This is because any moisture remaining after a washer cycle is dirty water.? It contains suspended chemical (soap) and particulate that was not removed in the wash cycle. True High Speed extraction removes most of this residue. Next time you wash some clothes squeeze and twist some of the residual moisture into a clear glass and hold it up to the sun. Smell it. You'll see this water is dirty and can have residual odor. Cleaner clothes make customers happy.

6) Cotton fabrics are natural fibers made from plants and many synthetic natural fibers are impacted by heat. By reducing the amount of time needed to "bake" fabrics in a dryer the longer the life of the fabric. Clothes last longer. Where do you think all the lint in your dryer screens comes from? The fabric is being damaged by the heat!

7) The clothes are so clean there is no need to use fabric softener or fragrance. The softeners counter the stiffness caused by retained residual water.? Clothes don't need additional chemicals, like fabric softeners, because so much of the residual moisture has been removed. No softeners means reduce costs for WDF.

8) Customers easily recognize the benefits and share this knowledge with others, so increased demand is created. You can increase this demand by targeted marketing. You have a product most of the Laundromats around you won't have, so marketing results can be significant.

9) Having built two Laundromats above basements, I could not advise someone to put in 30, 40, 50, 80, 100 or any 200-G Force washers above a basement or on any second story or above. Despite the knowledge of your engineer and skill of your contractor, it's likely that any model of any of the various brands of industrial sized softmount washers being sold will last longer than your new floor with hardmount washers attached. An 80-LB washer bolted to your second story floor, will experience a random series of off-balance loads and eventually loosen your bolts and stress or weaken your concrete floor. These washers don't need to have concrete floor thickness increased even in a normal single-story building. If you read the factory installation manuals you'll discover up to twelve inches of concrete are needed for the biggest hardmount washers. An industrial softmount can go right on a four-inch concrete floor. A base is not needed unless you want to raise washer door height for convenience. The money savings on installation costs usually exceed the higher purchase price of softmounts.? I put the 30-LB washers on four inch steel, wood or concrete bases. 20-LB on eight- or ten-inch bases, and all others directly on the floor. Saves money on the purchase of bases and lowers the soap dish to a more accessible height for shorter customers.

10) Since these washers don't need to be bolted to the floor, it means you can mount them back-to-back with an eighteen-inch bulkhead. If you need access to the rear for any service or drain maintenance, you can slide them forward and slip in behind.

11) They use the same quality parts used on their 200-LB cousins. The shock absorbers are the only addition. No shorter life, no increased maintenance, no costly parts. There are manufacturers offering 10 year/5 year warranties. They wouldn't offer extended warranties if they didn't believe these washers had durability built in.

12) You may choose to vend these upscale washers at higher prices. I would wait a few months until you've increased your customer base and allow your customers to understand why their Laundromat visits are shorter, their clothes are softer and why their clothes are so much cleaner.

13) Some of the contributors on this forum mention they like Alliance products. Alliance sells True High Speed softmount washers under the Speed Queen/Huebsch brand for OPL and commercial/industrial use. These are the Primus OPL versions labeled as Speed Queen/Huebsch in the U.S. All but two American manufacturers sell some type of True High-Speed washer.

14) Hopes this helps in understanding this technology. I am not promoting any particular brand. They are sold by Continental Girbau, Wascomat/Electrolux, ADC, Domus/Fagor, Primus and the latest to join is the American made Maytag models.