Royal Jersey Laundry completes seven-figure investment in next-generation PowerTrans washers

Dagenham-based Royal Jersey Laundry, one of the UK’s longest-established family-run laundries, has just completed a major investment milestone — the installation of two Kannegiesser PowerTrans batch tunnel washers and PowerPress extraction presses.

The project marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter. The outgoing machines, which had served faithfully for over 22 years, were removed and replaced in a complex engineering operation that saw sections of the factory wall temporarily dismantled to accommodate the lifts.

Managing director James Lincoln said: “I still remember installing the old machines myself over two decades ago, so it was a surreal experience watching them come out. Keeping our operation running at full capacity while cranes were swinging and walls were coming down required precision, teamwork and real commitment from everyone involved. A true team effort.”

Founded in 1895, Royal Jersey Laundry has remained proudly family-owned for more than a century – and today services more five-star hotels in the region than any other laundry. The company is also the current Commercial Laundry of the Year, a testament to its exceptional standards and consistent investment in innovation.

Lincoln notes that few family businesses today are making this scale of investment: “This seven-figure upgrade is about much more than new machinery,” he added. “It’s about futureproofing our operations, maintaining our five-star quality standards, and delivering on our ESG commitments. Above all, it’s about safeguarding the legacy of Royal Jersey Laundry for the next generation.”

And the investment doesn’t stop there. The business is now following up with a £500,000 investment in a state-of-the-art water and energy recycling system, designed to integrate with the new washers. The system will reclaim heat from ironers, recover energy and water from wastewater, and filter out microplastics, further enhancing the company’s environmental performance and sustainability credentials.

“Sustainability isn’t a buzzword for us – it’s a responsibility,” Lincoln said. “Every upgrade we make has to move us closer to a cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable future for both our customers and our community.”

After 130 years in business, Royal Jersey Laundry continues to prove that heritage and innovation can work hand in hand — setting new standards for quality, efficiency, and environmental leadership in the UK laundry industry.

Photo: Erickson Stock/Shutterstock