Jackson Services, Inc., a fourth generation family business headquartered in Columbus, Nebraska, was born in the home of the late Minnie Jackson in 1924 as a family laundry service. The business (originally named Jackson’s Pantorium) grew and evolved to include a multitude of retail and B2B services, including dry-cleaning. In the 1970’s the business dropped all retail and dry-cleaning services, and focused solely on the uniform, dust control, and other B2B textile rental services. Through all those 90+ years and many business evolutions Jackson Services has trusted Horwath Laundry Equipment, the local authorized Milnor distributor, to provide their commercial laundry equipment needs. Milnor’s business relationship with Jackson Services has spanned the last 50 years. Prior to that, they had purchased wooden washers manufactured by Andrew Horwath, Horwath Laundry Equipment’s founder.

Last December, Jackson Services installed four new 6464 pass-through dryers (in a pod layout), one 48040 M7K 275 lb. capacity tilting washer-extractor, and a 68036 M5K 400-500 lb. capacity tilting washer-extractor to enhance their washroom’s production.  Another major component to the recent washroom upgrades was the E-Tech rail system to expedite linen transport in the laundry. The new rail system permitted the dryer pod layout, which eliminates the need to wait for an available dryer.

One major piece of equipment the Jacksons chose not to upgrade was their 1996 G2 Milnor CBW^® tunnel. President Jesse Jackson explains, “Milnor equipment produces excellent product quality and lasts for a very long time. So long, in fact, that it creates challenges for their own people to integrate their old equipment with their new equipment. The 20-year old Milnor equipment in our plant is still just working so well, that we couldn’t bring ourselves to replace it yet.”

Horwath President Jim Horwath said, “We would not normally recommend opting out of replacing a 20-year-old workwear tunnel. But, with the combination of Jackson Services’ prolonged careful maintenance and our faith in Milnor’s ability to support their products (well beyond the life compared to most manufacturers), we were comfortable with the solution.”

Integrating the vintage tunnel to the washer-extractors, pass-through dryers, and rail system was a challenging task. Jesse said, “Horwath Laundry Equipment was integral to working out a wash room upgrade plan and executing it. They are always reliable and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done right. Milnor and Horwath did so admirably.”

Since the upgrade, dryer production is increasing steadily. The quicker dry times have made it necessary to turn off the dryers a couple times per day, so the washers (and post dry portion of the laundry) can catch up. The laundry employs 76 full time employees and processes approximately 6 million pounds of uniforms, mats, mops, and towels annually.

Jesse Jackson confessed, “We choose to buy Milnor equipment, despite there being cheaper options out there, because we feel it is the best. We believe in buying quality, and that is the same value proposition we present to our own customers. The Jackson Family is proud to have worked with all four generations of both the Pellerin and Horwath families for so long. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future!”

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04/08/2016