National Clothesline

Wascomat has hired Duane Dolitsky as regional sales manager responsible for the Northeast and Midwest United States. Dolitsky previously worked for Wascomat nine years ago and, at that time, successfully introduced Wascomat wetcleaning systems to the market.

He has a sales and service background with a wealth of industry knowledge based on 20 years experience. Dolitsky will work with the company ’s dealers to grow their business and build the Wascomat brand.

Prior to rejoining Wascomat, he worked for a New York area distributor where he was responsible for sales of drycleaning and laundry equipment.

“I’m thrilled to be back at Wascomat,” Dolitsky said. “The products are exceptional and the company is on a growth path with exciting new products and brands for dealers and their customers. I believe in the company, its leadership and its products, so I ’m excited to get out and work with our dealers to grow their business and that of our end-users. ”

Dolitsky is once again working closely with Dan Goldman, national sales manager at Wascomat since 1997, Howard Herman, Wascomat ’s vice-president of sales for the past 37 years, and the experienced sales support team at Wascomat.

“Duane brings a lot to the table for Wascomat, having worked on both the dealer and manufacturer levels, ” said Goldman. “Duane also has an inherent nature for never accepting ‘no’ as an answer. He successfully promoted wetcleaning when the entire industry was against the concept of cleaning natural fibers in water. In addition he's a real professional and I am delighted to be working with him again. ”

Neal Milch, Wascomat CEO, added that dealers know Dolitsky and that understands the business and has insight into operations. “He can truly help customers and will make a huge impact on his territory,” Milch said.

Wascomat made its first washer in 1902 and has installed over a million in North America alone. The company delivers commercial laundry and wetcleaning equipment, along with financing and business planning support.

Many workers in the United States still view 65 as “retirement age,” so when Maurice Felgar recently reached his 65th with Zengeler Cleaners, it was no surprise that he decided it was time to “hang ‘em up.” The difference: His 65 years of service were with one company: Zengeler Cleaners of Northbrook, IL.

“Maurice joined Zengeler Cleaners in July 1942 and has been going strong ever since, ” said to Tom Zengeler, president of the family-run company. “When Maurice came on board, the United States was involved in World War II, Americans were faced with gasoline rationing and President Roosevelt had just authorized the formation of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

“Here we are, more than 65 years later, and Maurice Felgar was still working four days a week. Remarkable! ”

According to Felgar, the secret to his success was simple: “I really enjoyed helping people. I learned very early on that if I could give my customers whatever they needed, my job would be enjoyable and fun. The truth is, it didn ’t really take that much effort. I had a great company standing behind me, and it was the little things that seemed to count the most. ”

To Maurice, the “little things” meant parking in the street to avoid tying up a customer’s driveway… picking up the newspaper on the way to the door… staying on schedule so customers would know when to expect him… delivering orders ahead of schedule when a customer needed clothes for a special occasion. And “little things” always included delivering every order with a smile.

“Maurice’s smile was a very important part of Maurice’s success,” explained Zengeler. “His infectious smile helped him build rapport with customers and helped make him the most successful route driver in the 150-year history of Zengeler Cleaners. Maurice understood how to keep customers so happy that they wanted to refer their friends. That ’s a great formula for success in any era.”

Like a great marriage, the love affair between Zengeler Cleaners and Maurice Felgar was built on a foundation of mutual respect.

“Working for Zengeler Cleaners was the best,” noted Felgar. “That was true when I first started out, it was true when Bob was my boss and was true with Tom, too! ” (“Bob” is Robert J. Zengeler, Tom’s father and predecessor as president of Zengeler Cleaners.

Said Tom, “Maurice has been an inspiration to many, many Zengeler Cleaners employees. We cannot thank him enough for his dedication and service the past 65 years. ”

Wascomat dealers around the United States will be holding open houses during the next two months where customers can get a look at new Wascomat models and talk to factory experts who will be on hand to answer questions.

An open house and service school will be held at Sav-A-Day Laundry, 55 Millwell Ct., in St. Louis, MO, on Oct. 8. The event will include a raffle for a new Wascomat SU260 Compass Control washer and there will be special financing, show prices and factory rebates.

Call (314) 291-1910, for information.

On-site wetcleaning demonstrations, special pricing, financing and rebates on select Wascomat wetcleaning machines will be offered by Hudson Equipment on Oct. 9 in Columbus, OH, and on Oct. 11 in Pittsburgh, PA. For information, call (330) 342-9900.

Golden State Laundry Systems will have an open house and service school on Oct. 13 at 1984 E. Gladwick St., Rancho Dominguez, CA.

Along with wetcleaning demonstrations, special financing, show prices and factory rebates there will be a raffle for a Wascomat SU260 Compass Control washer.

For information, call (310) 223-2240.

An open house and service school will be held at AC Power Co. on Oct. 18 at the Holiday Inn in Ivyland, PA. A raffle for a Wascomat SU620 Compass Control washer, special financing, show prices and factory rebates will be featured.

Call (215) 364-3430, for information.

Washtown Equipment will have an open house at the Holiday Inn in Skokie, IL. on Oct. 23. They, too, will raffle a Wascomat SU620 Compass Control washer and offer special financing, show prices and factory rebates. Call (773) 545-1371 for information.

Two events are planned by Hinojosa in Texas this month. The first will be in McAllen at the Holiday Inn Express, 1921 S. 10th St. on Oct. 23. The second will be at the Holiday Inn Express, 1309 East Commerce, in San Antonio on Oct. 25. Factory rebates, prizes, special financing and pricing will be offered. For details, call (210) 627-2823.

Wetcleaning demonstrations, factory rebates on Wascomat wetcleaning machines and special financing will be offered by E. Weinberg of Minneapolis, MN, on Nov. 7. Call (952) 920-0888 for information.

Garment Machinery in Cambridge, MA, will have an open house on Nov. 14. They will raffle a Wascomat SU620 Compass Control Washer and have special financing, show prices and factory rebates. Vendors will have specials at the show. Call (617) 868-6930 for information.

Imparts has announced that it now has the parts inventory from Marvel Petro Dry in its Charlotte, NC, warehouse. Imparts acquired the inventory in discussions with Marvel after the San Antonio drycleaning machine manufacturer closed its operations. Imparts will offer replacement parts for Marvel cleaning machines along with those purchased from Marvel after it closed its doors.

Imparts has also placed an order for a large range of parts that customers ordered regularly from Marvel over the past few years. New stock is coming in, but some parts will take a few weeks to arrive, the company said.

In addition to the parts, Imparts received a full range of manuals for new and older model Marvel machines and drawings for components that the company will have manufactured. Imparts also received manufacturing records that can help trace correct part numbers.

Owners of Marvel equipment can call Marvel’s San Antonio number, (210) 344-8551, or contact Dave Herzan at Imparts directly, (800) 328-8595.