National Clothesline

Equinox Chemicals has acquired Adco Cleaning Products LLC as part of its strategy to build a global portfolio of laundry and drycleaning chemical companies and ventures.

“This latest acquisition will continue our aggressive strategy to revolutionize and revitalize the laundry, drycleaning, and cleaning chemical industry,” said Mark Grimaldi, CEO of Equinox Chemicals.

Equinox Chemicals, based in Albany, GA, is a specialty chemical manufacturer with research, innovation, product development and commercialization capabilities that reach global markets.

The company has a range of products and technologies for a diverse global customer base, which includes government agencies, pharmaceuticals, food, flavor, fragrance, industrial and institutional cleaning products, alternative dry-cleaning solvent technology, alternative energy, and aerospace technology. Equinox currently has a product portfolio of more than 600 products.

Since 1908, Adco, based in Sedalia, MO, has manufactured a comprehensive line of specialty chemicals and detergents used in drycleaning, commercial laundry and janitorial and institutional cleaning applications. Currently it has more than 300 proprietary products that are offered through the Adco and Laidlaw brands. The main product categories include drycleaning, wet cleaning, laundry, spotting agents, and a maintenance line consisting of solvents, filters and boiler treatments. Adco has also recently developed a specialty line of laundry, janitorial and sanitation products for the hospitality industry.

The acquisition and consolidation of Adco into the existing Equinox organization will allow for direct integration of new and innovative products to the existing Adco brands and product lines, to the Equinox announcement.

Grimaldi said he and his executive team recognized that the industry was full of opportunities for strong technical support and a service organization that carries the high quality products to the customer. The team launched an aggressive global strategy to identify, acquire and/or partner with top organizations and products in the industry.

“Our focus is building a global company that will bring the very best technical service and highest quality products to our customers. The industry is ready for a change and we are building the organization that will make it happen,” Grimaldi explains.

Grimaldi entered the drycleaning and cleaning chemical industry with the formation of Rynex Technologies to manufacture and distribute biodegradable, earth-, and health-friendly drycleaning solvents and related products.

In June of last year, he entered into a joint venture with Christeyns NV, a privately held laundry products manufacturer and supplier in Europe.

The joint venture combines Christeyns’ expertise in developing laundry solutions and its large European presence with more than 250 field technicians in more than 20 countries. That venture will focus on providing high quality drycleaning products to the European, Middle East, and South American markets.

Equinox Chemicals has been honored with various awards, including “Manufacturer of the year,” “SBA Exporter of the Year, and “Local economic Impact-City of Albany.”

James Peuster of The Route Pro visited three different Australian cleaners in November to assist in the developing of routes down under. In Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, Peuster was able to assist in emphasizing the importance of setting up routes and marketing them properly.

“Customers need convenience,” Peuster commented. “There is a lot of drycleaning customers in Australia, and a lot of drycleaners as well.”

All three owners visited Peuster at The Clean Show in Las Vegas and spent a couple of hours discussing his services and what he might be able to do coaching them from so far away and with a different time zone.

“We lost a day flying to Sydney from Los Angeles. We took off Wednesday night and arrived Friday morning,” Peuster said. “Then we went back in time coming back — leaving at noon and arriving at 6 a.m. same day!”

“The biggest differences I saw were the van options they have there,” Peuster pointed out. “A lot of smaller, Ford Transit-like vehicles were used by many companies, probably because gas is so expensive there.”

Peuster also commented on the minimum wage being $16.50 an hour for part-time and $22 an hour for full-time.

“Of course, driving on the other side of the road is a bugger as well,” he added.

Peuster plans to return this year and is in contact with several Australian organizations about possibly giving some seminars.

North American Restoration Dry Cleaners (NARD), a national group of textile restoration professionals, has welcomed three new members to its national organization.

Urban Valet Cleaners in Buffalo, NY, has been in the restoration business for over 10 years and brings a high level of customer service to the NARD family.

Eric Pyne, president of the company, said, “NARD brings together industry leading, independently owned drycleaning businesses that offer the insurance industry elite level, standardized textile restoration services on a national scale.” Urban Valet services all of western New York and sections of northern Pennsylvania.

Bobby Page’s Restoration in northern Nevada has been doing restoration drycleaning for almost 50 years.

Kevin Leid, president and a fourth generation drycleaner, said, “I'm greatly appreciative for being recognized and included as a member of NARD. The group’s forward thinking and ethical business practices fit with our company. We look forward to a long and healthy relationship with NARD.”

Fabricare-Restoration by Margaret’s is widely recognized not only in Southern California as a premier drycleaning institution, but nationwide as well. The company has a separate division that focuses solely on insurance restoration cleaning and it is committed to providing the high-level of service to the insurance industry.

Jan Bohn, the head of their restoration division, stated, “We are very excited to be a member of the leading group of restoration drycleaners. Their members are highly skilled and dedicated to their customers, and we are honored to have been chosen to represent NARD in Southern California.”

Mark Folzenlogen, president of NARD, said “We are one step closer to our goal of providing national coverage with the finest restoration drycleaning professionals in the country. We are very proud of our newest members as they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to our organization.”

For more information about available territories and membership qualifications, contact, NARD at (877) 630-NARD (6273) or visit www.NARD.com.