At Continental West, we offer both soft-mount and hard-mount washer-extractors because each type serves different laundry applications. However, when the priorities are laundry production, installation flexibility, drying efficiency and long-term energy savings, commercial and industrial-grade soft-mount washer-extractors offer significant advantages.
So, what makes soft-mount washers different? Here are four key benefits.
1. Soft-Mount Washers Don’t Require Bolt-Down Foundations
One of the biggest advantages of a soft-mount washer-extractor is its installation flexibility. Unlike hard-mount washers, soft-mount machines do not require a reinforced concrete foundation or traditional bolt-down installation.
Soft-mount technology uses a suspension system to absorb extraction forces. In the case of Continental West soft-mount washer-extractors, less than 5% of vibration during extraction is transferred to the floor. This can make installation possible in locations where traditional hard-mount equipment may not be practical while reducing construction and installation costs.
Soft-mount washers can also maximize available floor space. Multiple machines can be installed closer together, allowing laundries to increase production per square foot. Hard-mount washers typically require approximately 18 inches of clearance between machines, while soft-mount washers can require as little as ½ inch, depending on the installation and equipment specifications.
2. Higher G-Force Extraction Reduces Drying Time
The most efficient way to remove water from laundry is to extract it mechanically before it reaches the dryer.
Think about a wet sponge: squeezing the water out is considerably faster than trying to evaporate it with heat. Washer-extractors work on the same principle. Higher G-force extraction removes more moisture from textiles before drying, reducing the amount of water that must be evaporated in the dryer.
This can improve overall laundry energy efficiency while helping operators reduce drying time and natural gas consumption.
3. Soft-Mount Washers Can Increase Laundry Throughput
Soft-mount washer-extractors are designed to achieve higher extraction speeds than traditional hard-mount machines. Higher G-force removes more moisture from finished wash loads, allowing textiles to enter the dryer with less residual moisture.
Continental West soft-mount washer-extractors can reach up to 450 G-force and have been tested to reduce drying time by up to 50% compared with hard-mount washers. Shorter drying cycles can translate into faster turnaround times, increased laundry production and improved production per operator hour (PPOH). For high-volume commercial and industrial laundries, these productivity gains can have a meaningful impact on overall operating efficiency.
4. Soft-Mount Washers Can Reduce Utility Costs
Modern hard-mount and soft-mount washer-extractors can both provide efficient water and energy usage. The key difference is what happens after the wash cycle.
Because soft-mount machines can achieve higher G-force extraction, they remove more water before the load reaches the dryer. Less residual moisture means less time and energy are required to dry the same load. With drying time reduced by up to 50% in tested applications, soft-mount washers can help lower natural gas consumption and overall laundry utility costs. Reduced dryer operating time may also help decrease equipment wear over the long term.
Soft-Mount Washer-Extractors: Built for Laundry Efficiency
Soft-mount washer-extractors may require a higher initial equipment investment than some hard-mount alternatives, but their combination of installation flexibility, high-speed extraction, reduced drying time, increased throughput and potential utility savings can deliver greater long-term value for many commercial and industrial laundry operations.
For laundries focused on maximizing production, improving energy efficiency and making better use of available floor space, soft-mount technology is an important equipment option to consider.