Dorset dry cleaners Barker reaping efficiency benefits after £1m investment
Dorset dry cleaning specialist Barker has achieved a sustainability and productivity boast following a £1m investment in its plant machinery.
The company invested close to £1m in new equipment with the bulk of the work nearing completion and the improvements made so far leading significant improvements in its operations and also aiding its green ambitions.
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Managing Director Matthew Barker said: “No recession lasts forever and we needed to be ready for any growth opportunities that may arise.
“This is not so much an upgrade of aging plant as an investment in reducing our energy and employment costs: Labour costs accounted for nearly 50% of our total revenue. Energy costs are rising steeply, and we need to extract all the efficiencies we can, not just for the environment but for our survival also."
The refit started in the summer of 2022 and included the creation of a new plant room, new boiler and water treatment plant alongside upgrades to other machinery including a new ironer line.
The facility's wash house was moved and extended to increase wash capacity and new dryers were installed.
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