Efficiency = Economy
by John P. Ribner

Since 1996, Staber Industries has been manufacturing top-quality washing machines that offer top-loading convenience with front-loading efficiency. And considering the number of towels washed each day in a busy tanning facility, this can add up to big savings for salon pros.

Staber products can help salon owners save money in perhaps an unlikely way – by cutting their laundry costs. The company manufacturers washing machines, and not just your average washing machines, either – they are designed to clean more efficiently and effectively than a conventional washer, using much less water and detergent. This adds up to big savings for salon pros utilizing Staber’s innovative machines. The secret is Staber’s patented rotating, hexagon-shaped inner tub filled with holes, and its stationary, octagon-shaped outer-tub. Take at look at what Staber can offer!

A Solid Background
As its history can attest, Staber Industries understands the dynamics of washing machine construction inside and out. The company earned its expertise by refurbishing commercial washing machines since 1976. “Typically, a washing machine’s transmission is the first thing that goes out, and in those days, it was cheaper to refurbish the transmission than to purchase a new unit,” said Stacy Bichard, Staber Regional Sales. “We did a lot of business refurbishing old machines and putting them back out on the market.” This practice established Staber Industries and carried the company through its first 17 years; however, changes in the marketplace eventually resulted in reducing the cost of washing machines, making them cheaper to replace than repair. Fortunately, Staber rolled with the punches and came out a better company with a better product that can be valuable to tanning salon operators.

Efficiency = Economy
In 1993, Staber introduced a washing machine that would revolutionize the way people did laundry. All those years of tearing down and rebuilding washing machines would finally pay off – it helped the company design a washer that’s more efficient, durable and easier to use than conventional machines. “About 90 percent of the energy consumed by a washing machine is used to heat the water, so it makes sense that the less water a machine uses, the more money can be saved on both utilities and detergent costs,” Stacy Bichard explained. “The typical washer uses about 42 gallons of water for each load of laundry; by comparison, our washers use 15 gallons per load, which requires less heat and about 75 percent less detergent. The secret is our rotating, hexagon-shaped inner tub filled with holes and a stationary, octagon-shaped outer-tub that produces increased agitation during the wash.”
“ Because they spin so fast, our washers are able to ring out more water than the average washer, which means less drying time,” Stacy added. “Best of all, we don’t utilize a transmission in our units, which experience has shown us tends to be the first thing that breaks down. While our washers might price a bit higher than the average machine, it’s an investment that could pay for itself within the first year, depending on usage.” Staber currently manufacturers three washers – its standard HXW 2304; the HXW 2404, which offers a stainless steel base and a two-year warranty; and the HXW 2504, with its all stainless steel construction and two-year warranty. Staber’s products have been featured in several popular publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Popular Science “Best of What’s New,” and Consumers Digest “Best Buy Issue.”

All Staber washing machines are manufactured in the U.S.A. at the company’s Groveport, OH headquarters. The 57,000 square-foot facility houses the entire manufacturing plant, which produces each washer from the ground up. “From the flat steel to the finishing touches, everything is made right here in our plant,” Stacy explained. Staber employs 29 people, 24 of whom work in production.

Listen Up!
Although Staber’s economical washing machines are used in some tanning salons, the idea hasn’t caught on as widely as the company would’ve hoped. The reason, perhaps, is that most salon professionals might not be aware of how much each load of laundry costs them. “When salon owners look at ways to cut costs, they might consider all the typical ways to do that and the idea of saving money on laundry might not immediately come to mind,” she added. “Once they realize how much money one of our washers can save them on their energy bill – sometimes between $30 and $100 a month, depending on usage – they’re amazed by it. When a tanning pro has multiple locations and washes hundreds of towels each day, those savings can become even greater.”

Another aspect of Staber Industries that is under-utilized by salon pros is the company’s metal fabricating capabilities. “Because manufacturing is what we do, we also have the ability to manufacture store displays and light fixtures for tanning salons,” Stacy explained. “We’ve done work like this for many major corporations including Abercrombie & Fitch, Verizon Wireless and Shell Oil, and we would like to do more of this type of design for tanning salon owners, as well. We have the ability to offer our own concepts, or salon pros can bring their own; either way, we have the ability to make just about anything they want.”

And Dryers, Too!
Staber has some big plans for the future, and their introduction is right around the corner. “As far as our washers are concerned, we’re in the process of updating the look of our knobs to make them look more modern and less utilitarian,” Stacy commented. “We’re even more excited about our warming cabinet, which we will release later this month. This device allows people to hang items to dry that they normally can’t dry for fear of shrinking them – it’s like a dryer for everything that can’t go into a dryer.”

With their new and updated items, and a growing lighting and counter design division, it’s clear that Staber Industries is a company with a lot to offer tanning salon pros.