Rinaldi Linen Service cuts labor by 5 FTE with automated soil sorting

Rinaldi Linen Service is a third-generation family-owned laundry company based in Waterbury, Connecticut. As the next generation takes on leadership roles, the company continues to invest in a strong and future-ready operation. Together with WSP, Rinaldi improved its soil-sorting process, achieving clear labor savings, better efficiency and a solid base for further growth.

Rinaldi Linen Service cuts labor by 5 FTE

To support growth and keep daily operations under control, Rinaldi Linen Service focused on improving the part of the process where results would be felt right away. Together with WSP, the company redesigned the soil-sorting area to create better flow, more consistency and clearer oversight.

Rinaldi processes around 15 million pounds (6.8 million kg) of laundry each year for healthcare and hospitality customers across Connecticut and Massachusetts. The soil-sorting area plays an important role in keeping that volume moving. By improving how linen is handled, sorted and stored, the operation became easier to manage, even during busy periods.

From the moment soiled linen enters the plant, the workflow now runs in a clear and controlled way. Carts are unloaded using a sideways-style cart dumper that feeds linen onto a conveyor. Operators remove plastic bags and sort linen at twelve stations with weight indicators. Linen is divided into ten categories, and once a bag reaches 150 lbs (68 kg), it is moved to overhead storage via WSP’s rail system. This reduces extra handling on the floor and keeps the workspace organized.

The overhead storage creates a buffer that helps balance the process. With space for up to 118 filled bags, linen is ready when production needs it. When required, bags are sent directly to one of two tunnel washers, without the need for manual coordination between teams.

WSP’s WinWash platform gives structure and visibility to the entire process. It connects equipment from different suppliers and shows clearly where linen is in the system. This improves communication between departments and makes daily work easier for operators and management.

The impact is clear. The improved soil-sorting solution reduced labor by the equivalent of five full-time positions in daily operations and improved consistency across the process.
These operational gains translated into a clear and reliable return on investment.
At the same time, the modular design keeps the operation flexible for future growth.