Catrion Neom laundry: from concept to fully operational, 130 tonnes per day facility
The Challenge
WSP was asked to design and realise a new large-scale laundry in Neom, Saudi Arabia, with a capacity of 130 tonnes per day. The laundry supports a rapidly growing hospitality sector, serving hotels with more than 8,000 rooms and their employees.
At the start of the project, only basic frameworks and building dimensions were available, requiring close coordination with the architect and stakeholders. To ensure an efficient and future-proof operation, it was essential to define detailed requirements early on. The focus was on internal logistics, productivity, energy efficiency and long-term operational flexibility.
The Solution
To accelerate the process, WSP developed a preliminary layout early in the project, building confidence and forming the foundation for the full engineering scope. From there, WSP took full ownership, delivering a strategic masterplan and designing the complete laundry layout from scratch.
The project followed a structured Stage Gate process, ensuring clear decision points and alignment throughout all phases. The design was developed in close collaboration with construction, energy management and facilities engineering partners. In addition to the layout, WSP coordinated critical utilities such as steam, gas and water supply.
Full engineering was executed using Building Information Modelling, providing a detailed three-dimensional model with all elements, quantities and materials. This enabled a well-prepared and flexible tendering process, allowing the client to select multiple machine suppliers. The final setup combined equipment from Kannegiesser, Jensen and Foltex.
As a system integrator, WSP connected all systems through WinWash and fully integrated the internal logistics, including:
- 223 conveyor belts
- 2,200 metres of bag rail system
- 600 bag rail bags
- sorting systems, batch separators, cake transport conveyors and expedition sorters
All systems were seamlessly integrated into one central control environment, ensuring efficient and reliable operations.
Detailed WSP questions lead to accurate advice and positive outcomes.
Laundry Design
The Result
The project has been successfully delivered and is fully operational. The laundry is capable of processing up to 130,000 kg, 322,000 pieces of laundry and 37,000 garments per day.
- A fully RFID-based logistics process
- High-quality processing of linen, towels and garments
- A highly efficient and scalable operation
- Integrated control of all systems through WinWash
- A future-proof, sustainable laundry design ready for long-term growth
This project demonstrates WSP’s ability to take full ownership, from concept and engineering to delivery and integration, resulting in a high-performance laundry solution in a complex and rapidly developing environment.