With the deadline for both room reservations and the early bird registration fee coming up fast -April 13th, we hope you've made plans to attend TCATA's 2018 Annual Management and Educational Conference May 2-5 at the beautiful Wyndham Rio Mar Resort in Puerto Rico. As we've reported previously, both the hotel and the island are up and running, ready to host our conference. Reservations can be made online here or by phone at 800-474-6627. If you need assistance with your reservation, please call Luci at the TCATA office at 813-348-0075 or email her at Luci@tcata.org. Between a very strong business program, and the myriad activities available on the island, we are confident this will be another valuable and memorable conference. For all details, visit the 2018 Conference tab on the website.
This year's spouse/guest program at the 2018 Conference will be a little different - informal, less structured. Kay Horwath, Horwath Laundry Equipment, invites spouses and guests to meet at the beach, then for lunch in the pool area. During lunch, spouses and guests will have the opportunity to learn how to make some local drinks from a seasoned bartender. Look for more details on the TCATA website and in a separate mailing shortly.
TCATA will also be organizing an optional event at the hotel on Friday afternoon for those who wish to volunteer their time in helping the people of Puerto Rico recover. We'll be putting together baskets of much needed supplies for delivery to local people in need. Details will be on the website and in the final attendee mailing.
President's Report
With the 2018 TCATA conference in Puerto Rico approaching soon, I sincerely hope you are making plans to attend. As CEO David Cotter has reported via emails and in the article below, our visit in January was a very pleasant surprise and revealed a resort and city eager and ready to host the conference. The Wyndham Rio Mar is a gorgeous beach resort and has used the "down time" to renovate and improve their facilities. The city of San Juan has done a marvelous job of recovering from the hurricane damage and both the new and old parts of town are in excellent condition, ready to receive tourists.
Besides the appeal of the tropical island of Puerto Rico, the 2018 TCATA conference will provide an excellent business program, an exceptionally unique Thursday party venue, two very fine golf courses, and a fun spouse/guest program. As always, it is also a terrific opportunity to socialize with old friends, make new ones, and to interact with fellow TCATA members that are leaders in the textile care industry. My experience in attending TCATA conferences for over 35 years is that they have been invaluable in developing business relationships that likely would not have occurred anywhere else, which makes these annual conferences of the highest priority.
It is a natural inclination to provide help and support to areas that suffer a severe disaster, as Puerto Rico did; but it is also sometimes difficult to know how best to help. I can assure you, that by coming to Puerto Rico and spending money there, you are truly helping and supporting an island that is very dependent on tourism. My encouragement to all of you is to please attend the 2018 TCATA conference in Puerto Rico...and tip heavy!
Gerald Henke
Intex Distributing Company
TCATA Members Celebrate Anniversaries
.jpg)
TCATA congratulates Ideal Chemical & Supply Company of Memphis, Tennessee on its 75th year of membership in the Association. TCATA is most appreciative of Ideal's long-standing support and we wish them many more years of success! On June 11, 1932 F.K. Levy formed a company under the name of Ideal Plating Company in Memphis, Tennessee. A few months later, Sam Block, Sr. joined the company and in May 1933, the name was changed to Ideal Manufacturing & Sales Corporation. The initial business of the company concentrated on distribution of General Electric light globes and small electrical appliances, assembling floor lamps, and plating and refinishing operations.
Because of the demand for plating chemicals in the Memphis area, Ideal expanded into the distribution of industrial chemicals becoming the first chemical distributor in Memphis. In addition, contacts with laundries in the area resulted in opportunities for distributing laundry and dry-cleaning supplies. By 1937, the distribution business had grown to a level that the electrical and plating businesses were discontinued, and the name Ideal Chemical & Supply Company was adopted.
In 1967, Ideal moved its Memphis operations to its current location on twelve acres to later include 250,000 gallons of bulk chemical storage with rail access. Today Ideal is a regional distributor of industrial chemicals, textile care and water treatment products. They have three branch locations including Jackson, Mississippi which opened in 1973; Harahan, Louisiana in 1990; and Shreveport, Louisiana in 1995. All locations service the chemical and textile markets. In 1992, Ideal expanded its Memphis operations to include the ability to blend and package liquid and powder products. Ideal manufactures EverClean™ laundry products with sales to dry cleaners, industrial rental, hospitality and institutional companies, serviced by six professional technicians.
Ideal is privately owned by Sam Block, Jr., President and third generation Jeffrey Block, Vice President, Chemical Sales. Currently employing one hundred people in five states, it has grown to be a $45 million-dollar company.
Along with membership in TCATA, Ideal is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) which includes required participation in Responsible Distribution. In November 2017 Ideal passed their 6th cycle audit conducted by an independent firm to be verified once again as a Responsible Distributor. This means that Ideal meets the guidelines of health, safety, environment and security set forth by NACD.
As citizens of the community, Ideal participates in many outreach programs including support of local charities. They are proud of their employees who have given them the ability to provide the excellent customer service, quick response times and on-going stewardship to get them where they are today, and they are looking forward to what may come as they strive to grow and improve going forward.
TCATA is proud to celebrate Equipment International as they complete their 50th year as TCATA members.
Founded in 1965, Equipment International is a 3rd generation family owned Chicago based business focusing on industrial laundry equipment. They are exclusive dealers of Milnor, Chicago Dryer and American Dryer Corp in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
The company was started in Harold and Shirley Rodin’s basement. Equipment International has grown over the past five decades fro
m that basement to a one room office in 1969, to a three-room office in 1972, to their current 6200 square foot facility in Morton Grove.
In 1992. Harold and Shirley (pictured above) proudly passed the company on to their daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Steve Zabrin. Nancy and Steve’s son, Kyle joined the company in 2004. Currently the VP of Sales, Kyle is being groomed to take over the company when Nancy and Steve retire. Kyle has been active in TCATA, having served on the 2017 Conference Business Program Committee.
Known for their client-centric focus, Equipment International’s approach is a knowledgeable sales staff and professionally certified technicians. They provide industrial laundry services to some of the top-ranked hospitals, finest hotels, leading educational institutions, and championship sports organizations.
TCATA is proud to recognize Consolidated Laundry Machinery (CLM) of Pomona, California, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of membership in TCATA this year. 
With a focus on high quality dryers, Consolidated Laundry Machinery manufactures a line of industrial models ranging from 200 to 1200-lb. capacity.
Time-tested designs have provided decades of efficient laundry processing for many industries including healthcare, hospitality, industrial, institutional and apparel.
The company maintains its high-quality reputation by dependably providing ongoing parts and responsive service support for its products, regardless of age.
Combining “workhorse” reliability with cutting-edge technology, CLM has produced cost-effective, best-in-class industrial dryers, folders, conveyors, vacuum feeders and mat rolling systems for decades.
The company started in Los Angeles, California in 1962 as a supplier of quality re-built and used industrial laundry equipment. In 1983, CLM purchased Grantham Dryer Company and became an industrial dryer manufacturer as well.
Soon thereafter, the company expanded its business again, this time to manufacture other industrial laundry equipment, including mat rollers, shuttles, folders, speeders, feeders and other equipment. CLM also expanded its parts and services departments and offers upgrading and refurbishing of dryers at the customer’s site.
In 2011, Consolidated Laundry moved its headquarters to Pomona to accommodate its growth – both the corporate offices and its manufacturing facility are here. Over the last several years, CLM has developed distributor relationships for improved after sales support throughout North America.
CLM dryers are used worldwide in companies ranging from apparel manufacturers and industrial launderers, to hotels, hospitals, prisons and other institutions. Continued innovations at the company have resulted in unsurpassed productivity and efficiency with machines that are easy to operate and maintain. These innovations increase productivity, “green” efficiency, and overall safety while upholding the company’s “workhorse” industry reputation.
Combining lean manufacturing and over 50 years of experience in the industry, Gabriel Camacho, president, and David Smith, director of sales, combined forces in early 2017 to innovate wash aisle equipment.
TCATA thanks Consolidated for its years of commitment to TCATA, and wishes them many more years of success!
