April 2022

Hundreds of busy hotels, spas and hospitality venues rely on JLA’s cost-saving washers and dryers to leave their towels fresher, fluffier and lasting longer. We’ll make the difference in your laundry room, too. Find out how we can help.

Save money and energy with every wash

When up to half of a hotel’s laundry costs are taken up with cleaning towels, it pays to save. With JLA’s advanced washing and drying equipment, you’ll enjoy the benefits of stackable machines that save space, save energy, and save your staff time counting stock.

On-premise laundry, with JLA’s quality promise

Outsourcing your linen laundry might save you space or a logistics headache, but the costs can sometimes outweigh the benefits – especially if your supplier doesn’t deliver the quality your guests demand. With JLA’s washer-dryer systems on site, you’re in control, and we’re always here to support you.

The OTEX ozone laundry system

Using a natural disinfection process that works even at low temperatures, JLA’s OTEX ozone laundry system is proven to cut water, electricity and detergent use, and increase the life – and fluffiness – of your towels. Better still, it kills 99.999% of moulds, yeasts, viruses and bacteria.

Powerful at low or ambient temperatures, saving energy on water heating
Save over 35% on water, gas and electricity annually
Designed to fit JLA machines already developed for max energy efficiency
Cuts detergent usage by 50%, reducing running costs
Helps to eradicate cross-infection by killing 99.999% of bacteria including athlete’s foot, impetigo and norovirus
Meets HSE, NHS and Environmental Agency guidelines
Offers verification on every cycle

S.A.F.E dyers – only from JLA

JLA’s S.A.F.E. (Sensor Activated Fire Extinguishing) system was designed in response to a growing number of fires in commercial dryers. Its twin sensors detect significant temperature changes and activate a sophisticated water vapour mechanism to soak laundry and put out a fire within 3 minutes. In turn, there’s no flooding and a greatly reduced damage risk to your property.

Space-efficient stackable systems

JLA’s stacked systems free up space and maximise laundry output for constant rotation – perfect for even the busiest hotel or spa. By increasing stack capacity, you won’t have to rely on spare towel sets you often need when outsourcing laundry. And because our system is flexible, you can set up a washer/dryer or dryer/dryer configuration to meet your exact needs.

Proactive maintenance and same-day repairs

Your guests can’t go without towels, so you can’t go without laundry equipment. That’s why, through our network of 450 engineers, we’re able to guarantee response times and keep your washers and dryers running, with minimum disruption to your laundry room.

Total Care for your laundry equipment

Peace of mind comes as standard with Total Care, JLA’s all-inclusive equipment subscription. For a simple monthly fee, you’ll enjoy new laundry room equipment with no upfront costs, free installation, and 24/7 support – including servicing and repairs.

Learn more about JLA’s commercial laundry systems.

Phil Cunningham, head of air conditioning and refrigeration, at JLA, explains everything you need to know when it comes to air conditioning.

Myths and misconceptions

One of the biggest misconceptions about air conditioning (AC) is that it only cools air, when actually it can provide hot air as well. This means you can cool and heat spaces using the same system – so most business don’t need to invest in both a boiler and an air conditioning system.

Another popular misconception is that air con systems are expensive to run and use a lot of energy. In fact, air conditioning can be extremely energy efficient using inverters, and much more sustainable than regular boiler-heating systems, as you’re not relying on burning fossil fuels to provide heat.

Which air conditioning solution is right for me?

Choosing the right air conditioning system depends on the size and layout of your organisation. Single units tend to be best for smaller offices spaces or organisations, such as hairdressers. If you’re looking to cool and heat multiple rooms in a large venue, like a hotel or care home, whole unit solutions give better control across larger spaces and can be more economical in the long-run.

We have a team of experts who will work closely with you to choose the best system for you, whether it’s a single unit or whole, multi-unit solution. From small premises to large hotels, we offer a range of air conditioning solutions that are right for your specific needs.

How easy is it to install air conditioning units?

Installation timelines will depend on the size of the solution. Single unit solutions only take two or three days to install, and larger installations, such as hotels or prisons, can take longer depending on the level business disruption. For example, we can work room to room to ensure the maximum numbers of guests can be accommodated throughout the fit out, but this can take a little longer.

Installing AC units is relatively easy and we make sure business disruption is kept to a minimum. Our expert engineers work around your needs. Whether that’s installing units in the morning before business hours begin, or getting the job done in the evening after everyone’s gone home, we’re able to work around your core business hours to ensure your organisation can keep running smoothly.

When should I start thinking about installing air conditioning?

Air conditioning can be installed at any time of the year. However, if you’re thinking about having cool air flowing on hot summer days, you need to be thinking about it sooner rather than later. AC installation definitely peaks in the summer months, so by getting ahead of the summer rush, you won’t have to worry about dealing with hot and uncomfortable spaces as it gets warmer. April and May is the ideal time to start making enquires!

How easy is it to maintain an AC unit?

The short answer is that, yes it’s easy, and we can also carry out maintenance around customers’ time restraints. Unlike gas boilers though, AC units rarely break down or need repair.

Investing in a good service and maintenance plan is still beneficial, as this means you don’t need to worry about maintenance either. For example, we’ll take care of regular servicing where we check that everything is running smoothly. And if you’re a Total Care customer, all parts and servicing are covered for ten years.

If you have any questions about the maintenance, repair or installation of commercial air conditioning units for your business or organisation, talk to our experts today. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it.

With summer coming up, it’s time to think about how to keep your business cool on long and hot days. To help you understand why air conditioning is important and the benefits of installing an air conditioning system, we’ve put together this handy guide.

Why air conditioning is important

In summer, businesses can become hot and stuffy. This causes problems for staff members, visitors and customers alike. Thankfully, commercial air conditioning is a great solution. After all, commercial air conditioning can:

Create a comfortable environment
Reduce humidity
Improve air quality
Protect business critical equipment
Improve security

The benefits of air conditioning for employees

A recent study by the Facilities Management Journal (FMJ) found that 29% of office workers are unable to work efficiently due to uncomfortable office temperatures. 6% said they lose more than 30 minutes a day of productive working time due to office temperatures not being conducive to working conditions.

However, hot temperatures don’t only affect office workers. In America, Cornell has found that there are clear associations between work performance and indoor environment conditions in all industries and sectors.

Due to this, it’s clear that in hot summer months commercial air conditioning can not only help make your staff members more comfortable, but it can also make them more productive.

The benefits of air conditioning for customers

If you provide your customers with respite from the outside heat, they’re more likely to stay in your business for longer. Keeping your business cool in summer could cause your customers to order an extra drink at your bar or enjoy a more comfortable and relaxing stay at your hotel or spa.

By keeping your business cool in summer, you can improve customer satisfaction levels, boost your revenue and encourage return business.

At JLA, we provide a range of single room, split unit wall-mounted and ceiling-cassette air conditioning solutions. Keeping different areas of your business at the right temperature all year round can be tricky, but we can help. Talk to our experts today to discuss your air conditioning requirements. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it.

If you’re running a restaurant or a busy kitchen, then locating the best place for your commercial fridge or freezer can be tricky. After all, there are a number of things to consider, including the size of the appliance you need, the space you have available and the access you require.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at how to install a commercial fridge or freezer. As part of this, we’ll also cover where you should put a commercial fridge or freezer.

How to install a commercial fridge

How you install your commercial fridge will depend on the type of fridge you purchase. For example, due to their smaller size, commercial counter fridges are often easier to install than commercial upright fridges.

However, how you install your commercial fridge will depend on its size and where it’s located on your premises. For example, if your kitchen can only be accessed via a narrow staircase, then the options you have available may be limited.

But, both counter fridges and upright fridges are far simpler to install than walk-in fridges and cold rooms, which will require expert fitting. Thankfully, many counter fridges and upright fridges simply need to be plugged in and allowed to reach temperature before they’re ready for use.

When installing a commercial fridge, it’s important that you follow the instructions in the manual. If in doubt, call an expert to help you.

How to install a commercial freezer

The process of installing a commercial freezer is similar to the process of installing a commercial fridge. This is because the installation process will largely be determined by the type of commercial freezer you purchase.

While a space saving under-counter model like the Active Freeze 140 Freezer will be simple to fit and install, a larger model like an Active Freeze 1300 Freezer will be more complex due to the space required. If you need to learn more about how to install a commercial freezer, then contact our experts.

Where to put commercial fridges and freezers

Deciding where to put your commercial fridge or freezer is very important and there are a number of factors to consider. For example, you need to think about:

Who needs access to the fridge or freezer
How often access is required
How much space you have available
Whether one large fridge/freezer or two smaller space-saving options will be better for your needs
Where your power sockets are

The layout of your commercial kitchen and your access needs will determine where is best to put your commercial fridges and freezers. For example, if you place your only fridge in the corner and multiple people need access, then you may create bottlenecks during busy periods. In this instance, multiple under-counter fridges may be a better choice for your needs. Similarly, in compact kitchens, space-saving options like under-counter fridges may better suit the layout of your kitchen.

Unsure which commercial fridge or freezer best suits your needs? Talk to our experts today. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it.

To deliver fresh food to your customers, you need to have the right commercial fridge in your kitchen. After all, not only will your fridge help keep your food fresh, but it will also keep your business compliant with food safety legislation.

We’ve designed our commercial refrigerators based on the feedback of top chefs. But, is a counter or upright commercial fridge right for you? Here, we’ll assess the differences between countertop fridges and upright fridges, so you can find the right solution for your needs.

Commercial counter fridges

Commercial counter fridges are incredibly useful in compact kitchens where floor space is at a premium and low-level design is important.

Countertop fridges can be incorporated into a kitchen design in one of two ways. They can either be integrated in an undercounter capacity, or they can be used as a 2-in-1 refrigerator-worktop solution. The latter is the preferred option in small and compact kitchens because the fridge also provides additional surface space for food preparation.

On top of this, countertop fridges are incredibly flexible. They offer versatile racking systems and combinations of drawers and shelves. In some instances, they offer just as much capacity as their upright counterparts.

Commercial upright fridges

Upright fridges generally offer a vast internal capacity. Due to this, they’re a great solution in professional kitchens that either do not require or do not have the means for a full walk-in fridge.

Upright fridges are also popular because of their versatility. Available in single door, double door or slimline options, they can be tailored to suit access needs.

Which fridge is right for my business?

Whether a counter or commercial fridge is right for your business will depend on the size of the fridge you need and the space you have available. Our commercial fridges are available in either countertop or upright models, with capacities of between 140 and 1,300 litres.

Generally speaking, countertop fridges are better suited to kitchens with a smaller footprint or slower service, such as care homes or small hotels. Meanwhile, upright fridges tend to be more popular in busy restaurants, hospitality venues or large-scale catering businesses.

Need help finding the right commercial fridge for your needs? Get in touch with our catering experts today. We’re here to help.

Whether you’re running a big restaurant with 100 covers, a small café or the kitchen in a care home, keeping your cooking equipment clean is vital.

When you’re cooking regularly, hobs can quickly become clogged with debris and food waste. As well as being unsightly, this could cause a serious food safety issue.

Thankfully, our commercial catering cleaning guide for hobs can help make the cleaning process simple. Here, we outline the best way to clean gas, electric and induction hobs.

How to clean a gas hob

Cleaning a gas hob is simple, but it requires a little elbow grease. Thankfully, this hob cleaning tutorial will make the process easy:

Using a damp cloth, remove as much food and debris as possible. While doing this, pay close attention to the gas rings.
Apply your chosen cleaning product and leave it to soak for a couple of minutes before wiping it with a damp cloth. Ensure that you clean the cloth between wipes.
Once the hob is clean, place the metal racks and hob burner tops into the sink. Leave them to soak in hot soapy water for several minutes before cleaning them with a cloth or sponge.
Rinse the hob burners and racks in cold water and leave them to dry.
Buff all surfaces with a clean and soft cloth for an added shine.

How to clean an electric hob

Electric plate hobs need regular maintenance to stop food burning into the grooves. Using this hob cleaning tutorial, you can clean your electric hob in six simple steps:

Spray the hob with a cleaning product of your choice and leave it to soak for a couple of minutes.
Soak a large cloth in hot water and place it on the hob, leaving it for a couple of minutes. This will help lift burnt-on stains and grease.
Wipe off any loose grime and food using the cloth, repeating the process if necessary.
Work the cleaning solution into the grooves of the heating element using a brush that will remove tough stains.
Wipe the heating elements with a damp cloth, making sure to remove all remnants of the cleaning product.
Leave to dry completely before switching back on.

How to clean an induction hob

Although induction hobs are generally the easiest to clean, they still require regular maintenance. To ensure yours is always spick and span, follow the six steps in this hob cleaning tutorial:

Wipe away any excess dirt or grime from your hob using a paper towel.
Place your chosen cleaning product onto the surface of the hob, leaving it to soak for a couple of minutes.
Clean the solution away using a damp, soapy cloth.
Repeat the process if necessary to remove any burnt-on stains.
Dry the induction hob using paper towels.
Buff up your induction hob using a slightly damp microfiber cloth.

Looking to upgrade your commercial hob? Take a look at the selection we have available today. Alternatively, speak to our sales team to discuss which of our options is best for your needs.

Never purchased a commercial griddle before? Well, to help you make the best possible choice for your business, we’ve created this commercial griddle buying guide.

Within, we cover how to buy a griddle, whether a gas or electric griddle is the best option, and the advantages and disadvantages of countertop and freestanding griddles.

What is a griddle?

Commercial griddles (often known as planchas) are the perfect addition to any commercial kitchen. This is because they’re great for cooking a wide variety of foods, such as eggs, bacon, steaks, fish and vegetables.

Although some people use the terms interchangeably, griddles are different to grills. This is because griddles have smooth and flat surfaces. That said, some griddles like our Modular Half-Ribbed Griddle can still create attractive grill marks.

Griddles are great because they’re easy to clean, offer great thermostatic control and will keep your kitchen running smoothly even in the busiest service periods.

Gas or electric?

Griddles are versatile appliances. As a result, you have the choice between electric griddles and gas griddles.

Whether a gas griddle or an electric griddle is best for your needs will depend on a number of factors. However, in most instances, electric griddles are more convenient than gas griddles. This is especially true in food vans and small-scale food outlets where food is prepared to order.

Freestanding or countertop?

Likewise, the availability of freestanding and countertop griddles means that there’s an option to suit a broad spectrum of catering requirements.

Generally, countertop griddles such as our Modular Electric Griddle are a great space-saving solution. However, they do take up countertop space. As a result, if you’re short on prep space already but do have floor space, then a freestanding griddle like the JLA Freestanding Griddle 800 is likely to be the better choice.

No matter whether you choose an electric griddle, a gas griddle, a freestanding griddle or a countertop griddle, a range of sizes are available. Unsure which griddle is right for your needs? Contact our experts today to discuss your requirements. We’d love to help you.

In this commercial food warmer buying guide, we’ll take a look at Bain Maries vs hot cupboards. In doing so, we’ll help you discover which is right for your kitchen. We’ll cover what each appliance does, the scenarios where it’s useful and the benefits it provides.

What is a Bain Marie?

A Bain Marie is a water bath appliance that’s used to keep food warm. Designed to gently keep pre-cooked food ready to eat for extended periods, it’s usually used as part of a self-service buffet or assisted service area. Electric and gas versions are available, as well as wet heat and dry heat options.

Wet heat Bain Maries are the traditional option. They use water or steam to heat the basin and form a bath or a sauna for the food you need to display or keep heated. By maintaining a consistent and reliable heat, you can keep dishes on display at the optimum temperature after cooking.

Alternatively, dry heat Bain Marie models use heating elements to keep gastronorm pans and batch-cooked dishes at service temperature.

What is a hot cupboard?

Hot cupboards (sometimes referred to as hot holding cupboards or warming cupboards) are perfect for storing plated precooked meals or crockery. The internal temperature of the hot cupboard is usually regulated by external controls.

Which is right for me?

Whether a Bain Marie or a hot cupboard is right for your business will depend on why you need the appliance. For example, if you’re looking to keep food warm in a buffet environment, then a Bain Marie is the right choice. However, if you’re storing a huge number of plated precooked meals for a service, then a hot cupboard is a much better choice.

To help you decide whether a Bain Marie or a hot cupboard is right, let’s conclude our commercial food warmer guide by looking at the benefits of both.

Benefits of a Bain Marie

Keeps food warm for instant serving when needed.
Holds pre-cooked ‘batch’ foods like curry or chilli.
Reduces food waste by keeping food heated for long periods.
Increases efficiency by cooking batches instead of to order dishes.
Ideal for front-of house display – in buffets or canteens.
Wet and dry heat options with various capacities.

Benefits of a hot cupboard

Keeps finished dishes fresh and ready to be served.
Can hold either plated precooked meals for future serving, or hundreds of plates for a large pool of customers.
Even heat diffusion for consistent temperatures
Bain Marie tops available

Still unsure whether you’re better off with a Bain Marie or a hot cupboard? Get in touch today. Our experts would love to help you find the perfect solution.

From laundry rooms to kitchens and everywhere in between, care homes must follow strict standards to ensure the safety of their residents. So, if you’re running a care home, then having the correct commercial equipment in place is vital.

To help you find the right equipment for your care home, we’ve put together this care home commercial buying guide. Here, we outline what equipment is needed for care homes, why this equipment is required and the standard you’ll need to follow.

Laundry equipment for care homes

The healthcare sector relies on the highest levels of cleanliness in order to keep residents safe. This is why it’s so important that you purchase equipment that helps you fulfil your legal obligations to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Department of Health’s Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-04 regulations.

In a care home, disinfection must be achieved in every wash cycle. To ensure performance and compliance, you need to use commercial laundry equipment. You also need to ensure you run heavily soiled laundry through a sluice cycle and pre-wash cycle before washing the laundry in an appropriate cycle.

When drying laundry, it’s also important that you use safety-focused commercial dryers that will reduce risk. You should also dry linen and clothes immediately after washing and remove items from the dryer as soon as they are dry.

For the ultimate in laundry disinfection, take a look at our OTEX disinfection system, which provides a verifiable way to meet HTM 01-04. OTEX is available with a verification unit that monitors the amount of ozone being injected into the wash process and provides a printed ‘receipt’ confirming the cycle has achieved disinfection. This then provides you with the audit trail you need for CQC inspections.

Catering equipment for care homes

Monitoring food safety and achieving the highest level of general hygiene is vital in residential care homes. After all, vulnerable residents are more at risk from food poisoning and associated illnesses, while outbreaks of E.coli could be more likely due to the weak immune systems of residents.

Much like with laundry, the CQC is responsible for inspecting the cleanliness of your kitchen. On top of this, as a care home, you’ll also need to have a food safety plan based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles. You must also provide your local food safety authority with evidence that the plan is being followed.

To make sure you follow best practices, you’ll need to have appropriate refrigeration and cooking appliances in place. Due to this, you need to purchase the correct catering equipment for care homes.

In the kitchen of your care home, food must be stored at a temperature of 8ºC or below. This allows you to control the multiplication of most bacteria in perishable food. In care homes, it’s recommended practice to operate refrigerators and chillers at 5ºC or below.

Thankfully, to help make monitoring temperature simple, commercial fridges for care homes usually come with external thermometers. These fridges are also specifically designed to maintain the correct temperatures. A domestic fridge or freezer would struggle with this, so specialist equipment is required.

Similarly, you should ensure that your commercial freezer keeps food at temperatures of -18ºC or below. This will prevent bacteria from multiplying. A blast chiller can also ensure food is cooled rapidly before storing in a freezer, reducing bacteria.

On top of this, you also need to select the right cooking equipment for your care home. Generally speaking, temperatures of 75ºC or above are effective in destroying almost all types of bacteria. However, cooking temperatures below this level are also effective provided that the food is held at these temperatures for a suitable time period.

To ensure that you reach these temperatures in your kitchen, we recommend that you use a combi oven with an in-built temperature probe. This will also make sure that you are able to accurately record cooking data, which can be invaluable for audit purposes. On top of this, hot cupboards are an ideal way to maintain temperature while transporting food.

Macerators for care homes

In your care home, you’ll likely have plenty of single-use medical items, such as bedpans and urine bottles. Disposing of these items manually can pose dangers. For example, if you use yellow bags, then you could be at risk of wide-area contamination. This is because manual disposal can pose a cross-contamination risk when carried through communal areas to a central bin store (which can pose its own infection control challenges).

Thankfully, you can eliminate this possibility by instead using automatic medical pulp macerators, which provide you with a fast, cost-effective and hassle-free alternative to manual sluicing. Ultimately, a macerator can reduce the risk of cross-infection in ‘dirty utility’ and sluice rooms. Plus, you can also reduce the inconvenience and unpleasantness of yellow waste bag build-up.

With the help of a macerator, you can efficiently and safely dispose of single-use medical items such as bedpans and urine bottles in under a minute. Plus, with hands-free technology, you can reliably eliminate cross-infection at the touch of a button and ensure that pulp and human waste are disposed of simply and safely.

Heating and air conditioning equipment for care homes

Finally, you’ll also need to consider temperature control in your care home. This extends to both heating and air conditioning equipment for care homes.

Older people feel the cold more than younger generations and they cannot keep warm by moving around as much. Added to this, keeping a care home warm can prevent illness.

The temperature of a care home can directly affect how often residents get sick and the severity of the illness. After all, greater susceptibility to colds, flu and pneumonia happen when residents aren’t able to get warm. As a result, proper temperature control is vital.

Similarly, when the weather gets hot in the summer, periods of prolonged heat can cause residents great discomfort. In some instances, it can also lead to residents becoming ill. In extreme scenarios when residents are already vulnerable, it can lead to fatalities if left unresolved. Due to this, a proper cooling setup, such as air conditioning, is just as vital as a heating solution.

Thankfully, our commercial heating and air conditioning solutions for care homes are built around your needs. Our heating range includes floor standing and wall-hung boilers as well as water cylinders and water heaters. Our air conditioning range covers wall-mounted, ceiling cassette air units, split units and VRV systems.

To help ensure you have the right systems in place, we will conduct an initial site assessment before our expert and skilled design and engineering team install your future-proofed commercial heating and air conditioning system.

That concludes our care home commercial buying guide. At JLA, we’ve been helping care homes for almost 50 years. If you’re still unsure what equipment your care home needs, then contact our expert advisors today. We’d love to help you find the perfect solution for your needs.

From schools to hospitality settings, a large range of buildings and businesses rely on commercial boilers. But, what benefits do commercial boilers provide, and is a commercial boiler or a domestic boiler right for your business?

In this guide, we take a detailed look at commercial vs domestic boilers, to help you make an informed decision of what’s right for your business.

Commercial boiler benefits

In very large industrial settings, commercial boilers are responsible for creating an environment that’s comfortable for staff and customers alike. Due to their size, domestic boilers have trouble heating large spaces. By choosing a commercial boiler, you’ll not only heat the room effectively, but you’ll also do it efficiently, saving money on your energy bills.

When it comes to heating a large space or different rooms across a larger premises, domestic boilers simply won’t be big enough to stand up to the task. Plus, it’s unlikely that they won’t be covered by their warranty if something goes wrong.

Commercial vs domestic boiler differences

Generally, the difference between commercial boilers and domestic boilers comes down to the size of the appliance.

Boiler size (or output) is measured in kilowatts (kW) and domestic boilers have a lower output than commercial versions. Generally, domestic boilers range in size from 24kW to 42kW.

In general, appliances with a larger output than this should be classed as commercial boilers. The heating outputs of commercial boilers varies widely. For example, some of our boilers have an output of 49kW, while others have an output of 320kW. Thanks to the range of outputs, it’s simple to find an appliance that meets your specific heating and hot water needs. Plus, you can choose from floor-standing boilers or wall-mounted boilers, too.

Do I need a commercial boiler or a domestic boiler?

Whether you need a commercial boiler or a domestic boiler will depend on the space you need to heat. When selecting a boiler, think about the following requirements:

1) Size

As we mentioned above, commercial boilers vary in terms of size. When selecting your new boiler, you’ll need to have a good idea of the heating and hot water requirements of your premises. If you’re unsure of what to choose, one of our experts will be able to guide you throughout your selection. Don’t worry if you’re unsure, one of our experts can help you.

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