Plant
From a Basement to Beaumont, and on to Houston
Ace ImageWear’ s roots trace back to 1932, when Ed and Clara Heilman started a laundry during the Great Depression in the basement of their Kansas City home. The business was named Ace Linen Supply, after Ed Heilman Sr.’ s nickname, which he earned during his time as a Golden Gloves boxer.
“ They already had some garment conveying rails, a solid dock system and office space that lined up with what we needed,” Heilman says.
The company preserved some of the building’ s original character, including repurposing exterior letters into interior decor, while redesigning the plant entirely for an industrial laundry operation. The result is a single-floor workflow that clearly
separates soil from clean, with color-coded systems and RFID-driven accountability at every stage.
The plant processes roughly 135,000 lbs.( 61,234 kg.) of laundry per week, including running 35,000 to 40,000 garments through its tunnel finisher, along with mats, shop towels, aprons and bar towels. Mats are chipped and scanned just like garments. A mat-processing area
“ They thought layoffs were coming, so Ed decided to strike out on his own— calling on grocery stores and bars to offer laundry rental services,” says Ed Heilman, the third-generation owner of the Texas operation.“ That basement led to a garage, then a building, then another location, and the business grew.”
Engineered to Hold
Over the decades, the company expanded into Texas, acquiring a laundry in Beaumont— a 100-yearold, multi-floor facility that the company operated out of for decades. But as the business grew, its limitations became clear. By 2009, when Heilman and his cousins bought out the second generation of owners, the strategic focus sharpened.
“ The goal was to grow Houston until it was bigger than Beaumont,” Heilman says.“ Once that happened, we’ d move the plant.”
MatGrip™ Backing
Adhesive Magnetic Base
Stays adhered to the floor while mats are being serviced.
That move came in 2016, when Ace ImageWear purchased a building that previously operated as an Al’ s Formal Wear warehouse in Houston. The company then embarked on what would be a two-year transition into its new space.
Designing an Industrial Plant with Purpose
The former Al’ s Formal Wear building was originally used to store garments. This proved to be a fortunate coincidence for Ace ImageWear.
Secure
Magnetic backing technology reduces mat movement by 97 %
Stable
Reduces slip, trip, and fall risks in high-traffic environments by keeping mats firmly anchored.
Simple
Magnetic base is easy to install and remove with an adhesive that won’ t leave residue
MatGrip is an innovative, patent-pending magnetic backing system designed to keep mats securely in place. It ensures a stable walking surface in demanding environments while making maintenance effortless. It’ s the smartest way to secure mats without compromising safety or style.
www. mamatting. com May 2026 • Textile Services 800.241.5549 29