business backgrounder | family enterprise
“ We’ re here day in and day out to make sure patents have hygienic, clean linen to put on, providing essential services to help hospitals operate.”
— Evan Hall, president of operations with Northwest Health Care Linen
St. Francis Extended Health Care had a highly efficient in-house laundry facility, so much so that St. Joseph Medical Center asked Jim Hall to help, Van Miert said. At first, her father insisted they couldn’ t handle it, having only a small operation.
But after repeated pleas, he thought,“ How hard can that be to do laundry?”
He toured facilities and went to trade shows. Hall wrote up a proposal and presented it to five hospitals. The result was five signed 10-year contracts before he had land or a building to operate out of.
To keep up with growth, Northwest is constantly investing in technologies that lower costs, minimize water use and reduce manhours, Hall said.
“ Faster and more efficient equipment,” he said.“ Our dad saw that a long time ago— how automation would be needed.”
The philosophy was taken to heart in 2019 with the installation of a tunnel washer that uses hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach to extend the life of products.
Six German-manufactured dryers also added in 2019 use less natural gas and can dry 250 pounds of blankets in 18 minutes.
Natural gas is a key part of their operations, and the company is working with AWB to ask for its industry to be included in exemptions on restrictions for the burning of natural gas— the only fuel source for industrial drying equipment.
While quite a few laundry businesses include services for food, janitorial and other industry textiles as well as medical supplies, Northwest specializes in only health care.
Even when different materials are washed in separate loads, crosscontamination can occur because the same machines are used.
Northwest Health Care Linen can clean up to 80,000 pounds a day of linens thanks to its 150 employees and automated equipment. winter 2026 47