Robotics

Smart automation for every laundry size

The installation at bardusch Yverdon demonstrates that automation can be successfully implemented even at medium-sized sites. Thanks to its modular technology, Inwatec’s solution can be used just as effectively in compact laundries. Its flexibility ensures that laundries of all sizes can benefit from smart and reliable automation.

Smart automation for more efficiency and safety

Yverdon-les-Bains, located on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel and known for its thermal baths, combines historical charm with a strong industrial presence. In the heart of the city, bardusch Yverdon has been providing professional, hygiene-certified textile services since 1974. The site processes 27 tons of laundry per day in a single shift from Monday to Friday. Through close collaboration with JENSEN and Inwatec, a targeted modernization was implemented this year, increasing the site's capacity by around six percent. The solution combines classic sorting stations with intelligent automation: 24 chutes for flatwork and six silos where Inwatec technology takes over recurring sorting tasks, efficiently processing workwear, kitchen linen, and small pieces.

A central part of the new setup is THOR, the robotic sorting unit that separates bulk-fed loads into single pieces. With its patented gripping tool, THOR enables laundries to let machines handle soiled linen, protecting staff from possible contamination or dangerous foreign objects. The system is further enhanced by the HEIMDAL.Camera, which combines RFID and camera-based identification. HEIMDAL reads tags across UHF, HF, and LF ranges and identifies garments by color, pattern, size, and fabric type, enabling targeted and efficient sorting for different articles and customers.

Another key component of their new solution is ODIN, Inwatec’s smart X-ray scanner. ODIN automatically detects foreign objects such as pens, scissors or needles and rejects these items to a special reject bin, drastically improving employee safety. Previously, sorting was done manually, a physically demanding process that is now significantly safer and more efficient. Today, 9’000 healthcare garments are checked for foreign objects and automatically sorted, making the process faster, safer, and more reliable.

Voices from the operation

Olivier Baudat, Operations Manager at bardusch Yverdon, summarizes it clearly: “The health and safety of our employees is our top priority. Our processes have become much clearer, and our finishing department benefits enormously. We are now even ahead of schedule. The machine’s performance has positively surprised us, and daily work has become much more ergonomic for our team.”

The system also excels in terms of ease of use. Katia Costa, Production Support, adds: “The Inwatec system is very user-friendly, and we adapted to it extremely quickly. Operating the machine is much more comfortable than manual sorting, and its quiet operation contributes to a pleasant working environment.”

Bardusch Yverdon also benefits from the deep expertise of colleagues at the Basel site, where the same technology has been successfully in use for many years. The team in Basel also developed a tailored maintenance plan that ensures the system’s long-term reliability.

Result: Flexible, scalable, future-proof

The success of this project is built on close collaboration between bardusch, JENSEN, and Inwatec. The solution was precisely tailored to the needs of the site and offers enough flexibility to grow with the business and secure its long-term competitiveness.

“This installation clearly shows that laundries can also be more compact and still benefit from automation on the soil side. Smaller Inwatec solutions also provide efficiency and reliability,” says Thomas Eichenberger, Sales Manager of JENSEN Switzerland.

Smart automation drives the industry forward

Automation is transforming the laundry industry from a labor-intensive environment into a place where fewer people can work in safer, healthier, and more attractive roles. The installation in Yverdon demonstrates how even medium-sized laundries can benefit: robots like THOR take over monotonous and physically demanding sorting tasks, ODIN detects foreign objects before they cause damage, and HEIMDAL ensures precise identification of every garment.

By outsourcing repetitive and potentially dangerous work to machines, laundries create safer workplaces, streamline workflows, and increase operational efficiency. JENSEN and Inwatec have been pioneering these innovations for over a decade, providing flexible, modular solutions that grow with the business and boost both competitiveness and sustainability.

Automation also brings additional benefits: optimized production, fewer damaged textiles, and more efficient use of energy and resources. With smarter, safer, and more reliable processes, laundries like bardusch Yverdon can focus on high-value tasks, offering employees more ergonomic and rewarding roles.

A big thank-you to bardusch Yverdon for their trust in our technology and for showing how automation can make a difference.

Seeing is believing: We invite you to watch our video on YouTube to explore how bardusch Yverdon turned manual, time-consuming tasks into streamlined, reliable processes that boost productivity, safety, and workplace satisfaction.