THE ATKV GROUP HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER 90 YEARS. IN THAT TIME THEY HAVE BUILT WONDERFUL FAMILY RESORTS LOCATED IN SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF SOUTH AFRICA FROM EILAND SPA LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE HANS MERENSKY NATURE RESERVE, ATKV BUFFELSPOORT, AN OASIS IN THE MAGALIESBERG, ATKV KLEIN-KARIBA A TOP CLASS RESORT IN THE WATERBERG, ATKV DRAKENSVILLE NEAR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SPECTACULAR DRAKENSBERG TO FINALLY ATKV HARTENBOS SITUATED IN THE WORLD-FAMOUS GARDEN ROUTE.
OTEK first approached the ATKV Group through Morne Veldsman, Property Manager at ATKV’s Buffelspoort’s resort who has the large responsibility of daily operations along with keeping running costs down which is increasingly difficult particularly with rising energy and water prices. With that large responsibility Morne Veldsman required a lot of convincing on the value of using OTEK for daily laundry operations.
However, Morne was very interested in the financial benefits that the OTEK product delivers and agreed to undertake a demonstration period after which Morne along with the General Manager would decide on the viability of the OTEK System. With most of their resorts doing their laundry on-site, the demonstration was undertaken at their Buffelspoort Resort where it could be done under the watchful eye of Morne.
As ATKV Buffelspoort has a sophisticated energy managing system Morne wanted to see the energy savings from the OTEK sustainable programs on the meters. OTEK arranged to work after the laundry had shut down for the day and spend the evening test washing. All equipment in the laundry was turned off to confirm on the meters no energy was being consumed and then the boiler was turned on so that three existing hot water programs could be run. Energy consumption averaged around 2.78 kw/h per wash. Following this the boiler was turned off and three OTEK sustainable cold water wash programs were run. Energy consumption averaged around 0.98 kw/h per wash meaning a whopping energy savings of 1.8 kw/h per wash.
After seeing the energy savings for himself at Buffelspoort, the property managers of ATKV Resorts decided to roll out OTEK into all their laundries using industrial washing machines.
Morne commented “I was reluctant at first, but I am very happy that I allowed OTEK to demonstrate their product because by introducing OTEK to our laundry we have seen large reductions in our energy consumption and water usage.”
After monitoring the laundry since implementing OTEK, Morne has also noticed that “not only was energy and water consumption reduced significantly but the Buffelspoort laundry operation has improved their productivity enormously allowing them to have more stock piles of linen ready so that rooms can be prepared quicker for new guests and the laundry does not have to go into overtime during peak season.”
Due to the enormous benefits experienced at Buffelspoort OTEK was introduced at Hartenbos, Eiland Spa and Klein Kariba. All sites have commented the same experience as Buffelspoort in terms of reductions in utilities and management of each resort making similar statements regarding greatly improved quality of their laundries
“The linen is softer, there seems to be an increase in cleanliness and quality; the speed of washing has increased and there is a big improvement in productivity.”
ATKV Drakensville was one of the final resorts to join the OTEK family. The resort did not originally qualify for the OTEK system as they were not going to save enough on energy and water and so with a heavy heart OTEK had to explain the resort would not benefit in savings. Andre Olwage Property Manager said, “WOW! How refreshing to come across an honest supplier.” Less than a year went by and while Andre was at an annual function at Buffelspoort he noticed the high quality of the washing. This prompted him to contact Ozone Technologies to arrange the installation of OTEK on two newly installed washing machines regardless of savings. It just so happened that the new washers were washing at high temperatures and as a result the savings generated by OTEK were far greater than the rental charges. In Andre’s words
“I was ecstatic to hear that the units would not cost me anything”
The ATKV resort group are also delighted with all the other benefits delivered by OTEK cold water sustainable wash programs. Cold water with fewer chemicals has increased the lifespan of the linen reducing linen replacement costs. Quicker wash programs equal increased productivity meaning the staff have been freed up, so the group have been able to train and re-skill their staff to assist in other areas of the resort. OTEK is totally natural and has reduced the carbon footprint of ATKV resorts and assisted with cleaner wastewater at no extra cost to the group helping to save the natural environment.
In general, Morne reported to senior management that: “Water usage has reduced, their use of energy has decreased, there has been a reduction in their chemical costs and they envisage that with reduced usage of heating elements in their washing machines, these machines will have a longer life with reduced maintenance cots.
