STEFAB in Novorossiysk

The Indian manufacturer of laundry equipment STEFAB has been represented in Russia for two years now. At the CleanExpo Moscow 2023 exhibition, an exclusive cooperation with TEXKEPRO was launched. We have previously provided feedback on this technique from several experienced equipment users who purchased STEFAB to expand their existing production. Now we will tell you about a completely new facility, conceived and implemented from scratch, this is the "Expert Laundry" in Novorossiysk.

CLEANING FIRST, OR HOW IT ALL STARTED

The story goes back to 2020, when two young and ambitious friends moved from Siberia to Novorossiysk, where they began to develop the "Expert Cleaning" cleaning franchise. Over the years, the company has flourished and become well known not only in Novorossiysk, but also in other cities of the region — Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Krasnodar, etc., as well as in the neighboring Stavropol Territory. "The contract with Russian Railways" has further expanded the geography of the serviced facilities (Rostov-on-Don, Pyatigorsk, Yessentuki, Mineralnye Vody, and Rostov-on-Don) and strengthened the reputation of Novorossiysk Expert Cleaning as high-level professionals in their field. And the company doesn't stop there.

Soon, the owners, Evgenia Alifer and Lyubov Bunkova, realized that it was possible to expand the business into related areas, and that some customers needed laundry. Why not open your own laundry? But it's easy to say! The unknown topic required deep study and considerable investments. The success of the future "Expert Laundry" company was based on the investor's participation in the search and purchase of their own suitable building. The first floor was allocated for a "laundress", and the second floor is intended for the needs of a growing cleaning division.

While general construction work was underway on the reconstruction and repair of premises and communications, an in-depth analysis of the Russian equipment supplier market was underway. The choice fell on the professionalism of TEXKEPRO's staff and their proposed approach to shaping the future laundry.

A high level of implementation of the entire project was immediately set. It should be beautiful, reliable, and functional. The finish level is much above average. The staff should feel comfortable and happy working here. The mood set by the laundry facilities themselves should simply not leave room for low-quality work and hack work. The goal is to create a laundry unique to the region, where customers' laundry is washed not only efficiently, but also delicately, ensuring its extended service life. A laundry that sets a new high standard of textile service in the region.

FIRST TIME IN FIRST CLASS, OR LAUNDRY FROM SCRATCH

In September 2024, a unified messenger working group was created for the owners and staff of the future laundry, all contractors and TEXKEPRO specialists in order to work out the entire project in detail. It accumulated all the useful information, all the ideas, the necessary documentation, and recorded the decisions taken. In December, the team signed a contract, and in the first working days of the new year 2025, payments were made and an order was placed for the manufacture of a set of STEFAB equipment.

Such a thoughtful approach to the implementation of the facility and the full involvement of all participants in the process made it possible to avoid many problems on the way to building a laundry room, minimize costs and, having successfully bypassed all the pitfalls, reduce the implementation time of the entire project, while ensuring maximum equipment performance.

For example, despite the fact that the building is powered by the city's water supply network, problems with the quality and stability of the water supply have been identified. As a result, the facility was immediately equipped with buffer storage tanks, a filtration system, its own pumps and powerful storage water heaters. Now all this allows the laundry to use clean, soft water for washing (high quality and cost-effective detergents), and fast water filling and hot water supply significantly reduce washing time. This ensures high efficiency of the entire set of equipment.

In April, the finishing of the premises was completed, the equipment was shipped to the facility and installed with the direct participation of the project manager from TEXKEPRO. After that, all work on the installation of utilities (electricity, sewerage and cold water) into the building was completed as planned. It also took some time to prepare and manufacture all the internal highways. Upon full construction readiness of the facility, TEXKEPRO's technical specialists put the equipment into operation, and the company's own technologist began testing customer laundry technologies.

START OF WORK

In the summer of 2025, "Expert Laundry" opened its doors to the first commercial orders. In full accordance with the concept laid down by the owners, it can be stated that "Expert Laundry" has no direct competitors in the region.

Evgenia Alifer says: "Ideally, we are focused on the consumer who appreciates and understands what proper washing is. Laundry that protects the laundry, takes care of its durability and condition, the positive effect of which will become clearly visible after two or three years of using this laundry. When there will be no need for the client to buy new underwear because the old ones are still in good condition. But, unfortunately, not all clients are so far-sighted, think about it and understand it. And they are following the path of total savings.…

Yes, in the context of what is happening on the market now, maybe this is understandable. And if you think about the long term, comparing the cost of high-quality laundry with cheap, but taking into account the need to purchase new clothes in a year or two, then the second approach is as inefficient and irrational as possible.

As for the low regional market prices for laundry, any customer can easily see and compare everything himself. Just by visiting our company and other laundries, you can assess the level of technology, sanitation, the condition of the premises and equipment at our place and wherever else.

In general, we do not compete with washing in bleach and rinsing clothes in the sea (laughs)…».

"Expert Laundry" already has hotels, baths, and fitness clubs as clients. Negotiations are underway with industrial enterprises on the topic of washing workwear. The company also has laundry services for healthcare institutions. Everything is in strict accordance with all official instructions and guidelines in this regard. Using its own resources, "Expert Laundry" can take care of all the issues of picking up dirty and delivering clean laundry at a convenient time for the client.

Unfortunately, Lyubov and Evgenia note, at the end of autumn it was not possible to fully load the company with orders. The reason for this was the launch of the laundry in the middle of summer, when all customers had already scattered their laundry to their usual partners and, of course, the objectively disastrous holiday season this year due to the spill of petroleum products and the subsequent serious pollution of the Black Sea beaches. Nevertheless, this does not diminish optimism. "We'll be better prepared for the 2026 season," the businesswomen say, and they're probably already making further plans, looking at each other cunningly.

LAUNDRY FACILITIES

The main laundry facilities in Novorossiysk were:

• Three units of STEFAB AXE 60 washing machines with a 60 kg load and one AXE 30 half-load machine. All machines with final spin (G‑factor 350), with a new freely programmable ST 11 processor equipped with a touch screen;
• Two STEFAB DRE 60 dryers and one DRE 30 dryer (with a load of 60 and 30 kg, respectively). As always, the STEFAB has a stainless steel drum, rotation reverse, cool—down and residual humidity control included.;
• Powerful wall-mounted ironing calender STEFAB RLE 80-300 with a shaft diameter of 800 mm and a working width of 300 cm. An ironing machine with a wide stainless steel shaft and a high-performance direct shaft heating system with built-in heating elements.

Of course, all washing machines are connected to a central dosing station (in this case, SEKO LS‑100), which ensures high accuracy of drug delivery and appropriate accuracy of washing technology.

Viktor Latiy, head of the department and concurrently chief technologist of the laundry, notes that the equipment successfully copes with all technological tasks, works quickly, has good washing mechanics (due to large drum diameters) and is economical, since the freely programmable processor of the machines allows you to set any water level. I really liked the possibilities of manual control — if necessary, you can quickly perform any technological somersault.

Local service specialists continue to take a closer look at Indian equipment. They say it's a bit unusual compared to European equipment — everything is done massively, simply and maintainably.… There are no breakdowns. So far, it's all about maintaining basic cleanliness and controlling the oil level in the suspension bearings of washing machines. Its own equipment maintenance regulations are being worked out to ensure reliable 24-hour operation of the laundry.

In conclusion, we would like to thank our newly minted colleagues for their interesting story and the materials provided. On behalf of the editorial board of the magazine and "TEXKEPRO" company, we wish them favorable working conditions and the achievement of new horizons!