Karriere

Most successful business organizations tend to place
trust in solutions – often with partners – that work
across the board, ranging from best practices and
protocols to benefitting from highly skilled personnel,
equipment, and technology. The Saint Francis Health
System headquartered in Tulsa is part of that elite group. Having
cultivated a distinguished reputation for years, they are now the largest
private employer in Eastern Oklahoma.
Over the last 30 years the award-winning network, which includes four
hospitals and more than 100 clinic location across eastern Oklahoma,
gradually outgrew its laundry space at Saint Francis Hospital. The 1,112
bed flagship facility not only is the biggest hospital in Oklahoma, but
also the 11th largest in the United States.

One of the most impressive pieces of equipment they called
upon for three decades was a LAVATEC tunnel wash system
that delivered results for approximately 145,000 hours.
When their new laundry facility opened on June 8, 2025, they
retired the machine. The facility now houses all new LAVATEC
continuous tunnel washers, dryers, and extraction presses,
as well as ironers, folders, and rail systems from its vendor
partners.
“This is the first place I worked with LAVATEC equipment, and
I would never change again,” said Mario Villarreal, Systems
Director of Linen Services for the Saint Francis Health System.
“The equipment is very simple and once you understand how
to fix it in case anything happens, it will run. When a machine
runs for 30 years and you can maintain it, it’s awesome.”
An award-winning and growing Midwest Healthcare Gem
The Tulsa metro area is thriving. With more Americans looking
to relocate in southern states, Tulsa County’s population
increased 12 consecutive years from 2010 to 2022, including
a nearly three percent uptick from 2019-2020, the year prior
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of the allure besides mild temperatures stem from the
grand buildings and cultural institutions constructed during
the boom era when Tulsa was known as the Oil Capital of the
World. Downtown’s Art Deco district is nearly as famous as
the city’s ballet, opera, and symphony companies. Tulsa is
also the official capitol of Route 66, drawing the attention of
many international tourists with diners and attractions from
yesteryear.
Population growth led to a diversified economy which
has also flourished. Represented by companies from the
aerospace, energy, finance, and technology sectors, it paved
the way for more healthcare services In the northeastern part
of the state.
Saint Francis Health System now employs over 12,000 people,
including 1,000 physicians. A designated Level 1 Trauma
Center, Saint Francis Hospital is its premier facility and has
earned the respect of organizations with global impact.
U.S. News & World Report recognized them as the no. 1 hospital
in Oklahoma for the ninth consecutive year with its 2025-2026
Best Hospitals rankings, based on quality standards, patient
experience and outcomes, expert opinions and other care
related indicators. Becker’s, a leading national healthcare
publication with over one million subscribers, added them to
their Great Hospitals in America list in 2025.
Premier, a leading technology-driven healthcare improvement
company, ranked the health system as one of the top 15
medium-sized health organizations in the United States. No
other Oklahoma hospital made the list.

“I think U.S. News and World Report paid us the ultimate
honor when they said that across service lines and quality
measures, Saint Francis defined excellence,” commented
Lisette Coston. The Executive Director of Support Services,
she has worked for the Saint Francis Health System since 1978.

“Our 12,000 team members make this possible by providing
the best possible care to our patients with the comprehensive
services we have to offer.”
Six years of Preparation and Ready for Future Expansion
Planning for the new laundry facility began in 2019. It took
one year to complete construction of the 200,000 square-foot
building, which has 45,000 square-feet of space dedicated
to a laundry that employs 58 people who currently work one
Monday-to- Saturday shift. After reviewing all their options,
the decision was made to build it a short distance from the
main hospital campus.
“The biggest challenge was whether to keep it in-house at
Saint Francis Hospital, or move it off-site,” recalled Coston.
“At first it was determined we should stay, but we were limited
on ceiling height and landlocked by space. With 80% of our
volume coming from the main campus, the only way we could
do a renovation was to relocate the tunnel washer and cut it
in half. LAVATEC was the only vendor willing to do it.

“The amount of attention their
organization has provided at every
level to help us run our equipment
has made a significant difference.”
Mario Villarreal, Systems Director of Linen Services
for the Saint Francis Health System

“After evaluating the expense to stay in-house at our original
site,” continued Coston, “it turned out to be about equal.
At that point, it made sense to move and expand, which
allows us to support system growth and partner with other
healthcare institutions to process their laundry.”
In 2025, the laundry facility processed more than 17.6 million
pounds of linen. This resulted in an increase of 2.5 million
pounds compared to 15.1 million pounds in 2024.
Villarreal has a complete arsenal of LAVATEC equipment
to handle the greater workload. The LT50 tunnel washer
with 110-pound capacity is supported by an LP572 single
stage extraction press, which significantly reduces residual moisture by applying up to 40-bar pressure. A set of four TT
745 premium dryers, each with 292-pound capacity, manages
this workload.
The LT100 tunnel washer is built with a 220-pound wash
capacity and works in tandem with an LP583S extraction
press, which exerts up to 50-bar maximum pressure.
Combined with a separate set of six TT-745 dryers, Villarreal
says they benefit from the increased efficiency of reduced
drying times and lower energy and worker costs.
“During the course of our 30-year relationship with LAVATEC,
equipment reliability has been a main factor. The amount of
attention their organization has provided at every level to help
us run our equipment has made a significant difference,” said
Villarreal. A 45-year laundry industry veteran, he represented
Saint Francis Hospital when they were inducted into the
LAVATEC Hall of Fame as a charter member at the 2025 Clean
Show in Orlando.
Saint Francis Health System also took advantage of LAVATEC’s
vendor partnerships to provide more firepower for the laundry
facility. New flatwork equipment from VEGA Systems include
2-roll and 3-roll ironers and a blanket folder. Linens are “After evaluating the expense to stay in-house at our original
site,” continued Coston, “it turned out to be about equal.
At that point, it made sense to move and expand, which
allows us to support system growth and partner with other
healthcare institutions to process their laundry.”
In 2025, the laundry facility processed more than 17.6 million
pounds of linen. This resulted in an increase of 2.5 million
pounds compared to 15.1 million pounds in 2024.
Villarreal has a complete arsenal of LAVATEC equipment
to handle the greater workload. The LT50 tunnel washer
with 110-pound capacity is supported by an LP572 single
stage extraction press, which significantly reduces residual moisture by applying up to 40-bar pressure. A set of four TT
745 premium dryers, each with 292-pound capacity, manages
this workload.

The LT100 tunnel washer is built with a 220-pound wash
capacity and works in tandem with an LP583S extraction
press, which exerts up to 50-bar maximum pressure.
Combined with a separate set of six TT-745 dryers, Villarreal
says they benefit from the increased efficiency of reduced
drying times and lower energy and worker costs.
“During the course of our 30-year relationship with LAVATEC,
equipment reliability has been a main factor. The amount of
attention their organization has provided at every level to help
us run our equipment has made a significant difference,” said
Villarreal. A 45-year laundry industry veteran, he represented
Saint Francis Hospital when they were inducted into the
LAVATEC Hall of Fame as a charter member at the 2025 Clean
Show in Orlando.
Saint Francis Health System also took advantage of LAVATEC’s
vendor partnerships to provide more firepower for the laundry
facility. New flatwork equipment from VEGA Systems include
2-roll and 3-roll ironers and a blanket folder. Linens are“After evaluating the expense to stay in-house at our original
site,” continued Coston, “it turned out to be about equal.
At that point, it made sense to move and expand, which
allows us to support system growth and partner with other
healthcare institutions to process their laundry.”
In 2025, the laundry facility processed more than 17.6 million
pounds of linen. This resulted in an increase of 2.5 million
pounds compared to 15.1 million pounds in 2024.
Villarreal has a complete arsenal of LAVATEC equipment
to handle the greater workload. The LT50 tunnel washer
with 110-pound capacity is supported by an LP572 single
stage extraction press, which significantly reduces residual moisture by applying up to 40-bar pressure. A set of four TT
745 premium dryers, each with 292-pound capacity, manages
this workload.
The LT100 tunnel washer is built with a 220-pound wash
capacity and works in tandem with an LP583S extraction
press, which exerts up to 50-bar maximum pressure.
Combined with a separate set of six TT-745 dryers, Villarreal
says they benefit from the increased efficiency of reduced
drying times and lower energy and worker costs.
“During the course of our 30-year relationship with LAVATEC,
equipment reliability has been a main factor. The amount of
attention their organization has provided at every level to help
us run our equipment has made a significant difference,” said
Villarreal. A 45-year laundry industry veteran, he represented
Saint Francis Hospital when they were inducted into the
LAVATEC Hall of Fame as a charter member at the 2025 Clean
Show in Orlando.
Saint Francis Health System also took advantage of LAVATEC’s
vendor partnerships to provide more firepower for the laundry
facility. New flatwork equipment from VEGA Systems include
2-roll and 3-roll ironers and a blanket folder. Linens are transported to and from each station with various methods,
including WSP’s Soil and Sort and Soil Rail, and the Clean Rail
and clean linen takeaway system.

“From an overall perspective,” said Villarreal, “the end result
is we reduced the number of hours to run our new equipment
because it is much more efficient. Everything adds up so it
will result in benefitting us multiple ways, including lower
utility costs.”
Villarreal also has high praise for the reliability of LAVATEC’s
service accountability. “When we have needed them, their Service team is good,” he
noted. “As with any new start-up, there are little issues that
pop up. For example, when we had a cylinder shaft break, we
spoke to their team and they shipped us a new part that we
had the next day.”
Villarreal projects the linen workload to increase again this
year. His team is ready for it.
“We built this new laundry facility for growth and have the
washing and drying capacity to triple our volume. When the
time comes, we would just need to add more ironers and
folders. That’s why we built it into our current footprint.”