Girbau Industrial’s Sortech Earns Innovation Honorable Mention and Redefines Automated Linen Sorting

Designed to fit each laundry’s production goals and facility layout, Sortech automates first-stage sorting by identifying individual linen items through RFID technology. The system reduces manual handling, improves sorting accuracy and removes operators from direct contact with contaminated textiles.

Sortech uses modular Picking Stations (PKS) that separate and feed individual linen items through the system for RFID reading and automated routing. Facilities can add multiple PKS units to scale production capacity. A dual-PKS configuration processes up to 1,800 items per hour and can replace multiple manual sorting stations while maintaining consistent performance.

The system also includes integrated waste-separation features that automatically remove small unwanted items from the sorting stream.

Early installations already demonstrate significant operational gains. At Interhospitalia, a large healthcare laundry in Spain, Sortech achieved processing rates up to 1,800 items per hour while improving operator safety and reducing workflow interruptions.

By replacing manual sorting with continuous automated operation, the facility improved consistency, reduced downtime and created a cleaner and safer working environment.

“Customers see immediate operational impact,” Pollnow said. “They move more linen through the plant each hour and reduce the physical demands on their teams at the same time.” Sortech is engineered for easy integration into existing laundry operations and layouts.

Key capabilities include:

• RFID-based linen identification and classification for accurate sorting, traceability and automated batch management
• Configurable sorting categories and output lanes for trolleys, silos, conveyors and bag rail systems
• LED status indicators that help operators quickly identify machine conditions and reduce stoppages
• Touchscreen controls with real-time production data and diagnostics
• Modular layouts that adapt to compact spaces or high-volume facilities
• Standardized components and accessible service points that simplify maintenance and reduce downtime

While some laundries rely on partial automation or conveyor-based systems, Sortech combines fully integrated RFID identification with scalable automated picking architecture to deliver industrial-scale sorting speeds with minimal manual intervention.

Sortech includes a two-year factory warranty and uses standardized mechanical components and replaceable 3D-printed clamp tips for simplified maintenance.

To learn more about GI laundry solutions, visit www.girbauindustrial.com or call 800-256-1073.