Laundry boss Matthew Barker refuses to get into a spin about gloomy economic forecasts.

In fact, the MD of Bournemouth-based Barker, the largest domestic laundry in the UK and a leading specialist dry cleaner, believes there is optimism in the air.

And for good reason.

During the latter part of last year his business invested nearly £1m in new plant and machinery.

The works recently reached completion.

The investment has led to significantly increased efficiencies as well as achieving sustainability goals within the business.

Meanwhile, closures and amalgamations in the industry have provided new business opportunities, especially in the hospitality sector.

The extensive refit began last summer.

It included the creation of a new plant room with a new boiler and water treatment plant and upgrades to other machinery.

The wash house was moved and extended, increasing wash capacity and new dryers were installed.

A new ironer line completed the transformation of the Barker factory.

As a result, it now boasts 20 per cent more working space, achieved through a clever redesign of the workflow and repositioning of the machinery.

Capacity has increased by some 50 per cent.

This, in turn, reduces handling time.

Matthew said: “As we emerged from Covid, there was a natural wariness by businesses when it came to investment.

“An oncoming downturn towards recession was inevitable following the growth spurt of opening the country up.

“The fallout of high government spending leading to tax hikes was also expected.

“At Barker, a strong balance sheet meant an opportunity to get in shape ready for the future.

“No recession lasts forever and we needed to be ready for any growth opportunities that may arise.

“This is not so much an upgrade of aging plant as an investment in reducing our energy and employment costs.

“Labour costs accounted for nearly 50 per cent of our total revenue.

“Energy costs are rising steeply, and we need to extract all the efficiencies we can, not just for the environment but for our survival also.

“Included in our upgraded machinery, we have an increased capacity boiler.

“It is so much more efficient in its use of energy, providing better quality steam while using less fuel per kilo of laundry than the previous system.

“We have increased insulation of the pipework which has minimised heat loss.

“The summer months will also be improved as we’re generating less heat.

“We have also installed a new system to monitor our water which manages how it’s pumped around the building, directing it to exactly where it is needed.

“This pump efficiency has led to a reduction in electricity too.”

Matthew said the past 36 months had been challenging but also provided opportunities.

He said: “The events of the last three years caused turmoil within the commercial laundry industry.

“Various closures and amalgamations of larger industrial laundries have left many of their clients in the hospitality sector desperate for good quality laundry services.

“Whilst Barker’s investment has reduced operating hours and energy use it has provided capacity for growth of a further 50 per cent that Barker plans to fill over the next 24 months.

“The work was undertaken by R. Brown Specialist Laundry Engineering Ltd, who were brilliant, from start to finish.

“We are looking forward to the months ahead, continuing to grow the business and looking to maximise on the increased efficiencies that we have achieved within the business, with a great team behind us.”

Barker, which can trace its heritage back to 1861, is also a global leader in the supply of starched dress wear to the legal profession and the film, TV and theatre industries.

Its work can be seen in Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders and Mr Selfridge, to name just a few.