Tipton Linen Expanding

The medical profession's growing demands for sanitary, reuseable linens and uniforms is the driving force behind an expansion at Tipton Linen in Cape Girardeau.

Tipton is adding a 6,000 square-feet to its existing 24,000 square-foot facility, said owner Tom Tipton.

The company purchased two acres adjoining its site on the corner of Independence and West End Boulevard in January that were previously part of the Thorngate, Ltd. site.

The expansion is a $600,000 investment for Tipton. New equipment for the new facility will be an additional $150,000 investment.

Tipton, which employs 95 people, expects to hire seven to 10 more employees as a result of increasing customer demands.

"We are seeing an dramatic increase of reusable medical items, such as

sheets, lab coats, patient gown and medical attire. The high cost of

'single use' medical items, has caused the medical community to choose

reusable, medical textiles," Tipton said.

In addition to being more cost effecting, reusable linens are also better for the environment, Tipton said.

Nearly all laundry used in the course of patient care is considered contaminated and home hot water heaters and washing machines do not produce enough heat to kill germs like MRS, staph or hepatitis, said Tipton.

"We have hot water heaters that heat our water to 180 degrees. This insures our product is sanitary for our customers," he said.

Tipton Linen has been operating in Cape Girardeau for more than 63 years. The company's coverage area extends from St. Louis to Arkansas.