The History of Roscoe

John P. O’Connell & George C. Buik purchase Very Best Laundry at Roscoe & Southport, where they wash customer-owned uniforms

Roscoe adds Uniform Rental to Services

Roscoe begins washing customer-owned rags – one of the earliest recycling initiatives

We move to Harrison St. (Existing Location)

Roscoe adds Shop Towels to rental line

Chicago World’s Fair – Roscoe supplies rental uniforms to the General Motors & Ford Assembly plants as well as fair maintenance & grounds crew

The Buik Family purchases shares from O’Connells

Floor Mats & Dust Mops are added to rental line

Purchase of “Garden” plant

Donald Buik is promoted to president

Donald Buik purchases all shares

Roscoe installs the industry’s first water treatment

Jim Buik (current owner) starts working at Roscoe

Donald Buik is awarded the Community Spirit Award

Jim Buik is promoted to President

Roscoe implements barcoding & automated sorting

Roscoe is awarded the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Award

Jim Buik purchases shares and Donald Buik retires after 56 years with Roscoe

Roscoe’s PACT

Roscoe earns ISO Certification

RF chips are added to both mats & uniforms

Roscoe launches new “Take Pride” branding

Roscoe initiates PRIDE Core Values

Consolidation and modernization of the existing plant

Roscoe is awarded the TRSA Sustainability Innovations Award

Roscoe celebrates 90 years

Roscoe becomes Clean Green Certified for our Best Management Practices of water reuse, reclamation and removal and green efforts throughout our plant and outside of the plant. Some of these include the use of T8 fluorescent lights with motion sensors and skylights, the recycling of hangers, cardboard boxes and pallets, the use of linen laundry bags instead of plastic disposable bags and the use of Route Optimization software that reduces mileage and fleet fuel consumption.

New installation of LED lights in production areas helps us reduce kilowatts consumed for lighting by over 40%. LEDs typically use 25-80% less energy and last 3-25 times longer than traditional incandescent, in addition to the countless benefits it provides in worker safety and productivity.

Another way we go green in 2015 is via solid waste reduction by de-watering liquid sludge and additional water recycling.

Roscoe celebrates 95 years

RFID chips are converted to Ultra-High RFID chips so thousands of garments can be scanned at once

Roscoe is awarded the TRSA Sustainability Award and Illinois Sustainability Award

Julia Buik starts working at Roscoe full-time

Installation of new Kannegiesser Sorting System

Roscoe earns TRSA Hygienically Clean Certification and OSHA SHARP Certification (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program)

Jim Buik serves second term as TRSA Chairman

Roscoe’s 100 year anniversary!