Hilden tackles hotel thefts with tech link-up

AN historic North West textile company has struck a high-tech deal to help its hotel customers tackle the problem of linen and laundry thefts and losses.

Blackburn-based Hilden is partnering with US company TAGSYS to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to track stock.

The link-up, thought to be a first for the UK hospitality sector, will see microchips installed in hotel linens, which can then be tracked remotely via radio frequency.
 
It is estimated that between 15 – 20% of stock is lost through mismanagement, stock hoarding and guests ‘liberating’ bathrobes and towels from their hotel rooms.

Hilden’s ‘smart’ linen range allows hotel managers to pinpoint where losses and abuse occur.  The RFID also gives full control of the rotation of stock removing all need for manual counting and creates a platform that enables hoteliers to view stock on a real time basis.

Rod Nutter, commercial director at Hilden, said: “TAGSYS bring a wealth of experience from their 15 years of implementing RFID tracking systems at multiple sites, combined with their extensive research and development program we are confident together we can continue to innovate into the future”

Part of the Vision Support Services Group, Hilden can trace its roots back to the 18th century having been established by descendants of James Hargreaves, the inventor of the Spinning Jenny in 1764.