Dexter vs Girbau vs Unimac: What’s the Best Fit for Your Business?

What Should You Consider Before Choosing a Commercial Laundry Brand?

For operators evaluating which brand best fits their business, understanding the unique strengths of each is essential. You're making an operational decision that affects labor hours, energy bills, customer satisfaction, and uptime. What matters most is alignment with your use case, including:

• Facility type (vended vs on-premise)
• Floor structure and utility access
• Load sizes and cycle throughput
• Energy and water efficiency targets
• Staffing model and technical capabilities
• Serviceability and parts availability
• Ongoing brand and distributor support

Let’s examine how Dexter, Continental Girbau, and Unimac compare in real-world performance across the metrics that matter most.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Dexter vs. Continental Girbau vs. Unimac

Engineering That Matches Real-World Demands

Dexter is engineered with modularity and durability in mind. The entire product line of dependable washing and drying solutions is built around stainless steel components, tool-free service access, and programmable controls. Its DexterLive platform gives owners remote visibility into usage patterns, machine status, and revenue trends. For vended operations, DexterPay adds a seamless, contactless payment solution that integrates directly with the equipment, enabling customers to pay via the mobile app while giving operators real-time insight into payment activity and usage.

Continental Girbau, by contrast, leads the way in soft-mount design, enabling higher G-force extraction (up to 450G) without the need for bolting to concrete. That means faster dry times, lower utility usage, and far less structural prep work. Their Sapphire control platform offers flexible programming and cloud connectivity suitable for everything from a boutique hotel to a multi-shift laundry.

Unimac machines are built for throughput. Known for their UniLinc control and OPTispray technology, these machines are designed for facilities needing maximum productivity and robust mechanical performance. While UniLinc lacks the robust cloud features found in DexterLive or Sapphire, it supports basic cycle customization, operating data logging, and compliance reporting.

Drive Better ROI in Commercial Laundry with Top Brands

Total Cost of Ownership

An informed buyer knows that the sticker price of a washer or dryer tells only part of the story. The real cost of equipment unfolds across years of operation, including:

• Utility consumption: Machines with high G-force extraction (like Continental Girbau’s soft-mount washers or dexter washer-extractors) can cut drying time and energy bills by up to 30–40%, especially when paired with moisture-sensing dryers.
• Labor efficiency: Smarter control systems (DexterLive, Sapphire) reduce human error and enable consistent output across shifts and locations.
• Downtime and serviceability: Equipment designed for easy access and modular part replacement can drastically reduce machine downtime, service calls, and lost revenue.

Over a 10-year lifespan, these factors often outweigh upfront savings. For instance, a machine that costs $2,000 more upfront but saves $1,000 annually in utilities and labor will pay for itself twice over.

Workflow Optimization

Many facilities treat washer/dryer selection as a standalone decision—but machines function as part of a complex workflow that includes staff movement, chemical dosing systems, sorting, and folding. Leading brands like Dexter and Girbau understand this, offering features designed to optimize the broader process:

• Cycle customization enables operations to match wash formulas with the type of linen, thereby reducing fabric damage and rewash rates. Dexter provides highly programmable controls that enable operators to tailor cycles precisely for different fabric types and soil levels, improving linen longevity and operational efficiency.
• Auto chemical injection (standard in many Girbau models) streamlines dosing and improves consistency across loads.
• Stackable and space-saving designs reduce unnecessary foot traffic, freeing up floor space for sorting, folding, or clean-linen staging.

Safety, Compliance, and Fire Prevention

Regulatory compliance is non-negotiable in healthcare, hospitality, correctional, and educational environments. Your machine choice must align with local and federal standards on fire safety, infection control, and workplace ergonomics.

Unimac and Dexter both offer fire suppression systems in their commercial dryers—an essential feature for facilities handling heavily soiled or flammable linens (e.g., in kitchens or nursing homes). Meanwhile, Girbau’s wet cleaning compatibility and precise temperature control are beneficial in healthcare settings where sanitization is critical, but fabric longevity matters just as much.

Sustainability and Green Building Alignment

For operations working toward sustainability goals, investing in high-efficiency machines is a direct and visible step forward. 

• Girbau’s E-Series washers use up to 57% less water per load than traditional top-load washers.
• Dexter’s moisture-sensing and axial airflow technology reduces gas usage and extends linen life.
• Soft-mount machines, by reducing required drying time, cut total energy draw across the entire process, not just at the washer stage.

Ready to Invest in Smarter Laundry Operations

Whether you’re planning a new build, modernizing an aging facility, or simply upgrading capacity, the decision you make today will define your efficiency and service quality for years. AAdvantage offers trusted solutions from Dexter and Continental Girbau, backed by deep product knowledge and hands-on support. Let our expert team guide you through the options and help you match the right machine to your business model and space constraints. 

We also supply genuine parts and service all major commercial brands, including Unimac, Dexter, and Girbau. Contact us to discuss your specific needs, request a quote, or schedule a consultation with our laundry specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions