Industrial Tumble Dryers South Africa
Commercial and industrial tumble dryers for hotels, hospitals, laundromats, and on-premise laundries
Commercial and industrial tumble dryers from 14 kg to 90 kg capacity with electric, gas, and steam heating options. Speed Queen equipment supplied, installed, and supported by Unicorp across South Africa.
Our Tumble Dryer Range
Speed Queen industrial and commercial tumble dryers for every laundry application — click any product for full specifications.
Tumble Dryers
Classic Line Industrial Tumble Dryers
Industrial tumble dryers from 14 kg (SU030) to 90 kg (SU200). Electric, gas, or steam heating; galvanised steel drums; OPT moisture sensing; Micromaster 2 controls — built for hotels, hospitals, and high-throughput industrial laundries.
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LDEE5 Commercial Tumble Dryer
Single-pocket commercial dryer with 198L drum on 230V single-phase supply. Quantum Gold controls with timer, coin, and cashless vend options — ideal for laundromats, guest houses, and compact hotel laundry rooms.
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LEAD Tumble Dryers
Compact commercial tumble dryers for lower-volume operations. Single-phase supply, straightforward controls, and a small footprint — a practical entry-level option for guest houses, salons, and on-premise laundries.
View Details →Specifications at a Glance
Compare key specifications across the Speed Queen and LEAD tumble dryer ranges.
| Details | Classic Line (SU Series) | LDEE5 Commercial | LEAD / Tullis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 14–90 kg | Single pocket / 198L | 8–11 kg |
| Key Features | OPT sensing · Micromaster 2 · Galvanised steel drum | Quantum Gold · Coin / cashless · Stackable | Compact · Single-phase · Straightforward controls |
| Heating | Electric / Gas / Steam | Electric | Electric |
| Electrical Supply | 380V / 50Hz / 3-phase (SU055+); 230V single-phase (SU030) | 230V / 50Hz / single-phase | 230V / 50Hz / single-phase |
⚡ Gas Dryers & Load Shedding
Gas-heated tumble dryers continue operating during load shedding — a significant operational advantage for South African laundries. Converting your drying capacity to gas also typically reduces running costs by 40–60% compared to electric heating.
Ask about gas dryer options →Heating Type Comparison
Choose the right heating source for your site and load-shedding situation.
| Factor | Electric | Gas (LPG/Nat. Gas) | Steam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load shedding | Stops ❌ | Continues ✓ | Continues (if boiler runs) ✓ |
| Running cost | Higher | Lower (40–60% savings) | Lowest if boiler shared |
| Installation | Simple — standard 3-phase | Requires gas plumbing | Requires steam supply |
| Best for | Most SA installations | Laundromats, hotels where gas available | Hospitals, large hotels with central boiler |
Why Choose Unicorp
Dedicated Support
Site survey, installation, and operator training — our team ensures your dryers are correctly specified and your staff are confident from day one.
Spare Parts & Service
Genuine Speed Queen dryer parts stocked locally in South Africa for faster turnaround. No waiting weeks for international orders.
Project Guidance
Expert advice on exhaust ducting, utility requirements, and dryer-to-washer capacity matching to maximise throughput and minimise running costs.
Backup Plans
Ready for every scenario — loaner or rental units available when needed to keep your laundry operation running without interruption.
Industries We Serve
Our industrial tumble dryers are trusted across a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors in South Africa.
Hotels & Hospitality
On-premises drying solutions for guest linen, towels, and staff uniforms. Equipment sized from boutique lodges to large hotel groups.
Hospitals & Healthcare
Reliable drying for medical linen, scrubs, and bedding — steam heating available for sites with existing boiler infrastructure.
Laundromats
Durable commercial dryers built for continuous public use — coin and cashless vend configurations, long cycle lifespans, efficient energy consumption.
Industrial Facilities
High-capacity drying for mining camps, manufacturing plants, and corporate uniform services requiring multi-shift, high-throughput operation.
Related Products
Industrial Washing Machines
Speed Queen and Girbau washer-extractors from 9 kg to 36 kg — matched to your dryer capacity for balanced throughput.
View Industrial Washing Machines →Speed Queen Equipment
The full Speed Queen commercial and industrial range — washing machines, dryers, and stacked washer-dryer units.
View Speed Queen Equipment →Finishing Equipment
Ironing tables, steam presses, form finishers, and flatwork ironers for professional garment and linen finishing.
View Finishing Equipment →Ready to Equip Your Operation?
Whether you’re setting up a new laundry facility or upgrading existing equipment, get expert advice and a free quote from Unicorp.
Get a Free Quote
Contact our equipment specialists for pricing, availability, and expert advice — no obligation.
Direct Contact
📍 Johannesburg, South Africa
Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00
✓ 40+ years experience
✓ Authorised Speed Queen distributor
Frequently Asked Questions
Dryer capacity should be matched to your washer-extractor size — as a guide, allow 1.5 to 2 times the washer drum volume in dryer drum volume to prevent drying becoming the throughput bottleneck. Towelling and heavy linen need more drum space relative to weight than sheets or garments. Unicorp will specify the right dryer model and quantity for your operation as part of the quotation process.
Electric dryers are the most common choice in South Africa and suit most installations without a gas or steam supply. Gas dryers heat up faster and typically have a lower running cost per cycle where LPG or natural gas is available. Steam dryers are well suited to hospitals and large hotel laundries with an existing central boiler, making them the most cost-efficient heating option on those sites.
Yes — the LDEE5 and SDEMN commercial dryer models support stacking, and the SSE917 is a combined stacked washer-dryer in a single chassis. Stacking doubles throughput in the same floor footprint, which is particularly useful in laundromats, guest houses, and compact hotel laundry rooms. Classic Line industrial dryers (SU055 and above) are freestanding units not designed for stacking.
OPT (Optimum Performance Technology) is Speed Queen’s moisture sensing system, monitoring 267 times more drum surface area than a conventional single-point probe. This gives an accurate real-time picture of load moisture and stops the cycle precisely when linen is dry — preventing fabric damage from over-drying and eliminating wasted energy from unnecessary extended cycle time.
Yes. Unicorp supplies and installs industrial tumble dryers throughout South Africa — including Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Port Elizabeth — as well as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other sub-Saharan markets. Contact us to discuss delivery and installation at your site.
Contact Unicorp to discuss your throughput requirements, linen types, site utilities, and available floor space. We’ll recommend the most suitable dryer model or configuration and provide a detailed quotation covering equipment, delivery, and installation.