Continental Girbau, Inc.

Providers of Card or Coin Laundry Equipment & On-Premise Commercial Washers and Dryers

Continental’s trademark — “Our Mission: Your Success” — reflects the company’s commitment to its distributors and end-users. "We have the ability and willingness to go the extra mile on a personal level," says Continental President Mike Floyd. "Our biggest strength is our ability to do business with the best distributors."

Listening and responding to market feedback drives what Girbau and Continental are all about. A "willingness" to go beyond is what sets Continental apart, according to Floyd. "Continental distributors are quick to provide product and service input," he says. "It’s key to the company’s continual improvement and growth. We listen..."

We warmly invite you to get to know our company using this section of our site. Learn about our people, our distributor network, industry partners, industry associations, career opportunities, and our company’s rich history and global presence, or take a factory tour and see first hand our commitment to quality, the environment and more ...

History of Continental Girbau: Over 15 years in North America backed by 50 Worldwide

Continental Girbau was established in 1995 as the North American subsidiary of the 50-year-old, commercial laundry equipment manufacturer, Girbau Group, headquartered in Vic, Spain. Family owned, Girbau employs more than 600 people throughout its corporate headquarters in Vic and subsidiaries in France, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, China, Dominican Republic, Italy and the United States. It markets its industrial and commercial laundry products to more than 90 countries worldwide.

Today, Continental generates the lion share of Girbau’s total export sales, according to Pedro Girbau, chairman of the Girbau Board of Directors, which has boosted production in Spain and made manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective. As a result of Continental’s success in North America, Girbau has gained strength throughout the world and become more competitive in the United States and abroad.

• 1924: Engineer Joan Girbau Vilageliu establishes appliance service company from his home in Vic, Spain.
• 1934: Joan opens his first appliance store, Radio Girbau.
• 1955: Antoni and Pedro join their father’s business. They begin manufacturing washers for the domestic market under Golder brand name.
• 1960: Girbau switches from manufacturing domestic products to commercial laundry products to take advantage of booming hotel market. Girbau produces a 12 kilo washer.
• 1969: Girbau develops first soft-mount washer-extractor (LF-40) and first dryers (SB-12 and SB-20). Total unit sales reach 796 for the year.
• 1971: Girbau now manufactures 12 products, including its first drying-ironing machine. Unit sales reach 1,216.
• 1973-74: Spanish tourism and hotel growth decrease. Girbau refocuses to manufacture equipment for hospitals and export. From 1973 to 1975, sales drop 19%.
• 1977: U.S. exportation begins. U.S. sales make up 6% of Girbau’s total export revenue for the year.
• 1982: Girbau exports products to 41 countries. U.S. sales drop to 2% of Girbau’s total export revenue.
• 1985: Girbau washers begin to be sold in U.S. under a private label.
• 1989: Girbau opens its first corporate office outside of Spain in Paris. During the next six years, Girbau opens operations in Argentina, United Kingdom, U.S. and Brazil.
• 1995: Continental Girbau is established as U.S. subsidiary.
• 1996: Continental begins marketing Express Laundry Center concept.
• 2001: Girbau acquires Jean Michel, a manufacturer of industrial laundry accessories in France.
• 2003: Girbau opens a new branch in Germany and opens a third manufacturing facility (G3) in Vic.
• 2004: Girbau opens new branch in China.
• 2007: Continental debuts two new lines of high-efficiency washer-extractors—E-Series and M-Series—and ExpressDry drying tumblers.
• 2008: Continental opens first regional distribution center—Continental Girbau West.