According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 manufacturers, 70 percent of the respondents said that they expect the economy to be stronger in the first quarter of 2010, says AHR, Westport, Conn. This bodes well for the upcoming 2010 AHR Expo, as nearly 72 percent of respondents predicted that their customers will start buying more products in the first quarter.
The global market for semiconductors used in major home appliances (MHAs) is forecast to recover strongly in 2010 and grow steadily over the next five years, according to a recent market assessment by IMS Research, Austin, Texas, supplier of market research and consultancy services to electronics markets.
Public Research University UC Davis, Davis, Calif., has announced that Coolerado Corp., Denver, Colo., is the first certified winner of its “Western Cooling Challenge.” Recent federal tests showed that the air-conditioner manufacturer’s five-ton commercial rooftop unit should be able to air-condition a typical big-box store with less than half the energy needed by conventional cooling units.
Utility provider DTE Energy, Livonia, Mich., has begun dismantling more than 1,000 old refrigerators turned in by customers of its Detroit Edison subsidiary as part of a "cash-for-clunkers" appliance recycling program launched in June. The appliances are being dismantled at a newly opened recycling plant in Livonia.
Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich., is teaming up with the Philadelphia-based organization American Homeownership Initiative (AHI) in its quest to provide a financing alternative to traditional mortgages.
BSH Home Appliances Corp., North America, New Bern, N.C., has announced that its Bosch brand has started production of Vision laundry at its New Bern, N.C., manufacturing facility.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Washington, D.C., recently submitted principles developed by its Smart Grid Task Force to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These principles clarify how appliances can effectively operate within a Smart Grid environment, while providing consumer acceptability.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Washington, D.C., has updated and published its major appliance historical tables, which includes major appliance shipment data from the first year shipments were tracked through the end of 2008. This unique data set includes total shipments of products that are imported, exported, and produced domestically.
Michael Jemal, previously president and CEO of Haier America, New York, N.Y., has been elevated to chairman of the board for appliance manufacturer Haier America and has promoted Shariff Kan to president of the newly created White Goods Group of Haier America.
To help accelerate the commercialization of technology that uses the sun’s energy rather than the electric grid or natural gas to power air-conditioning systems, Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company), Los Angeles, Calif., a natural gas utility, has launched a multi-year showcase of advanced concentrated solar power systems to benefit businesses and the region.
A Fisher & Paykel, East Tamaki, New Zealand, strategic partnership with Chinese appliance manufacturer Haier, Qingdao, Shandong province, China, created in response to the global recession’s continued impact on market conditions in May, 2009, when Haier purchased a 20-percent stake in the New Zealand company, is expected to fully extend its global reach, say the companies, while providing cost, production, and research and development benefits.
Royal Philips Electronics, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has closed the acquisition of Saeco International Group S.p.A., Bologna, Italy, an espresso machine maker.
GE, Washington, D.C., has announced that it will develop and manufacture Smart Grid-enabled appliances that will shave energy peaks for utility companies and save consumers money.
The European Commission has adopted four ecodesign regulations to improve the energy efficiency of industrial motors, circulators, televisions, refrigerators and freezers.
U-SNAP Alliance, Morgan Hill, Ca., a group working to create a low-cost connector standard to enable consumer products to communicate with any vendor’s smart meter, has released its first specification for product developers.
GE, Louisville, Ky., has announced that by 2015 it plans to have a turn-key product portfolio that will empower consumers to efficiently consume, manage and generate electricity for overall net zero annual energy.
Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich., and Hisense Kelon, Shunde, China, a Chinese electronic and home appliance company, have inaugurated a joint venture manufacturing facility, which will produce refrigerators and washing machines for the Chinese and export markets.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C., has announced the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of new Energy Star qualified home appliances.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Arlington, Va., has announced that effective July 15, 2009, coil-only ratings in the AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance will be limited to coil-only ratings developed from system manufacturers’ highest sales volume tested combinations (HSVTC) and cannot be more than 6 percent greater than the HSVTC ratings.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Arlington, Va., recently approved a new testing and rating standard, AHRI Standard 1230, Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment. The new standard is expected to be published online by the end of July.
In a time when the U.S. economic stimulus plan is emphasizing retrofitting commercial and residential buildings, ASHRAE, Atlanta, Ga., has approved a change to its residential ventilation standard to encourage home retrofits to improve indoor air quality.
The Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference is taking place October 5 to 7, 2009, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, just outside Washington, D.C.
Tendril, Boulder, Colo., and GE Consumer & Industrial, Louisville, Ky., have signed a joint development agreement to further enhance the communication capabilities of GE’s demand response appliances.
LG Electronics, Mexico City, Mexico, manufacturer of consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, is planning to reorganize manufacturing plants and expand investments in Mexico.
CSA America Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, developer of standards, codes, and personnel certification programs, has announced its "CSA Standards" corporate identity, which includes a new corporate logo.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Washington, D.C., has revised the technical standard for portable air conditioners. AHAM PAC-1-2009, Portable Air Conditioners, is now available on the AHAM Web site.
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), Herndon, Va., an industry-led consortium, has released a position statement that defines “low-halogen” (BFR/CFR/PVC-free) for electronic products.
Sears, Hoffman Estates, Ill., is introducing its Sears Buyer Protection Program. The program, available July 6, 2009, through August 1, 2009, will cover major appliance purchases over $399 made with a Sears card if the accountholder loses his or her job.
