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Welcome to appliance DESIGN E-News -- the electronic newsletter for subscribers of appliance DESIGN magazine. The newsletter is in a fast-scan format so you can quickly keep up on all the latest happenings in the design industry. Please let us know what you think by sending your comments to Larry Adams, E-News Editor, at adamsl@bnpmedia.com.
The Appliance Design European Roadshow kicks off again this September visiting maj or appliance manufacturers across Europe in a unique exhibition vehicle. Sponsored by appliance design magazine, companies such as Whirlpool, Electrolux, Miele, Merloni, Indesit and others are on the proposed tour list. The tour is designed for component manufacturers to present their products directly to the major design engineers and decision makers across the European
appliance industry. For more information, contact John Aldridge at john@dream-marketing.co.uk or phone +44 1189 886823.
ZINK Imaging, Waltham, Mass., has unveiled a new way for consumers to print and experience full color digital images without the need for ink cartridges or ribbons. ZINK Imaging’s patented technology, shown for the first time at the DEMO 07 conference, shifts the printing paradigm from an ink cartridge or ink ribbon, to a totally inkless system. Images appear on the ZINK paper without a drop of ink.
The key to the ZINK process is the ZINK paper, which is protected by more than 100 patents and patents pending. Dye crystals are embedded in the ZINK paper and are activated by heat from a ZINK printer. The crystals then colorize, producing high quality, long-lasting, durable, and affordable images. Read more...
To provide the potential for a safer cooking experience for the nearly 10 million blind or visually impaired individuals in the United States, Diva de Provence, Toronto, is now introducing a tactile marking kit for its induction cooktops.
"Diva's capacitive touch controls are perfectly suited for integrating the tactile markings," says Amir H. Girgis, managing director for Diva de Provence. "The safety benefits of cooking with induction enable all Americans to enjoy the entire epicurean experience." Read more...
As a part of its strategy to strengthen the company's Thermotechnology division and gain better access to the rapidly growing U.S. market for electric geothermal heat pumps, Bosch, Stuttgart, Germany, announced it has acquired FHP Mfg. Co. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. FHP is one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of these systems in the renewable-energy field. Bosch has acquired all shares of FHP from a group of investors led by G.L. Ohrstrom & Co., Inc. The purchase price will not be disclosed. FHP will be integrated into the Thermotechnology division led by BBT Thermotechnik GmbH, which also holds a strong position in the European market for electric heat pumps.
"With the acquisition of FHP, our growth trajectory in the promising renewable-energy segment is now strengthened in the attractive U.S. market. Because of their energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technology, electric geothermal heat pumps have great potential worldwide," said Joachim Berner, president of the Thermotechnology division. Read more...
The National Restaurant Association, Chicago, announced the recipients of the 2007 Kitchen Innovations Award for its Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, to be held May 19-22, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Highlighting trend-setting kitchen equipment, the show will again showcase award recipients in live, interactive demonstrations throughout the exclusive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion. All 2007 KI Award products were judged by an independent panel of experts to be among the most innovative foodservice equipment in the world.
"Our Kitchen Innovations Award program is now in its third highly successful year, and previous award recipients have gained tremendous strides in promoting their cutting-edge products to the world of foodservice," said Association President and Chief Executive Officer Steven C. Anderson. "Innovative equipment does not only benefit restaurants by increasing productivity, conserving the environment and keeping employees safe, it can also have a big impact on the consumer side by increasing speed and quality of service and menu items. While chef creativity is the number one influence on what's on the menu, great equipment can enhance those options. These products are truly at the top of
their field and we are excited to have them at the 2007 Show." Read more...
Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, has completed a new study titled "Changing Cooking Behaviors and Attitudes: Beyond Convenience."
The report tracks the evolving nature of consumer's food preparation practices as a variety of lifestyle and societal factors continue to fuel a shift to convenience. It also discusses how many consumers are attempting to reassert themselves in the kitchen, offering opportunities to industry actors who can deliver convenience, health, indulgence and comfort needs. Read more...
The Annual Excellence in Design program is currently accepting entries for its 2007 awards competition. Conducted by Appliance Design Magazine, the competition, now in its 20th year, has made a commitment to honor the best and most innovative product designs in the global appliance industry.
"The desire to create superior designs gets more intense every year as OEMs increasingly realize the critical role design plays in differentiating their products from their competitors," says Richard Babyak, editor of Appliance Design. "It is also very clear that designers are working closely with engineers in the early phases of product development to ensure that technology and design work together seamlessly in the presentation of the end product. This includes consideration of human factors, a critical issue as product designs become more complex. “A perfect example of where all these elements were artfully combined can be found in the Honda/Plug Power HES Home Energy Station Gen 3, which was named Best Overall in the most recent competition. The design of the unit demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can still be attractive and user-friendly."
This is a prime opportunity for both manufacturers and design firms to be recognized for their outstanding product designs. Past winners have included designs from companies such as Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, iRobot,CFM Home Products,Black & Decker,Electrolux Home Products, Bosch Thermador, Hunter Fan, Lochinvar, Pitney Bowes, and more.
Winning designs will be selected by a panel of design experts on the basis of creativity, ease of use, and visual appeal. The awards honor recent product designs, so the product must have been placed into distribution between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2006.
Entries will be considered in the following product categories:
·Business Machines (includes products designed for professional or office use, such as copiers, faxes, mailing machines, etc.) ·Commercial/Vending Appliances (includes commercial laundry, foodservice equipment, vending machines, etc.) ·Electronics (includes consumer audio/visual electronics, mobile phones, personal computers, electronic toys, electronic games, electronic musical instruments, etc.) · Major Appliances/HVAC (includes home appliances, heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, stationary air/water treatment, cogeneration equipment, etc) ·Medical/Test & Measurement Equipment ·Outdoor/Leisure Appliances (includes lawn & garden equipment, gas barbecue grills, fitness equipment, etc.) · Small Appliances (includes Small electric appliances, personal care devices, portable power tools, portable air/water treatment and floor care, etc.)
NOTE: Entries should be limited to products and systems that fall within one of the above-mentioned categories. The following do not qualify and should not be submitted: Nonpowered products; components that are part of a product/system (e.g. refrigerator shelving, oven display panel); industrial equipment entries (e.g. forklift trucks, presses, etc.); and vehicles.
Winners will be profiled in the June 2007 issue of Appliance Design and will be posted on http://www.appliancedesign.com in a permanent section dedicated to the competition.
For more information and to download the entry form visit www.eid.appliancedesign.com Submissions along with the $135 entry fee are due by February 9, 2007. Late entries will be accepted until February 16, 2007 but a $75 late fee must accompany them.
Questions about the entry process can be directed to Richard Babyak, editor at either 440-886-1210 or at EID07@bnpmedia.com.
3M high-performance, double-coated tapes with adhesive 375 provide good initial adhesion and long-term bond to many materials including high and low surface energy substrates: painted and unpainted surfaces, stainless steel, glass, polycarbonate, polypropylene, ABS, wood, fabric, leather and more. The adhesive is thicker and stickier than the average thin tape, offering a durable bond with high peel and shear strength and resistance to UV light, solvents, plasticizers, and high temperatures. In addition, the liners are color coded to differentiate the products and give easy recognition: the red liner indicates a clear product, the green print liner identifies the thickest product of the family, and the black print liner denotes easily hand tearable tape.
The 0.4 mm, low-profile 0805 bi-color SMD LED is designed with two ultra-bright LED chips with viewing angle of 120 degrees, forming various color combinations ( blue/green, blue/red, red/ green, yellow/green, green/orange) and producing unique color blends. With the various chip selections and their versatile characteristic, design engineers can achieve variable hues and intensity levels tailoring to their desired ambience. The LEDs extend further benefits for appliance, backlighting, and indicators applications by its extreme lightweight and ultra-thin design, making handheld devices and consumer electronics smaller, lighter, and flashier. This low power consumption, IR reflow solderable, and automation friendly series operate under current as low as 1mA and meet industrial temperature ratings of –40 DegC to +85 DegC. The
product’s enhanced feature is specially designed for automatic pick-and-place mounting process to increase productivity while reducing assembly cost.
New R2 compressors for residential applications are also available for R410a as well as R22. T he R2 compressors’ hardened mechanisms and premium silicon-steel motor make them ideal for base contractor models as well as high-efficiency residential air-conditioning systems. The premium line of R2 product includes a dual-piston, inverter-driven, rotary compressor. These compressors have been designed to optimize efficiency and homeowner comfort. R2 models are available from 1 ton to 4 ton in a compact footprint.
Compact, radial fans with free-running impellers and variable speeds combine electro nically commutated external rotor motors with newly developed integrated power electronics. Designated by model numbers GKHR and GKHM, the fans’ long-life, low-temperature brushless DC motors are controlled by maintenance-free electronic circuitry. GKHR fans are motorized impellers, mounted and balanced, that may be provided with or without an inlet cone. GKHM fans are complete fan modules. The fans’ external rotor design and high power density make them ideal for use in ventilation and air conditioning applications. With reduced mechanical content, the fan motors run cooler and quieter, require little or no maintenance and can be speed-controlled using an external
potentiometer or 0-10 V PWM signal.
FEBRUARY 2007 ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
CONTROLS & SENSORS
Slide Style Capacitive touch controls are now finding their way into many applications, from mobile phones to television sets. These interfaces are both robust and practical, and increasingly affordable. The designer’s quest for the ideal human interface is increasingly answered with electronic touch controls that increase consumer appeal and improve usability.
In 2002, Slovenian kitchen appliance manufacturer Gorenje approached Quantum Research for assistance in the design of a new series of cooktops, refrigerators and ovens. The objective was to create an appealing design that would help move Gorenje upmarket and strengthen its image as a design and technology trendsetter. Working with both Quantum Research and Pininfarina design studios, Gorenje realized this objective. Read more ...
An alternative approach to designing customizable electrical/electronic interconnects for appliances combines the qualities of multiple off-the-shelf connectors and places them on a single platform, blending pins, blades and varying grades of conductive materials into a single component. The customizable aspect of this connector is made possible by a new manufacturing process that enables engineers to broadly select materials, plating, and the quantity of pins and blades in connectors used in residential and commercial appliances, HVAC systems, medical equipment, and various motorized devices.
This advancement in customized connector assembly technology eliminates the need for multiple connectors in many cases, improving the ability of appliance designers to deliver precise amounts of current appropriate to specific applications. Any appliance design can benefit from single-platform multi-connectors, regardless of signal strength. This includes micro-electronic signal devices such as medical equipment and higher current-carrying traditional major appliances. Read more ...
As appliance designs become more complex and feature-rich, manufacturers are looking at ways to improve the human-machine interface (HMI). While touchscreens offer intuitive operation and software flexibility, touch-activated digital switches offer refined aesthetics and better sealing. Both types of controls offer space and cost savings and have become extremely popular for many appliances and devices.
But what these touch-activated controls do not supply is tactile confirmation, and the loss of that simple quality can be detrimental to user engagement and understanding, productivity, completion of transactions, safety, and satisfaction. In some applications, the lack of tactile feedback has been enough of a problem to prevent the conversion from mechanical switches to digital controls. Read more ...
When high-tech is served up in high style, the result is a double treat for upscale consumers who want a cooking appliance that is sophisticated in every sense of the word. Greater convenience and more precise control over the cooking process have been the principal improvements made to many cooking appliances over the years, but lately the industry has produced a number of shining examples of taking innovation to a much higher level, producing unique appliances that stand out from the rest. The following forays are not intended to provide a comprehensive smorgasbord of everything new happening in cooking, but rather, they are meant to function as illustrative examples, a tasty sampling, if you will, of some of the hot ideas being served up by today’s appliance
designers. Read more ...
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or appliance manufacturers across Europe in a unique exhibition vehicle. Sponsored by appliance design magazine, companies such as Whirlpool, Electrolux, Miele, Merloni, Indesit and others are on the proposed tour list. The tour is designed for component manufacturers to present their products directly to the major design engineers and decision makers across the European
appliance industry. For more information, contact John Aldridge at 
