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Industrial Design
Good Ideas
by by Leanna Skarnulis, Contributing EditorLeanna Skarnulis, Contributing Editor
Design, design, design. It’s to appliance producers today what location is to real estate.

page 29
Industrial Design
Great Ideas: 2006 Gold Winners
by Leanna Skarnulis, Contributing Editor
The IDSA event in Austin included the Industrial Designers Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2006 competition, sponsored by BusinessWeek and judged by IDSA.

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Executive Corner
Hoover Acquired: A New Home for an Iconic Brand
by Tim Somheil, Editor, APPLIANCE magazine
Just hours after it was announced that Whirlpool was selling the Hoover floor care business to Techtronic Industries, APPLIANCE magazine spoke to Joseph Galli, CEO of Techtronic's floor care business. 

page 20
Porcelain Enamel
Advanced Coatings for the Home of Tomorrow
by Charles Baldwin, Brad Devine, Dave Fedak, and William Warner, Ferro Corporation
As mature products, porcelain enamel and major appliances require technological advances for added sales and profitability. Three new porcelain enamel products and their most suitable uses are reviewed.

page 31
Factory Automation & Material Handling
The Machinery of Lean Automation
by Leanna Skarnulis, Contributing Editor
Lean has caught on, and the appliance industry is turning to new assembly automation/material handling solutions to integrate Lean on the factory floor.

page 35
Factory Automation & Material Handling
On the Horizon
by Leanna Skarnulis, Contributing Editor
Appliance OEMs looking for new ways to increase efficiency, safety, precision, and flexibility, while reducing costly downtime, might find electromagnetic conveyors in their future.

page 39
Quality & Testing
The International Certification Equation
by Diane Ritchey, Contributing Editor
We asked the certifications agencies and appliance OEMs about the challenges of getting products approved for international markets.

page 43
Medical Appliances
Quick Scan
by Erin Biesen, Associate Editor
InfraScan worked with Bresslergroup to design a hand-held device that can detect a hematoma in the brain.

page 45
Medical Appliances
Sophisticated Sidekick
by Erin Biesen, Associate Editor
Home Diagnostics, Inc. looked to Texas Instruments to help create a small high performance, inexpensive single chip for a disposable glucose meter.

page 47
Medical Appliances
On the Nose
by Erin Biesen, Associate Editor
Medtronic and Metaphase redesigned the Straightshot surgical handpiece and ended up with an ergonomic award-winner.

page 9
On Location
State Water Heaters Introduces Products, Race Car
APPLIANCE was on hand on Oct. 11 when State Water Heaters hosted a media event at Chicago Motor Speedway in Joliet to introduce the Premier Power Vent and the SUF-Ultra Force.

page 19
The Open Door
Design Strategies for Emerging Markets
by Simon Bolton, managing director, Bolton Associates
Design for emerging markets represent billions of potential new customers. However, many companies are failing to deliver success in these markets due to their use of traditional design strategies.

page 20
Porcelain Enamel
Advanced Coatings for the Home of Tomorrow
by Charles Baldwin, Brad Devine, Dave Fedak, and William Warner, Ferro Corporation
As mature products, porcelain enamel and major appliances require technological advances for added sales and profitability. Three new porcelain enamel products and their most suitable uses are reviewed.

page 24
Motor Technology
A Small Order
A new stepper motor driver gives engineers an ideal compact form factor for designing a variety of appliances.

page 25
Technology Report
A Wireless Combination
Said to be an industry first, a mini card allows notebook PCs to use both Bluetooth and Certified Wireless USB (CWUSB) technologies simultaneously.

page 55
Commercial Laundry Appliances
A Clean Fit
Commercial laundry equipment maker Pellerin Milnor installed sheet laser cutters with auto-load and unload, as well as press brakes from the same equipment supplier, and realized advantages that went well beyond close part tolerances.

page 7
Appliance Line
Europe’s Action Plan
Tim Somheil, Editor
The EC has a plan to annually save 100 billion euros worth of energy by 2020. But does Europe have the will to make it happen?