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Electric Housewares & Floor Care Appliances
Electric Housewares Make a Statement
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
In tough economic times, housewares and floor care companies are using design, technology, and green credentials to give the consumer more reasons to buy.

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European HVAC
Europe Hot, Italy Cool
by Paul Roggema, Europe Correspondent
The big buzz at the 2008 Mostra Convegno trade fair in Milan: solar integration.

page 39
European HVAC
The Science Behind SOFC

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Testing Equipment
Testing’s Many Roles
by Leanna Skarnulis, Contributing Editor
As products differentiate, so do the requirements put on the testing equipment used during their development and manufacture.

page 44
Packaging Materials and Equipment
It’s about Appearances
by Jill Russell, Contributing Editor
The current packaging concerns are nothing new from those of the past. But today’s packaging solutions are far from the solutions of yesteryear and are certainly making products look good.

page 46
Packaging Materials and Equipment
Where Do You Rate on the Sustainability Scorecard?

page 47
Supplier Solutions
Cords and Cord Sets

page 21
The Open Door
The Bigger Laundry Picture
by Pernilla Döse, strategic design manager, Asko Cylinda AB, and Brittany Musacchio, public relations coordinator, Asko Appliances Inc.

page 22
Dishwater Efficiency
Improving Dishwasher Efficiency
by John Dries, president, Dries Engineering (Louisville, KY, U.S.)

page 29
Motor Technology
Driving Solar Technologies
To meet demands for environmentally friendly products, one supplier is creating motors for solar-powered applications.

page 30
Electronics Report
Bringing Features to Light
Ultrabright LEDs are designed to provide appliance engineers with a variety of color selections, a vibrant and compact package, low power consumption, and longevity.

page 31
Technology Report
Sensing a Change
New concepts for combining MEMS and ASIC technology may create smaller, smarter, and lower-cost sensing devices suitable for large-volume production.

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Manufacturing Technology
Simplified Assembly
Multifunctional assembly technology may reduce manufacturing costs and assembly time by replacing traditional joining techniques.

page 9
Appliance Line
Sustainability Is Just Getting Started
Tim Somheil, Editor
Meeting national standards looks easy compared to sustainability demands that could be coming from retailers.