APPLIANCE Engineer®
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Switches & Switching Devices
Rotary Dial Improves Blower Vac Function
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
"The #1 electric blower vac just got better." The Toro Company of Bloomington, MN, U.S. recently made this claim upon releasing its latest blower vac product series.
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Engineering: Decoratives
Golden OpportunityPictured is a Whirlpool dishwasher interface with decoratives provided by Serigraph.
The decision to buy a major appliance often depends largely on appearance. Serigraph, a West Bend, WI, U.S.-based decoratives and labels manufacturer, knows this, as the company has been working with appliance customers for 30 years. The company's expertise is in the development of graphics that provide a high level of shelf-appeal while meeting the rigorous performance specifications of appliances.
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Engineering: Laundry Appliances
Co-Design Key in Plastic Tub Production
Merloni Elettrodomestici and Meccanica Generale used the co-design approach to create a plastic washing machine tub that allows for faster production, streamlined assembly, and a lighter-weight washing machine.
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The Open Door
Transition of Blowing Agents Used in Refrigerator-Freezer Foam Insulation
by Larry Wethje, vice president, Engineering Services, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
Household refrigerator-freezers are the most popular major appliance in the world. It is estimated that there are approximately 60-million units produced annually, and about 500-million units in service worldwide.
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Electronics Report
Silicon Light Emission Technology
A new technology from STMicroelectronics is said to allow silicon-based
light emitters to match the efficiency of traditional light-emitting compound
semiconductor materials such as gallium arsenide (GaAs).
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Technology Report
Integrated ARM9®-based Gateway Solution
Micrel Semiconductor offers the KS8695 chip and reference design package, reportedly one of the industry's most integrated high-performance home office gateway solutions.
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Motor Technology
Variable Speed Controller for Air-Moving Devices
Varidigm Corporation (Plymouth, MN, U.S.) has introduced the VSM-CA3 variable speed motor controller, which is used to modulate the speed of motors in fan coil units, fan-powered VAV terminal units, fan filter units, and other air-moving HVAC devices. |
