page 6
Plastics and Plastic Parts
Plastic Advantages
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
A triplet of applications demonstrates how plastics can benefit appliance producers across all product segments.

page 6
Plastics and Plastic Parts
Metallic Look Enhances Refrigerator Design
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
Modern appliance producers increasingly find themselves navigating between appealing designs that will attract customers and low production costs that will maximize profit margins. Appliance producer Fagor Electrodomésticos (Mondragon, Spain) faced this situation with its Innova Luxury refrigerator line. The line, which features a unique metallic look, became available in the second quarter of 2004.

page 6
Plastics and Plastic Parts
High-Power Plastic
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
When designing its new Zeus anesthesia workstation, Draeger Medical (Telford, PA, U.S.), a manufacturer of auxiliary medical equipment, chose VICTREX PEEK polymer for the radial blower on the workstation’s ventilator component. It was chosen because of the material’s high strength and purity.

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Switches and Switching Devices
Pushing Appliance Industry Buttons
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
Switch and switching device suppliers lend their expertise to appliance producers in an effort to meet needs for appropriate, timely, and cost-effective solutions.

page 21
Guest Editorial
Looking Beyond the Borders
by Dr. Kurt-Ludwig Gutberlet, president and CEO, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH and president of CECED (European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers)
On March 15, 1958, about 80 representatives from Europe’s household appliance producers gathered in Paris, France to talk about the future of the appliance industry and the European market. Things have changed immeasurably since then, not least the way the industry organizes and represents itself to Europe’s decision makers. But some questions are still on the table, albeit rephrased for a new age.

page 6
Plastics and Plastic Parts
Plastic Advantages
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
A triplet of applications demonstrates how plastics can benefit appliance producers across all product segments.

page 6
Plastics and Plastic Parts
Adding More to the Mix
by David Simpson, Contributing Editor
When foodservice equipment maker Hobart Corporation (Troy, OH, U.S.) designed a new 60-qt dough mixer to replace an existing machine, the design team wanted to include several enhancements, most notably an ergonomic swing-out bowl.

page 23
Engineer Sound Quality
Sound Quality Assessment and Labeling
by Sophie Maluski, Claire Churchill, and Trevor Cox , University of Salford, Salford, UK
The sound that a product makes can tell the user a lot about its quality and functionality. This information may be combined with other non-aural information, such as the product’s performance, design, color, or feel, to give some overall impression. Products that make annoying sounds are unlikely to be well-received, yet proper product sound assessment does not appear to be widely considered throughout the UK.