issue: December 2006 APPLIANCE Magazine Europe Report BSH Washer Will Go Global	Share  Printable format  Email this Article  Search
by Paul Roggema, Europe Correspondent As related in a previous Europe Report, APPLIANCE magazine was on-hand for when BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH held a large-scale product introduction event in a Munich, Germany, soccer stadium.

Among the products grabbing the attention of the media (and 10,000 German, Swiss and Austrian white goods retailers who were also in attendance) was a new horizontal-drum washer with three design innovations: a new stain removal system, a new drum with variable mechanical washing power and a larger drum capacity (8 kg) within the same standard 60-cm by 60-cm footprint.
Carsten Stelzer, chief technology officer, Laundry Care for BSH, tells APPLIANCE that market response has been extremely good. In fact, “Production for this year is sold out,” he says.
This may have something to do with the price point. Some models have a street price as low as 800 euros (approx. U.S. $1,025)—not that much for top European models, and less than many current large-cabinet Whirlpool and BSH models.
Stelzer says the features on this unit will be added to BSH laundry appliances sold in the U.S. He says Asian markets are moving to front-loading washers and are also buying large-drum units, so this washer will essentially be a global appliance.