February 2008
Commercial Foodservice Equipment - Not Just an Ice Box


November 2007
Guest Editorial - Doing Business in China the Italian Way
European appliance producer Candy plans to succeed in China by carefully applying its industry know-how, manufacturing expertise, an understanding of marketing needs, and a great deal of patience.

November 2007
Production - Smart Manufacturing in Poland
Usually, there is not much overlap between the world of big business and the self-help sector. But the designers of the Electrolux Manufacturing System (EMS) seem to have been inspired by engineers, controllers, and psychologists.

November 2007
Production - On the Factory Floor


November 2007
Plastic Materials - A Flexible Solution
As appliance design becomes increasingly important, manufacturers are turning to plastic suppliers for materials that are both durable and flexible.

November 2007
Plastic Materials - Trimming Where It Counts
When Flymo was looking to cost-effectively produce its latest hover and roller mowers, Basell supplied an impact-modified PP grade that saved costs and production time.

July 2007
Induction Cooking - The New Face of Glass Ceramic
An aesthetically pleasing, customizable glass ceramic makes induction cooking technology even more enticing to consumers around the world.

June 2007
Climatización 2007 - On the Forefront of HVACR
HVACR professionals from around the world attended Climatización 2007, in search of the latest in refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heating technology.

May 2007
Switches and Switching Devices - A Touch of Design
Slovenian kitchen appliance maker Gorenje made a conscious decision to move upmarket, and over the past 5 years it has worked to strengthen its image as a design and technology trendsetter.

May 2007
Switches and Switching Devices - Supplier Solutions: Switches


May 2007
Europe Report - Sustainability in Home Appliances


May 2007
Guest Editorial - Environmental Concerns Drive Inverter Control


May 2007
Production - Getting Better with Age
In operation for more than 4 decades, the Electrolux washing machine factory in Alcalá, Spain, has not rested on laurels, but instead focuses on continuous improvement.

May 2007
Refrigeration Systems & Compressor Technology - Beyond Cool
Whether improving system efficiency or making the environment healthier, the refrigeration industry is dedicated to designing high-tech products that achieve more than their basic function.

May 2007
Refrigeration Systems & Compressor Technology - Refrigerators and HCs: Clearing the Air


May 2007
Refrigeration Systems & Compressor Technology - Sensing a Problem


May 2007
Safety Regulations - The Impact of Safety Regulations on MCUs in Home Appliances


January 2007
European Appliance Industry - On Location: BSH Introduces New Washer
APPLIANCE magazine was on-hand when BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH used the new Munich soccer stadium as a venue for presenting its wares to almost 10,000 German, Swiss and Austrian white goods retailers.


January 2007
Guest Editorial - Solving a Chinese Puzzle
I arrived at the conclusion quite some time ago that sales and marketing are not too dissimilar from brain surgery: If you know what you are doing, it’s actually pretty straightforward. First, clearly define what needs to be done, then decide how to do it, and finally, using your knowledge and skills, get on with it.

January 2007
Control Panels and Displays - Interfacing with the Consumer
Appliance manufacturers are utilizing advanced control panels and display technology to catch the attention of today’s tech-savvy consumers.

January 2007
Motor Technology - Moving Forward
Variable-speed motor technology is moving the global appliance industry forward by increasing energy efficiency, reducing noise and cutting design costs. 

January 2007
Motor Technology - Dyson Vacuum Motor Also Powers Hand Dryer


January 2007
Touch Controls - Simplicity is the Art of Technology
The evolution of infrared (IR) touch control technology has helped advance today’s cooking appliances.

January 2007
Editor’s Letter - Adding Value
If there is one thing the appliance industry has learned over the years, it is the importance of value. Without it, products become meaningless, and customer relationships are broken.


December 2006
Executive Corner - Hoover Acquired: A New Home for an Iconic Brand
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. 

December 2006
Appliance Line - Europe’s Action Plan
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?

November 2006
Convection Ovens - Design Procedure for Air Distribution in Convection Ovens
This paper summarizes a study for the design of an air distribution system for a forced-air convection oven. Advantages of using advanced design tools in an iterative design process are discussed.

November 2006
Guest Editorial - Will the German Appliance Market Flourish in 2007?
With about 39 million households and one-fifth of sales volume, Germany represents the largest market for home appliances in Europe. For the past few years, news from the German market has been anything but promising. Economic growth has been well below the European average, unemployment rates have been high and disposable incomes stagnant, with business sluggish. In 2004 and 2005, the market volume fell each year by 1 percent.

November 2006
Plastics Technology - Forming New Ideas
Appliance makers need new ideas to facilitate product differentiation and cost-reduction, while adhering to a new set of material rules.

November 2006
Controls & Sensors - Chipping Away at Diagnostic Complexity
A line of disposable microchips aims to simplify medical diagnostic testing while cutting costs.

November 2006
Controls & Sensors - Hands-Free Differentiation
Will voice control technology move from the toy industry into everyday appliances?

July 2006
Web Exclusive - Stirring Things Up: Hamilton Beach Talks with APPLIANCE
Just two days after the announcement of Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex's planned merger with Applica, APPLIANCE magazine spoke to Michael Morecroft, the man slated to lead the new company.

June 2006
International-Heating Appliances - Diversification Heats Up
European heating has always been a mixed industry. Now, technological varieties are compounding regional preferences to further diversify the markets.

May 2006
Cooking Appliances - Details Make the Difference
Rommelsbacher’s double hotplate uses a new control that integrates an “on/off” switch with a bimetal thermostat.

April 2006
Executive Corner - Whirlpool Speaks
Just hours after the U.S. Department of Justice cleared Whirlpool Corporation's takeover of Maytag, APPLIANCE magazine spoke to W. Timothy Yaggi, Whirlpool's executive vice president, Market Operations.

April 2006
Appliance International - Domotechnica 2006 - Big Talent, Smaller Stage
Small- and mid-sized appliance companies were the stars of Domotechnica 2006.

April 2006
Appliance International - Domotechnica 2006 - Healthy Floors
Small appliances made a big impact on Domotechnica attendees.

April 2006
Refrigeration Systems & Compressor Technology - Beyond 13 SEER
Energy efficiency standards like SEER 13 and upcoming refrigerant changes keep refrigeration systems makers and suppliers busy.

April 2006
Engineering - Energy Consumption - Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Household Appliances
The following reveals the results of a life-cycle assessment (LCA) on dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators. The different factors responsible for the environmental impact are discussed.

April 2006
European Report - Krups Reinvents the Espresso Maker, BSH Reinvents the Oven
It is no secret that the coffee market is a rollercoaster ride these days.

April 2006
China Report - Overseas Strategies of Chinese Companies
Chinese companies are using multi-brand sales approaches and other strategies for overseas expansion.

March 2006
Transition to RoHS - Transition to RoHS: The Seven Common Pitfalls to Avoid
When it comes to the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive, good things do not come to those who wait.

March 2006
Appliance Line - A Double Dose of RoHS
RoHS goes into effect in July. If your products are not compliant by then, they can’t be sold in the European Union.

March 2006
International - Liebherr: The Cooling Specialist
When it comes to engineering, it’s German engineering that emerges with a reputation as the international leader. And it is German engineering that gives Liebherr, a family-owned corporate group, its technological and creative edge.

November 2005
Supplier Innovations - Packaging Materials and Equipment
Because protecting the inside of an appliance during transport is just as important as protecting the exterior, Tesa Tape, Inc. (Charlotte, NC, U.S.) has developed a new line of low surface energy (LSE) tapes that keeps interior appliance components in place.

November 2005
Sensors and MCUs - Integration, Interconnection, Differentiation
Microcontrollers and sensors are helping to increase the pace of product introductions, making it easier to quickly engineer appliances with unique feature sets.

June 2005
ISH Frankfurt - ISH 2005: Full of Energy
APPLIANCE traveled to Frankfurt, Germany on March 15-19, 2005 to report on ISH - The International Trade Fair for Building and Energy Technology, the Bathroom Experience, Air-Conditioning and Ventilation Technology.

June 2005
Testing Equipment - Checks and Balances
A crucial element of quality control and safety assurance, appliance testing has practically evolved into an industry all by itself. High quality and high tech, here’s where appliance testing is at the moment, and where it may be going.

June 2005
ISH Frankfurt - Saving Energy with Existing Technology
APPLIANCE traveled to Frankfurt, Germany on March 15-19, 2005 to report on ISH - The International Trade Fair for Building and Energy Technology, the Bathroom Experience, Air-Conditioning and Ventilation Technology.

June 2005
APPLIANCE Line - A Look at Outsourcing - Part 1
After last month’s discussion of value and cost, it only seemed fair that I venture into another topic most of us want to avoid: outsourcing. And, yes, that includes talking about China.

June 2005
Testing Equipment - Flexibility & Multi-Functionality
Recent years have seen a growing mandate for greater safety testing equipment flexibility due mostly to the increasingly competitive nature of the appliance marketplace. While automation is providing much of this desired flexibility, the equipment itself is becoming significantly more comprehensive.

May 2005
Compressor Technology - Beyond the White Box
Apparently, compressor innovation has no boundaries—literally.

May 2005
The Open Door - Impact of RoHS on Materials and Parts Availability
Recent regulations such as the European Union Directive 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) have increased the limitations on material use.

May 2005
Intel 2005 - Intel 2005: Exhibitor Highlights
Intel 2005, an international trade show sponsored by Fiera Milano Tech and Italy’s Fedeazione ANIE trade association, is set to take place May 17-21, 2005 in Milan, Italy at the Fiera Milano grounds.

May 2005
Designing with Plastics - Improving Dryer Longevity
To improve the performance of its compact clothes dryer, Electrolux turned to Santoprene™ rubber from Advanced Elastomer Systems, an affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

May 2005
Guest Editorial - Defense of the Realm: Asian Influence on European Design Practices
Many of you reading this article will be involved with the new product development (NPD) process and will have a keen interest in the activities and practices of Asian manufacturers.

May 2005
Assembly and Fastening - Assembly at the Speed of Light
New materials, methodologies, and technologies have advanced the pace of assembly and fastening to the speed of light. Many of the latest concepts are grounded in common sense and meet OEM demands for solutions that are appropriate for doing business in a tough economy.

May 2005
International Appliance Technical Conference 2005 - Engineering for the World
The “I” in IATC wasn’t lost on those attending the 2005 International Appliance Technical Conference. From Chinese outsourcing to Canadian legislation, this year’s engineering conference looked at technology from a global perspective.

May 2005
Compressor Technology - Compressors: Meeting Environmental Demands
Although there are several ways refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturers are meeting today’s efficiency demands, compressor suppliers are working feverishly to design low-cost, high-performance products that are also environmentally friendly.

May 2005
Production Testing - Test Upgrade Sets New Standards at Rangemaster
The installation of an advanced electrical safety testing system helped a leading UK manufacturer of range-style cookers to successfully upgrade its manufacturing operations, comply with test standards, and improve product quality.

May 2005
Glass Technology - Nano-Layer System for Interior Oven Doors
For years, the research and development department of the Mainz, Germany-based Schott Group has been working to refine and advance the functional surfaces of household appliances.

March 2005
Appliance Line - Domo is Back…Again
If you are anything like me, you felt like you were stuck in a time capsule when the news about Domotechnica 2006 reached your desk. But will this resurrected trade fair truly be like the good old days?

March 2005
Tokyo Report - Japanese OEMs Respond to European A/C Market Boom
Triggered by intense heat waves of prior years, air-conditioners are growing in popularity in the European market.

January 2005
53rd Annual Appliance Industry Forecasts - Europe - The European Appliance Industry Is Feeling the Pressure
Rising raw material prices, continuing fears of price erosion, increasingly unreliable supply sources, and shrinking margins have the European appliance industry feeling the pressure.

January 2005
53rd Annual Appliance Industry Forecasts - Europe - The Impact of European Legislation


January 2005
Materials Forecast 2005 - Coatings
Price pressures impact coatings - petroleum-based and porcelain enamel.

January 2005
Materials Forecast 2005 - Moving Metals
Perhaps nowhere more than in steel has the ferment in commodities been evident.

January 2005
Materials Forecast 2005 - Plastics Suppliers' Double Trouble


January 2005
Materials Forecast 2005 - Refrigerator Issues
As refrigerators and other appliances continue to feature improved energy efficiency, polyurethane (PU) insulation has played an important role. Unfortunately, as with other materials, it was unable to escape turmoil.

January 2005
Materials Forecast 2005 - Glass Surcharges


January 2005
Designing Built-In Refrigerators - Creating Value Through Design
With the help of industrial design firm IDI, Thermador designed value into a new line of built-in refrigerators.

January 2005
Appliance Line - A New Generation of Design
I’ve heard many in the industry complain in recent years that the next-generation of appliance designers are “lazy,” “unmotivated,” and “egocentric.” I beg to differ.

January 2005
53rd Annual Appliance Industry Forecast - APPLIANCE Best Practices® - Whirlpool's Best Practices For Curbing Materials Costs
As rising material costs are not expected to retreat anytime soon, companies are devising strategies to maintain a competitive edge.

January 2005
On Location in Nürnberg for IKK 2004 - IKK: Cold Air, Hot Business
APPLIANCE traveled to Nürnberg, Germany to report on IKK, held Oct. 13-15, 2004.

January 2005
Motors and Air-Moving Devices - Pumping Technology into New Products
To differentiate their products and present customized options to consumers, european manufacturers are developing feature-rich appliances using the latest motor technology.

January 2005
Motors and Air-Moving Devices - Controlling Product Performance
When Italian appliance maker Merloni Elettrodomestici asked for a motor control that could make its products smart and advanced, supplier Texas Instruments (TI) answered.

January 2005
Quality and Testing - Working Toward a Seamless Market
Standards harmonization and improved testing choices help speed product introductions and cut paperwork.

December 2004
Executive Corner - Strategic Success
APPLIANCE talks with Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool's new chairman, president, and CEO.

December 2004
Appliance Line - Best Practice Makes Perfect
As 2004 comes to a close, it’s hard not to obsess over what the next year holds. And while many of you probably haven’t started your holiday shopping, my guess is that your business plans are carefully wrapped and adorned with a shiny red bow.

December 2004
Guest Editorial - Developing Harmonized North American Safety Standards
The last 100 hundred years has been a remarkable period for the HVAC/R industry. In 1902, the world witnessed the invention of the air-conditioner. Thirteen years later, it saw the birth of the first corporation dedicated to improving air-conditioning technology. By mid-century, what had started as industrial equipment grew into the U.S. $70-billion HVAC/R global industry we know today. Even now, it is the U.S. industry that leads in product development, technical knowledge, and standards development.

December 2004
Engineering - Relays - Impact of Lead-Free Soldering on the Reliability of Relays
In recent years, environmental issues have become more and more important. Many materials and substances are forbidden for use in products and in manufacturing because they are toxic, ozone-killing, or problematical in some other respect.

November 2004
Guest Editorial - Looking Beyond the Borders
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.

November 2004
Plastics and Plastic Parts - Plastic Advantages
A triplet of applications demonstrates how plastics can benefit appliance producers across all product segments.

November 2004
Engineer Sound Quality - Sound Quality Assessment and Labeling
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.

November 2004
Engineering Porcelain Enamel - A Novel Non-Stick Porcelain Enamel
To fulfill the industry’s long-held desire for a truly easy-to-clean surface, a new ceramic-based, non-stick coating for household and commercial cooking appliances has been developed that has excellent scratch, abrasion, and heat resistance, as well as superb cleanability.

November 2004
APPLIANCE Line - A New Formula
The last few years has seen its share of combination appliances: Whirlpool’s cooking and cooling Polara, LG’s microwave toaster, and, more recently, Nokia’s TV cell phone. But a whole new breed of combo products is popping up that’s adding a twist to the term “durable” good.

November 2004
Plastics and Plastic Parts - Metallic Look Enhances Refrigerator Design
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.

November 2004
Plastics and Plastic Parts - Adding More to the Mix
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.

November 2004
Plastics and Plastic Parts - High-Power Plastic
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.

November 2004
Switches and Switching Devices - Pushing Appliance Industry Buttons
Switch and switching device suppliers lend their expertise to appliance producers in an effort to meet needs for appropriate, timely, and cost-effective solutions.

October 2004
Ignition Systems - Electronic Safety Systems for Gas Cooking
Designing gas cooktops according to European standards raises the level of difficulty for designers, but raises the bar for safety as well.

October 2004
Part 2: Motors and Air-Moving Devices - Controlling Product Performance
When European appliance maker Merloni Elettrodomestici asked for a motor control that could make its products smart and advanced, supplier Texas Instruments answered.

October 2004
Part 2: Motors and Air-Moving Devices - Pumping Technology into New Products
To differentiate their products and present customized options to consumers, appliance producers are developing dishwashers using the latest motor technology.

October 2004
Part 2: Motors and Air-Moving Devices - Dynamic Testing of Electric Motors for Fault and Noise Analysis
Dynamic testing can now identify such defects as vibration and noise on electric motors before final assembly. An innovative technology can test the complete performance curves of any given motor or application without using external loads and by only using its internal inertia (measured by the system).

October 2004
Production - Commercial Ovens - Automated Thinking
With a goal to achieve consistent and increased levels of production, commercial oven producer Ing. Polin & C. implemented an automated flexible sheet metal system.

October 2004
The Open Door - The Impact of Global Standards
One would be hard-pressed today to find an industrial sector that is not influenced in some way by activities in other parts of the world. Because standards have a role in nearly every conceivable industry, from appliances to homeland security, the global impact of a standard is carefully considered during its development and implementation.

October 2004
APPLIANCE Line - Misdirected Directives—Part 2
As with the WEEE Directive, RoHS has left the industry with more questions than answers. Here’s a question: when will the European Commission (EC) realize that undefined directives are about as useless as no directive at all?

September 2004
Guest Editorial - Update on Europe’s Smart Home Platform
Further milestones have been reached in the development of CHAIN, the interoperability platform for European household appliances that was launched in late-2003 by CECED (the European Committee of Manufacturers of Domestic Equipment).

September 2004
Packaging Materials & Equipment - Packaging: A Key Player in the Revenue Game
It may be brown and corrugated, 2-mils thick and see-through clear, or a high-gloss photo depicting Little Mikey’s new Xbox. One thing goes without saying (almost) - if product packaging is done right, it can save a savvy OEM thousands a month, and that’s just the beginning.

September 2004
Packaging Materials & Equipment - Orion Stretch Wrapper Comes to Friedrich Air
To vary a well-seasoned joke: Where does a 700-lb gorilla go when he wants to get himself transported? The answer here is “anywhere he wants, and he wants an Orion automated line.”

September 2004
Packaging Materials & Equipment - Lachenmeier Helps Electrolux Save on Two Continents
Packaging equipment firm Lachenmeier has been picked as a partner by Swedish appliance maker Electrolux for profit-building teamwork on both sides of the Atlantic.

September 2004
Packaging Materials & Equipment - BSH Chooses Beumer Stretch-Hood System for Shipping Integrity
When BSH Home Appliance Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer of home appliances, built its New Bern, NC, U.S. facility to serve the North American appliance market, it wanted every aspect of the plant to be carefully designed for optimization.

September 2004
Packaging Materials & Equipment - Microsoft Teams Up with SCA Packaging
The supplier helps coordinate packaging for the introduction of the Xbox.

September 2004
APPLIANCE Line - Misdirected Directives–Part 1
If the terms WEEE and RoHS look more like alphabet soup to you than official European Union directives, you’re not alone. Much of the confusion, however, has nothing to do with the acronyms.

September 2004
Product Review - Commercial Dishwashers


August 2004
Boiler Production - Simulating Success
English boiler producer Baxi Potterton uses discrete simulation software to prevent bottlenecks and improve production line performance.

August 2004
China Report - Wholly-Owned Electrolux China Now Operating in Changsha
Electrolux China Co. Ltd., a 100-percent wholly owned division of the Sweden-based home appliance producer AB Electrolux, recently came into operation in Changsha, China.

July 2004
Plastics & Plastic Parts - Plastic Triplets: Metallic Look Enhances Refrigerator Design
Modern appliance producers increasingly find themselves navigating between appealing designs that will attract customers and low production costs that will maximize profit margins.

July 2004
European Appliance Industry - Surviving in a New Europe
Leading appliance makers discuss the challenges they face in a growing EU marketplace, as well as the key to survival and, more importantly, success in the region’s new reality.

June 2004
Appliance Line - 60 Years and Counting
Over the last 6 decades, APPLIANCE has been faithfully following the industry, making improvements and changes throughout the years to more accurately represent the ever-evolving global appliance marketplace.

June 2004
Special Report: Fagor Electrodomesticos - Looking to Spain
Standing on the southwest corner of Western Europe is Spanish appliance maker Fagor Electrodomesticos, a hidden jewel within Europe’s large white goods market.

May 2004
Executive Corner - A Controlled Comeback
To say the last 2 years have been a time of transition for UK-based conglomerate Invensys plc would be an understatement. Invensys CEO Richard Haythornthwaite would be the first to agree.

May 2004
Electronic Controls and Embedded Systems - A Silicon World
Advanced control technologies are taking appliance designers to a place they've always dreamed of: a world where flexibility, high performance, and low cost are simultaneously possible.

May 2004
HomeTech Cologne 2004 Exhibition - A Trade Show of Transition
On Location:
APPLIANCE magazine traveled to Cologne, Germany to report on HomeTech Cologne 2004.

May 2004
Assembly & Fastening - Assembling the Evolving Appliance
Appliance producers and their assembly and fastening suppliers are responding to thinner metals, pre-painted and stainless steel, and other design changes in the ever-evolving appliance industry.

May 2004
International Appliance Technical Conference - 2004 IATC - A New Perspective
As always, this year’s International Appliance Technical Conference (IATC) revealed the appliance industry’s latest technological advancements for design and manufacturing. But as most attendees would attest, the real “breakthrough” at this year’s IATC had nothing to do with technology at all.

May 2004
Assembly & Fastening - Appearance Counts
Appearance is important in any appliance joining method visible to the user.

May 2004
Appliance Line - Strength in Numbers
Instead of getting overshadowed by the Electrolux's and BSH's of Europe, a group of small and mid-sized European appliance companies are banding together in an effort to make their presence—and products—more well-known.

May 2004
Web Exclusive - Manufacturing & Design - Digital Manufacturing In Norrkoping
Whirlpool's plant in Norrkoping, Sweden links design and manufacturing data for production of new microwave ovens.

May 2004
Assembly & Fastening - Upside Down Assembly
European vacuum cleaner maker Vorwerk commissioned automatic screwdriving machines for the assembly of a vacuum cleaner plastic housing.

May 2004
Engineering Microelectronics - New Insights in Underfill Flow and Flip Chip Reliability
During the last several years, Flip Chip Technology has been widely accepted as a means for maximum miniaturization of microelectronic assemblies. Flip Chips have been used in advanced products such as cellular phones, global positioning systems (GPS) devices, and in medical devices such as pacemakers.

May 2004
Guest Editorial - Design Considerations of Home Automation
What lies behind the front door of homes is changing dramatically and quickly. The much-talked about digital home of tomorrow is increasingly becoming the digital home of today. A number of technologies, including broadband and wireless access and distribution, are finding wholesome hospitality as consumers progressively go digital in pursuit of enhancing their lives and making their days more manageable.

April 2004
Special Section Index - BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH


April 2004
Bosch und Siemens Corporate Overview - Expanding its Reach
With a strategic blend of confidence and awareness, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH is taking on the global appliance industry with one main goal - to establish a premium position in every market it enters.

April 2004
The BSH Board of Management


April 2004
Production: Washing Machines - Rewarding Relationships
In order to increase efficiency and the capacity of its production facilities, Italian appliance maker Merloni Elettrodomestici turned to Corno Marco Italia S.p.A to supply a new washer drum and cabinet fabrication system for its newly acquired washing machine plant.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Cooking - Recipe for Success
Set in the scenic town of Traunreut, Germany, BSH's largest cooking appliance facility has artfully mastered the OEM recipe for success - productivity, innovation, and quality.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Vacuum Cleaners - Sweeping Up the Competition
BSH's vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Bad Neustadt, Germany is employing traditional manufacturing techniques to manufacture high-quality, modern vacuum cleaners for mostly the European market.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
China Operations - China's Future for Appliances
BSH China has built a reputation as the best in China in terms of quality and productivity, while building an efficient and comprehensive distribution and sales network.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Washers and Dishwashers - Production in Poland
BSH's Lodz, Poland washer and dishwasher plant is setting new standards for the Middle and Eastern European appliance market.

April 2004
European Report - Small Appliances: Coffee Maker Premiere, Bread Maker Comeback
The household division of Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) recently introduced the Senseo coffee maker in the U.S. market. This single-serving, low-pressure coffee maker has been a monster success in Europe (5 million units sold), exceeding all sales expectations in Dutch, Belgium, and German markets.

April 2004
European Report - The Return of the Bread Maker
It has been around for many years, but recently the bread maker widened its presence in the European market. It can be seen now in any white goods store and recipes are turning up in cooking magazines. What is happening here?

April 2004
An Innovation Leader
Well-known for its commitment to quality, BSH has also been recognized for its approach to innovation. The company was recently named 2003's "Best Innovator" from global consultant firm A.T. Kearney and the German business publication Wirtschaftswoche for its internal innovation philosophies and processes.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
North America Operations - A Simple Answer
BSH is working to parlay operational excellence, product leadership, and a customer focus into an important position in the North American market.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Dishwashers - Dillingen: Washing Its Way to Success
BSH's Dillingen plant has almost doubled its product output during the past decade, even with a significant staff reduction. How? It pairs training, employee motivation, and its own product-development process to maintain its market-leader position.

April 2004
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Electronics, Drives, & Systems - The Drive to Compete
BSH's Electronics, Drives, & Systems (EDS) division competes against itself and others in the marketplace to set a benchmark, while in the meantime, keeping its employees smart through training and its appliances smart through production consistency and innovation.

March 2004
New Delhi Report - Fresh Launches and Strategy for Electrolux
The U.S. $15-billion Swedish appliance giant Electrolux AB is focusing on India in a big way.

March 2004
Production - Refrigerators/Freezers - Flexible Production of Insulating Foams
The Electrolux factory in Mariestad, Sweden has implemented new equipment for applying foam insulation to refrigerator and freezer doors. The equipment is said to combine high efficiency and flexibility with a relatively small footprint.

February 2004
Connectors & Wire Harnesses - Standardizing Connectors and Wire Harnesses
In a growing global appliance industry, companies and industry associations are working toward the standardization of connectors, materials, and even wire harness requirements.

February 2004
European Report - Appliance Suppliers and OEMs Work Together in Home Connectivity
In the field of connectivity, hardware manufacturers that have been working on the KONNEX standard for communication protocols are now working in conjunction with CECED, the association of European home appliance makers.

February 2004
European Report - Merloni Expanding in Central and Eastern Europe
Globally, many manufacturers have been shifting production East to areas such as China and Eastern Europe.

February 2004
Connectors & Wire Harnesses - Hot Connections
Hapro International bv, a member of the VDL Group in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of tanning beds for the professional and the consumer market.

January 2004
Web Exclusive: Miele's Dishwasher Milestone - Miele Ships 10 Millionth Unit On 75th Dishwasher Anniversary
The ten-millionth dishwasher has left the production line at Miele, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Miele's introduction of the dishwasher in Europe.

January 2004
52nd Annual Appliance Industry Forecasts - Europe To Walk While Others Run
Matching the Euro-zone's growth against the expansion of the U.S., Canadian, and Asian economies in 2004 may be a bit like watching pack mules race thoroughbreds.

January 2004
Motors & Air-Moving Devices - Electric Motor Testing on the Production Line
The growth in the electric motor and appliance industries has led to an increased demand to develop better motor testing equipment and improved motor testing methods.

January 2004
On Location - IKK Hannover 2003
ON LOCATION: APPLIANCE magazine traveled to Hannover, Germany to report on IKK 2003.

January 2004
Exhibitor Highlights - HomeTech 2004
HomeTech 2004 will bring together appliance exhibitors from around the globe, featuring major household appliances, small electrical appliances, and appliance components.

January 2004
Motors & Air-Moving Devices - Discovering the Use of Tangential Blowers in Low-Noise Applications
Tangential blowers have often been overlooked because of their perceived low efficiency in certain applications and the misunderstanding of their proper use. However, they can be a solution to efficiently move air.

January 2004
Motors & Air-Moving Devices - Design Platforms
Appliance OEMs are continually seeking new energy- and cost-efficient ways to develop and deliver more advanced appliance solutions to the consumer market. Increasingly, more sophisticated electronics are the means to this end.

January 2004
APPLIANCE Engineer® - Optimization of the Computer-Aided Refrigerator Production Processes
Many manufacturers lack a means to retrieve critical information at control and cell levels during production. However, recent developments have made it possible to establish a full-scale information transfer between both levels.

November 2003
European Edition: Engineering Refrigerators - The Effect of Blowing Agents on Energy Use and Climate Impact of a Refrigerator
The phase-out of CFC-11 as a foam-blowing agent, as called for under the Montreal Protocol, is well underway. The most common replacements with zero ozone depletion potential have been c-pentane and mixtures of c-pentane with other hydrocarbons, along with some HFCs, including HFC-134a and HFC-245fa.

November 2003
40th Annual Report on HVAC - What's Heating up the European Market?
According to Klaus Huttelmaier, sales and marketing manager for the Thermotechnology Division of Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart, Germany), there are four major developments in the Central European boiler market - the ongoing trend toward using gas as an energy source; a preference toward wall-mounted, gas-fired boilers; the use of regenerative energies; and the increasing popularity