UK manufacturer of cooking and refrigeration brands ‘Stoves’, ‘Lec’, ‘New World’ and ‘Belling’, used the recent IFA Berlin event to unveil a revolutionary LED lighting product for ovens.

GDHA unveiled the innovations – developed in conjunction with Bury-based Trumeter – to an appreciative audience at the global industry tradeshow for consumer electronics and home appliances.

A leading international designer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, Trumeter’s expertise, combined with GDHA’s appliance knowhow, resulted in a ground-breaking product that completely re-thinks oven lighting.

Replacing traditional rear bulbs with LED lighting positioned at the front of the oven the product enables food to be viewed more easily during cooking, removing the need to open the door and lose heat.

As the LED technology is cheaper to run than a traditional bulb, reduced energy costs are a major benefit, alongside vastly superior illumination quality, resulting in cleaner, crisper and more contemporary light.
GDHA’s Managing Director, Jonathan Casley, commented:‘The reaction from our customers to the new LED lighting has been very positive.

‘We’re still in the development phase of this project with Trumeter and with their support and focus, we’re looking forward to getting this new technology to market as soon as possible.’

These views were echoed by Alf Jones, Trumeter Group Sales & Marketing Director, who said: ‘We’re very excited by this major home appliance innovation and proud to be associated with GDHA in its development, incorporating our proven truliteTM technology.

‘Having employed the skills and experience Trumeter has gained working in other industries, notably the automotive sector, we’ve created a revolutionary LED lighting product.’

Trumeter are a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of sophisticated measurement products, as well as touch-sense and LED lighting products for a variety of markets, with sales in over 30 countries.

Find out more about LED lighting for home appliances at trumeter.com/custom-products

Trumeter have offices based in Bury (UK), Florida (USA) and representation in Penang (Malaysia).

 Wood-fired ovens sold by Mugnaini, Inc., are known in North American culinary circles for baking gourmet pizza, but increasingly, restaurants and would-be home chefs are thinking outside the pizza box on more uses for the even-heating hearths.

Andrea Mugnaini had to convince the Italian maker of the cooking elements for her company’s ovens that Americans would want to cook over wood at home. (credit: Eric Perez)

And demand for oven-cooking classes closer to the heart of California’s wine and food culture has prompted the Watsonville-based assembler and distributor to relocate from the Monterey County coast to a 15,000-square-foot assembly plant and showroom under construction in Healdsburg.

“As our business has grown to have more direct contact with clients pre- and postsale, we found we need to be in the community where people travel,” said Andrea Mugnaini, founder and owner. “People do not want to travel to Wine Country then to Watsonville.”

So the two-decade-old business is set to consolidate the 10,000-square-foot assembly plant, headquarters and showroom in Watsonville and a demonstration kitchen in a renovated barn her 30-acre vineyard estate in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley winegrowing area. The new assembly plant, warehouse, retail showroom and teaching kitchen, located at 1530 Grove St. in Healdsburg, is set to be completed in May.

Ms. Mugnaini started the company 25 years ago to import oven components from manufacturer Refrattari Valoriani, located near Florence, Italy. But it took some convincing of the Valoriani family, which has been making wood cooking ovens since 1890, to give her a chance.

“It was an uphill battle back then, because no one thought Americans would cook like that — cooking with wood in the home,” Ms. Mugnaini said.

She quickly sold the first 10 ovens allocated to her then shifted from selling wine in Europe to wood ovens in North America, under an exclusive distributorship.

Cooking classes started in Watsonville in 1998, as homeowners with the high-end hearths wanted to know how to use them — and even how to cook at all. In 2007, she installed six ovens at her Alexander Valley property for one- and three-day classes.

Three dozen classes are planned next year as the new facility opens.

Chefs also are cooking steaks in Mugnaini wood-fired ovens. (credit: Eric Perez)

Mugnaini imports the oven components from Italy then assembles them into several configurations for residential and commercial uses. Key elements of the modular design are the dome-like “crown” and floor, made from Tuscan refractory clay compressed under 8,000 pounds of force and fired at 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The chimney is designed to greatly limit the smell of smoke and comply with emissions requirements.

Residential ovens have firebrick floors 1.75 inches thick to balance the heating characteristics of the 2.25-inch-thick dome made from solid and aggregate fired clay. Commercial models, developed when pizzerias became popular in the 1970s, have 2.25-inch floors and 3.25-inch thickness in the dome.

The ovens range in price based on finishes and size. Kits retail for $2,500-$4,900, while factory-assembled ovens can cost $5,500-$10,000.

Some restaurants are using residual heat from the previous night’s dinner service to bake breads and pastries in the morning. (credit: Eric Perez)

Among the hundreds of commercial ovens Mugnaini has assembled and sold in North America are dozens at North Bay restaurants and wineries, such as Hotel Healdsburg Café and Silver Oak Cellars.

Ca’ Momi Enoteca purchased a Mugnaini oven three and a half years ago when it opened in Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. It is among nearly two dozen U.S. Neapolitan pizzaiolis (pizza-makers) certified by the Verace Pizza Napoletana association, established by the Italian government in 1984 as a “denomination of control” for how the pizza is made. One of the specifications is that the pies be baked in a wood-fire oven for 60-90 seconds on a 905 degree Fahrenheit cooking surface.

“It is very easy to use and reliable, and management of temperature is very easy,” said Dario De Conti, CEO. “We cook our porchetta and veggies in it but most use it for pizzas.”

Ca’ Momi also has a mobile version of the oven to bake pizzas on location.

Mugnaini (831-761-1767, mugnaini.com) employs 10 now. Several workers likely will move with the business to Sonoma County, but some more employees will be needed, Ms. Mugnaini said.

She bought the Healdsburg land in September 2013. Local general contractor Eddinger Enterprises started building the facility in July.

Appliance manufacturer Gorenje has teamed up with Jeremy Wright Ltd. to supply a range of appliances for Dartmouth Food Festival.

Gorenje supplied kitchen appliances to the Jeremy Wright Ltd. stand which saw well-known Chef, Mitch Tonks deliver a live cooking demonstration.

Now in its 11th year, Dartmouth food festival saw tens of thousands attendees at this year’s event. 

Stuart Benson, national sales manager at Gorenje UK commented: “Dartmouth Food Festival is a fantastic regional event that showcases the very best of local produce and businesses.

“Jeremy Wright Ltd. is a great local company and we were more than happy to get involved with supplying appliances for the stand at the event!”

Gorenje supplied three key appliances to the stand; an iconic Ora Ito oven in white, a sleek IT951AC induction hob and a stunning Retro fridge in Lime Green. 

Jeremy Wright, owner of Jeremy Wright Ltd. Commented: “The design of the Gorenje appliances were a real draw for people visiting the stand. The Lime Green Retro fridge in particular made a real bold statement!”

The Jeremy Wright Ltd. stand, including the Gorenje appliances, will be showcased at numerous other events over the next few months including ‘Taste of the West’ in Exeter and ‘The Crab Festival’ in Dartmouth.

Stuart concluded: “It was fantastic that our appliances were so well received at the festival and we are looking forward to being part of more events like this soon!” 

For more information about Gorenje’s range of appliances, visit gorenje.co.uk.

EcoSmart WMG10454W

Many people bought A-rated washing machines in 2012, but if you chose the A+++ WMG10454W Eco Smart washing machine it could save you around £28 every year, that’s enough to buy 131 washes worth of washing powder every year, or enough energy to give you the first 215 washes free

Beko is extending its laundry range with the addition of two new large-capacity models – WMG11464 (11KG) and WMG10454 (10KG) – with contemporary lines that contribute to a premium look.

Both appliances are A+++ rated and sport modern LCD displays and extra-large portholes for easier loading and unloading. They also automatically adjust the wash settings, depending on the type of load and volume, and offer 24-hour delay-start and a ‘daily quick’ programme that washes a load in just 32 minutes.

The 10KG model features Hygiene 20°, which saves energy and helps clothes to keep their look and shape when washed at a lower temperature, and Aqua 40’40°, a programme that washes a large load at 40 degrees in just 40 minutes. It also has Gentle Care 20° for delicate items, a programme that provides the same wash performance as at 40°.

The 11KG WMG11464 incorporates the durable ProSmart Drive Motor, which promises improved energy efficiency and lower noise levels, and a SteamTherapy™ programme that uses intensive steam to refresh clothes, eliminating odours and removing creases.

Online electrical appliances retailer AO World has reported strong revenue growth in the first half of its financial year.

In the six months to 30 September, total revenue climbed by 25.1% to £217.1 million while adjusted EBITDA increased by 115% to £7.3 million.

While adjusted operating profit rose 134% to £5.5 million, reported operating profit dropped to £0.9 million from £2.4 million in the previous year as the retailer incurred set up costs relating to its entry into the German market.

AO chief executive John Roberts said: “UK growth was delivered at the same time as management resource was also focused on launching our proposition in Germany, which we achieved in October some six months earlier than promised. This launch has given us confidence in our ability to replicate our model overseas.  

“We remain confident of meeting full year expectations and are well positioned as we move into our peak trading period.”  

Italian appliance manufacturer Smeg has introduced a line of retro-style small electric housewares appliances to the U.S. market.

Smeg’s design team collaborated with Italian designers Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti of Deep Design to create the new line. The line represents a continuation of the Smeg 50s retro-style collection, which includes the FAB refrigeration and Victoria range.

The new product line includes Toasters, Stand Mixers, Blenders, and Kettles.

SMEG major appliances made for the U.S. include built-in ovens, ranges, hobs (cooktops), hoods, refrigerators, and dishwashers.

LG announced that it has sold more than 10 million refrigerators featuring its Inverter Linear Compressor around the world since 2001.

LG’s technology uses a straight piston rather than a conventional reciprocating drive, which is said to result in lower friction, which in turn promises better durability and reliability.

LG says that it’s also less noisy while running and that fridges equipped with the technology are up to 32 per cent more efficient than those with a traditional motor. It is so confident in it that the Inverter Linear Compressor is covered by a 10-year warranty

During a capital markets day in Charlotte, NC, on Nov. 20, CEO Keith McLoughlin and other senior officers provided a status update on the Group’s strategy and an overview of the current business
and environment and expectations for next year.

The Swedish-based appliance maker described its core strategy as being based on four pillars: profitable growth, innovation, operational excellence, and people and leadership. The presentations showed how Electrolux creates sustainable economic value with a continuous flow of product innovations, through modularization and through adapting the Group’s manufacturing footprint and cost structure.

The presentations also included an overview of the current business performance for Electrolux. The company said its operational recovery in Major Appliances EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) is progressing with active product portfolio management and sustainable cost savings.

For Major Appliances North America, the adoption of new energy requirements within refrigeration and freezers has been more complex than anticipated and will continue to have an impact on performance during the final quarter of 2015, and into the first half of 2015.

The performance within Major Appliances Asia Pacific, Latin America and Professional Products continues to be good.

Electrolux expects market demand to be slightly positive, with continued growth in North America and stabilized markets in Europe and in Latin America. Electrolux is expecting a continued slowdown in demand in several markets in Asia/Pacific.

Electrolux expects itself to develop a positive price/mix going into 2015. A negative price trend in Europe should be mitigated by the company’s product mix.

Raw material costs are generally trending down and are expected to have a positive impact year-over-year. The company expects cost savings to be approximately SEK 1 billion (approx. US $133 million) for the full year.

Electrolux continues to step up investments in product development, design, and marketing to support future product launches.

Electrolux is a global leader in home appliances, with numerous brands worldwide, including brands Electrolux, AEG, Zanussi, Frigidaire, and Electrolux Grand Cuisine. It sells more than 50 million products to customers in more than 150 markets every year.

Miele has taken home three recent awards.

The G6582 SCVI Knock2Open Dishwasher received a gold award for ‘Innovation in Sustainability’, while the WKR770WPS ChromeEdition Washing Machine from the W1 collection received a gold accolade for ‘Innovation in Technology’ at the ‘Designer Awards’. The Miele G6582 SCVI Knock2Open Dishwasher was also presented with the gold award for ‘Best White Goods’ at the ‘House Beautiful’ ceremony that took place at the Science Museum in London.