Elica UK will be bringing its show trailer and a number of brand-new appliances across Europe to Brewhouse Yard in the heart of the action at this year’s Clerkenwell Design Week.
The show trailer will be the first opportunity for UK designers, kitchen studios and interior designers to see LHOV, a brand-new product that integrates hob, hood and a revolutionary extractor oven in a single appliance. The design of LHOV will complement and enhance modern kitchen design, whilst providing extraction that removes vapours and odours not only from the hob but from the oven as well. The extraction system has been discreetly hidden, while the oven is positioned under the hob at the perfect height for ergonomic use.Among other highlights will be:
NikolaTesla Unplugged the latest extractor hob which brings together the elegance of the hugely successful NikolaTesla Switch and the benefits of analogue control. NikolaTesla Unplugged is controlled through fixed clickrelease knobs with analogue touch and feel which provide instantaneous and intuitive access to all its features. All elements are incorporated into a boldlined appearance, developed to intelligently separate the cooking zone from the control area
The new range of VIRTUS ovens and RATIO hobs which fuse high performance and Elica’s uniquely elegant design language.
Veritas – Elica’s brand new built-in wine coolers
The Elica show trailer will also display many more of the iconic NikolaTesla extractor hobs and of course a selection from Elica’s huge range of discrete ceiling, ultra slim wall-mounted cooker hoods.
The new Airfly P1 high-speed hair dryer by Soocas sports a compact and lightweight design from Porsche subsidiary FA Porsche
Soocas has announced the latest addition to its small appliances line-up, Airfly P1, a high-speed hair dryer designed by premium design agency FA Porsche, a subsidiary of automaker Porsche AG. With a streamlined modern design, the new dryer takes up one third of the volume of a traditional low-speed hair dryer, and it can dry hair in 5 minutes and under.
New Airfly P1 hair dryer | Credit: Soocas
Sleek and compact
According to the Chinese personal care specialist, the inspiration behind the design of its new hair dryer is high-speed premium cars. FA Porsche, as a design branch of Porsche AG and an agency that prides itself on combining form and function, having created designs for appliance manufacturers such as Siemens and Panasonic, was just the company to create it.
In line with its aerodynamic vehicle inspiration, the new dryer’s body is made of automotive-grade aluminium alloy and boasts a futuristic streamlined design. The Soocas Airfly P1 is also compact and lightweight. Taking up about one third of the space of a traditional hair dryer, it measures no more than 2.24 x 4.56×9.34 inches and weighs in at just 0.87 pounds.
“The Soocas development department was able to make the hair dryer lighter, quieter and more powerful by restructuring the components. Our task was to develop a design for the technical components that would meet the target group and the requirements of a new, high-priced hair dryer in a class of its own,” FA Porsche said.
Quick drying
Thanks to what the company is calling Airfly P1’s “ultra-high wind flow,” the new dryer is able to provide a wind speed of 70m/s compared to a traditional low-speed hair dryer’s 18m/s.
Moreover, a built-in microprocessor chip allows for intelligent temperature control, monitoring the temperature in real-time 100+ times per second. The strictly monitored temperature of the dryer is around 70°C and as compared to traditional low-speed hair dryers, it can reach up to 100°C.
These new features reduce drying time considerably: one minute for short hair, three minutes for shoulder-length hair and five minutes for long hair.
Healthy hair
The Airfry P1 will also contribute to making its users’ hair silkier and shinier, the company said. This is achieved by increasing moisture by 4.6 times, smoothness by 19.7%, and shininess by 17.8%. In addition, the dryer’s high-speed airflow transports plasma from hair roots to hair tips, tightens cuticles, and makes the hair twice as smooth as ordinary negative ion hair dryers.
Focused on personal care
Since its creation in 2015, Soocas has been producing electronic personal care products such as electric toothbrushes, water flossers, shavers, and hairdryers for its own brand and for other Chinese appliance makers like Xiaomi. Apart from its main range of products, Soocas offers complementary products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and hair essential oil.
The firm promotes a “just one more step in personal care” vision that combines innovative technology with sleek designs in order to allow its users what the firm calls “simpler and more enjoyable personal care routines”.
The AirFly P1 is the first product in a new hair dryer line, designed with a high-price market segment in mind. One of the company’s previous hair dryer models won an IF design award in 2018 and was described by iF Design Foundation as a breakthrough in styling and function that was “more fashionable and beautiful than traditional hairdryers”. The award praised the dryer’s wind speed and air volume, claiming they were superior to traditional dryers and applauded the high-end user experience provided by the dryer at a lower price than comparable dryers on the market.
Canada-based household appliance brand Sepura has announced it has received new investment, thanks to its innovative sustainable food waste separation product.
Sepura Home Ltd recently raised approximately €3.38 million ($3.7 million) in an investment round led by tap brand Blanco. It has been reported that the investment will go towards scaling Sepura’s activity in North America, boosting the market presence of the brand’s innovative “first sustainable food waste separation device in the world.”
Sepura impresses with eponymous food waste separation device
Sepura is a household appliance product that is fitted under the kitchen sink. The product essentially replaces garbage disposal, and sees users scrape food into their own sink. After that, a wireless button is pressed, with liquids going down the drain and solids separated by an auger and collected in a compost bin. Users are notified when the compost bin is filled and needs to be emptied.
The device has an array of cutting-edge features that could prove useful in the kitchen. For one Sepura has a carbon filter which can cut out the smell of decomposing food and can regulate air intakes. There are LED indicators to inform the user when it is time to empty the bin, and its adaptable design means the product can be installed in a range of different kitchens thanks to adjustable height and a simple installation process.
“Sepura represents a significant step forward in sustainable living. With its advanced technology and user-friendly design, Sepura offers a simple and effective way to minimise waste and promote a cleaner, healthier environment,” said Victor Nicolov, Co-founder and CEO of the company.
“We are excited [to] bring consumers the sustainable solution they are seeking and work to improve how food waste impacts the environment moving forward.”
Sepura’s innovative product could prove to be one way for consumers at large to live more sustainably. The company claims that more than three billion tonnes of food is wasted around the world on an annual basis, with cities across Sepura’s range of influence in North America introducing bans for garbage disposal in some cases.
Sepura says it is targeting a gap in the market for non-traditional garbage disposal products, with the introduction of an arguably more sustainable solution.
“With this strategic investment we are proud to enable SEPURA to further develop and execute their standalone business. We want to contribute to making the kitchen water place in residential homes even more sustainable and consumer friendly,” remarked Frank Gfrörer, CEO of Blanco.
“We believe that Sepura’s technology represents a substantial advancement in the field of food waste disposal and we are convinced that the solution provides the right answer to a pressing issue of our time.”
Food waste management receives billion dollar boost in North America
The rising importance of effective food waste management is felt strongly in North America, with news that Divert, a company which converts food waste into natural gas, has received a billion dollar boost to expand its operations across the region.
The company received approximately €920 million ($1 billion) in investment from Canada-based energy company Enbridge Inc. The funding will go towards the construction of 30 gas conversion facilities that will reportedly be able to convert over 5% of all food waste generated in the United States, apparently avoiding the production of approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Divert also received approximately €73 million ($80 million) in growth equity from Enbridge, with further investment of around €18 million ($20 million) provided by investor Ara Partners among others.
“For 16 years, Divert has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent wasted food nationwide and this new funding will serve as a catalyst to address this pervasive problem at scale,” noted Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder of Divert
Jura E6 is a new coffee machine that boasts an innovative design and advanced features that make it easy to prepare a wide range of coffee beverages, from classic black coffee to the ever-popular cappuccino.
The Jura E6 is designed with an emphasis on sustainability and premium craftsmanship, with a timeless and elegant design that will look great in any kitchen. The machine exemplifies the innovation and quality that defines the Jura brand, and it is built to last.
One of the standout features of the Jura E6 is its Professional Aroma Grinder, which ensures more aromatic coffee through more consistent grinding. With Jura, coffee is always freshly ground, not capsuled – for the richer taste and eco-friendly appeal of brewing directly from fresh, whole coffee beans, or optional pre-ground.
The device also enhances the cappuccino experience by creating fine milk foam and offering an extra shot function for more intense flavour and aroma. The coffee machine is also WiFi compatible using WiFi Connect, which gives multiple users the ability to control the machine from a smartphone or tablet using JOE, an exclusive Jura app – to personalise favourite beverages, initiate brewing, view maintenance instructions and videos, and more.
The Jura E6 is also designed with the user in mind, with a sophisticated operating concept and straightforward user guidance that make coffee preparation simple and personalised. The machine features a 2.8-inch colour display that makes it easy to prepare café quality coffee, with eleven beverage choices from espresso to an espresso macchiato. Users can customise their brew by choosing from ten programmable coffee strength intensity levels and three programmable temperature settings. Coffee strength can also be adjusted individually with each cup. This versatile machine can also deliver hot water for tea or Americano, with three programmable hot water temperatures.
The machine has a 64 oz. water tank and 10 oz. whole bean container, for ample capacity for daily use or entertaining. The Clearyl smart filter maintains water purity as part of the brand’s commitment to maximising quality and taste. The E6 features integrated cleaning cycles and includes a container for milk system cleaning.
The Jura E6 is available in three different colours: Piano White, Platinum, and Dark Inox. With its innovative features, timeless design, and commitment to sustainability, the Jura E6 brings the barista experience home.
The Jura E6 brews classic black coffee specialties to perfection – and it makes it easy to enjoy the ever-popular cappuccino, thanks to its innovative Easy Cappuccino function. The 2.8-inch colour display makes it easy to prepare café quality coffee, with eleven beverage choices from espresso to an espresso macchiato.
Online electrical retailer Marks Electrical Group reported record full year revenue of £97.8m, according to a trading update for the year to 31 March 2023.
The results represent a growth rate of 21.5%, up from £80.5m in 2022.
The firm is now expecting to achieve a full year Adjusted EBITDA exceeding £7.5m.
“We are delighted to finish the year with revenue growth of 21.5% to a record £97.8m, especially against the prevailing economic back-drop. This further demonstrates the strength of our business model and the attractiveness and advantage of our market-leading customer offering, as more people continue to discover our brand up and down the country,” Mark Smithson, chief executive officer, commented.
Marks Electrical Group recorded a strong trading period in its fourth quarter, with 20.0% revenue growth to £24.8m – up from £20.7m during the same period in 2022.
Hefei Snowky Electric Co., Ltd Founded in June 2011, the company currently has three automated production lines for large refrigerators with an annual production capacity of 1 million units will be at the Canton Fair from 15th to 19th April.
It was a good start to the year for Chinese brand Haier Smart Home which has seen strong revenue growth against current industry trends Haier’s revenue hit RMB 243.514 billion (€32bn) in 2022 versus RMB 227.106 billion (€30.28bn) the previous year. Its net profit attributable to the owners of the parent company amounted to RMB 14.711 billion (€1.9m). Growth in profit exceeded that of revenue, Haier said.
It comes after the brand re-entered the Fortune list of World’s Most Admired companies back in February, and the appliances arm being named Euromonitor No. 1 Global Appliance Brand for the 14th year running.
Drivers for Haier’s success have been attributed to successful brand building strategies and the effective digital transformation of domestic and overseas businesses. It means the consumer electronics giant has been able to report strong growth against the sluggish trend of the home appliance industry.
Meanwhile, Haier Smart Home‘s overseas business grew by 10.3% in the reporting year despite challenges such as high inflation and slowing global consumer demand in 2022.
Haier Smart Home said it accelerated the localisation of its supply chain setup in overseas markets, and fully leveraged its global collaborative advantages to effectively respond to these challenges. The company’s overseas business increased by 10.3% year-on-year in 2022. In the American market, the company’s revenue increased by 9.0% (revenue in local currency increased by 4.6%), under the background that the industry’s major home appliance shipment growth was -6%. In the European market, the company recorded revenue growth of 16.7% while the industry’s sale volume growth was -8.9%.
At home, in the domestic market, Haier reported “continuous growth”, particularly with its premium Casarte brand, which continues to rank No.1 in China.
Finally, Three-Winged Bird, Haier Smart Home’s smart home eco-system brand, has also been a driving force for growth, the company said. “It continuously iterated the so-called “1+3+5+N” smart home solutions, enhancing user value based on its 5 core capabilities including Smart Home Brain capability, scenario solution capability, store operation capability, 1+N delivery capability, and digital tools capability.
During 2022, more than 900 stores of Three-Winged Bird were opened, and the retail sales of the Three-Winged Bird stores increased by 257% year-on-year.
With the continuous deepening of digital transformation, Haier Smart Home’s profitability continued to improve by increasing its resource efficiency and hence, creating room for new expansion in a more sustainable way
Electrolux Group has developed a new stick vacuum cleaner range with a paint-free surface to help reduce environmental impact. This is the first time that an entire vacuum cleaner range – of six different colors – has been launched on the market with different recycled plastic formulations to obtain the colors without paint.
A paint-free surface removes the use of chemicals while also reducing CO2 by not having to manufacture paints in the first place. The colors are created by new recycled plastic formulations and the range uses between 43% and 49% recycled material by weight depending on color and nozzles. suction power of the vacuum cleaner is increased by 20% with a new bristle nozzle to pick up dust better and the vacuum has a sealed filtration system to remove up to 99.9% of particles between 0.3 µm-10 µm from the home environment. The vacuum is also designed with a unique hand unit design that acts as a sound muffler for noise reduction. By promoting better air quality and less noise, the vacuum cleaner contributes to improved wellbeing in the home.
Additionally, the battery run time in handheld mode is improved to up to 55 minutes on a single charge.
The range goes by various commercial names in different markets. It was launched as the Electrolux UltimateHome 700 in Asia Pacific & Middle East and Africa in 2022. In Europe, the range is being launched under different names under the Electrolux and AEG brands, such as Clean 600, Animal 600, Hygienic 600 and Hygienic 6000. It will come to Latin America later in 2023.
This month, LG CEO Cho visited the company’s key production bases in Asia, including Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, directly looking into key factors of operational advancement strategies, such as quality enhancement, supply chain, cost structure improvement, safety and productivity of vehicle components, home appliances and TVs. Ultimately, the company aims to strengthen competitiveness and growth in key business areas and global markets.
“Let’s further strengthen our market dominance and solidify the foundation for sustainable growth by upgrading our locally-optimized operation methods and providing world-class quality, cost competitiveness and reliable delivery to our customers,” said CEO Cho. “We should look to pioneer future markets with our unmatched innovation and ability to overcome challenges, while holding firm to the belief that opportunities come from delivering exceptional customer experiences.”
The CEO began his Asian tour in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he was joined by the heads of LG’s Asian subsidiaries for a management meeting. There, he was briefed on the company’s regional performance and discussed the status of individual markets including Vietnam, which serves as a global production base for LG’s electronic devices and home appliances. He also had in-depth talks with the subsidiary heads on a variety of business matters, such as improving production efficiency, verifying mass production processes for new products, enhancing quality control and boosting growth through mutually beneficial partnerships.Departing Vietnam, CEO Cho headed to Thailand to visit the Rayong factory and its home appliance production lines. Next, he traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia to inspect LG’s Cibitung plant, which has become a major TV production base for the company’s premium product lineups, including LG OLED TVs. After Jakarta, the CEO made a stop in the city of Tangerang, meeting staff and looking over facilities at the local LG plant, which focuses primarily on refrigerator production.
“Our Vietnam and Indonesia subsidiaries now form a complete business structure, having recently added a local R&D subsidiary to the production and sales corporations already in place,” noted CEO Cho, who also called on all subsidiaries in the Asia region to accelerate their business management by implementing active localization strategiesLast year, the company achieved sales of more than KRW 7.8 trillion in the Asian market, continuously increasing sales by about KRW 1 trillion yearly with double-digit growth over the past two years.This year alone, the CEO has already spent more than 150 hours in the air visiting nine countries across North America, Europe, Asia and Central and South America – participating in major events, including CES 2023 and AHR Expo in the U.S.A. and ISE 2023 in Spain, and touring various LG facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Australia
Mark Barrocas, president of SharkNinja, which makes consumer appliances like vacuum cleaners and air fryers, explains how a customer focus group surprised him and taught him a valuable business lesson. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-65245074
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