Grenfell Tower fire

The company behind the Hotpoint fridge-freezer linked to the devastating Grenfell Tower fire is facing legal action for allegedly failing to test the model’s materials against fire safety standards.

As reported by the *Financial Times*, Beko Europe—formerly known as Whirlpool—is among several businesses named in a High Court lawsuit exceeding £358 million. Investigations previously identified the Hotpoint FF175BP fridge-freezer as the likely initial source of the fire in June 2017, which tragically claimed over 70 lives.

Lawyers representing the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, as detailed in *The Guardian*, argue that Beko Europe neglected to test critical materials such as the plastic backing, foam, and polystyrene used in the fridge-freezer. They contend that such materials would have failed compliance under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 if properly tested.

In response, the company disputes these allegations and asserts it is “vigorously defending” the claims.

Meanwhile, Arçelik, the Turkish parent company of the Beko brand, completed a merger last year with U.S.-based Whirlpool, forming Beko Europe.

The issue of fire safety in household appliances has been a longstanding concern. A 2013 report by the London Fire Brigade highlighted fridges and freezers as among the “most dangerous household appliances during a fire,” citing the high amounts of plastic and flammable insulation as contributing to approximately 300 fridge-related fires annually across Great Britain.

Haier new integrated fridge freezer

Introducing the sleek and sophisticated ID Titanium Series 6 integrated Fridge Freezer.
This product certainly packs a punch.
⚡️One of the very few C rated integrated FF on the market.
🍗 268litres of internal storage.
💡 Daylight LED backlight – the whole back panel illuminates so you can see exactly whats in the fridge.
🍾 Foldable bottle / wine rack
👇🏼 The touch display on top of the My Zone drawer is easy to reach and can control the fridge, freezer and My Zone compartments.

🌡The MyZone drawer lets you switch the compartment temperature to suit whatever you need to store. perfect for chilling beer or wine!
🤫 32db (A) noise level, one of the quietest on the market
🔟 Market leading 10 year parts & labour warranty!

LG fit & max

LG Electronics (LG) is set to showcase its “Fit & Max” kitchen solution at the 2025 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas, offering a design that seamlessly fits into spaces while maximizing both capacity and performance. Boasting Zero Clearance™ technology, the company’s cutting-edge kitchen appliances are an ideal fit for any kitchen

LG’s refrigerator with Zero Clearance technology that minimizes wasted space and provides impressive installation flexibility Thanks to cleverly-designed hinges, the main compartment doors can open fully with only 4 millimeters of clearance between the side of the appliance and the surrounding cabinetry or adjacent wall
LG’s new Flush Depth dishwasher fits perfectly with standard-depth cabinetry for a seamless and streamlined look The new dishwasher incorporates advanced cleaning and drying technologies, including QuadWash™ LG’s QuadWash Pro technology creates microbubbles that thoroughly remove stains from dishware, while Dynamic Heat Dry utilizes a dry boost function to enhance drying performance. Drying effectiveness is further increased by the company’s AutoVentDry™ function, which automatically opens the dishwasher door after the completion of a cycle.

Bertazzoni Black Glass fridge freezer

Bertazzoni launched a new 60cm Black Glass Freestanding Fridge Freezer new RBM60F5FBNC, crafted with cutting-edge technology in every detail, offers advanced functionality and flexible configuration. The refrigeration compartment has a total capacity of 266 liters and four shelves, three of which are height-adjustable, allowing the interior space to be adapted according to different storage needs. The four height-adjustable door balconies provide optimal flexibility for storing bottles, jars, and other bulky containers.

A distinctive element of this model is the FrescoZero Chiller drawer, designed to keep meat and fish at the ideal temperature of around 0°C . This preserves freshness and organoleptic qualities of delicate foods, prolonging shelf life, and always ensuring healthy and tasty meals.

The freezer, equipped with a Total No Frost system, prevents the formation of ice and bacteria and eliminates the need for manual defrosting, keeping the compartment continuously clean and hygienic. This advanced system ensures that food is stored in optimal conditions, without alterations in taste or texture.

Finally, to ensure maximum ease of use, the new appliance features an intuitive touch screen display , which not only adds an element of modernity and elegance to the product but also provides precise control of the internal temperature, allowing you to monitor and adjust settings with simple touch

BSH IFA 2024

At IFA, Bosch House will be showcasing household appliances, as well as devices and technologies that help you achieve optimal results throughout the home. This year’s household appliances include the new French Door fridge-freezer combinations with the most powerful ice and water dispenser on the European market , which can produce up to 5 kg of ice per day. In the kitchen, the new Series 4 and 6 ovens impress with their AirFry and steam functions. The new Series 6 and 8 washing machines allow you to save energy, water, electricity and detergent with every wash cycle Serie 8 WGB244AW0 washing machine present at IFA is 50% more efficient than the energy efficiency category A

Siemens focuses on the desire for simplicity in everyday life. The new cooktops with diamondProtect feature a more resistant CERAN® surface , which ensures easy maintenance and a long product life. Siemens is also introducing this new material for the first time in the iQ500 inductionAir Plus cooktop , which integrates an extractor hood with combined induction and temperature control. The iQ700 oven with food recognition has doubled its range of applications: thanks to AI and the integrated camera, it automatically recognizes 80 dishes and use cases and knows how to set the optimal cooking method. Other areas of application for artificial intelligence include the browning sensor and the intelligentProgram of the Siemens dishwasher , which learns and adapts to the expectations of its owners

BORA New products

BORA unveiled a series of products during their Product Launch Event

The BORA Pure M with its signature vertical slider made its appearance. Alongside, lighting solutions were introduced, notably the linear pendant light – BORA Horizon, and the vertical pendant light – BORA Stars.
BORA ventured into presenting an extendable vacuum-sealing system for kitchen countertops,
The main highlight in my opinion, however, was the introduction of three freezer solutions. According to BORA, these freezers are designed with intelligent circulating air cooling to ensure optimal temperature stability. An added feature is the integrated odor filter, aimed at reducing unpleasant fridge odors.

BORA branching out into peripheral products like for instance lighting and vacuum-sealing solutions. At first glance, this might seem a departure from their original product – cooktops with integrated exhaust systems. The addition of freezer solutions now rounds off their offerings in the large kitchen appliances segment. It’s going to be fascinating to watch how this once-specialized provider positions itself brand-wise for the future. The coming months will surely demand some additional communication to clearly convey their brand positioning to the market.

Siemens launches its new extra-capacity fridge

Siemens launches its new extra-capacity refrigerators, designed with 45% more space than the standard. These new appliances (1.93 cm high and 70.8 cm wide) feature sturdy glass shelves, finished with blackSteel profiles, in perfect combination with the new ovens and hobs of the Siemens studioLine range. The hinges, thanks to the softClosing system, ensure the automatic closing of the refrigerator when an angle of 20° (or less) is reached. In addition, the interior lighting can be controlled and set via the Home Connect app. Finally, the No Frost technology allows for optimal air distribution by preventing the formation of frost