Appliance Design articles from April 2006

Appliance Design archives from April 2006

Current thinking.(alternating current versus direct current)(Editorial)
April 1, 2006... William Kemmler of Buffalo, N.Y., did not intend to make history by hacking his mistress to death with an axe, but did so nonetheless when punishment for the deed conferred upon him a unique distinction: he was the first murderer to be executed...

Shipments.(Statistical table)
April 1, 2006... SHIPMENTS Product Jan. '06 Jan. '05 MAJORS--TOTAL 4,565,100 478,800 CLEANUP--TOTAL 969,600 1,049,100 Compactors ...

Forecasts.(shipment data for appliances)(Statistical table)
April 1, 2006... FORECASTS DVD PLAYERS/RECORDERS--Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 2005 2006 2007 1 1,930.5 1,621.6 1,475.6 2 3,764.8 3,087.1 2,871.0 3 3,597.4 3,147.7 2,738.5 4 6,855.1...

Novel appliances shown at domo.(NEWS WATCH)(Domotechnica)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... In addition to the expected panoply of upscale ranges, refrigerators and washers shown at domotechnica in February, a number of other novel appliances made their debut as well. A countertop refrigerated beer tap, an automatic vegetable washer,...

Defining big.(NEWS WATCH)(evaluation procedure for household ovens)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' product performance evaluation procedure for the Determination and Expression of Oven Volume has gained approval by the American National Standards Institute as an American National Standard. The...

Housing slows.(NEWS WATCH)(home sales)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The pace of new home sales slowed in January, according to a government report that included the latest sign of a growing glut of new homes on the market in some areas. The Census Bureau reported that new homes sold at an annual rate of 1.23...

Dry idea.(NEWS WATCH)(dehumidifiers certification program )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has expanded its Dehumidifier Certification Program to include Energy Factor verification testing in addition to verification of Water Removal Capacity. Energy Factor data can now be found in...

Clean water.(NEWS WATCH)(government contracts)(Vortex Water Filtration Inc. )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Vortex, a global innovator of chemical-free water purification products for consumer and commercial use, has been awarded a Phase Two $750,000 Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency Small Business Innovation Research contract. This...

Print a pancreas.(NEWS WATCH)(printing living human tissue)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Researchers at Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina say that by using ordinary ink-jet printer technology, they can actually "print" living human tissue, and one day, will be able to print entire organs. The...

Windy city wireless.(NEWS WATCH)(wireless broadband offered)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The nationwide rush to go wireless appears poised to extend to its biggest city yet. Chicago is launching an effort to offer wireless broadband, jumping on the Wi-Fi bandwagon as similar initiatives proceed in Philadelphia, San Francisco and...

Plastics on parade.(NEWS WATCH)(NPE 2006 to exhibit plastics technologies)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The entire range of plastics technologies employed by the appliance industry will be on display at NPE 2006, including new materials, equipment, software, and services that can help increase productivity, reduce costs, enhance quality or create...

Big blue gets bigger.(NEWS WATCH)(company forecast)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... IBM will invest $1 billion to develop software and recruit thousands of consultants over the next three years to expand its business of making corporate information more accessible to office workers. The world's largest computer services...

Washers leaving Webster.(NEWS WATCH)(production relocated)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Electrolux announced plans to move production of front-load washers and companion dryers from Webster City, Iowa, to a new plant in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The move will leave 700 workers without jobs in Iowa, and provide 800 new jobs in Mexico....

Consumer blogging.(NEWS WATCH)(new technologies)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Toshiba, a Japanese electronics company that makes DVD players, laptops and nuclear power plants, has developed mobile phone technology that searches for product reviews on up to 100 Web journals, or blogs in 10 seconds. Consumers can use the...

Icky bath.(NEWS WATCH)(whirlpool bath infections)(Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... That water that whirlpool bath users are leisurely soaking in could be some of the filthiest and nastiest in the world. A study by a Texas A&M University microbiologist shows that whirlpool bathtubs can literally be a breeding ground for dozens...

Is HEPA helpful?(NEWS WATCH)(high-efficiency particulate air filters)(Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A team at the North West Lung Center, run by the University of Manchester and based at Wythenshawe Hospital in the U.K., has discovered that vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air filters are no more effective than standard models...

Seeing far and near.(NEWS WATCH)(ital still camera introduced)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Eastman Kodak Co. has introduced a dual-lens digital still camera that combines a 23 mm wide angle lens and a 39 mm to 117 mm zoom lens in a sleek package less than an inch thick. The Easyshare V570 camera uses Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon...

Allied consolidating.(NEWS WATCH)(Allied Air Enterprises Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Allied Air Enterprises, a division of Lennox International, will consolidate company manufacturing, distribution, research and development and administrative operations in South Carolina, and close its current operations in Bellevue, Ohio, in a...

Daewoo deal.(partnership)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... South Korea's Daewoo Electronics has entered a strategic partnership to supply refrigerators to German home appliance manufacturer BSH Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbH. Under the $300 million deal, Daewoo Electronics will supply at least 100,000...

Virtual show.(NEWS WATCH)
April 1, 2006... Responding to the need for a trade show devoted solely to space and water heating equipment and products, GAMA will hold its first "Heating Technology Expo," a virtual trade show to run online concurrently with GAMA's 71st Annual Meeting...

Appliances profitable.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Home Depot said fourth-quarter profit rose 23 percent, the biggest gain in two years, driven by sales of refrigerators, washing machines and kitchen cabinets. Net income at the world's largest home-improvement retailer climbed to $1.29 billion,...

Scanning for speech.(NEWS WATCH)(Swiss Foundation for Electronic Aids for Handicapped People develops bar code readers)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A novel bar code reader provides auditory feedback when scanning barcodes that were designed to represent words or phrases. Called the B.A. Bar, the device is meant to help people whose speech is impaired due to stroke or some inherent...

Meetings.(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... GAMA Annual Meeting April 8-April 11, Phoenix, Ariz. Contact: 703/525-7060 ext. 245 Website: www.gamanet.org Kitchen Bath Industry Show April 20-April 23, Chicago, Ill. Contact: 800/241-9034 ext. 5434 or 5435 Email:...

Eye on danger.(NEWS WATCH)(hydrogel microlenses used to detect biological and chemical agents )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Scientists at Georgia Tech have created a technology capable of detecting trace amounts of biological or chemical agents in a matter of seconds. The approach utilizes reusable hydrogel microlenses that employ antibody-antigen binding. When...

Dual fuel, one line.(NEWS WATCH)(dual-fuel freestanding range introduced)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GE Appliances has introduced a dual-fuel freestanding range with an electric oven that operates off a standard 120 V electrical outlet, eliminating the need for any special wiring to power it. The 5 cu. ft. electric oven features gas-assisted...

Clear view.(NEWS WATCH)(organic light emitting diode)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam, Germany, have succeeded in constructing transparent OLED displays using light-emitting polymers with brightness, operating life time and efficiency high enough...

Talking cooking.(NEWS WATCH)(induction cooking appliance introduced)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Sanyo Electric has introduced an induction cooking appliance in Japan that can be activated and controlled by "voice navigation." It also talks back, giving advice to cooks who may need it. In addition, the appliance will emit various musical...

Plastic RFID.(NEWS WATCH)(radio frequency identification device )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Scientists at Philips Research, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, have developed a fully functional 13.56 MHz RFID tag based entirely on plastic electronics. This approach allows an RFID chip to be printed directly onto a plastic substrate along with...

Super stainless.(NEWS WATCH)(stainless steel alloy innovated)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Defense, teaming with QuesTek Innovations, Evanston, Ill., has developed a new high-strength, stainless steel alloy with significantly higher corrosion resistance than existing alloys. The new alloy, known as Ferrium S53,...

Axial advantage: alternative technology can produce more efficient fractional HP motors.(MOTORS)
April 1, 2006... Recent events have made energy production and the efficiency of energy utilization the subject of much discussion, especially during the past few months. This interest will probably continue and will likely have widespread effects on the...

Quieter by control: feedback control method mitigates acoustic noise in permanent magnet synchronous motors.
April 1, 2006... Permanent magnet synchronous machines are a popular choice for high performance variable frequency drives. Their advantages include a high torque-to-inertia ratio, power density, and efficiency. Although the advantages are numerous, a design...

Spinning free: fluid bearing technology meets tough demands for big-screen television.
April 1, 2006... Few markets are more competitive than the one for large screen televisions. In that segment, even a slight technological advantage can provide a cost reduction that sends sales soaring. When studying one of the product lines in that segment,...

Managing by module: plug-and-play control design reduces part count and production cost.(MOTORS)
April 1, 2006... Today's engineers must learn to prosper in an environment that emphasizes a plug-and-play design strategy. Most major appliance manufacturers, for example, have adopted the practice of considering even critical electronic subsystems (such as a...

Gas gears up: gas-fired heat pumps provides increased heating efficiency and improved comfort levels.(gas-fired heat pumps or vapor compression )
April 1, 2006... Although the initial equipment cost associated with gas-fired absorption heat pumps is significantly higher than that of its conventional electric counterpart, the design provides for the dual ability to heat and cool, improved heating side...

Efficient exchange: enhanced heat exchangers enable improved product designs.
April 1, 2006... Tougher standards, soaring energy prices, and more intense competition are all factors pushing the makers of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment to design more energy efficient products. The heat exchangers employed as evaporators and...

Lighting the way: fiber optics technology provides versatile illumination.(DECORATION)
April 1, 2006... The visual appeal of an appliance depends in good measure on how it conveys information by means of a display, graphic overlay, and legends, all of which can benefit from effective illumination. Backlighting a display makes it more readable and...

Record breaker: number for the 2006 show reach new heights.(AHR EXPO HIGHLIGHTS)
April 1, 2006... The throng of HVAC/R professionals that filled the aisles and booths at the 76th AHR Expo in Chicago, January 23-25, helped the event to shatter a number of records. According to the show's management, a total of 57,673 HVACR professionals...

Beswick Engineering.(Valves)
April 1, 2006... A new ultra-miniature duckbill check valve designed to withstand up to 250 psig backpressure is suitable for gas and pneumatic applications, and appropriate for applications that cannot tolerate leaks or back flow. It is particularly useful...

Peter Paul.(Valves)
April 1, 2006... The SERIES 58 subminiature two-way, normally closed valve is now offered with inline, barbed fittings to allow for a smaller package and easier connection. Available at either 3.5 W or 0.9 W, this space- and energy-saving valve is appropriate...

Neoperl.(Valves)
April 1, 2006... Plastic check valves are pre-assembled and tested to provide durable drip-tight operation. Available in 12 OD sizes between 3/8 in. and 2 in. for drinking water applications (NSF 61) up to 200 DegF and 230 psi, the new HT Series with its...

Parker Fluid Control Division.(Valves)
April 1, 2006... Series 204 and 304 solenoid valve lines feature powerful performance characteristics to ensure a long life and system integrity. The new product lines offer a family of small direct-acting solenoid valves for air and liquid (including light...

Watson-Marlow Bredel.(Pumps)
April 1, 2006... Designed with the 323 Dz flip-flop pumphead for simple tube loading, the 323 Dz pump increases pumping precision. The pump is well suited for laboratory and bench-top applications such as metering, dosing and the scale transfer of...

Saint-Gobain.(Tubing/Hose/Fitting)
April 1, 2006... TYGON ECMO, non-DEHP tubing is designed for critical and demanding medical applications without the use of DEHR The tubing offers strong resistance to chemicals and offers an improved pump life over its predecessor TYGON S-65 HL, prompting...

Teel.(Tubing/Hose/Fitting)
April 1, 2006... Teel Plastics manufactures a variety of water filtration tubes for applications including filters, filter housings, refrigerator tubing, liquid supply lines, riser tubing and brine well tubing. Multi-layer tubing and custom colors are also...

NewAge Industries.(Tubing/Hose/Fitting)
April 1, 2006... Silicone tubing and reinforced hose in multiple specialized grades are suitable for applications such as medical devices, pharmaceutical product transfer, beverage and food service, vending, deionized water transfer, sterile bottle filling,...

InterTech Development.(Leak Testing)
April 1, 2006... Appliance designers involved in prototype development can cut time-to-market by up to 10 percent by using InterTech Development Company's M-1075 Mass Flow Leak Detector for quick and direct measurement of leakage independent of pressure and...

Uson.(Leak Testing)
April 1, 2006... Qualitek 626 leak tester is a flexible, repeatable non-destructive leak tester that combines economy with accuracy. The Qualitek 626 differential pressure decay tester is both simple to operate and easy to integrate. Borrowing its strong design...

Inficon.(Leak Testing)
April 1, 2006... Protec P3000, a helium sniffer leak detector uses INFICON Wise Technology for increased levels of productivity and reliability in demanding production environments. Designed for ease of use, Protec P3000 is more immune to careless or untrained...

Cincinnati Test Systems.(Leak Testing)
April 1, 2006... Sentinel M24 is a compact, affordable and versatile leak test instrument that provides improved performance and communications capabilities. The Sentinel M24 offers repeatable, high-resolution tests, fast cycle times, a VFD graphic display and...

Amulet Technologies.(DESIGN MART)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Beyond Your Basic LCD Controller, Graphical User Interface (GUI) solutions by Amulet empower designers to utilize their LCDs full design potential. Chips and software are optimized for 24/7 reliability and are compatible with most...

Caplugs.(DESIGN MART)
April 1, 2006... ERGONOMIC CENTER PULL TARS. The Ergonomic Center-Pull Tab Plug (ECP) offers the convenience of a center-pull tab plug in a soft, flexible material. Depending upon the port size and choice of plug size, these parts are able to seal against...

FasTest Inc.(DESIGN MART)
April 1, 2006... NEW CATALOG FOR HVACR TESTING PRODUCTS Eliminate process tubes and the leaks associated with Schrader style valves with the CoreMax[R] System. By adopting this revolutionary system, you will reduce processing cost and increase throughput....

Airserco Manufacturing.(DESIGN MART)
April 1, 2006... MSE-6 EVACUATION MADE SIMPLE, RELIABLE & AFFORDABLE Simultaneously evacuate up to 6 units Increase production efficiency Enhance quality control Enter 501 AIRSERCO MANUFACTURING Enabling 'Cool' Processes www.airserco.com ...

EFD, Inc.(DESIGN MART)
April 1, 2006... Free Dispensing Barrel/Syringe & Tip Chart. Quickly identify the right dispensing components for your fluid application. Match assembly fluids--cyanoacrylates UV-cure adhesives or thick pastes--to the syringe and tip combination that will give...

Watson-Marlow Bredel.(DESIGN MART)
April 1, 2006... The 313D peristaltic pump is the right pump for manufacturers of food service equipment, The 313 features the latest styling and patented LoadSure[TM] technology for trouble-free tube reading. The bayonet adapter aides factory installation, and...

Global market presents challenges, opportunities.(ASSOCIATION REPORT: GAMA)
April 1, 2006... To help our members understand and prepare for challenges and opportunities in foreign markets such as China, GAMA is continuing to look for new ways to extend its global reach. Late last year, GAMA led 25 member-company representatives on...