Appliance Design articles from December 2005

Appliance Design archives from December 2005

Hearing voices.(EDITORIAL)(The Voice of the Customer)(Editorial)
December 1, 2005... A classic Dilbert cartoon features the pointy-haired boss wondering what the customers want. He is told: "Our customers want better products for free." The response illustrates one potential peril of listening to the customer: discovering...

Shipments.(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... SHIPMENTS Product Sept. '05 Sept. '04 % Chg. MAJORS--TOTAL 7,237,400 7,044,200 2.7% CLEANUP--TOTAL 1,548,700 1,354,700 14.3% ...

Forecasts.(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... FORECASTS MAJOR HOME APPLIANCES--Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 2004 2005 2006 1 20,345.7 18,764.2 19,025.3 2 21,793.4 22,792.6 23,225.0 3 18,542.1 ...

Interactive health appliances shine.(NEWS WATCH)
December 1, 2005... A survey of 9,732 patients using the Health Buddy appliance from Health Hero Network found that 86 percent say they better understand their medical condition and treatment and are better able to manage their chronic health conditions. "The...

DOE rules on efficiency.(NEWS WATCH)(Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... DOE RULES ON EFFICIENCY. The U.S. Department of Energy recently ordered the manufacturers of more than a dozen appliances and products, ranging from traffic signals to commercial ice makers, to create products that use less energy. The...

Parker Hannifin.(NEWS WATCH)(Kenmore International)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... PARKER HANNIFIN is acquiring Kenmore International, a leading manufacturer and distributor of components for global refrigeration and air conditioning markets, from Lai Berg Holding, of Norway. The acquisition is expected to close in the coming...

UWB's pros/cons.(Ultra wideband technology)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... UWB'S PROS/CONS. An emerging wireless technology, ultrawideband, targets consumer electronics and is starting to appear in some products. The company with the biggest stake is UWB's main champion, Freescale Semiconductor. UWB has some...

Lithium ion replacement.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... LITHIUM ION REPLACEMENT. Japan's Canon Inc. recently said it has developed tiny fuel cells that it hopes will begin replacing conventional batteries to power some of its digital cameras and printers in three years. Canon joins a small army of...

Maytag opines.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... MAYTAG OPINES. Maytag Corp. told its employees in a letter that consumers care more about price and value than where appliances are made, and that manufacturers will continue to move operations to low-cost countries to remain competitive. The...

Warner takes both.(NEWS WATCH)(Warner Bros.)(high definition digital video disc formats)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... WARNER TAKES BOTH. Warner Bros. has become the second studio to support both high definition Digital Video Disc formats, a move that could shift the advantage to the Blu-ray format backed by a group led by Sony Corp. Warner Bros. Entertainment...

Marketing machismo changes little.
December 1, 2005... Despite the increasing attention paid to retail marketing that targets men, this "machismo" approach has yet to have a real impact on buying habits when it comes to housewares, according to the fall issue of Housewares MarketWatch published by...

S.C. gets Haier R&D.(NEWS WATCH)
December 1, 2005... S.C. GETS HAIER R&D. Chinese appliance maker Haier will move research and development jobs to Camden, where it has a 200-employee plant that makes refrigerators, the S.C. Commerce Department recently said. Haier chairman Zhang Ruimin said that...

Sony Corp.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... SONY CORP. plans to sell between 2.5 million and 3 million PlayStation Portable handheld video game devices in its first North American holiday season, a Sony Computer Entertainment America official said, noting the company had sold about 2.3...

Sharp targets LCD niche.(NEWS WATCH)(liquid-crystal-display shipments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... SHARP TARGETS LCD NICHE. Sharp Corp. aims to double the value of its liquid-crystal-display shipments during the five years through fiscal 2010 by concentrating on large LCD panels for televisions, a company executive said. The world's top...

Data made safe.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... DATA MADE SAFE. This month Dell Inc. will offer an all-inclusive way to help consumers who have accidentally deleted precious photos or lost valuable data because of a hard drive crash. The company will install its "DataSafe" option on new...

Change of plans.(NEWS WATCH)(upcoming microprocessors)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... CHANGE OF PLANS. Facing strong competition from rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc., chip-maker Intel Corp. has modified its plans for upcoming server microprocessors, starting in 2007. Intel said it has canceled a Xeon processor that was...

NAFEM award.(NEWS WATCH)(North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NAFEM AWARD. The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers recognized David G. Hatch, chairman, HATCO Corp., Milwaukee, Wis., with its 2005 President's Award. The presentation took place during The NAFEM Show, Sept. 24, in...

Humming along.(NEWS WATCH)(ruggedized computers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... HUMMING ALONG. The idea of brand leveraging has gone a step further with the HUMMER laptop computer, introduced by Itronix Corp., Spokane, Wash., as part of a licensing agreement with General Motors, manufacturer of the HUMMER SUV. The move was...

Doctors commands.(NEWS WATCH)(Hands-Free Interaction at the Hospital)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... DOCTORS COMMANDS. Royal Philips Electronics, The Netherlands, has developed a remote, voice-control technology designed specifically for use in medical equipment. Called Hands-Free Interaction at the Hospital, the technology will allow doctors...

Circular kitchen.(NEWS WATCH)(Clever-Compact-Concepts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... CIRCULAR KITCHEN. Clever-Compact-Concepts, Nelson, New Zealand, has downsized the kitchen into a compact, self-contained circular unit designed for small spaces in apartments, offices, or vacation homes. Appliance-wise, the Circular Kitchen...

Drum roll.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... DRUM ROLL. A German organization called The Innovation Foundation presented its prestigious "Egg of Columbus" award for innovation to Miele for its Honeycomb washer drum found in Miele's Touchtronic laundry systems. The drum features a...

Battery life important.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... BATTERY LIFE IMPORTANT. Mobile phone users rate battery life over sophisticated built-in cameras and video recorders, according to a new study. Topping the wish list of key mobile device features in 14 of the 15 countries surveyed is "two days...

Korean presence.(NEWS WATCH)(new products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... KOREAN PRESENCE. Global home appliance giant Whirlpool recently introduced a new high-end refrigerator in South Korea in an attempt to boost its presence in the Korean market. A 725 liter refrigerator has been launched simultaneously in the...

TurboChef acquires.(NEWS WATCH)(TurboChef Technologies Inc.)(Global Appliance Technologies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... TURBOCHEF ACQUIRES. TurboChef Technologies' recently bought Global Appliance Technologies patent and technology assets for $5 million in cash and 60,838 shares of common stock. TurboChef also will pay three nearly equal installment payments...

Greenshift Corp.(Ovations water purifying appliance )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... GREENSHIFT CORP. displayed its Ovations water purifying appliance at the ValueRich Small Cap Conference & Exposition, held in September, 2005 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. The appliance produces 25 gallons per hour of distilled water....

3M touch systems.(new PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The large format 32-in. MicroTouch ClearTek II touch screen is an expansion of the ClearTek capacitive touch screen product line, a series of large format touch solutions, ranging from 24-in. to 32-in. display sizes. Larger sized displays...

Allegro MicroSystems.(new PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... A1242, a new chopper-stabilized latch, is suited for use in motor-speed and direction-sensing applications, as well as in other applications where the sensor is located far from the ECU. This sensor requires one less wire in the wiring harness...

AMETEK national controls.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The Model TNC-C3650-010 12-channel OEM electronic fryer computer was designed to achieve precise cooking results. The fryer computer allows multiple products to cook simultaneously, and incorporates algorithms that automatically alter cooking...

Bristol compressors.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... Benchmark is a line of compressors designed to maximize performance across residential and light-commercial applications. The most recent innovations in the line include a significant reduction in sound levels in 1.5-ton to 3.5-ton...

CI displays.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... Three types of sunlight-readable solutions, including traditional passive backlight options, transflective displays that reflect ambient light out of the display, and a hybrid solution comprised of transflective and passive enhancements; are...

Continental fan.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... In-line duct fan is an air moving solution for commercial and residential applications where powerful, yet quiet air delivery, is required. With an optional solid-state speed controller, it can deliver 100 percent controllable air. The fan...

Danfoss.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... A new series of GBC ball valves have a slim-line design made strong and light through laser welding, and offer full bi-directional flow with minimum pressure drop. A valve seat formed from Teflon ensures maximum tightness in the dosed position....

Felton brush.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The flexible DesignFlex brush was designed to reduce application cost and weight. It uses synthetic materials, eliminating the metal typically needed. Its flexibility, weight and chemical resistance provide engineers greater versatility when...

Freescale semiconductor.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The MEMS-based MMA7260Q three-axis, low-gravity sensor was designed specifically for the fast-growing portable consumer electronics market. The sensor measures small forces resulting from fall, tilt, motion, positioning, shock or vibration to...

Kingbright.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The 0.4-in character height SMD LED Display is available in alphanumeric and single-digit APSA series with various color selections such as blue (470nm), green (525nm), yellow (589nm) and red (630nm). With a thickness as low as 0.148 in., the...

MACtac.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... By replacing mechanical fasteners and liquid adhesives with pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, appliance manufacturers and design engineers are reducing sound and vibrations, bonding to new low surface energy substrates, preserving electronics...

Microchip technology.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The PIC24, a series of 16-bit PIC micro-controllers, includes 22 general-purpose devices with up to 40 MIPS performance, 16 KB of RAM, 256 KB of Flash program memory and up to 100-pin packages. It maintains compatibility with Microchip's...

NewAge industries.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... 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,...

Optek.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... A packaged optical proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of objects ranging in size from 0.04 in. (1mm) to 24 in. (610mm), the OPB720 Series' reflective sensor enables design engineers to incorporate reliable...

STMicroelectronics.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... ARM-based microcontrollers, the STR730F series, is designed to address the emerging demand for 32-bit microcontrollers for industrial applications such as factory automation, appliances, test and measurement equipment, point-of-sale terminals,...

Sunon.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The Smart Fan concept offers internal methods to control fan speeds according to ambient temperatures. Benefits to users are realized when fan operation is thermally controlled to meet cooling needs, in place of a continuous operation cooling...

Omron.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The D2SW-P sealed, subminiature snap-action switch exceeds the sealing requirements of IEC standard IP67, yet is significantly lower in cost than competitive switches. The switch is available in two ratings: 2 A at 250 VAC for power switching,...

CIT.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The WJ105E/J105E series relay is a compact, light-weight relay designed for use in appliances and HVAC equipment. The relay is offered with SPST NO or SPDT contact arrangements, several different amperage ratings, and numerous choices in coil...

Panasonic.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... High-capacity PhotoMos relay features high continuous load current of 0.5 A with a low resistance of 1 ohm. The relay is ideal for power supplies, test and measurement equipment, communications, security systems, and other applications...

Alps.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The SSCN series is a waterproof, two-way, detection-type switch with a wide on-stroke angle. The switch provides high contact reliability under severe environmental conditions that include moisture and dust. The switches are typically used as...

Sharp microelectronics.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The S08 family of high-speed photocouplers includes single-channel models of 1 Mbit/s, 15 Mbit/s, and 25 Mbit/s. The 10 Mbit/s devices are available in both single-channel and double-channel models. The photocouplers utilize industry standard...

American Zettler.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... The AZ9481F series relay is designed for applications where mechanical headroom is at a premium. With a seated height of less than 0.55 in., the relay will fit where many others will not. Features include 16 A, 4,000 VA rating, a dielectric...

Littelfuse.(NEW PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2005... Lead-free fuses are designed to withstand the higher temperatures associated with lead-free wave soldering. The new fuses help manufacturers comply with lead-free initiatives, such as European RoHS regulations. The fuses also comply with IEC...

2006 appliance industry events & meetings.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... JANUARY International CES Jan. 5-8, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact: 866/233-7968 Website: www.cesweb.org International Builders Show Jan. 11-14, Orlando, Fla. Contact: 202/266-8111 or 800/368-5242, ext. 8111 ...

Directory of appliance industry associations.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... U.S., CANADA, MEXICO Adhesive and Sealant Council, Inc. (ASC) 7970 Old Georgetown Rd., Ste. 500 Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 986-9700 Fax: (301) 986-9795 www.ascouncil.org Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) ...

Product locator.(ABRASIVES--FABRICATED EXTRUSIONS)
December 1, 2005... This section will tell you the names of companies that manufacture the product listed. Many categories have subdivisions. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of these companies are listed in the Supplier Locator. ABRASIVES Hi-Tech...

Product locator.(FANS--PROTECTORS, THREADED)
December 1, 2005... FANS Airmaster Fan Co. Axial Air-Drive, Inc. Bearing Engineers China Motors and Components, Inc. Daltec Industries Ltd. ebm-papst Inc. Electromecanicas MC S.A. Emerson Appliance Solutions, Plaset SPA...

Product locator.(PROTOTYPING EQUIPMENT--ZINC)(Directory)
December 1, 2005... PROTOTYPING EQUIPMENT Aclai Design Ltd. Art to Part, Inc. ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Automation Systems Division Norman N. Axelrod Associates, Optical/Laser/Vision Sensing & Control Devel. Div. Bimetec GmbH & Co....

Supplier locator.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... In this section you will find names, addresses and telephone numbers of the suppliers of the products listed in the Product Locator that follows this section. Detailed listings indicate advertisers in this issue. To obtain information about...

Conductive.(DESIGN MART)
December 1, 2005... Conductive, a Tier 1 supplier of Appliance and Medical Grade Power cords, specializes in power cord lines aimed at resolving power cord issues in tough, high flex applications, As a value driven, vertically integrated manufacture, Conductive...

Marking Specialists Group.(DESIGN MART)
December 1, 2005... New revolutionary, patented emblem technology introduced. Marking Specialists group a leader in the product identification industry with 30 years experience as a manufacturer of high-quality, high-end emblems and nameplates used in the...

Hunstman Advanced Meterial LLC.(DESIGN MART)
December 1, 2005... To support the fast, reliable and aesthetically attractive assembly of appliance components, Huntsman Advanced Materials manufactures a family of high-performance epoxy, methacrylate and polyurethane adhesives, The adhesive products are well...

Quest Electronics Pte Ltd.(DESIGN MART)
December 1, 2005... Garware Polyester film can be used as a layer of insulator for electric fan motors, compressors, motors, transformers, electrical and electronics appliances, The PET films are UL approved and comply with Rolls regulations. Enter 401 Quest...

North American Die Casting Association.(DESIGN MART)
December 1, 2005... Uncover the Hidden Costs of Offshore Die Castings, It's tempting to source die castings from off-shore producers... But is it a good idea? This guidebook from the North American Die Casting Association relates real-life experiences from OEMs...

Appliances play role in energy savings strategy.(Energy Star)
December 1, 2005... There has been a lot of discussion about the increased costs of gasoline and projected price spikes in home heating fuel during the 2005-06 heating season. Many useful consumer tips have been offered such as turning down the thermostat,...