Appliance Design articles from March 2005

Appliance Design archives from March 2005

Reinventing the bell tower.(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... In 132 A.D., the Chinese philosopher Chang Heng invented the earliest known earthquake detector, a 6-ft. wide jar festooned with eight dragon heads. A pendulum inside was moved by vibrations and would knock a ball out of the dragon mouth that...

Shipments.(appliances)(Illustration)
March 1, 2005... SHIPMENTS Product Dec. '04 Dec. '03 % Chg. MAJORS--TOTAL 7,000,400 5,757,900 21.6% CLEANUP--TOTAL 1,411,500 1,195,700 18.0% Compactors ...

Forecasts.(appliance shipments)(Illustration)
March 1, 2005... FORECASTS MAJOR HOME APPLIANCES--Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 2004 2005 2006 1 19,917.0 19,943.1 20,263.2 2 21,415.2 21,437.3 22,891.3 3 18,272.9 18,165.4 18,717.7...

IBS breaks records.(International Builders Show)
March 1, 2005... The 2005 International Builders Show (IBS) that took place Jan. 13-16 in Orlando had a record-setting 104,922 attendees. More than 1,600 exhibitors--also a record--showed cutting-edge products and designs across 1.5 million sq. ft. of space. As...

The Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA).(renaming)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION'S (CEA) Distributed Audio Subdivision is changing its name to the Multi Room Audio Video Council (MRAV). The Council's goal is designed to raise awareness of the value and benefits of multi-room...

Siemens.(innovations)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SIEMENS is making the separation of refrigeration and freezing functions a thing of the past. In the coolVario series appliances, the refrigerator-freezer combination can be turned into one big refrigerator with the push of a button. A whole...

Maytag Corp.(News Watch)(William L. Beer and Thomas A. Briatico left, contract with Best Buy Company Inc. discontinued)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... MAYTAG CORP. Two senior executives, both working in the office of the president, left the company Jan. 31, 2005. William L. Beer, executive vice president and a 31-year veteran of Maytag, will conclude his career with the company to pursue...

The 2005 International Home & Housewares Show.(News Watch)
March 1, 2005... THE 2005 INTERNATIONAL HOME & HOUSEWARES SHOW will host three new collections of trend-leading designs from European and global home and table top design, according to Phil Brandl, president of the International Housewares Association, which...

Water PIK Technologies.(divestments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... WATER PIK TECHNOLOGIES is considering selling part or all of the company. The California-based company is considering "various strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value," including the possible sale of the company, according to a...

Meetings.(appliance industry)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... ISH: International Trade Fair, Building and Energy Technology, The Bathroom Experience, Air-conditioning and Ventilation, March 15-19, Frankfurt, Germany. Contact: 4969 7575 0. Web site: http://ish.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/home.html ...

NIST.(National Institute of Standards and Technology)(ventilation systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... NIST. A National Institute of Standards and Technology analysis of a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey of 100 representative U.S. public and commercial buildings found that actual post-construction ventilation conditions are...

Amana Refrigeration Products.(News Watch)(applying for tax credit to expand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AMANA REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS, an eastern Iowa refrigerator manufacturing plant owned by Maytag Corp. has applied for a state tax credit to expand. The expansion would create 200 jobs, said an application approved by the Iowa County supervisors....

Sharp Corp.(News Watch)(electric ovens introduced in United States)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SHARP CORP. will roll out in the U.S. an electric oven that uses superheated steam to reduce the salt and fat content of food--especially for overweight and health-conscious Americans. Sharp believes its Healsio oven, which does not require oil...

EROS Group.(News Watch)(Airjet Dry Top Loading Twin Tub washing machine released from Hitachi Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... EROS GROUP distributor of Hitachi Products announced the introduction of the world's first Airjet Dry Top Loading Twin Tub washing machine from Hitachi. This Airjet Dry System increases the drying power of the washing machine by increasing the...

AHAM.(News Watch)(Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers standards published)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) has published its 25th product performance evaluation procedure, AHAM-OV-1-2005 Standard for the Determination and Expression of Oven Volume. The OV-1 Task Force has completed all necessary...

ARI Shipments.(News Watch)(central air conditioners and air source heat pumps shipments )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... ARI SHIPMENTS. For the first time, manufacturer shipments of central air conditioners and air source heat pumps buoyed by continued growth in housing and coupled with a strong replacement market exceeded 7 million units in 2004. Shipments of...

Sears, Roebuck.(News Watch)(Sears, Roebuck and Co. is increasing prices on appliances)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SEARS, ROEBUCK said it boosted appliance prices. "Commodity prices have risen and the cost from our suppliers has gone up," said Sears spokesman Ted McDougal. The increases "are pretty much across the country, but we're not treating them as...

LG Electronics.(News Watch)(LG Remote Monitoring Laundry System launched)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... LG ELECTRONICS unveiled the LG Remote Monitoring Laundry System, a washer and dryer system that offers consumers the freedom and convenience to monitor their laundry cycle remotely, with a small device, ultimately letting them spend more of...

Honeywell.(partnership with D.R. Horton Homes to provide services for American Lung Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... HONEYWELL has partnered with D.R. Horton Homes to provide indoor air quality products for an American Lung Association[R] Health House[R] community near Sacramento, Calif. Sierra Valley Oaks, a residential development comprised of 71...

GAMA.(Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association offers energy efficiency program)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... GAMA. (Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association) is now offering a new service for energy efficiency programs and other businesses that rely on up-to-date product energy use data. Registered users can download data from GAMA's Consumers'...

Hometech Berlin.(International)
March 1, 2005... HOMETECH BERLIN, originally planned for early March 2006, will not take place. Cologne will remain the venue for this trade fair for the international domestic appliance sector. This was announced in Berlin by the management of CBF--Cologne...

Sears Canada Inc.(acquires Centrex Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SEARS CANADA INC, is buying a major furniture and appliance wholesaler that will boost its top-line revenues by as much as $120 million, the retailer said. Centrex Group Inc. is Canada's largest wholesaler of appliances, serving 1,300...

Indesit Company.(Wuxi Little Swan Company joint venture agreement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... INDESIT COMPANY (formerly Merloni Elettrodomestici) opened 2005 with a new acquisition, its first after the name change, entering an agreement with WLS (Wuxi Little Swan Company), China's leading white goods producer in the washing segment, to...

Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd.(contracts with Tota Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (FCT) and Toto Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the design, development and manufacture of a 2 kW- 3 kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. Under the terms of the MOU, FCT will design...

Allegro Microsystem Inc.(new facility European Sensor Applications Center)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC. announced the recent completion of its European Sensor Applications Center. The company says that with its relationship with European customers at the forefront, and a history of strong business growth as a...

Liquid Control Corp.(Kenneth A. Jacobs appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Kenneth A. Jacobs to president, Liquid Control Corp

Royal Appliance.(Paul R. D'Aloia appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Paul R. D'Aloia to president, Royal Appliance

RadTech International North America.(David Harbourne)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... David Harbourne to president, RadTech International North America

Samsung Electronics America.(Jung Soo Shin appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Jung Soo Shin to president and general manager. Digital Consumer Electronics Division. Samsung Electronics America.

GAMA.(David Delaquila joined Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... David Delaquila to director, technical services. GAMA

Peregrine Semiconductor Corp.(Rodd Novak appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Rodd Novak to vice president of marketing. Peregrine Semiconductor Corp

Elrae Industries, Inc.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Edward Urbanek, Jr. to director of sales--Midwest, Elrae Industries, Inc.

A.O. Smith.(People On The Move)(Mark Petrarca appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Mark Petrarca to vice president--human resource and public affairs. A.O. Smith.

ADCO Products, Inc.(People On The Move)(Philip School and Paul Snowwhite appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Philip School to vice president--sales and marketing: and Paul Snowwhite to director of technology, ABCO Products, Inc.

Emerson Appliance Solutions.(appointments and retirements)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Matt Keithly to vice president of marketing and sales for dishwashing: Stephen Crouch to director of marketing and sales for refrigeration; and Lewis E. "Bud" Jones, to an advisory role in preparation for his retirement, Emerson Appliance...

Staco Energy Products Co.(People On The Move)(Dave McElvein appointed)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Dave McElvein to Eastern regional manager, Staco Energy Products Co

KUKA Robotics Corp.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... John Nelson to key technology manager--plastics for North America, KUKA Robotics Corp

Clariant Corp.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... John Clarke to head of region for the Pigments and Additives Division in North America, Clariant Corp

Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... William O'Brien to plant manager, Reynosa, Mexico, Bettcher Amherst Metal Stamping.

TUV America.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Suyeed Abassi to Western US, region field evaluation manager: and Andre Bedard to account executive, Western US region, IUV America.

Thierica Automation Group.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Zachary Marnell to sales engineer, Thierica Automation Group

Beaumont Technologies, Inc.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Fred Phillips to technical account manager, Beaumont Technologies, Inc.

Prestigious panels: Piezo switches enhance interface design options.(switches and relays)
March 1, 2005... Piezo switches have been around for years. Their ruggedness, reliability and resistance to vandalism have made them a good choice for vending machines, ATMs, security control panels and similar applications. What's new, however, is that...

No contacts: photointerrupter pushbutton provides alternative actuation.(illuminated pushbutton switches from NKK Switches Inc.)
March 1, 2005... Metal electrical contacts are reliably making and breaking connections in billions of switches every day, but there may be applications where a different technique could be considered preferable. For example, in applications where high-usage...

Any surface interactive: optoelectronic interface can replace pushbuttons and other touch controls.(Switches & Relays)
March 1, 2005... Home appliance OEMs face the challenge of offering efficiency and practicability without sacrificing to lifestyle and pleasure of use. Therefore, manufacturers are engaged in a permanent innovation race where design, ergonomics, robustness and...

Analyzing alternatives: teardown session explores assembly options.(Fastening, Adhesive & Joining)
March 1, 2005... Adhesives are widely used in appliance manufacturing, providing solutions for structural bonding, threadlocking, thermal management, wire bonding and harnessing, sealing and a range of other design challenges. The ability of adhesives to bond...

Careful compression: forming to a force eliminates concerns with joint component stack-up tolerances.(Fastening, Adhesives & Joining)
March 1, 2005... Flat panel monitors are quickly gaining popularity and market share. As designs progress from massive to minuscule, displays are faster, more accurate and easier to adjust. They feature clean lines and take up less space than their CRT (cathode...

Design for die casting: modern processes and materials can produce cost-effective, complex parts.(Metals & Metal Parts)
March 1, 2005... High pressure die cast zinc and magnesium alloys provide some of the best opportunities for reducing manufacturing costs and improving metal part performance. When it is necessary for a component to perform a mechanical function, both the...

Protection from galling: bonded films extend life of zinc die-cast parts.(Metals & Metal Parts)
March 1, 2005... The near-net shape and complex configurations of die cast zinc parts make them cost effective for thousands of industrial, appliance, tool, and housewares applications. Their limitation, however, lies in dynamic conditions where mating surfaces...

Barrier basics: the ABCs of keeping unwanted signals in or out.(Shielding & EMI/RFI)
March 1, 2005... Today's equipment often depends on shielding to provide emissions containment and to boost immunity. Shields act as barriers to electric and magnetic fields, isolating the inside of a product from the outside world. To obtain optimal...

Forging the future: 56th International Appliance Technical Conference and Exhibition, March 28-30, 2005.(IATC Preview)
March 1, 2005... The 2005 International Appliance Technical Conference kicks off this month at the Ramada Plaza Hotel O'Hare in Chicago. Jim Stevens, IATC's secretary/treasurer says this year's event boasts stirring topics. "Each IATC is exciting for different...

Technical papers.(IATC Preview)
March 1, 2005... APPLIANCE DESIGN Dishwasher with Variable Speed Drive System Songul Bayraktar and Orjam Diril, Arcelik, Istanbul, Turkey Methodology and Technical Achievements for Designing the Most Energy-Efficient Refrigerator Gorkem Suner,...

No surprises.(Association Report: GAMA)
March 1, 2005... I have always admired Winston Churchill. To my mind, he is still an inspiration as a statesman, war leader and writer extraordinaire. But when he wrote, "Without uncertainty, the drama of life would be destroyed," he clearly demonstrated that a...