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at w w w.ifa-international.org at w w w.ifa-international.org PRODUCT TRENDS THE COLD FRONT SPaCE aND ENERgy EFFiCiENCy DiSTiNgUiSH THE CLaSS OF 2009 Sleeker and chicer, leaner and greener, bolder and colder - IFA International checks out the coolest kids on the refrigeration block. BOSCH: a++ FOR EFFORT Bosch's new CoolProfessional series, which consists of 12 built-in models, is "very German in its attention to detail", according to the company's marketing/communications executive, Dominique Deitermann. "By that I mean that when Bosch does something, it does it right," she said. When we launch a product, we are 100% sure it's as good as we can make it." No surprise, then, that every feature of the CoolProfessional, from the sturdy hinges to the satisfyingly clunky door action, is of precision quality. Bosch also "gave the CoolProfessional more technology and wound up with more space", Deitermann added. The range features a powerful base-mounted compressor, which creates significantly more interior space, along with cutting-edge cooling technology and maximum resource efficiency. This last point is shared by the majority of Bosch's refrigerators, most of which are now A++ rated for energy efficiency. In the case of the CoolProfessional, this translates into an energy saving of roughly 25% on A+ class models. In addition to the greening of refrigeration, Bosch has also picked up on another up-and-coming trend: the colouring of the kitchen. It introduced its ColorGlass Edition last year, kick-starting a Europeanwide move towards more colour accents in kitchens. The range went on to win several awards, including the red dot and the iF Design Award. Bosch has now added to the ColorGlass range with a new metal-behindglass design variant, and new models in black, red and quartz. Hall 3.1 / Stand 106 Bosch's Michael Mohnle and Dominique Deitermann Download Podcast Download Video SHaRP: CONSTaNT COOL Sharp’s new SJ-F800SP four-door fridgefreezers and SJ-MB300S-ST three-door bottom freezers feature an advanced hybridcooling mechanism to ensure constant, energy-efficient cooling. An aluminium panel, installed on the inner rear side, is cooled to around 0°C and serves to store the cold and distribute it evenly throughout the inside of the fridge. As a result, the large temperature fluctuations that occur with refrigerators using conventional directcooling mechanisms are now a thing of the past. “In addition to the intelligent hybridcooling technology, we have equipped our new fridge-freezers with the Sharp plasmacluster technology," said Beate Moresmau, Marketing and Product Manager for Home Appliances at Sharp Electronics. "This reduces the spread of various bacteria and fungi inside the fridge." Sharp also places great emphasis on its refrigerators' ecoperformance. "The inverter technology used in the SJ-MB300S-ST, for example, means the compressor will automatically adjust the level of refrigeration to the temperature inside the fridge," Moresmau added. "This means the appliance only needs to cool itself down when it is really necessary, which results in consumers being able to enjoy fresh food for longer periods, while also saving energy and mon ey." To ensure tidiness and ease of use, the spacious door shelves of both models offer plenty of storage space, being large enough to accommodate even big bottles and containers. And wine connoisseurs will appreciate the wine bar in the SJ-MB300S- ST, which can store up to four bottles at just the right temperature. Hall 3.2 / Stand 101 Sharp’s new SJ-F800SP: conventional direct-cooling mechanisms are now a thing of the past 26 www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Tuesday, 8 th September 2009
PRODUCT TRENDS HAIER: COMING TO A FRIDGE NEAR YOU… Haier's AFT630IX intelligent fridge-freezer features what Philip Bass, the company's National Account Manager for the UK and Ireland, calls "a really useful bit of innovation": a touch-screen controlled TFT (thin film transistor) monitor on the door, featuring an integrated camera, which enables users to record and play back audio and video content, such as shopping lists or post-it messages. "As far as we are aware, the AFT630IX is the only fridge in the world with a videomessaging feature," Bass said. "The whole idea is that it takes away the need for those post-it notes that most families leave all over the fridge, telling the children to do their housework or put the chicken in the oven…" The red dot awardwinning model features a double-drawer pullout system, which reduces cold-temperature loss by providing quick, easy and direct access to frozen food. It also eases access for elderly or infirm users. "We did a lot of research and found that many people, particularly the elderly, find bending down hard. Consumers also want easy cleaning and energy efficiency,” said Bass. "The result was AFT630IX, which has been designed to help you manage your food more comfortably and efficiently." A simple-to-programme automatic ice-maker, a NoFrost system, a spacious fresh-food drawer and an integrated alarm system that warns when the temperature falls below a certain level add to the stand-alone unit's winning combination of form and functionality. Retailing for less than £1,000 (€1,450), investing in a AFT630IX also won't break the bank. (From Left to Right ) Samson Song Hui, UK Market Director and Philip Bass, UK Sales Director At the Haier stand, you will also find the new AFL631 range - a fridge-freezer with two sliding freezer drawers that are user friendly, enabling direct access to food. This unit employs nofrost technology and includes a "maxi vegetable drawer" - a deep and spacious drawer in which fruit and vegetables are kept under optimised conditions thanks to optimum, automatic humidity control. Hall 4.1 / Stand 106 Haier brings colour to the kitchen with the AFL631 IFA International • Tuesday, 8 th September 2009 www.ifa-international.org 27
