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BUYERS' GUIDE OVENS I FA international Official Daily News Source f or International Visitors at IFA STATE OF PLAY The modern oven is a mix of high technology and contemporary design. The latest models are intended to cater to the consumer demand for stylish ovens that make the cook’s life easier while offering larger capacities, lower energy consumption and advanced functionality. MARKET BUILT-IN HOBS THE FUTURE Larger oven capabilities will be an on-going trend — but so will increased efficiency and healthy cooking options. Also expect a move towards appliance interconnectivity and device integration. KEY SELLING POINTS TECHNOLOGY Advanced cooking options Ovens now offer a number of advanced options including steam injection, multiple fan modes and even induction elements that can offer consumers a wider variety of baking and cooking choices. Efficiency Low energy consumption is now a critical factor in the minds of consumers, especially when it comes to appliances like ovens, which are notorious for their high power consumption. Units that can be demonstrated to be energy efficient, such as fan ovens or those with ‘eco’ modes are likely to be popular. Innovative cleaning Ovens should be as easy to clean as possible because this is a task that consumers find difficult and annoying. Full-glass inner doors, smooth cavities and easy to remove racks help in this respect, but pyrolytic cleaning functions and special coatings or liners make cleaning even easier. FEATURES Large cavities Ovens are now being designed with even larger cavities. While capacities in the 60-70-litre range are still common, newer models offer 76-litre cavities, which is seen as a plus by consumers with big families or who entertain a lot. Multiple fan modes Multifunction fan ovens are more efficient than fan-less ovens but certain models also offer a number of useful fan modes, including fan baking, fan grilling and fan-assisted defrosting, as well as a fan forced mode, which allows the oven to heat up quickly. Side opening doors Side-opening doors that can be hinged to open to the left or the right offer major benefits to certain consumers. These ovens can be installed at eye level for increased convenience, or they can be mounted close to the floor, giving wheelchair users or those with limited mobility easy access to the oven cavity. INNOVATING @ IFA COMBISTEAM DELUXE At 74 liters, Electrolux’s CombiSteam Deluxe is one of the largest ovens on the market with PureSteam functionality. Combined with a new shelf system with up to nine levels, consumers have a larger, more flexible space for cooking more food simultaneously. The oven features a new food probe to let users know when the food has reached the correct internal temperature. It also features an improved ergonomic design, plugging into the front frame of the oven instead of into the side of the cavity. Electrolux has 90 years of experience equipping professional kitchens, including the kitchens of almost half of all the Michelin-starred chefs in Europe. » HALL 4.1 / STAND 101 DESIGN Ergonomics Shelves should be easy to adjust over a number of shelf heights, while doors should feature softclosing designs that are easy to open and able to stay open in any position. Look for a large window in the door — and interior bulbs should ideally be user-replaceable. Stylish design Designer kitchens are very much the norm these days, which means that ovens need to be modern and stylish in order to match a range of possible decors and tastes. Models with elegant control layouts and softly luminous interiors add a touch of class to a kitchen. Safety Ovens should have a number of safety features, such as recessed or shielded elements that won’t easily come into contact with users’ hands and fingers. Shelves should have stops so they can’t be pulled all the way out by accident or slope steeply with heavy pans on them. SEBASTIAN CONRAN RANGE Cooking appliance brand Belling introduces a new collection of built-in ovens, hobs and hoods by top British designer Sebastian Conran. The collection is made in the UK and celebrates British manufacturing and design. The 70cm gas hob with cast-iron supports features five gas burners, including a wok burner at 3.5kW. Five colourways — duck-egg blue, pastel green, icy-brook white, anthracite and aluminium — create a co-ordinated look in the kitchen. The ovens all feature solid metal controllers inspired by switches on 1940s fighter jets. The pan supports allow for the smooth transition of heavy pans around the hob surface. » HALL 1.1A / STAND 202 Our thanks to the following industry leaders and professionals who helped us compile this buyers' guide: Beko and Gorenje » HALL 6.1 / STAND 111 » HALL 8.1 / STAND 215 www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Saturday 7 th & Sunday 8 th September 2013 43
