With their numerous new products and innovations, manufacturers of major and small domestic appliances will be demonstrating the quality of their work at IFA Berlin from 2nd to 7th September 2016.
The trends include smart functions and connectivity, comfortable and easy handling, the preparation of healthy foods and sustainability, efficient use of resources, energy efficiency and ways to save time. With their exceptional design, modern home appliances have long had what it takes to be the real eye-catchers in the kitchen.
A broad and diverse range of products will be presented in Berlin. These include electrical home appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers, ovens, hobs, kitchen hoods, steam cookers, microwaves, refrigerators and freezers, and various devices to ensure the perfect indoor climate.
The range of small domestic appliances includes automatic coffee makers and coffee machines, milk frothers, kettles, toasters, stick blenders and hand mixers, mini choppers, spiral-izers, and a range of additional tools for food preparation. There are also products for hair and body care, as well as laundry, household and floor care, and smart wearables.
The market for major and small domestic appliances has been performing well for many years thanks to its versatility and performance. Large and small home appli-ances make housework easier and more comfortable, while saving energy, water, and time. They enhance our wellbeing, enrich our lives – make the way we live healthier and much more convenient. The experience of preparing and then enjoying food we have made, possibly with friends or family, is a popular pastime that improves our quality of life.
The latest large and small electrical appliances are also excellent when it comes to sustainability, energy efficiency, and resource conservation. Aside from the im-provements already achieved and measurable results, achieving the lowest possible consumption of energy, water, and detergents remains a high-priority issue. Manu-facturers manage to optimize consumption figures with each new generation of ap-pliances. This is rewarded by consumers, because the reduced consumption means the new appliance pays for itself within just a short time.
Major and small domestic appliances can no longer really be classified as ‘white goods’. Excellent design, high-quality materials and fresh colors have been estab-lished elements in this sector for some time.
Then there are the innovative and wide-ranging functions and comfortable, easy-to-use interfaces – with some appliances even offering gesture control. Networking technology has also led to an increase in the number of smart home appliances. Mobile end devices and apps make it possible to monitor and control connected electrical appliances.
Users can check the current program status, notifications, or care, maintenance, and service information. Integrated cameras allow users to remotely look inside their oven or fridge.
Thus, we are seeing an influx of new applications, functions, and digital services that offer us more enjoyable and enriching experiences while also saving us time and resources, as well as many tips, such as advice on how to save energy. More and more connected devices are now also capable of exchanging information with each other. This makes it possible, for example, to control multiple devices via a single service interface.
Major domestic appliances: smart and efficient
Nowadays there are a variety of features available to help consumers achieve the best-possible laundry results with minimal energy and water consumption, such as special mixing systems for detergent and fabric softener, intelligent dosing systems for powder or liquid detergent, sensors that adjust the program according to the type of materials, the size of the load, and the detergent used, optimized drum move-ments, innovative wash drum design, and steaming functions.
At the same time, there is a strong focus on reducing the operating noise. Clothing can also be steamed to refresh and smooth clothes without putting them through a full wash. Then there are special programs for special, very delicate or heavily soiled laundry, spot treatments, and specific programs for people with allergies, baby clothing, re-moving animal hair, and low washing temperatures (15 to 20 degrees Celsius/60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
Thought has even been given to that piece of laundry that always gets forgotten and people with particularly large laundry requirements: An additional flap in the washing machine door allows the user to add items to an ongoing wash cycle, and washing machines with two drums or an extra-large capacity of up to 13 kg allow for even bigger loads. Door seals and detergent drawers are antibacterial and ensure high levels of hygiene, while also adding active oxygen.
Modern tumble dryers are characterized by outstanding energy efficiency. Automatic self-cleaning condensers also help to reduce energy consumption. Stability, quiet operation, and capacity have also been improved. Refreshing and airing clothes with steam and fragrance are useful additional functions.
The new dishwashers offer a variety of improvements and new functions. They work faster and more efficiently, saving up to 60 percent on time compared to the previous generation. Other key points here are the increased spray pressure, additional spray arm, water wall, water vapor, programs for half-loads or delicate glasses, hygiene programs, self-cleaning functions, and flexible interior layout. Optimized drying sys-tems, reduced operating noise, and easy-to-open doors round off the range of fea-tures.
Freshness and shelf life are primary considerations when it comes to refrigerators and freezers. Sensors ensure optimal temperature balance, humidity, and energy management. The memory function records user habits. The first devices that cool without needing a compressor are now available. Hygiene is similarly important, as is low operating noise.
The new ovens are more versatile than ever before. Now multiple functions can be found in the same unit – conventional heating from the top and bottom, convection cooking, grill and steam cooking, microwave, and induction. Up to 200 automatic programs and the option to create custom programs or access an extensive data-base make food preparation easy and every dish a success.
Hobs are fitted with sensors to monitor preselected temperature ranges and identify the levels in the pans. This can help to prevent overheating, for example. Some of the more intelligent models can also weigh the ingredients and monitor the contents of the refrigerator. The safe and effective supply of heat through induction continues to capture an increasingly large share of the hob market.
Kitchen hoods no longer need to float above the stove. These can now be retracted into a kitchen cabinet after use. The height can then be infinitely adjusted to suit personal preferences. Memory functions store the optimal or individually desired position. Operating noise has been further reduced.
Small domestic appliances: flexible and innovative, and for more than just the kitchen
Small domestic appliances are among the most innovative product segments found at IFA. Many thousands of innovations are presented every year. Innovative new products continue to come to market even in traditional and classic product areas, such as induction-heated kettles. Many new ideas in technology are also reflected in products now available in hair and body care, laundry care, cleaning, and domestic maintenance.
In food preparation, for example, there is a wide range of powerful blenders with dif-ferent capacities. They make it possible to quickly and easily make popular and healthy smoothie drinks. Hand mixers, stick blenders, mini choppers and spiralizers add even more variety to the range of products on offer here.
Multifunctional food processors take care of a lot of kitchen tasks – from whipping cream to kneading dough, or stirring, chopping, milling, mixing, and even warming and cooking. More than 100 different food preparation programs are available in some products.
Fun cooking is the in thing: preparing and eating food on the table with an electric grill, contact grill, raclette, or fondue offer a varied and enjoyable experience. Throw in a waffle or cupcake maker and dessert is taken care of too.
After a wonderful meal, it is time for a coffee, espresso, or cappuccino. It is therefore no surprise that appliances designed to prepare hot drinks are especially popular. New brewing methods for espresso or filter coffee create a more intense flavor and aroma. Aside from coffee, there is an increasing focus on tea as well. There are cof-fee machines, capsule and espresso machines, classic filter coffee machines, and tea makers to cater to nearly every consumer’s needs, including standalone and built-in units to produce drinks in smaller or larger quantities, or even a single cup of filter coffee.
The variety of small domestic appliances in the personal care sector continues to grow. Whether it is hair care, hair style, depilation, shaving, or oral, dental or skin care, there is an innovative device to help with every task. There are now even apps to help people achieve the best care and style. For example, it is now possible to try out looks in advance and then apply these with advice from experts.
Connected small devices open up new approaches and opportunities for monitoring body functions, as seen in personal scales and wearables. Either as an extension to the smartphone or as an independent product, these can measure and record data in everyday life and support users during sports, when traveling, or at home. Armbands with special sensors continually monitor the pulse and blood pressure and record how much the wearer is exercising, whether they go jogging, and whether they take the stairs or the elevator. Smartphone and tablet apps then analyze this data.
Vacuum cleaners are offering ever-improved performance with lower and lower en-ergy consumption. Performance is measured based on how full the bag is, although in bagless devices the dirt is compressed and rotating brushes clean themselves. Some devices have an easy-to-use remote control in the handle. Weight and noise have been reduced both in large domestic and portable handheld vacuum cleaners. Automatic robot vacuum cleaners with special cleaning programs are becoming in-creasingly powerful and intelligent. Some versions can even be controlled via smartphone. More powerful batteries also mean these hard-working floor cleaners can operate for even longer without recharging. Vacuum robots are now comple-mented by autonomous machines with well-designed wiping systems that are opti-mized for different floor types.
There is a wide range of devices available to create the perfect climate in the home. Air purifiers, humidifiers, and aroma diffusers turn one’s own four walls into an oasis of comfort. If desired, these can be combined with custom lighting and a choice of scents. This results in a fine mist that distributes moisture and fragrance throughout the room.
About IFA
IFA is the leading trade show worldwide for consumer and home electronics. In 2016 it will take place from 2nd to 7th September at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (Expo Center City).
