Appliance Design - 06 Jun 2009

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June 2009

22ND ANNUAL

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN

INSIDE 14 Excellence In Design 32 Electronics 36 Fans & Blowers

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V

IN

EMI-Filter & Rectifier

CIPOS TM

Inverter NTC

PFC RSH

3

UVLO 6

Protection

Gate Drive

Bootstrap 6

UVLO 15 V

Signal Conditioning

Microcontroller

15 V 3.3 V

Analog PFC-Controller

3.3 V

Power Supply

Key features: N Fully isolated package N Best-in-class thermal resistance R th = 3 K / W NT renchStop ® IGBTs with lowest saturation voltage: VCE sat = 1.5 V @ 25°C NR ugged SOI gate driver technology with stability against negative transient voltage: -50 V ≤ V s ≤ 600 V NC omplete protection function (UVLO, OT, OC and interlock) NOpen emitter for shunt current measurement NClosed emitter with internal shunt NSwitched-Reluctance bridge with internal shunt

CIPOS™ – Control Integrated Power System 600 V / 8-22 A The New CIPOS™ Module family integrates various power and control components in a single package, increasing reliability of the design and optimizing PCB size and system costs. This simplifies the power design and reduces significantly the time to market. The configuration controls AC motors in variable speed drives for applications such as washing machines, air conditioners, compressors or vacuum cleaners. The package concept is specially adapted to power applications, which need excellent thermal conduction and electrical isolation, but also EMI-safe control and overload protection.

Infineon Technologies Industrial Power · 1050 Route 22 Lebanon, NJ 08833 Phone (908) 236-5600 · Fax (908) 236-5620 · e-mail: [email protected]

[ www.infineon.com/cipos ]

AD01094Infi.indd 1

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design and engineering solutions for the global residential and commercial appliance industry

June 2009, volume 57, no. 6

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

4 Editorial

22nd annual excellence in design

5 Shipments/Forecasts

40 Association Report: AHRI

14 The winners of this year’s design competition succeed with the element of surprise, delivering both pioneering new products and original interpretations of familiar products.

41 Advertisers’ Index

22 Meet the judges.

6 News Watch 30 Design Marts

electronics 32 A combination of technologies create an energy control platform that will help homeowners become more aware of appliance energy usage.

14

fans & blowers 36 Innovative new products are designed to improve performance and save energy.

COVER The Bean digital camera developed by Argus Camera and its design firm TEAMS Design won a Gold EID award and serves as a good example of combing aesthetics, human factors and technology in product design. For a complete overview of all the EID winners, see the section beginning on page 14.

32

NEXT MONTH Controls & Sensors Gas Technology Heating Elements Motors

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Visit us at

36

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June 2009 3

EDITORIAL ®

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Smart Questions

M

uch has been written lately about the creation of a smart electrical grid that would make it easier to utilize alternative energy sources and how, working with smart electrical meters, such a grid would reduce energy consumption. The plan sounds great on paper, but, as they say, the devil is in the details. Many questions remain unanswered. Topping the list is whether the federal government’s encouragement of the grand ambition through grants, loan guarantees, and favorable policies will be sufficient to make it happen. While utilities are often regulated by state governments, they are mostly private regional enterprises with varying priorities, problems, and finances. A report by the Brattle Group last year estimated that by 2030 the electrical utility industry will have to invest between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion to revamp the grid and build new generating capacity. Will all the utilities have the same resources and desire to work toward a common vision? Other issues loom beyond investment. A key objective of the smart grid is to provide new paths for green power, to carry wind and solar energy from places where it’s generated to places where it’s needed. This will require the stringing of many new power lines, which is sure to generate legal battles over land acquisitions and rights of way. Ramping up alternative energy sources also raises concerns over grid stability, as the wind does not always blow predictably and the sun has a nasty habit of going down every night. Energy storage is touted as the answer, but the proposed solutions are mostly hypothetical at the moment, with future availability uncertain. Stability issues may be exacerbated by the proposed growth in net-metering programs. With net metering, homes, buildings, and businesses that generate some of their own power by solar panels, wind mills, or fuel cells can feed excess energy into the grid and receive credit for it. If participation in such programs became more widespread, how would the grid handle the unpredictable contributions of power from millions of scattered sources? How would utilities control the

quality of the power from such sources? The security of the smart grid is another worry. The Wall Street Journal recently published a report claiming that foreign spies have already hacked into the electricity grid and left behind potentially disruptive software. The proposed smart grid will require massive Internet-based communications between utility computers and millions of smart meters, creating a myriad of new potential entry points for hackers. Will a common, robust security scheme be deployed across the system, or will security depend on a patchwork of varying approaches? In addition to developing security standards, the utilities and their technology suppliers must cooperate on creating interoperability standards, which do not yet exist. Subsequent to that, a framework for testing and certification of interoperability must also be established. Complicating those efforts is the fact that there is currently no single recognized official authority for setting or enforcing such standards. Another potential hitch involves the widescale deployment of smart electric meters to help monitor and influence demand at the point of use, homes and businesses. Such deployment requires utilities to spend a lot of money replacing millions of meters with years of life left in them that have yet to be amortized. Moreover, initial tests show that homes with smart meters tend to reduce their energy consumption. This means that electricity providers will be expected to make great expenditures on a new technology that will result in decreased sales of their product. How eager will they be to embrace a spend-more-to-earn-less concept? The smart grid is a fine idea, but saddled with many questions. Realizing the vision will require an equal number of smart answers. <

Richard Babyak, Editor E-mail: [email protected]

| HVAC | Majors | Water Processing | Housewares | Commercial Appliances | | Vending | Medical | Lab | Test & Measurement | Lawn & Garden | Electronics | | Computers | Communications | Business Equipment | 4 applianceDESIGN

June 2009

publishing staff Dawn LeRoux Publisher Richard J. Babyak Editor Steve Wichelecki Assistant Editor Daryl Delano Economics Editor E’Lisa Campbell Production Manager MaTT Britcher Art Director

(248) 633-4818 [email protected] (440) 886-1210 [email protected] (630) 694-4015 [email protected] (508) 746-7986 [email protected] (248) 244-6257 [email protected] (248) 486-7800 [email protected]

circulation Christine A. Baloga (248) 244-8262 Corporate Audience Development Director [email protected] Teresa Owens (248) 244-6451 Group Audience [email protected] Development Manager Alison Illes (248) 244-1730 Corporate Fulfillment Manager [email protected] Catherine M. Ronan (248) 244-8259 Corporate Audience [email protected] Audit Manager Robert Liska 800-223-2194 List Manager [email protected]

marketing Lynn Davidson Marketing Director

(248) 244-6417 [email protected]

Paul Dykstra Trade Show Coordinator

(248) 786-1609 [email protected]

editorial advisory board Mark Skaer, Senior Editor, The News Susan Sutton, Editor, Ceramic Industry Roy Sakelson, Editor-in-Chief, Circuitree Tom Williams, Publisher/Editor, Quality Magazine Darlene Brezinski, Ph.D., Editor, Paint and Coatings Industry Don Hegland, Editor, Assembly

BNP Media Helps People Succeed in Business with Superior Information BNP Media 2401 West Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084, (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317; www.bnpmedia.com For subscription information or service, please contact Customer Service at: call (847) 763-9534 • Fax: (847) 763-9538 or email: [email protected] APPLIANCE DESIGN Volume 57, Issue 1 (ISSN 1552-5937) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media, 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $161.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $198.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $211.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2009, by BNP Media. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: APPLIANCE DESIGN, P.O. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to APPLIANCE DESIGN, P.O. Box 2148, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or [email protected].

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FORECASTS

SHIPMENTS

MAJOR HOME APPLIANCES – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 17,392.1 21,005.8 15,535.2 14,250.8

2009 15,788.5 19,388.4 15,146.8 14,309.5

2010 16,072.7 19,950.6 15,798.1 15,110.8

For 2009, a 5.2% decline to 64.633 million units For 2010, a 3.6% increase to 66.932 million units Data Source: AHAM Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights

DIGITAL TELEVISIONS – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 5,131.3 6,558.1 7,308.7 13,745.1

2009 6,316.6 7,633.6 8,003.0 14,927.1

2010 6,613.5 8,038.2 8,571.2 16,300.4

For 2009, a 12.6% increase to 36.880 million units For 2010, a 7.2% increase to 39.523 million units Data Source: CEA Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights

MICROWAVE OVENS – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 2,547.5 2,844.8 2,961.8 2,986.1

2009 2,526.5 2,637.1 2,852.2 2,962.2

2010 2,539.1 2,666.1 2,903.6 3,039.2

For 2009, a 3.2% decline to 10.978 million units For 2010, a 1.5% increase to 11.148 million units Data Source: AHAM Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights

Product

Mar. '09

Mar. '08

%Chg

3 Mos. '09

3 Mos. '08

%Chg

MAJOR APPLIANCES (Thousands of Units) TOTAL

7,175.9

8,127.2

-11.7%

15,788.5

18,757.5

-15.8%

Cooking-Total Electric Cooking - Total Electric Ranges Electric Ovens Surface Cooking Units Gas Cooking - Total Gas Ranges Gas Ovens Surface Cooking Units Microwave Ovens

1,713.2 420.3 340.5 48.4 31.4 243.4 212.5 4.1 26.7 1,049.5

1,915.8 527.9 412.5 71.0 44.3 295.7 248.3 4.6 42.8 1,092.3

-10.6% -20.4% -17.5% -31.8% -29.2% -17.7% -14.4% -9.2% -37.5% -3.9%

4,150.3 1,022.0 806.4 132.2 83.4 601.8 521.5 11.3 69.1 2,526.5

4,857.7 1,342.3 1,025.0 195.0 122.3 753.4 628.1 13.1 112.2 2,762.0

-14.6% -23.9% -21.3% -32.2% -31.8% -20.1% -17.0% -13.9% -38.4% -8.5%

Home Laundry - Total Automatic Washers Dryers - Total Electric Gas

1,572.3 864.9 707.3 575.1 132.3

1,678.0 899.8 778.2 635.4 142.8

-6.3% -3.9% -9.1% -9.5% -7.4%

3,645.9 2,005.9 1,640.0 1,325.7 314.3

4,185.4 2,250.4 1,935.0 1,561.3 373.7

-12.9% -10.9% -15.2% -15.1% -15.9%

Kitchen Clean Up - Total Disposers Dishwashers - Total Built-In Portable Compactors

1,021.6 489.1 527.8 520.2 7.6 4.8

1,180.7 531.2 641.5 630.4 11.1 8.0

-13.5% -7.9% -17.7% -17.5% -31.6% -40.0%

2,623.6 1,332.2 1,278.2 1,258.1 20.1 13.2

3,162.0 1,517.0 1,622.6 1,593.8 28.8 22.4

-17.0% -12.2% -21.2% -21.1% -30.2% -41.3%

Food Preservation - Total Refrigerators Freezers - Total Chest Upright

977.7 775.6 202.1 129.0 73.1

1,063.1 894.3 168.8 107.2 61.6

-8.0% -13.3% 19.7% 20.4% 18.6%

2,186.2 1,725.8 460.4 297.3 163.1

2,596.6 2,156.1 440.5 272.4 168.1

-15.8% -20.0% 4.5% 9.1% -3.0%

Home Comfort - Total Room Air Conditioners Dehumidifiers

1,891.1 1,575.2 315.9

2,289.5 2,036.2 253.3

-17.4% -22.6% 24.7%

3,182.4 2,565.1 617.3

3,955.8 3,471.9 484.0

-19.6% -26.1% 27.5%

Note: Figures (in units) include shipments for the U.S. market whether imported or domestically produced. Export shipments are not included. Source: Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

HVAC - Shipment figures for unitary air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and water heaters can be found at www.ahrinet.org.

RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 1,080.4 1,138.4 1,031.2 939.4

2009 991.8 1,084.9 1,009.6 934.7

2010 1,022.5 1,126.2 1,034.8 962.8

For 2009, a 4.0% decline to 4.021 million units For 2010, a 3.1% increase to 4.189 million units Data Source: AHRI Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights

DISHWASHERS – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 1,505.0 1,563.6 1,505.5 1,421.0

2009 1,278.2 1,376.0 1,419.7 1,395.4

2010 1,274.4 1,388.4 1,459.4 1,456.8

Screw Products, Inc.

Screw It Snap It Pop It Fasten It

SM

Authorized Stocking Distributor for:

For 2009, an 8.8% decline to 5.469 million units For 2010, a 2.0% increase to 5.579 million units Data Source: AHAM Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights

ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS – Shipments (Thousands of Units) Qtr: 1 2 3 4

2008 3,211.9 5,277.4 434.1 162.1

2009 2,565.1 5,514.9 416.7 150.3

2010 2,793.4 5,757.5 433.4 160.2

For 2009, a 4.8% decline to 8.647 million units For 2010, a 5.8% increase to 9.145 million units Data Source: AHAM Forecast Source: Delano Data Insights Note: All forecasts begin in Q2/2009

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NEwS watch

Beverage Biggies Going Green

t

he two giants in soft drinks, The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, and Pepsico, Purchase, N.Y., both recently announced plans to demonstrate their green credentials in the nation’s capital. Coca-Cola said its efforts include installing climate-friendly beverage coolers, using hybrid electric delivery trucks and trailers, and establishing a recycling program for the National Mall and Memorial Parks. The House of Representatives will be among the first locations in the country to test the new HFC-free, energy-efficient Coca-Cola coolers. Four of the new beverage coolers will be installed there, but that’s just the beginning. The company plans to deploy up to 1,800 Coca-Cola coolers and vending machines throughout the U.S. and Canada later this year. These include 1,400 HFC-free coolers and vending machines that will be deployed at the venues during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The new climate-friendly Coca-Cola coolers use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant gas and also have HFC-free insula-

tion. Noting that CO2 has 1,400 times less global warming impact than R-134a, the most commonly used HFC refrigerant gas, Coca-Cola said the new coolers will reduce indirect green house gas emissions by more than three tons for every machine over its lifetime. The coolers also include an intelligent energy management system (EMS-55) that cuts energy use by an average of 26 percent. Pepsico will also use the nation’s capital to introduce climate-friendly vending machines for Pepsi-Cola. These machines also use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. Under the pilot program, The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) will place 30 PepsiCola CO2 vending machines in highconsumer traffic areas in the Washington, D.C. area. These machines feature the new Pepsi logo along with a special green refrigerant sticker. The company said the machines use less energy and generate 12 percent less greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) than current vending machines. PepsiCo said the project is part of the company’s broad commitment to reduce

the environmental footprint of the vending and cooling equipment used to sell its drinks, a commitment that includes improving the energy efficiency of its machines; eliminating HFCs from the insulating foam in vending machines, coolers, and fountain equipment; and using natural refrigerants instead of HFCs. Pepsico said that about 95 percent of a vending machine’s GHG emissions result from the energy required to run it. In addition to the CO2-cooled machines included in this pilot program, PepsiCo is testing thousands of machines around the world that rely on other natural refrigerants — specifically isobutane and propane — that also have a lower climate impact than current HFC refrigerants. Pepsico is working with its supplier Crane Merchandising System’s Dixie Narco Business on the program. Both Coca-Cola and Pepsico are part of Refrigerants Naturally, a global initiative focused on substituting fluorinated refrigerants with natural refrigerants in point-of-sale cooling equipment. 

GE, INtEL FORM aLLIaNcE

will also sell and market the Intel Health Guide, a care management tool designed for healthcare professionals who manage patients with chronic conditions.

ket Tracking Study #15, conducted by the American Affluence Research Center, Alpharetta, Ga. The study finds that more than two-thirds of luxury consumers have no plans to make major expenditures in the next 12 months.

General Electric, Fairfield, Conn., and Intel Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., have formed an alliance to market and develop homebased health technologies that will help seniors live independently and allow patients with chronic conditions to manage their care from wherever they choose. The companies are investing more than $250 million over the next five years for the research and product development of home-based health technologies. GE 6 applianceDESIGN

June 2009

REcORD-LOw LUXURY

The outlook for the economy along with expectations for personal income and spending plans among America’s luxury consumers has reached record lows, according to the Spring 2009 Affluent Mar-

ENERGY-EFFIcIENt cONSUMERS

Homeowners are factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions regarding consumer electronics in an effort to reduce www.applianceDESIGN.com

utter sticktuitiveness

Make the leap to permanent labels with In-Mold Labeling and Decorating from Industramark™. Ideal for decorative, branding and safety labels, our In-Mold Labeling and Decorating solution allows you to enhance the appearance of your durable manufactured products while reducing risk of label failure. In-Mold labels permanently bond with molded plastic parts for non-removable labels that last a lifetime. And our solution works with your existing molds and tooling, saving both time and money. Want more information? Visit us at Booth W95030 during NPE 2009, June 22-26, in Chicago or contact us today at 937.221.1818 or via the Web at www.industramark.com.

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NEwS watch home energy costs, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Arlington, Va. The study finds that 61 percent of households that underwent a home energy audit during the past two years have replaced appliances or CE devices with more energy efficient models.

cO2 VRV SYStEM

t

he history of our motors and capacitors stems back to Thomas Edison and the beginning of, the General Electric Company, in 1892. As GE began to grow their business, the motors and capacitors division began and was branded GE Commercial Motors and GE Capacitors. As the industry’s demands changed, GE ECM (Electronically Commutated Motors) was developed. The ECM motor was the first of its kind to bring home comfort and efficiency through a blower motor in an HVAC system. The motors division continued to grow and in 2004, General Electric’s Commercial and HVACR Motors and Capacitors businesses were sold to Regal Beloit. Since 2004, Regal Beloit has continued utilizing the GE brand by branding its products GE ECM by Regal Beloit, GE Commercial Motors by Regal Beloit, and GE Capacitors by Regal Beloit. In 2009, Regal Beloit announced the new branding of its proven and innovative technology to Genteq™. 

Daikin Europe N.V., Belgium, has launched a CO2-based, variable-refrigerant-volume (VRV) system. Since CO2 has a low critical point of 31 DegC, the system uses the CO2 in a transcritical refrigeration cycle. To optimize performance, the company equipped its CO2 VRV with a range of new technologies, including its dual-compression swing compressor, developed to provide optimum performance at high discharge pressures and able to handle high pressure differences. The CO2 VRV also incorporates new optimized refrigerant circuit technology that includes the dual-stage

inter-cooler circuit and a gas cooler with three-row heat exchanger for maximum heat exchange between the CO2 gas and the ambient air. Daikin expects that CO2 VRV will be welcomed by customers wishing to install HFC-free systems. Given the unit’s attractive COP levels, Daikin is targeting applications where heating demand is stronger than cooling demand.

FREEZER BURN

An article in the Journal of Food Science Education, “How Does the Freezer Burn our Food?,” says that self-defrosting freezers contribute to freezer burn. Self-defrosting freezers contain a heating coil that regularly melts the ice layer of the refrigeration coils, preventing frost accumulation in the freezer compartment. While this removes unwanted frost, it keeps the vapor pressure of the air inside the freezer compartment low, promoting sublimation from the food’s surface.

| MEETINGS | JUNE Sensors Expo & conference 2009 June 8-10, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill. Contact: 800/748-5045 Website: www.sensorsexpo.com 5th International conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic appliances and Lighting (EEDaL '09) June 16-18, Berlin, Germany Contact: 39 03 32 78 92 99 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eedal.eu NPE 2009 Jun 22-26, Chicago, Ill. Contact: 202/974-5235 Email: [email protected] Website: www.npe.org aNtEc @ NPE June 22-26, Chicago, Ill. Contact: 203/775-0471 Email: [email protected] Website: www.4spe.org 

8 applianceDESIGN

June 2009

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NEwS watch heating systems, and residential water heating and swimming pool products.

whIRLPOOL cLOSES FacILItY

Pretty purifiers.

aIR PURIFIER SKINS

Alen Corp., Austin, Texas, has introduced six decorative skin options for two of its home air purifiers. The skins are made from vinyl and the company says they can be applied in minutes.

Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich., has announced manufacturing production changes to its China operations, which include the closure of its clothes washer manufacturing facility in Shang-

hEat FOR cOOLING

DuCool, Powder Springs, Ga., has in-

A Product of its Environment Problem:

LINEaR cOMPRESSOR

LG Electronics (LG), Seoul, Korea, has launched its third generation linear compressor. While conventional reciprocating compressors turn the motor’s rotational movement into the piston’s linear movement to compress refrigerant, in LG’s linear compressors, the motor is directly connected to the piston and moves along a linear track to compress refrigerant, minimizing energy loss during conversion and lowering energy use by up to 30 percent. In addition to using the linear compressor in its own refrigerators, LG said it will also market the compressor to other refrigerator manufacturers.

The operating environment inside your particular appliance may cause thermal controls to act differently than you expected.

Solution: 1 Involve a Pepi sales engineer 2 Choose the right control 3 Customize to meet application needs ®

NatURaL GaS MOwER

Dixie Chopper, Coatsville, Ind., has introduced the Xcaliber Eco-Eagle, a lawn mower that runs on compressed natural gas. The mower is powered by a 990cc Generac engine and has a 66in. cutting deck.

Pepi® thermal controls can be customized in a variety of ways to ensure reliability in virtually any application. To learn more about how easy and affordable it is to get the right device for your particular application, visit our special Proto • Type web site.

www.pepiusa.com/prototype.html Only Pepi® thermostats and thermal protectors offer so many options in fit, configuration, cost and customization. For a close look send for our new Disc-Type and Conductive-Type Catalogs today.

a.O. SMIth acQUISItION

A.O. Smith Corp., Milwaukee, Wis., has announced the acquisition of Applied Energy Recovery Systems Inc. (AERS), Norcross, Ga., a manufacturer of commercial and residential heat pump water heaters. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The AERS product line includes the E-Tech line of commercial and industrial water heaters, as well as commercial outdoor and indoor pool

hai, China. Moving forward, production of clothes washers will be consolidated into the company’s Hisense-Whirlpool joint venture facility, located in the ChangXing Economic Development Zone, in the ZheJiang Province.

www.pepiusa.com Portage Electric Products, Inc. N. Canton, OH U.S.A. [email protected] • 1-888-GO4-PEPI

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applianceDESIGN AD04084Port.indd 1

June 2009 9 3/10/08 9:33:26 AM

NEwS watch troduced dehumidification and cooling systems that it says can substantially improve the energy efficiency of cogeneration systems by using waste heat to provide cooling and dehumidification. The systems combine desiccant dehumidification with evaporative or geothermal cooling to upgrade cogeneration systems to trigeneration systems. The company says this approach eliminates the need for conventional mechanical cooling and reduces the energy required for cooling by up to 90 percent.

show will be held June 22-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

ELEctRIc RIDING MOwER Before (L) and after (R) shots illustrating the biodegradability of Telles Mirel bioplastic.

BIOPLaStIcS at NPE

A number of exhibits, conferences, and displays at NPE2009 will feature polymer technologies based on renewable resources such as corn, castor beans, soybeans, potatoes, tapioca, and more. Bioplastic materials will be found at 16 exhibit booths and discussed in conference presentations by 39 different companies, agencies, and consortia. The

tion with ANSI/AHAM AC-1, this test method provides a means to evaluate and compare the performance of portable household electric air cleaners before and after the air cleaners have been subjected to accelerated particulate loading conditions designed to simulate defined periods of use.

aIR cLEaNER StaNDaRD

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Washington, D.C., has published its newest performance standard, AHAM AC-3-2009, Method for Measuring the Performance of Portable Household Electric Room Air Cleaners Following Accelerated Particulate Loading. Used in conjunc-

Ariens Co., Brillion, Wis., has introduced the AMP Rider, an all-electric riding mower that the company says delivers as much drive and cutting power as a conventional gas-powered riding mower. The mower will be distributed across the U.S.

MIDDLEBY acQUISItION

The Middleby Corp., Elgin, Ill., has announced the acquisition of CookTek LLC, Chicago, Ill., manufacturer of induction cooking and warming systems

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Resistant

Varglas Silicone Resin 500 Sleeving

Extremely flexible, Varglas Silicone Resin 500 Sleeving retains its protective properties throughout a wide temperature range (-56°C to +200°C) without cracking. It resists moisture, abrasion, radiation, deterioration, and cutthrough and offers a weight-saving thin-wall construction. Its relatively high dielectric strength breakdown voltage (8000 volts in Grade A) is unaffected even when knotted. Varglas Silicone Resin 500 and standard Silicone Resin (Grade C-3) Sleevings are available in a variety of colors and sizes in coils, cut lengths, or on spools.

large or small volumes custom colors, fast global partnership

Send for our free sample folder. *Under UL’s Component Program, Grade A Varglas Silicone Resin 500 Sleeving is recognized for 200°C, 600 volt service-File E63450. CSA File LR58486. Conforms to MIL-I-3190/5 and is listed on the QPL for 200°C service. Standard Resin in Grade C-3 complies with VW-1, UL File E53690.

Varflex Corporation 512 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 315-336-4400 • Fax 315-336-0005 1-800-648-4014 • www.varflex.com E-Mail: [email protected]

10 applianceDESIGN AD06094Varf.indd 1

June 2009

…any questions? colorworksforyou AD08084Tige.indd 1

4/30/09 1:12:48 PM

www.tiger-coatings.com 800.243.8148 www.applianceDESIGN.com 7/14/08 11:08:51 AM

NEwS watch for the commercial foodservice industry. The purchase price for the acquisition was $9 million, which was financed under Middleby’s senior revolving credit facility. Further payments are due to the seller under an earnout arrangement to the extent certain financial performance targets are achieved.

lic policy affecting the home appliance industry. Bovim has led Whirlpool’s Washington, D.C. office since 2006. She has provided important leadership and advocacy and was instrumental in the enactment of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, which included landmark energy and water saving appliance standards provisions. She also played a significant role in the exten-

sion of the manufacturers tax credit for super efficient appliances in 2008 and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. The AHAM Distinguished Service Award recognizes significant contributions by virtue of longevity and quality of service to AHAM and the home appliance industry. This year’s Distinguished Service Award recipients were Rick Hab-

tEXtING ROBOtIc MOwER

Husqvarna, Stockholm, Sweden, has introduced the Automower 260 ACX, a robotic mower for homeowners with large yards, handling areas up to 6,000 sq. meters. The mower can work day or night and in the rain; it sends a text message to the owner’s cell phone in the case of disruption.

automower 260 ACX.

ahaM awaRDS

At its annual member meeting, held in April in Washington D.C., the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers honored several industry leaders for their service to the industry and to the association. The industry’s top honor, the Home Appliance Industry Leadership (HAIL) Award was presented to Franz Bosshard, senior vice president of BSH Home Appliances Corp. He chaired AHAM’s Major Appliance Division Board from 2006-2008 and has served as a member of the AHAM Board of Directors since 2004. Bosshard retired last year as President and CEO of BSH, North America. The Michael C. Thompson Public Policy Award was presented to Sarah Bovim, director, Congressional Relations and International Trade for Whirlpool Corp. This award, created in 2004, recognizes extraordinary effort and accomplishment in the area of pub-

For more than 100 years GE ECM has been building a strong foundation for a new name, based on innovative, high quality, premium control system components. That name is Genteq.

www.applianceDESIGN.com

Under the Genteq name, we will continue to lead by example. To discover the next new idea, and push our customer service to the next level. To never stop asking ourselves, “What’s next?”

jointhegeneration.com/freegift/ad

Visit us online at When you register, we’ll send you a free gift.

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June 2009 11 5/13/09 3:19:59 PM

ADVERTORIAL

SUPPLIER SPOtLIGht

INDUStRaMaRK™ a Standard Register business unit 600 Albany Street, Dayton, OH 45408 www.industramark.com • 800.755.6405

w

hat is the impact on your organization if the decorative and warning labels on your products do not last the life of the products? Does the variety and type of plastic materials used to manufacture products present a labeling challenge? Is the space available for decorative and safety labels limited due to the profile of your molded parts? Are your products exposed to adverse conditions that could cause the failure of the labels, such as severe natural elements, harsh chemicals or overt attempts to remove the labels? Industramark™, a Standard Register business unit, offers a solution for molded parts that is permanent, durable and flexible: In-Mold Labeling. Permanent • Provides safety messaging that won’t fall off and can’t be removed by the end-user • Lasts the life of the product • Offers on-going value to customers through logos, brand names and decorative trim Durable • Withstands harsh conditions and rough handling • Provides excellent fade resistance • Stands up to harsh chemical exposure Flexible • Conforms to textures and shapes • Works with all plastics and rubber • Utilizes existing molds and tooling 

NEwS watch ben, safety compliance engineer for Wahl Clipper Corp.; Anthony Hardaway, lead engineer, Fabric Care Technology for Whirlpool Corp., and Steven Polinski, regulatory affairs product development engineer for Miele. All of the Distinguished Service Award winners provided AHAM with leadership and technical expertise while serving on various task forces and committees to revise AHAM performance standards and test methods.

monitors appliances and reports any user faults or potential service problems to the company’s service center. A fault code will either trigger an automated e-mail (offering a corrective strategy) or analysis by a Miele technician who, if need be, will schedule a service appointment. RemoteVision uses wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and application software, allowing the secured transmission of vital performance data.

ENERGY StaR REQUIREMENtS

INFEctED MEDIcaL DEVIcES

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., has announced new Energy Star requirements for commercial refrigerators and freezers. The requirements are effective January 1, 2010.

Computer security technologists from the Internet Storm Center have discovered the Conficker computer worm in more than 300 medical devices, including MRI machines, at dozens of different hospitals. The situation was first noticed by the monitors when an imaging machine reached out over the Internet for instructions. The manufacturer of the devices said that none of them should have been connected to the Internet. Remedying the problem was further complicated by an FDA regulation requiring a 90-day notice before patching the devices.

SUBSIDIZED aPPLIaNcE SaLES

Recent simplified procedures for farmers to get subsidies on the purchase of home appliances have spurred sales of the products throughout China, according to a Chinese Finance Ministry official. Subsidizing home-appliance sales in rural areas is a part of China’s efforts to sustain economic growth amid the international financial crisis. According to the Ministry of Finance, the first quarter of 2009 saw China sell nearly 6 million home appliances in rural areas, with a month-onmonth growth rate of more than 70 percent.

aPPLIaNcE MONItORING

Miele, Princeton, N.J., has introduced RemoteVision, a technology that proactively

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GaSES UP

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that the two most important greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide and methane — registered increases in the atmosphere in 2008, despite a global economic downturn that decreases activities using fossil fuels. The observations were noted in a preliminary analysis for NOAA’s annual greenhouse gas index, which tracks 60 sites around the world. 

www.applianceDESIGN.com

www.applianceDESIGN.com applianceDESIGN.com

appliance DESIGN welcomes the following companies that have started to advertise with us in 2009!

CLAD

REX

American Trim www.amtrim.com

Ark Plas Products www.ark-plas.com

Asco Valve

www.ascovalve.com

Aspen Systems

www.aspencompressor.com

BASF

www.BASF.com

Clad- Rex Inc. www.cladrex.com

DNA Group

Hettich NA

www.hettich.com

New Age Industries

www.dnagroup.com

www.newageindustries.com

Epcos AG

LMS International

www.epcos.com

Epcos Inc

www.usa.epcos.com

Henkel/Loctite

www.supersilicones.com

www.lmsintl.com

Schock Metal

www.schockmetal.com

Solaronics

www.solaronicsusa.com

We would also like to thank ALL of our advertisers for their continued support. It is because of ALL our advertisers that we are able to continue to bring our readers the best technical articles, industry news and product information.

Thread-Rite

www.thread-rite.com

UL

www.ULUNIVERSITY.com

Unicable

www.unicable.com

Varflex

www.varflex.com

Weber Knapp

www.weberknapp.com

I Twenty Second Annual EID Winners

Succeeding with Surprise Originality shines in breakthrough designs.

W

ith thousands of new products being introduced every year, achieving the element of surprise in product design seems almost impossible, and yet there are innovators who still find ways to pull it off. The evidence can be found perusing the winners of our 22nd annual Excellence in Design competition. Surprising inventiveness can be observed in pioneering products such as PWB Health’s Breastlight, GE Security’s Streetlab Mobile, Ice Energy’s Ice Bear Hybrid air conditioner, the Dimplex Opti-myst Cadogan electric fire, and others. Surprisingly fresh takes on familiar products can also be found on the Argus Bean digital camera, the Zephyr Horizon range hood, the Element ceiling fan by Big Ass Fans, and others. In short, this year’s winners have proved that it’s still possible to create novel products, even in segments that have been

around for years. Entries for this year’s competition were slotted into one of several categories. Winning entries were recognized with a Gold, Silver, or Bronze award. The winners are not evenly distributed across categories because there was no predetermined number of awards established. The idea was to recognize excellent product designs, regardless of how many or few a category produced. An independent panel of three experts in the field of design evaluated the entries based on four criteria: aesthetics, human factors, innovation, and technical merits. Information on the judges can be found on page 22. Next year’s competition will be announced in November. Information on it will be available at www.appliancedesign.com/EID. <

Business Machines GOLD Dell PowerEdge M1000e 10U Modular Blade Enclosure by Dell, Round Rock, Texas. Designed for upgrading and expansion, the unit’s modular approach extends its lifespan. The system’s design simplifies interaction with clear visual, tactile, and auditory cues.

www.dell.com

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www.applianceDESIGN.com

I Twenty Second Annual EID GOLD Awards GOLD G O LDD 20099

Electronics GOLD The Bean digital camera by Argus Camera Co., Inverness, Ill., and design firm TEAMS Design, Chicago, Ill. Specifically designed for children, the camera is rugged, affordable, easy-to-use, and has a clip-on design.

www.arguscamera.com www.teamsdesign.com

Electronics GOLD Intel Classmate Laptop by Intel, Shanghai, China, and design firm TEAMS Design, Shanghai, China. The rugged PC is a mobile personal learning device developed for primary school students in developing countries.

www.classmatepc.com www.teamsdesign.com

www.applianceDESIGN.com

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I Twenty Second Annual EID GOLD Awards GOLD G O LDD 20099

Medical/ Test Equipment GOLD CADD - Solis ambulatory infusion system by Smiths Medical, St. Paul, Minn., and design firm Bridge Design, San Francisco, Calif. The patient-controlled analgesia pump administers strong pain medication within preprogrammed, patient-specific, safe limits. www.smiths-medical.com www.bridgedesign.com

Medical/ Test Equipment GOLD TRUE2go by Home Diagnostics, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Small, portable, no-coding glucose meter can be used by itself or attached to vial of test strips. www.homediagnostics.com

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www.applianceDESIGN.com

I Twenty Second Annual EID GOLD Awards GOLD G O LDD 20099

Medical/ Test Equipment GOLD Breastlight by PWB Health, Dumbarton, U.K., and design firm Wideblue, Ltd., Dumbarton, U.K. The hand-held device uses powerful LED illumination to assist women with breast self-examination. www.pwbhealth.com www.wide-blue.com

The Perfect Finishing Touch... www.applianceDESIGN.com AD12084Doug.indd 1

• Chrome, gold & platinum plated nameplates • Painted, hot stamped & pad printed nameplates

• Polyurethane urocals

• Metalized 2nd surface nameplate assemblies

• Individual letter three dimensional graphics

• Decorative trim

• Flexible graphics

• Injection molded bezels & faceplates

• Graphic overlays & membrane switches

• Decals

9650 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 800-806-6113 • douglascorp.com applianceDESIGN

June 2009 17

11/12/08 10:27:32 AM

I Twenty Second Annual EID GOLD Awards GOLD G O LDD 20099

Outdoor/Leisure Appliances GOLD Vision Grills VCS-2 designed by Metaphase Design Group, St. Louis, Mo., for Phase 2 LLC. The compact grill features multiple cooking surfaces that swing away from the heat source for easy and safe access to food and for adding more charcoal. www.visiongrills.com www.metaphase.com

Richco World Headquarters • 8145 River Drive • Morton Grove, IL 60053 18 applianceDESIGN AD01094Rich1.indd 1

June 2009

www.richco-inc.com

www.applianceDESIGN.com 12/15/08 11:54:12 AM

Satisfy your customers’ most demanding long-term steam & hot water needs. Count on smiling customers everywhere from commercial laundries and dishwashers to manufacturers of commercial cooking equipment. The Series 8220 steam and hot water valve from ASCO is the hottest new thing in its class. Its high-flow design provides unequaled throughput, with up to 60 percent more flow. Its ultra-reliable construction endures the rigors of steam and hot water service up to four times longer than other valves. It even reduces inventory by eliminating the need for separate valves for steam and hot water service. Use the Series 8220 to satisfy nearly every steam and hot water application you’ve got!

800-972-ASCO (2726)

www.ascovalve.com

e-mail: [email protected]

I Twenty Second Annual EID GOLD Awards GOLD G O LDD 20099

Small Appliances GOLD Bosch RS35 Reciprocating Saw by Robert Bosch Tool Corp., Mount Prospect, Ill., and design firm TEAMS Design, Chicago, Ill. The saw has a high power-to-weight ratio and combines refined ergonomics and anti-vibration technologies to make it more controllable. www.boschtools.com www.teamsdesign.com

Small Appliances GOLD Ridgid SMARTCART Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner WD7000 by Emerson Tool Co., St. Louis, Mo. The rectangular cart design of the vacuum makes it easy to move around and accessories are organized in storage drawers for convenience and clean appearance. Drum and filter slide out, making it easy to empty debris and to clean or replace the filter. www.ridgid.com

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www.applianceDESIGN.com

INTERNATIONAL APPLIANCE MANUFACTURING 2009 www.applianceDESIGN.com/advertiseiam International Appliance Manufacturing 2009

*Publishers Own Data, 7/08 **Tradeshows Include: AHAM, K/BIS, Home Appliances @ IFA, AHRI and China Shunde International Expo for Household Appliances

cturing . old Applian ce Design and Manufa The annual review of Househ

OEM Suppliers

Place your white paper in front of more than 23,000 executives and design/ manufacturing engineers worldwide, in the Household Appliance sector! *

Here is your VIP Pass into the offices of the key decision-makers at some of the largest home appliance OEMs worldwide. Companies such as Whirlpool, Bosch & Siemens, Electrolux, Haier, Samsung, and LG Electronics receive International Appliance Manufacturing annually, looking for the industry’s latest techniques and best practices on the design and manufacturing of appliances.

Reasons to Advertise in IAM • You will not only be seen by thousands of managers and engineers, but you will also receive a 3,000 word white/technical paper (print, digital & online) at NO EXTRA COST. • Your online brochure will be posted on our website along with your white paper for ONE YEAR! • You will also create a buzz with exposure in the digital edition magazine, and you will get in front of attendees at key industry trade shows, providing you with a fully integrated program to reach your most important target market. •Appliance makers worldwide rely on this annual review to get a first look at innovations being introduced to the industry. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to get your message past the gatekeepers and into the hands of key players with this unique publication. Reserve your spot today and start writing that white paper. Ad Close for International Appliance Manufacturing is early June, so don’t wait too long. This opportunity only comes along once a year! Please contact me today to reserve your ad space.

Portage White Papers

Portage Half Page Ad

SAMPLE WHITE PAPER AND HALF PAGE AD

Issue: October 2009

For advertising information, contact Dawn LeRoux, Publisher, at 1-248-633-4818 or [email protected]

Ad Close: September 10, 2009

MEETTHEJUDGES Daniel W. Mauney is the director of human factors and research at HumanCentric, Cary, N.C. He has more than 15 years of experience developing hardware and software interfaces for devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and desktop computers. During this time, he has been able to contribute to user-interface design and evaluation in a variety of environments, including creating user-interface designs as part of a small Internet software startup, creating designs as part of a large corporation developing mobile phones, and evaluating products as part of a large corporation’s business strategy for purchasing, branding, and co-branding. In all occasions, he has been a primary user-advocate, promoting the user-

John Omdahl is creative director for Rocketship, Provo, Utah, a product design firm that creates successful products and brands. During his career as a product developer and industrial designer, he has worked on various projects for start-ups and global companies. His professional experience includes design of telecom equipment, office phones, airline seating, automated stage-

Brian Vogel is president of Brian Vogel Consulting, North Andover, Mass., which provides personalized business coaching to the principals of design and engineering firms and heads of corporate design groups. Prior to starting his business, he was president of Scientific Generics, an international consulting firm specializing in innovation, technology development, breakthrough products and business creation. After tours of duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy, he began his career at General Electric where he progressed from mechanical engineer, to project leader, program manager, and manager of all programs. He has held senior leadership positions at product design firms including senior vice president of Product Genesis, and president of Altitude. During his assignments at these firms,

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centered design process and creating designs that focus on ease of use. He has authored multiple U.S. and international patents, written book chapters on small-screen interfaces and making wireless applications easy to use, and has been an invited speaker at a number of events promoting user-interface design techniques and tips to application developers. He holds a Ph.D. in Human Factors and Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the national Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction.

www.humancentric.com

light control consoles, spas, and medical/therapy devices. He credits his diverse exposure to numerous cultures as a teenager for developing a broad design sensitivity that influence the products and experiences he designs. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University.

www.rocketshipdesign.com

he worked with several medical and appliance clients resulting in over 200 new products. He has extensive experience in the areas of customer-led innovation, product strategy and planning, product development, sales and marketing, multiple program management, and people management. He has been a member of the Association of Professional Design Firms and has held senior leadership roles within the Industrial Designers Society of America, including executive vice-president, and helped the society adapt to meet the rapid changes occurring globally in the industry. He was guest editor of IDSA’s Innovations magazine twice. He has been a judge for several years with the CES Innovations Award competition.

www.brianvogelconsulting.com

www.applianceDESIGN.com

I Twenty Second Annual EID SILVER Awards SILVER 2009

Business Machines SILVER Fellowes Powershred PS79Ci Shredder by Fellowes, Itasca, Ill., and design firm Herbst LaZar Bell, Chicago, Ill. Quiet shredder features 100 percent jam proof technology that prevents paper jams and uses sensor technology that disables the machine when sensing that hands or large pets are too close to the opening. www.fellowes.com www.hlb.com

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Electrolux Double Wall Oven by Electrolux Home Appliances, Augusta, Ga. Cooking is speeded and simplified with the use of seven cooking modes, 10 cooking options, and favorite setting features. www.electroluxusa.com

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Element by Big Ass Fans, Lexington, Ky. Stylish, large-scale ceiling fan was designed to distribute air more efficiently in large, conditioned spaces. www.elementfan.com www.applianceDESIGN.com

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I Twenty Second Annual EID SILVER Awards SILVER 2009

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER GensysBlue FCHA by Plug Power, Latham, N.Y., and design firm Brownlie Design, Skaneateles, N.Y. Residential fuel-cell heating appliance using PEM technology extracts hydrogen from natural gas to produce heat, hot water, and electricity. www.plugpower.com www.brownlie.com

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Ice Bear 30 Hybrid Air Conditioner by Ice Energy, Windsor, Colo., and design firm Samson Design, Boulder, Colo. Designed to integrate with small and mid-sized HVAC systems, the Ice Bear freezes water to efficiently shift daytime energy demand for cooling to nighttime when electricity generation is cleaner and less expensive. www.ice-energy.com www.samsondesign.com

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Maytag Bravos Top-Loading Washer MVWB800VU by Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich. Washer features 4.7 cu. ft. of capacity, CEE Tier III energy rating, NSF-certified sanitary cycle, impeller wash system, and 4-strut suspension system for vibration control. www.whirlpool.com

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I Twenty Second Annual EID SILVER Awards SILVER 2009

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Side-by-Side Built-In Refrigeration by Sub-Zero, Madison, Wis., and design firm Cesaroni Design Associates, Glenview, Ill. Built-in refrigeration models incorporate advanced air purification and water filtration systems, preserving food freshness longer, while consuming less energy than a 100 W light bulb. www.subzero.com www.cesaroni.com

Major Appliances/HVAC SILVER Zephyr Horizon AHZ-M9A-X Range Hood by Zephyr Ventilation, Alameda, Calif., and designer Robert Brunner of Ammunition Design Group, San Francisco, Calif. A blend of tempered glass and stainless steel creates a minimalist design that delivers efficient performance coupled with integrated and seamless glass touch controls, a perpetual indoor-air quality feature, and wireless remote control. www.zephyronline.com www.ammunitiongroup.com

Medical/Test Equipment SILVER BD BACTEC FX blood culture system by BD, Franklin Lakes, N.J., and design firm Bresslergroup, Philadelphia, Pa. The compact and stackable system improves both workflow and patient safety with real-time user feedback and remote monitoring. www.bd.com/us www.bresslergroup.com

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I Twenty Second Annual EID SILVER Awards

Medical/Test Equipment SILVER

SILVER 2009

Hill-Rom Envision E700 Wound Surface by Hill-Rom., Charleston, S.C. Envision addresses five factors affecting pressure ulcer healing: pressure, shear, friction, patient immobility, and microclimate management. It also has a touchscreen GUI and reconfigurable surface. www.hill-rom.com

Medical/Test Equipment SILVER Streetlab Mobile by GE Security, San Diego, Calif., and design firm Montalbano Innovation & Development, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Used by HazMat first responders, the ruggedized, hand-held, pointand-shoot instrument uses laser, Raman spectroscopy to identify chemicals, narcotics or toxic hazards. www.streetlabmobile.com www.montalbanoinc.com

Small Appliances SILVER Jura-Capresso ENA 5 Automatic Coffee Center by Jura Elektroapparate AG, Niederbuchsiten, Switzerland, and design firm Candio & Buettler, Zurich, Switzerland. Slim, bean-to-cup automatic coffee center has one-touch operation for high-pressure-brewed crema coffee, espresso, cappuccino, or latte and has energy-saving features. www.capresso.com www.candiobuettler.ch

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I Twenty Second Annual EID SILVER Awards SILVER 2009

Small Appliances SILVER Silhouette 120 VAC Smoke Alarm by Kidde, Mebane, N.C., a UTC Fire & Security Co., and design firm Morrow Design, Chicago, Ill. Low-profile smoke alarm for wired installations floats barely more than one-quarter inch from the ceiling and features test button as its only user interface. www.kidde.com www.morrowdesign.net

I Twenty Second Annual EID BRONZE Awards BRONZE B R O NZE 20099

Major Appliances/HVAC BRONZE Arçelik 5088NF/Blomberg MDND1880 Refrigerator by Arçelik, A.S., Istanbul, Turkey. Frost-free unit has A++ energy rating (European) and a customizable glass door containing a touch control display. It has separate evaporators for fresh food and freezer compartments. www.arcelik.com

Major Appliances/HVAC BRONZE KitchenAid Architect Series Gas Cooktop KFGU766VSS by Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich. Key features include 20,000 BTU dual-tier burner; lowprofile edge-to-edge grates; glass touch-control display; and a hard, ceramic clear-coat on stainless-steel surfaces. www.whirlpool.com

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I Twenty Second Annual EID BRONZE Awards BRONZE B R O NZE 20099

Major Appliances/HVAC BRONZE LG Electronics 4-Door, French Door Refrigerator LMX25981 by LG Electronics, USA, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. The unit combines the French-door design with two freezer drawers and a four-compartment crisper to optimize organization. A tall, water dispenser handles large containers. www.lge.com/us

Medical/Test Equipment BRONZE Hill-Rom TotalCare P500 Wound Surface by Hill-Rom, Charleston, S.C. TotalCare P500 helps manage mobility, skin care, and comfort needs of patients in critical care units. Innovative bed frame and other features decrease adverse events and improves safety for patient and caregiver. AD09061DESC

7/31/06

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I Twenty Second Annual EID BRONZE Awards

Small Appliances BRONZE

BRONZE B R O NZE 20099

Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector by Black & Decker, Towson, Md., and design firm Bresslergroup, Philadelphia, Pa. The thermal leak detector uses a projected color-coded light to help homeowners find areas around the house that need sealing or insulating to reduce energy costs. www.blackanddecker.com www.bresslergroup.com

Small Appliances BRONZE Dimplex Opti-myst Cadogan Fire by Dimplex, Southampton, England. Electric heater creates illusion of dancing flames by illuminating an ultrasonically generated water mist. www.dimplex.co.uk

Small Appliances BRONZE Zojirushi Electric Kettle by Zojirushi America Corp., Gardena, Calif. The 34-oz. kettle has stainless-steel interior and insulated exterior. Safety features include locking lid that protects against spilling, locking switch for spout, and automatic shutoff to prevent boil-dry www.zojirushi.com

Small Appliances BRONZE Miele S7000 Full Size Upright Vacuum Cleaner by Miele & Cie. KG., Gutersloh, Germany. Ease of use is found in a swiveling neck, 360-degree front caster wheels, and ability to lay flat. Performance is derived from 1,200 W motor and 4,800 RPM brush. www.mieleusa.com <

www.applianceDESIGN.com

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plated nameplates • Painted,hot stamped & pad printed nameplates • Metalized 2nd surface nameplate assemblies • Decorative trim • Injection molded bezels & faceplates • Polyurethane urocals • Decals • Individual letter three dimensional graphics • Flexible graphics • Graphic overlays & Douglas membrane switches

DESIGN MART Design Concepts

ASCO Numatics

Corporation

9650 Valley View Road • Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3507

Precision membrane •switch technology...customized and com952-941-2944 Fax: 952-942-3125 • 800-806-6113 us Online at www.douglascorp.com plete! Visit Douglas Corporation delivers over seventy-five years experience meeting the exacting demands of the world's leaders in the appliance, electronic, automotive and other industries. If you're at the drawing stage for a new project or just wish to review existing vendors...call us and we will help you!

We are product

NEW Market Specific Interactive Diagrams ASCO Numatics, a division of Emerson offers comprehensive fluid automation solutions for a wide range of industryfocused applications. Solutions are ideal for medical and analytical instrumentation and commercial appliances to name a few. To view a variety of Market Specific Interactive Diagrams, visit www.ascovalve.com/markets.

developers. Researchers, designers and engineers creating honest, enduring solutions.

ASCO Numatics 50 Hanover Road Florham Park, NJ 07932 Phone: 973-966-2000 Web: www.asconumatics.com

www.design-concepts.com 800-344-2623

ebmpapst

Douglas Corporation 9650 Valley View Road Eden Prairie, Mn 55344 Phone: 800-806-6113 Fax: 952-942-3125 Web: www.douglascorp.com

infineon

EPCOS PTC design mart.indd 1

9/15/2006 10:14:30 AM

EPCOS PTC components with stainless steel packages sense liquid levels. Type B59050D1100B040 measures water levels and operates within +10°C to +65°C. Type B59050D1120B040 is for liquids with thermal conductivity of λth >0.12 W/mK (oil or fuel) and operates within -25°C to +50°C. Contact James Borsh, EPCOS, 732-906-4390, or visit www.epcos.com/ptc.

In a single package, CIPOS™ integrates the most robust power and control components for consumer and industrial drives. Prevent latchup, increase thermal performance and reliability of your designs with Infineon’s CIPOS.

www.infineon.com/cipos Contact us today for your design consultation [email protected] 1050 Rt. 22 Lebanon, NJ 08833 (908) 236-5600

EPCOS PTC Phone: (732) 906-4390 Web: www.epcos.com/ptc

Morrow Design

Portage Electric Products, Inc.

NEW THERMAL CONTROL CATALOGS Portage Electric Products, Inc. is offering two new catalogs covering their conductive-type and disc-type thermal controls. These controls are used in a wide range of appliance applications as reliable safety devices and can be customized in a number of ways to better meet application needs. 1&1* „
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5)&3."-
1305&$5034
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Genteq™

Genteq creates innovative, premium comfort and electrical components including ECM, capacitors, blowers and motors. Our proven reputation for high quality, highly reliable products and strong customer relationships make us the preferred brand throughout the industry. Genteq 1946 West Cook Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Phone: (260) 416-5400 Email: [email protected] Web: Jointhegeneration.com

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Richco

Leg Leveling Foot Richco’s Leg Leveling Foot (LLF) allows for precise leveling of appliances on the most uneven of floor surfaces. The foot provides vibration control and isolates structural noise, while ensuring contact with the floor through a durable PP base. For free samples or literature call 1-800-621-1892. www.richco-inc.com Richco Phone: (800) 621-1892 Web: www.richco-inc.com

Thread-Rite

We’re greening up the world of product marking Earth-friendly in-mold labels . . . a healthier solution. • Cellulose-free, eliminating reliance on forest harvesting • Non-toxic, with no ozone-depleting components • Exceeds FDA requirement for food contact • Complies with all child safety regulations • Recyclable category 7 plastic Industramark™ a Standard Register business unit 600 Albany Street Dayton, Ohio 45408 Phone: (937) 221-1818 Web: www.industramark.com

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This pocket-size folder contains a variety of electrical insulating sleeving samples all of which are available in a wide range of sizes, colors and grades. Included are sleevings that are UL-recognized, CSA certified and RoHS and REACH compliant, and meet military specifications. Varflex also offers special coatings; heavy, double and triple wall, constructions; special braiding; and custom overbraiding. Samples are available by contacting [email protected]. Varflex Corporation Email: [email protected] Web: www.varflex.com

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ELECTRONICS

The Energy Aware Home

Fig. 1. System diagram of the energy-aware platform.

Combined technologies create energy control platform.

by audrey li-brouwer and steve nguyen Audrey Li-Brouwer is technical marketing manager, Consumer Business Unit, Altera Corp., San Jose, Calif., and Steve Nguyen is director corporate marketing, Echelon Corp., San Jose, Calif. 32 applianceDESIGN June 2009

H

elping homeowners increase their awareness of energy usage and effectively reducing that usage has been an elusive goal. Achieving it requires a monitoring and control solution that involves makers of home appliances, home controls, and in-home displays. To accomplish the necessary monitoring and control, appliances must be connected to a home area network (HAN). This network would also enable utility companies via smart meters to remotely control and monitor consumer energy usage and directly communicate to homeowners. Three key technologies enable the energy-aware platform for developers: 1. A powerful and flexible field-programmable, gate array (FPGA) to serve as the core of energy aware appliances. 2. Power-line networking and specialized software that effectively eliminates both wiring for the HAN and consumer fears over complex installation. 3. An integrated, high-performance, graphical-user interface (GUI) tech-

nology to keep consumers informed. (See Fig. 1). Traditionally, developers have used FPGAs to verify design concepts and build initial product prototypes. However, with the recent advancements in semiconductor submicron process technology, low-cost FPGAs have entered into many high-volume consumer household products. Appliance manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to reduce the bill of materials cost for these products. An ideal cost reduction solution is an FPGA that combines several components into a single integrated circuit and can be programmed in the field after manufacture. FPGAs are made up of an array of configurable logic elements (LEs) that can be configured or programmed to perform one or a variety of simple functions. FPGA LEs are used as building blocks to implement the functionality desired. Using a single FPGA, such as an Altera Cyclone III with a Nios II embedded processor, multiple microcontroller units can www.applianceDESIGN.com

ELECTRONICS

Fig. 2. The Altia HMI provides homeowners with a single location to receive messages from household members, the local utility company, and appliances connected to the HAN.

be easily replaced. Custom functions can be created with intellectual property (IP), providing a future-proof solution that supports new features, last-minute changes, and rapid adaptation to changing market requirements, thus providing the basis for this appliance platform. On the power line networks side, Echelon’s ShortStack API leverages the FPGA to replace four function-specific microprocessors with a single FPGA and a power line, smart transceiver. This reduces cost, complexity, and development time, while simultaneously adding network communications to an appliance that enables utility companies, home appliance OEMs, and consumers to effectively manage and control energy consumption. The API works in conjunction with Echelon’s power line smart transceivers to use the existing electricity wiring in a home for communications, making the solution a “no new wires” approach. The smart transceiver features a narrow-band power line transceiver, an 8-bit processor core for running applications and managing network communications, and a choice of on-board or external memory in a very small form factor, available for the most cost-sensitive consumer products. The appliances on the power

line network form the backbone of the HAN — providing reliable HAN communications across an entire home or property. Other devices, such as RF-based sensors, perform better by leveraging the power line backbone to span greater distances and get by RF signal blockers, such as brick walls. The power line signaling technology and the communications protocol for the HAN incorporated into Echelon’s smart transceivers utilize the ISO/IEC 14908 global standard to ensure longevity and enable interoperability among different manufacturers. This solution expands the market by enabling manufactures to include greater functionality and processing power at lower costs. For example, the single FPGA with embedded processor serves as a processor, intellectual property (IP) host, digital signal processor, and touchscreen display driver. Touchscreens represent the new face of home appliances, providing a rich, interactive experience for the consumer. The graphical user interface, or GUI, like the one developed with Altia Design and DeepScreen tools, supports multiple languages, colors, varying size fonts, resolution, as well as other potential features. Appliance manufacturers can leverage a single GUI across

associated with the graphical application development. Electronic touchscreen displays are becoming the primary human-machine interface and product control mechanism for many consumer appliances, replacing the traditional dials and push buttons. These appliance displays are being supported by utility providers who want their customers to alter energy consumption behavior based on electricity availability, as shown in Fig. 2. A flexible interface with upgradable features goes handin-hand to deliver greater service and higher value to consumers over time. Innovative, but as yet unrealized, programs from service providers are likely to take advantage of the design flexibility in the upgradable GUI for energy aware appliances. Smart utility meters play an important role in the energy

multiple brands and multiple product lines. Through downloadable software, manufacturers can remotely change and update a new version of the GUI as well as feature sets. The two major components of this GUI are: 1. A platform-independent embedded graphical engine enabling rapid porting from the targeted hardware platform to the Windows simulation with identical APIs. 2. A WYSIWYG GUI-building tool leveraging highly optimized portable graphics that outputs complete C source code suitable for deploying on low- or highend products. With a development tool suite, GUI design and deployment happens in a cohesive and streamlined manner, thus eliminating development cycles, diminishing overall project risk, and reducing the high costs

Sense. Monitor. Protect. To be sure, specify EPCOS. Sensors Thermistors ■ Varistors ■ Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs) ■ ■

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ELECTRONICS aware scheme. Utilities worldwide are investing in smart grids and advanced metering infrastructures (AMI) that use two-way communications for improving the efficiency, reliability, and safety of power delivery and use. The backbone of the smart grid is the AMI that typically involves the installation of smart meters that read electricity consumption remotely, detect outages, identify electricity theft, remotely connect and disconnect service, and deliver prepaid electricity to customers who may require this service. Smart meters give utility providers immediate access to data to better project electricity demand from the grid. When demand is high, the grid is strained and forces utility providers to either reduce electricity consumption or possibly increase energy production by using environmentally unfriendly, coal-fired plants. Utility providers that have deployed smart meters typically introduce two new programs to consumers: 4Time of Use (TOU) pricing programs. These programs provide differential pricing for peak and off-peak electricity use with the goal of discouraging

1 34AD06094IFA.indd applianceDESIGN June 2009

Fig. 3. The energy-aware platform gives homeowners a simple means for monitoring in-home energy usage. With this information, homeowners can take practical measures to reduce the overall energy consumption by powering off unused electrical appliances or running appliances at off-peak hours.

electricity consumption during peak periods, while encouraging consumption during off-peak periods. This

implementation requires a certain level of energy awareness by consumers. They need to know when prices change

4/30/09 1:15:43 PM www.applianceDESIGN.com

ELECTRONICS based on the time of day. While many utilities focus on the adoption of in-home displays to notify consumers, the most practical way to create awareness is by providing the information directly in the appliance. 4Demand Response (DR) programs. These programs are a key part of energy management policies that ensure a balance between supply and demand. In electricity grids, any significant imbalance between electricity consumption and production causes grid instability or severe voltage fluctuations and possible failures. DR programs allow utility providers to notify customers of a pending electricity shortfall and ask them to reduce energy use. In return, end-users are offered reduced electricity rates and/or other financial incentives. DR programs can be automatic, with utility providers having the right to reduce or turn off certain energy consuming appliances, such as air conditioners, swimming pool pumps, and hot water heaters for a short time in customer sites. Signals are transmitted from the utility to the smart meter and then to the consumer products connected to a HAN. Why are these programs important to makers of consumer appliances? With over 100 million smart meters slated for installation worldwide over the next five to seven years, there will be a huge demand by homeowners for cost-effective solutions to manage their energy usage, which in turn will have a dramatic impact on yet-tobe developed, energy-efficient consumer products that have lengthy development cycles. Additionally utility providers are likely to implement economic incentives for con-

sumers. Today many of these providers offer consumer rebates for the purchase of Energy Star-compliant appliances in the U.S. Such practices will likely become more common in other countries. The energy-aware appliance platform described delivers benefits to home owners, appliance manufacturers, and utility providers. Homeowners benefit in the following ways: 4They are in control. They receive power warning messages from the electricity providers via smart meters and determine if, and how, their smart appliances will respond to the energy event. They program certain home appliances not to be operated during peak times, reducing the total household energy cost. 4They gain knowledge of energy usage. This includes how many watts are being consumed by each household appliance connected to the power line network and the individual cost. (See Fig. 3.) Home owners take a proactive approach determining operation of what appliance at a certain time during the day. 4Convenience is improved, less times is wasted. The communication via HANs enables homeowners to stop wasting hours or even days while service technicians schedule multiple visits with the wrong part or incorrect software. Better reliability, software updates, and preventative maintenance combine to deliver peace of mind to the customer. Benefits to manufacturers of home appliances include: 4Increased revenues and customer loyalty that stem from the additional services provided without the customer needing to place a phone call, as the smart appliance automatically sends a service request to

manufacturers via power line network. 4Improved margins on warranties are achieved by remote diagnostics and repair, as remote software updates improve the operating modes of the appliance to better match a consumer’s use pattern. 4Reduced service costs by remote upgrading of new software or diagnosing a malfunction. 4Reduced total development cost and improved time-tomarket achieved with product scalability, as multiple end products can share the same hardware platform, with software features added or deleted to create end product differentiation. 4Faster reaction time to competitors. Last-minute design changes accommodate bug-fixes, and new features can be added after

production using the inherent flexibility and programmability of FPGAs. The electricity providers also gain benefit from this solution by being able to remotely control and monitor consumer energy usage or directly communicate electricity alert messages to homeowners in the event of outage detection or theft identification. Companies that partner to provide an energy-aware platform have a definite market advantage, while simultaneously offering a more efficient way of life that delivers a greener, better environment for everyone. < For more information, visit: Altera: [email protected] or www.altera.com Altia: [email protected] or www.altia.com Echelon: [email protected] or www.echelon.com

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FANS & BLOWERS orange lead wire, and can be positioned anywhere within the enclosure. The constant speed function senses variable input voltage, which causes variations in power output and maintains the fan’s constant speed regardless of input voltage functionality. For more information, email: [email protected]

Ametek The Nautilar Series 12.3 in., variable-speed blower delivers a measured air/fuel mixture for optimized combustion and reduced nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide emissions. The brushless DC blowers can achieve maximum sealed pressure capabilities up to 25 in. of H2O and maximum open flows to 800 CFM, depending on model. Versions can accept line voltage input of 120 VAC and 240 VAC. Speed can be adjusted thermally with an onboard potentiometer or with an external PWM or DC control that actively varies blower performance, eliminating a need for complex air intake damper systems. Available add-on expansion cards and other options can be incorporated to customize blower performance for specific application requirements. For more information, email: [email protected]

NMB Technologies The 1611RL is a 40 mm x 28 mm fixed-blade, axial DC fan, specifically designed to offer a solution for the telecommunication and server industry. With a maximum CFM of 19.4, the fan can operate under static pressure levels of up to 1.6 in. H20. The model is available in 12 VDC, 7.4 W, and 60 dbA. The fixed-blade model includes NMB ball bearings for longer life, and is available with alarm sensor and PWM. For more information, email: [email protected]

Orion Fans

ebm-Papst The HyBlade is an axial fan that is composed of a corrosion-resistant aluminum structure and spray-coated fiberglass reinforced plastic blades. Compared to conventional metal components that can only be shaped by punching, stamping, bending, or embossing, the plastic blades attain a sleek, three-dimensional profile. Winglet technology has been incorporated into the blade tips to help aerodynamics and minimize turbulence between blade and housing for quiet and efficient operation. It is available in five diameters between 500 mm and 900 mm. For more information, email: [email protected] 36 applianceDESIGN

June 2009

DC fans are available with a variety of special functions, including tachometer output, locked-rotor alarm, PWM input, thermalspeed controls, and constant-speed controls. The tachometer output monitors and reports a fan’s rotational speed and triggers an alarm or indicator if the fan’s speed falls below a certain RPM. Locked-rotor alarms detect whether a fan is running by generating and transmitting a high or low output signal. The PWM input function varies the width of the electrical pulse in order to control the average voltage delivered to the fan. The option also allows users to digitally control the speed of the fan by varying the electric pulse running to it. Thermal speed control employs a thermistor-controlled circuit that increases fan speed only when the temperature rises above a determined set-point. Thermistor control circuits can be mounted directly in the fan hub or remotely mounted via an

Punker The R63D2 series of fans features a diffuser, which sets this apart from previous models. The R63D2 model has an outer blade diameter of 400 mm, but the ring and circular blank are 450 mm. This is referred to as a rotating diffuser, which acts as a speed converter and reduces the speed of the air leaving the wheel as a consequence of the continuously increasing surface and converts the dynamic pressure into useful static pressure. Moreover, this additional distance permits directing the outlet flow, which can then improve flow instability, decreasing noise. The new series has 12 sizes ranging from 250 mm to 900 mm and features a very high degree of efficiency (up to 75 percent for the 900 wheel), very high power density, low noise emissions, and substantial fan-wheel strength. For more information, email: [email protected]

Northland Motor The BV 51 series of 5.1 in. BLDC electronically commutated vacuum motors are based on the industry popular 5.1 in. housing and are designed for more than 10 times the life of universal motor based vacuum motors. With www.applianceDESIGN.com

FANS & BLOWERS the BV51 series, the company has taken a market accepted air flow system and coupled it with a long lasting variable-speed BLDC motor and drive system. The first two models in the series of vacuum motors provide 30 in. H20 and 60 in. H2O of vacuum. The BV 51 series can be driven by the company’s BD series of external drives. The standard drives include 10 VDC to 52 VDC, 120 VAC, and 240 VAC input models that are factory configured and ready to use. For more information, email: [email protected]

designed for a wide range of uses. Based upon the ISO 532B hearing sensation and charts on human auditory reactions that were plotted for different decibel and frequency levels, the threshold noise level for the Super Silence series is below 20 phon, the minimum level that is discernible in daily living. For more information, email: [email protected]

CFdesign

Ziehl-Abegg Rosenberg USA The electronically commutated fan family has expanded to include designs that deliver up to 6 in. of static pressure or airflow of more than 16,000 CFM. The line includes axial and backward curved fans. The axial fans for use on condenser units come in four sizes from 28 in. to 39 in. with a top airflow of 16,900 CFM. The backward curved units, often used in evaporators, are available in five sizes from 16 to 25 in., delivering up to 6 in. of static pressure or up to 8,900 CFM of airflow at lower static pressures. For more information, email: [email protected]

grated LED constantly indicates operating condition of the fans. With its modular construction, the functions in the ECblue fans can be expanded by plugging in additional modules. The add-on modules can be customized for specific applications. For more information, visit: www.ec-blue.com

The ECblue fans can be programmed without a hard wire connection using wireless technology. The casing that houses the electronics on ECblue motors allows for radio waves to enter, providing the ability to program and configure the fans without having to spend time wiring an operating terminal. An inte-

The CFdesign Motion Module allows engineers to simulate the interaction between flow and moving parts in their CAD models. Several mechanical engineering applications require understanding the behavior of liquid and gas flows as they interact with solid objects. The CFdesign Motion Module allows the creation of a virtual prototyping environ-

Filter. Stabilize. Optimize. Maximize performance of electronics with EPCOS chokes and inductors. High noise suppression ■ High resonance frequency ■ High current ratings ■ Compact size ■

Sunon

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The Super Silence fan was engineered so that the rotating bearings, the wind from its fan blades, and the airflow from the system all contribute to the fan’s stable and quiet performance. The surface area of the fan blades has been enlarged and space between the fans and air-flow channels has been maximized. As a result, the fan has excellent coolings effects and near-silent sound quality. With low-voltage characteristic, this series is www.applianceDESIGN.com

applianceDESIGN AD03094Epcos3.indd 1

June 2009 37 1/15/09 11:48:46 AM

FANS & BLOWERS ment by simulating the way components of pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, valves, and pistons interact with and respond to prescribed flows. All the physical effects of the motion, as well as the time-history, are output for data review and can be used to create animations for visual studies. For more information, visit: www.cfdesign.com

used in evaporators and condensers in refrigeration applications. Direct energy savings are approximately 70 percent. Because the motors run cooler than shaded-pole and PSC motors, there is less waste heat released into the refrigeration, further saving on energy. UltraSynch technology in the ECR82/92 allows the motor to maintain an absolutely constant speed across a wide voltage range (185 V to 250 V and 90 V to 140 V). This is achieved by onboard electronics and special software that measures the AC supply many times each second and locks the motor speed to the AC supply frequency. In countries with high voltage fluctuations in the power supply, this technology allows the ECR82/92 to last up to three times longer than shaded-pole motors. For more information, email: [email protected]

ELCO Motors The ECM-IP Series offers IP65 and IP66 moisture protection grade, one of the highest in the industry, designed to handle the most severe requirements in commercial refrigeration. The ECM series allows efficiency rates up to 70 percent, which is four to five times more efficient than a traditional shaded-pole fan motor. Higher efficiency means cooler motor operation, longer bearing expected life and reduced heat delivered to the refrigeration cycle, for a combined energy saving advantage and improved refrigeration quality. In addition, the motors are now approved for use with hydrocarbon refrigerants. The ECM-IP Series is widely used in commercial refrigeration applications such as condensing and evaporating units, food and beverage coolers, freezers, supermarket display cases, walk-ins and reach-ins. For more information, email: [email protected]

ECR motors are electronically commutated (ECM) motors with fully enclosed (ECR82/92, ECR80/90) or external (ECR81/91) electronic control. The motors are energy-saving replacements of shaded-pole and PSC motors

38 applianceDESIGN

June 2009

Dawn LeRoux Publisher [email protected] Phone: (248) 633-4818 Fax: (248) 283-6558 AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, KS, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, Western Canada

Brad Glazer [email protected] Phone: (216) 233-6943 Fax: (216) 803-6151 AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, Eastern Canada

Jennifer Nagel Design Mart, Buyers Guide & Classified [email protected] Phone: (248) 244-1729 Fax: (248) 244-2040

Continental Fan The TMK-EC backward-curved, motorized impeller is a balanced air-moving device that features compact design for applications where space is limited. The coupling of the motor and impeller minimizes space requirements and provides for vibrationfree performance. The impeller combines the efficiency of the TMK backward-curved glass reinforced impeller with the advanced technology of an electronically commutated external-rotor motor. The input voltage is 380 V to 480 V 50/60 three-phased. It is available housed or non-housed. For more information, email: [email protected] 

NEED Wellington Drive Technologies US

sales team

R E PR I NTS?

Contact Jill DeVries for a price quote at (248) 244-1726

international Europe & U.K.

Malcolm Barnes [email protected] Phone/Fax: +44 1202 528333 China & Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

Charles Yang [email protected] Phone: 886-4-23223633 Fax: 886-4-23223646

reprints

Jill DeVries [email protected] Phone: (248) 244-1726 Fax: (248) 244-3934

or Email: [email protected]

BNP MEDIA 2401 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 700 Troy, MI 48084 Fax: (248) 244-3934

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ASSOCIATION REPORT: AHRI

Working to Shape Policy

Stephen R. Yurek

President Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

40 applianceDESIGN

T

hanks to substantial lobbying by AHRI and its members, the economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress in February included roughly $20 billion for upgrading residential and commercial heating and cooling equipment. A good portion of the funding was for extending and expanding tax credits for the purchase of highly efficient residential equipment, but the bill also contained substantial funds for states and federal agencies to upgrade HVAC/R equipment. AHRI is also actively engaged with Congressional staff to ensure that energy efficiency programs in the next energy bill will benefit both consumers and our industry. Climate change is another critical policy issue for AHRI, and it involves our domestic and international advocacy efforts, as well as AHRI research. Congress is currently considering legislation that would establish a cap and trade program in the U.S. to regulate and eventually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Internationally, there are efforts to establish an agreement to control carbon dioxide through either a new treaty or existing ones. AHRI has been leading a coalition of manufacturers to provide input on the issue to Capitol Hill, the Executive Branch, and international organizations. Our coalition includes representatives from both the residential and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration industries. We are trying to ensure that any proposed legislation or regulations properly consider the beneficial role that hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) play in the energy efficiency of cooling products, and that such discussions also consider the potential energy cost increases resulting from new regulations. On the first point, AHRI believes any planned reduction in HFC use must provide for an adequate transition to the next generation of refrigerants, and that it be a phase-down of the chemicals, not a phase-out. We have been advocating that regulations include a cap in the first year at the level of demand in that year, and then a gradual 1 percent reduction thereafter for at least 10 years. In addition, any cap and trade plan should include provisions for allocations or credits to be provided to manufacturers of HFC-using products, importers, and producers of the chemicals. In

June 2009

addition, any regulation should include transition assistance for manufacturers and producers of the chemicals so that they can adequately move to new refrigerants and ensure that energy efficiency is not diminished. On the second point, governments should recognize and mitigate the increased cost of energy that will inevitably result from carbon dioxide control regulations. The use of heating products that rely on gas, oil, and electricity will be adversely affected if energy prices increase to levels that deter consumers from using these products. At the same time, there are on-going discussions on the international regulation of HFCs. The Bali Round of Climate Change negotiations are nominally including HFCs in the larger basket of gases. However, many are advocating that these gases be controlled under the Montreal Protocol. In fact, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) sent a letter to the Obama Administration requesting that the Montreal Protocol be extended to include HFCs. This would be an unusual step, but one that may be gaining acceptance. So far, all of the dialogue has been under the Bali Climate Change negotiations. If the U.S. and its international allies accept such an approach, an extensive discussion would begin that could result in the phase-down of these products. There are positive and negative elements of such an approach. Including HFCs in the Montreal Protocol would draw from the existing U.S., and international, technical experts that work with the Montreal Protocol, and their understanding of the beneficial aspects of HFCs. It is important to remember that it was the Montreal Protocol that resulted in the phase-out of HCFCs and the transition to HFCs. At the same time, there are risks to such an approach, as the current Protocol is designed as a means to phase-out ozone-depleting substances such as HCFCs. But HFCs are not ozone depleting, and a phase-out of HFCs is not possible given that there are not alternatives currently available for most applications. As these discussions move forward, AHRI will continue to partner with other organizations and companies to advocate on behalf of our industry on all of these issues. < www.applianceDESIGN.com

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June 2009 41

.EW"ENCHMARK

EBM PAPSTISREVOLUTIONIZINGTHETECHNOLOGYOFLARGEAXIALFANSWITHTHE(Y"LADE§ ANINNOVATIVEONE OF A KINDHYBRIDSTRUCTURE4HE(Y"LADE§ COMBINESTHESTABILITYOFHIGH STRENGTHALUMINUMALLOYWITHMOLDABLELIGHTWEIGHTFIBERGLASS REINFORCEDPLASTICS4HELIGHTWEIGHTSTRUCTUREANDFAN GEOMETRYCANBEADAPTEDFOROPTIMUMAERODYNAMICSLENDINGTOSIGNIFICANTADVANTAGESINEFFICIENCYANDNOISEBEHAVIOR)NADDITIONTOTHEHIGHENERGY EFFICIENCYANDSERVICELIFEOF%#TECHNOLOGYANDANEXEMPLARYENERGYBALANCEINMANUFACTURE TRANSPORTANDRECYCLING THE(Y"LADE§FANSACHIEVE UNMATCHEDOVERALLCOST EFFECTIVENESSWWWEBMPAPSTUS

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