IFA Berlin 2008: Trends in home appliances at IFA 2008

Fascinating, efficient, innovative

For the first time the top brands from the consumer electronics and electrical domestic appliance industries are being presented together in a comprehensive display on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds at IFA 2008. With this development IFA provides a unique combination of markets and the ideal platform for international dealers, buyers, consumers, the industry and the media.

While consumer electronics products provide entertainment in the home and on the move, home appliances not only make life easier and better, but also help to promote lifestyle trends such as healthy cooking and wellness. The main features are ease of operation, intelligent technologies, outstanding design and the efficient use of energy, and these characteristics apply to all of the large and small home appliances from the leading brands.

Focus on health, comfort and lifestyle
The new home appliances making their first appearance at IFA reflect a worldwide trend for more comfort in the home and for healthier eating. The growing popularity of healthier nutrition using methods that retain more nutrient properties is reflected by the keep-fresh systems of modern refrigerators, and by steamers, either of the stand-alone type or built into ovens.

The intelligent control systems and sensors fitted to home appliances enable them to be used for an even wider range of applications. Mechanical controls have been replaced by electronics, offering greater precision and diversity and more reliability. The main emphasis is on simple and ergonomically designed controls, which can be incorporated in a network if required.

Modern washing machines, for example, offer a wide range of special programmes for removing persistent stains, dishwashers make efficient use of every last drop of water for gentle and perfect cleaning, while clothes driers are fitted with self-cleaning condensers, operate with heat pump technology, and can even make ironing easier.

New types of equipment such as induction hotplates, high speed ovens with steam and numerous combined functions and cooking programmes, or steamers are now available for home use. Home cooking is enjoying great popularity at present. Featured in many TV shows, with many well-known chefs, cooking at home is widely enjoyed in the company of friends and family. Careful preparation, retaining as many of the nutrients as possible, is one very good reason, the other being the flavour.

Refrigerators are evolving into styling exercises with many additional uses, and this is demonstrated by features such as built-in LCD televisions and ice cube makers, humidity regulators, air filters and zero-degree compartments for substantially extended storage.

Coffee-making continues to grow in popularity, with fully automated makers, pad and capsule machines with automatic identification of the type of pad, and stylish built-in units for the kitchen all reflecting the dynamic developments that are taking place in this sector.

Personal care and beauty appliances are another expanding area. Sales of numerous kinds of hair care and hair styling products are booming, along with the many body care appliances such as body groomers.

An energy-efficient and low-pollution future
For many years the manufacturers of home appliances have been striving to improve the energy efficiency of the equipment that they produce, and to conserve resources. As an example, between 1997 and 2007 the energy consumption level of washing machines fell by 30 per cent, that of dish washers by 40 per cent, and in the case of refrigerators, by as much as 45 per cent.

There are three good reasons for replacing outdated machines with new equipment: to protect the environment, substantially reduce energy costs and improve effectiveness.

There is now great public awareness about the efficient use of energy and the need to protect the environment. According to a poll conducted by the consumer research organization GfK, almost 60 per cent of the German population intend to purchase a new, low-energy appliance. However, supply still exceeds demand in this area. At present only three per cent of all refrigerators sold in Europe comply with the highest energy category, Class A++. According to an investigation conducted by the ZVEI 44 TWh of electrical energy is wasted each year in Europe through the use of older, inefficient home appliances. Of the home appliances still in use in European homes 180 million are over ten years old. It is up to the trade and the industry together to remain committed to educating the public, and IFA 2008 provides numerous relevant suggestions.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin GmbH

Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and Public Relations
Director

IFA

Nicole Jahn
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D -14055 Berlin
tel.: +49 30 3038-2217
fax: +49 30 3038-2071
jahn@messe-berlin.de

gfu

Roland M. Stehle
Press and Public Relations
tel.: +49 911 3777900
fax: +49 911 3777901
stehle@gfu.de

IFA 2008
29 August – 3 September

For additional details:
www.ifa-berlin.com
www.gfu.de
www.messe-berlin.com

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