We recently had the chance to attend the IFA technology show - and witness first hand the latest exciting developments in the world of appliances. We were duly impressed by a number of new products from some of our favourite brands!
What is IFA?
Held in Berlin on an annual basis, IFA is the biggest and boldest event for consumer electronics in Europe - with companies from across the globe descending on the German capital to showcase the latest and greatest examples of innovation. Here are a few choice examples:
Miele
Miele was one of the leaders of the pack at IFA, displaying a number of standout products including their auto-dosing G7000 model dishwasher. One of the important features here is what Miele are calling the “PowerDisk” - a large round tablet which is filled with their custom-created powder granulate detergent formula.
The dishwasher is able to determine how dirty your dishes are, then dispense exactly the right amount of detergent from the PowerDisk to treat it. According to Miele, each PowerDisk is able to last for approximately 20 cycles - and Wi-Fi connectivity will enable the dishwasher to send a message to its owner’s Smartphone, letting them know when to refill it.
Bosch
Bosch also distinguished themselves at IFA this year with some stellar products, including everything from brilliant auto cooking features - to smart fridges with built-in cameras able to identify up to 60 different kinds of fruit and veggies on sight, then offer you tips on the best way to store them.
A particular standout was their “FreshBox” - an innovative way to keep food fresh without the need for electricity.
Designed for impoverished rural African communities, the FreshBox uses basic physics to offer an effective cooling solution. Via the evaporation energy of water (using about two litres per day) in a textile layer between the inner container and the FreshBox’s outer surface, it’s able to reduce its interior temperature by up to 10 degrees.
Bosch also used IFA 2018 to present their take on a major new health trend - vacuum juicing.
Vacuum juicers work to preserve more of the the nutrition and flavour in blended ingredients than standard household blenders. By removing all the air in the blender jug you remove problems associated with oxygen - particularly the way microbes use it to become active, then multiply, thereby digesting your food before you do!
Bosch have released a particularly outstanding of example of vacuum juicing technology - their battery-powered “Twist” vacuum-sealing blenders promise smoother, better tasting smoothies.
Liebherr
Always a brand to watch, Liebherr demonstrated how they have taken modern food management up a notch with their “SmartDeviceBox” integrated into fridge-freezers and wine coolers. By using the SmartDevice app on your mobile phone, you’ll be able to tap into remarkable functionality including recipe suggestions, nutritional information, and the Liebherr FridgeCam - which lets you check out what’s going on in your fridge remotely and what you need to pick up from the supermarket.
Embracing the trend for customisation, Liebherr are also making it possible to design your own fridge. Just visit their “MyStyle” website - where you can use the configurator to select from a wealth of interior designs, exterior colours and patterns, while even having the ability to use individual letterings and personal photos to give your fridge a personal touch.
ASKO
ASKO were another brand to make a splash at IFA. Highlights included a beautiful new range of integrated fridges - plus a new selection of laundry products, the standout for the latter being their all-metal premium washer and dryer with the featured touch LCD screen.
We were also impressed by their premium induction cooktop with a built-in downdraft rangehood - this one coming with a removable top cover, so that you can rest cookware on it if need be.
AEG
Lastly (but not leastly), AEG hit IFA with a number of stellar products.
One very cool and unique device we saw was the AEG laundry “pen” - a handheld device which uses ultrasonic waves to break apart stains (literally erasing them!) before they go into the wash.
We were also very impressed by their three new SenseCook cooktops - which are able to automatically monitor and adjust your cooking temperatures. Two of the three focus on specific tasks: the SenseFry, which gives you perfect pan-frying results, and the SenseBoil which can detect when the water is boiling and will automatically adjust the temperatures to ensure a controlled simmer.
The third SenseCook cooktop is the SensePro - which is able to do everything the other two can do, but has the added benefit of a wireless thermometer.
AEG say this is the first wireless and battery-less sensor probe for an induction cooktop. The SenseCook Induction Cooktop will receive real-time temperature readings from the sensor probe, in doing so being able to automatically adjust the temperature of the heating surface.
And that’s just a few of the outstanding products we saw at IFA - we’ll be sure to keep you updated when they arrive at Winning Appliances!
