The world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, IFA 2018 took to Berlin this month and we’ve got the lowdown on some of the highlights in the kitchen sector…

LG’s Signature Kitchen Suite
Featuring a line-up of ultra-premium built-in kitchen appliances, LG showcased a combination of craftsmanship, technology and convenience. The compact nature of many kitchens in Europe has created a demand for built-in appliances that use existing space more creatively and efficiently. For its European launch, LG collaborated with Italian kitchen design experts Valcucine and Arclinea for the perfect combination of form and function, focussing on minimalism, the hidden and automation.
The full package includes an oven, induction cooktop, refrigerator, dishwasher, wine cellar and espresso machine. The oven boasts advanced steam and convection cooking with ProHeat™ to evenly distribute heat throughout the oven and Speed Clean™ for a fast and easy clean-up of splatters and baked-on food residue.
LG also unveiled for the first time, a collection of wine cellars to complement the European Signature Kitchen Suite, a new wall-mounted oven series with glass finish and a powerful dishwasher utilising high-temperature steam.
Smart Wi-Fi connectivity ensures that appliances are fully compatible with AI platforms such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and this allows users to get more done remotely, such as searching for recipes using apps, sending recipes directly to the oven; preheating the oven from afar, setting the right cooking mode and monitoring all operations in the kitchen.
www.lg.com

New Products From Haier
These included InstaSwitch, a new generation of connected upright freezers; F+, a fridge-freezer that keeps food fresher for longer; the luxury Iconic Series® refrigeration; a new line of premium iCook6 ovens and AirDynamic hoods along with Super Drum, an all-in-one solution for washing, drying and refreshing laundry, and Duo Dry® washer-dryer combos with an extra drum to save extra time.
www.haier.com

InstaSwitch is an upright single-door freezer that can also be used as a fridge according to the user’s needs. Using advanced technology, its large storage capacity can be divided into separately controlled compartments, ideal for stocking a large number of different foods in the best possible conditions.

F+ is a state-of-the-art five-door fridge-freezer that features an Antioxidant Zone to control oxygen levels to preserve flavour and lock in fruit and vegetable’s nutrients. There’s also a Fast Freezing Zone, Fresher Infrared Sensors and a Switch Zone drawer that can be used as a fridge or freezer depending on a user’s needs.

Haier also presented its Iconic Series® of fridge-freezers – the Iconic Black Series® and Iconic Glass Series® are the brand’s response to growing consumer demand for refrigerators equipped with advanced technologies that don’t compromise on design.

The new line of premium iCook6 ovens and AirDynamic hoods incorporates technology that optimises the cooking process such as steam assisted cooking and aerodynamic odour reduction.

For the laundry offering, Haier presented the Super Drum® and Duo Dry® for professional results at home.

Miele Introduces W1 Washing Machines
Miele’s new laundry range features an advanced SingleWash function for an economical turnaround of small loads as well as an intuitive M Touch interface and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to control the appliance from the convenience of their smartphone.
Consisting of five new models, Miele’s collection of W1 washing machines benefit from SingleWash, for small loads down to a single garment to be washed efficiently and economically. SingleWash gauges water, electricity consumption and the cycle time to the precise need of smaller laundry loads, so only the minimum amount of water required enters the drum to saturate the textiles, while heat remains low; as a result, around 60% less energy and half as much water is used.  In the minimum 40°C programme, SingleWash guarantees A-rated wash performance in only 39 minutes.
The W1 collection will be equipped with a sleek M Touch interface to select programmes quickly, simply by tapping or swiping the touchscreen display.  Additionally, consumers are able to connect these appliances to an existing WLAN network and make use of the Miele@mobile app, which includes a MobileControl function, allowing users to programme their appliance from the convenience of a tablet or smartphone.