Samsung Sets Q1 For Laundry Launch
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 10/10/2005
New York— Samsung Electronics will enter the U.S. laundry market this February with the launch of a premium laundry pair.
According to Jeffrey Armstrong, senior marketing manager of Samsung's home appliance group, the 3.8-cubic-foot front load washer will be offered initially in metallic silver and metallic champagne finishes, and models will be priced to range from $1,099 to $1,399 at retail.
A companion gas dryer will also be introduced.
The move extends Samsung's reach into the domestic majap market from it initial refrigeration, room air, cooking and dishwasher forays into the hotly contested home laundry sector. The vendor outlined its timetable for phased rollouts earlier this year when appliance president H.B. Lee told TWICE, “We have a plan, a road map and firm product launch calendar.” (See TWICE, May 23, p. 50.)
Separately, Samsung touted its prowess in majap technology at the company's recently held Global Road Show in New York (see p. 1). Amid the mammoth flat panel displays, Samsung showcased its 25-cubic-foot Quatro Freedom refrigerator, touted as the first-ever four-door convertible fridge.
The unit's point of differentiation is its four climate zones with adjustable temperature settings that allow for customized food storage. The core of the system lies in its exclusive time-divided multi-cycle system (TDM), which includes four separate evaporators to ensure optimal temperature and humidity for each section.
“Consumers can convert refrigerator space to freezer space to prepare for holiday entertaining,” said Jung Soo Shin, president of Samsung Electronics America's CE and majap division. “When the party is over, the drawers can be adjusted back to refrigerator settings to store leftovers.”
The refrigerator will ship in February with four color options and suggested retails starting at $2,999.
Samsung also displayed a speed cook oven, not yet available in the United States, which employs five different heating sources to cook meals up to four times faster than conventional ovens. Heat sources include dual convection, upper and lower grills and microwave for baking, browning, broiling, grilling, roasting and defrosting food.
