GE Kicks Off K/BIS By Completing Monogram Kitchen Collection

Chicago— At this past weekend's Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS), held here at McCormick Place, GE unveiled two new bottom mount refrigerators under its premium Monogram monicker, and introduced a GE-branded dishwasher that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reportedly the first offered by a major domestic majap maker.

Available in 36-inch and 72-inch models, the professional bottom-freezer models complete the Monogram kitchen collection. Crafted of premium stainless steel, the units are both “elegant and ruggedly robust,” GE said, citing their smooth, chamfered edges and hefty handles. Inside, split shelves and adjustable door bins offer convenient access to contents in the fresh-food compartment, while other features include sealed adjustable-humidity produce pans, sealed deli pan and dairy compartment, and a built-in wine caddy.

In addition, a temperature management system with upfront electronic controls delivers cool, fresh air to every shelf and drawer, while a large, full-extension freezer drawer has an automatic icemaker (with GE SmartWater filtration) and storage bins that slide out independently of one another for easy loading and unloading.

The 72-inch model, with double the 20.6-cubic-foot capacity of the 36-inch model, includes two fresh-food compartments and two freezer compartments.

The estimated retail price points of the GE Monogram professional bottom-freezer refrigerator range from $13,999 to $14,499 for the 72-inch refrigerator (model ZICP720NS) and from $6,799 to $6,999 for the 36-inch refrigerator (model ZICP360NS). Availability is scheduled for August.

Elsewhere, GE continues to address the needs of people with disabilities by introducing a new dishwasher designed to meet standards for accessibility and ease of use set forth by the ADA.

According to GE, the vendor is the only American-branded leading manufacturer to offer an ADA-compliant dishwasher. Its size is suitable for the lower counters required by the ADA, but the dishwasher is large enough to hold 12 full place settings. The stainless-steel interior resists stains and corrosion, the company said, while racks are designed for easy front access. The upper rack has flip-down utility shelves for extra space and includes StemSafe, a feature designed to hold delicate wine glasses and water goblets securely in place. The deluxe lower rack has curved tines to accommodate stoneware, large plates or broiler pans.

The unit also features a six-level tower-less wash system, with three direct-feed wash arms targeting every spot on every dish, provides thorough cleaning without pre-rinsing. The QuietPower 3 sound package combines a quiet motor with extra insulation to dramatically reduce washing noise, GE said.

Available in stainless steel, white-on-white or black-on-black exteriors, the dishwashers will carry an estimated retail price of $699 to $729, depending on finish, when they hit retail floors in July.

K/BIS coverage will continue in the next issue of TWICE.