Cooking appliances will be in the spotlight at next week’s International Builders Show, with quick-cooking ovens getting much of the attention.
The Builders Show, to be held at the Dallas Convention Center January 14-17, has become a less-significant forum for appliance introductions in recent years than the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, this year slated for April 7-9 in Chicago. A number of multi-product appliance manufacturers — including Frigidaire Home Products and BSH Home Appliances — as well as most of the niche majap suppliers are skipping the Builders Show to unveil their latest products at K/BIS.
But several of the largest white-goods firms will be making significant introductions at the Builders Show, joined by some smaller suppliers that sell built-in and/or upscale appliances. In addition, national retail chains, such as Sears and Lowe’s, which sell appliances to builder channels, will show off their latest offerings.
Home Depot, another Builders Show regular, will also exhibit at the Dallas event and may show its recently expanded appliance offering.
Although a number of Builders Show exhibitors were not ready at press time to reveal specifics of their show plans, here is a sampling of the new appliances that will be on view next week:
GE Appliances will introduce the built-in wall version of its Advantium oven, using the Speedcook technology first introduced at this show a year ago. The first Advantium model, in an over-the-range configuration, hit retail stores in October. The company also will highlight its new GE Spectra gas smooth-top freestanding range.
Also new from GE Appliances at the Builders Show will be the GE Profile Performance contour refrigerator, a side-by-side with soft, gently rounded corners and smooth, high-gloss finish. The refrigerator’s interior also has been redesigned.
Maytag will spotlight its long-awaited Jenn-Air Accellis 5XP rapid-cook oven at the Builders Show. The oven is due in stores during the second quarter.
Although company officials are keeping other product plans for the show under wraps, one Maytag executive told TWICE the firm will “look ahead to 2010” by presenting new information on innovations and product trends for the next decade in its Dallas exhibit.
Whirlpool is expected to show the Whirlpool-brand version of its new Catalyst Cleaning Action washer, first introduced in Sears’ Kenmore line in August. The new washer technology is said to dramatically reduce the need to pretreat clothes by spraying concentrated detergent onto dry, dirty clothes as they spin before wash agitation begins.
Whirlpool’s KitchenAid division will be introducing a new ProStyle series of cooking appliances, featuring higher Btu ratings for gas burners and a stainless-steel commercial look. Initial offerings in the series include a 42-inch cooktop and 30-inch ranges.
In addition, KitchenAid will preview a new line of side-by-side refrigerators featuring ice-and-water dispensers in the doors. The units will go on sale early in the second quarter.
Sub-Zero will show off its new wine-cooler line, first introduced at last year’s K/BIS but not previously exhibited at the Builders Show.
Peerless-Premier will introduce a restyled gas range line, with more white-on-white models; the company is also moving its sealed-burner feature down the line to lower-priced units.
Marvel Industries and U-Line will both be showing their newest undercounter refrigerators, including stainless-steel models for kitchen or bar area.
For a complete wrap-up of all the new appliances introduced at the Builders Show, see the January 24 issue of TWICE.
