LAS VEGAS – Majap manufacturers were out in force for last month’s Design & Construction Week, although not all of the activity was centered on the show floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Whirlpool, the world’s largest appliance manufacturer, and a major exhibitor at the competing International CES, displayed its brand portfolio in Show Village, located outside the main entrance of the LVCC. The display area featured three living spaces: a twostory traditional home equipped with Maytag kitchen and laundry products; a working mock-up of a modern home, where Whirlpool-branded kitchen and laundry appliances were showcased, including the new ventless 7.3-cubic-foot HybridCare Duet dryer with heat pump technology; and an “ultimate kitchen,” outfitted with the premium Jenn-Air line.
Bosch, the BSH Home Appliance brand, went even further afield, providing 11 products from its Benchmark kitchen line for the New American Home – the official showcase house of the International Builders’ Show (IBS), located in the Sky Terrace housing development in the foothills of nearby Henderson, Nev. Featured were its 24-inch custom panel dishwasher, 30-inch double wall oven with left sideopening doors, and 36-inch glass canopy chimney hood, among other items.
In contrast, Electrolux maintained a major presence on the LVCC show floor, where it heralded a full contingent of Electrolux- and Frigidaire-branded wares. Among the former was a double wall convection oven that utilizes dual fans to circulate air evenly with two variable speeds that work in tandem with three heating elements for consistent cooking, available now at a suggested $3,649 retail; and an updated Frigidaire Professional suite of standard-size kitchen majaps notable for its symmetrical lines, heavy-duty knobs and handles, easy-to-use straightforward control panels and appliances inspired by restaurant-style kitchens.
“This new suite meets an unmet need in the mass market,” said marketing senior VP John Weinstock. “Consumers want a professional look in their kitchens. Unlike most professional appliances, the new suite is compatible with standard-sized appliances so they fit into existing kitchens, eliminating the need to completely renovate the kitchen.”
Elsewhere at the convention center, Viking rolled out another expansive line show encompassing some 50 cooktops, ranges, wall ovens and bottommount fridges that were introduced throughout 2014. Highlights included its all-induction cooktops which provide maximum cooking space, “CoolLit Lights” illuminated cooking zones, and its trademarked MagneQuick induction elements that each provide up to 3,700 watts of power and the highest combined element rating in the industry, Viking said.
