Whether you want to furnish a mountain kitchen with a rustic or modern style, there is no shortage of options regarding cooking appliances. To make your wishes come true, products with a minimal style can be choosen, which fit well into any environment, or retro-style appliances, which however have advanced technologies capable of guaranteeing advanced functions to support the user while cooking.

Induction technology with Dual Max Power zone
Thanks to its essential style, the induction hob integrates into any context, allowing to exploit the advantages of this cooking method. The FSH 905 ID WT BK model by Fulgor Milano (90 cm), for example, is in glossy black glass ceramic and has 5 induction areas. It is characterized by Wave Touch Slider controls and stands out for having the Dual Max Power area in the centre, i.e. two concentric areas of different sizes and powers: it therefore adapts automatically to pots of different sizes, making cooking easier. Furthermore, the product is equipped with Flexi technology (Automatic Bridge) thanks to which it is possible to combine the 4 single zones into 2 large vertical ones, allowing the use of large trays. In addition, the hob has 9 power levels + booster, preset temperatures (40°, 70°, 90°) and end of cooking timer. As regards safety, it is guaranteed by a system that includes the pan detection sensor, the touch control block, the residual heat indicator and the automatic switch-off with temperature sensor. Finally, the appliance is also available in matt black glass ceramic.

The charm of the past lives again
Bertazzoni’s Heritage Series is inspired by the products created by the company at the beginning of the twentieth century, but enriched with contemporary technologies. In particular, the 60 cm F6011HERVPTAC oven is available in matt black or ivory with chrome or copper details. It has a 76-litre cavity and 11 functions for cooking at medium-low temperatures, with static or ventilated cooking, or for browning with the infrared grill. The appliance is controlled via the knobs and the TFT display, thanks to which it is also possible to manage the thermometric probe and the Bertazzoni Assistant which supports the user during the cooking process. The Total Steam function, on the other hand, allows to steam cook and the water tank can be removed and filled without having to interrupt the cooking program. A further strong point of the oven is the cleaning by pyrolysis, which allows to easily clean the appliance using heat, without the need for detergents. Finally, the door has a quadruple athermal glass which guarantees safety and efficiency.

Combined steam oven
For those who love contemporary style, there are several options that also integrate well into the kitchen of a mountain home. Among these, the ICBCSO30TE/S/TH combined steam oven from Wolf E transitional series (distributed in Italy by Frigo2000) allows you to use the benefits of steam for cooking. The product is characterized by a modern stainless steel finish with a tubular handle and an electronic display. It is 45 cm high and has an internal volume of 51 liters and 13 cooking functions, including Gourmet automatic steam with temperature and humidity sensor, Automatic delicate cooking at low temperature, Food warmer (80°C) and Degree-controlled steam cooking from 30°C to 100°C. Furthermore, it also has the function to regenerate already cooked food and includes 14 automatic recipes, as well as the possibility of recording personalized cooking modes. Finally, the oven is in A+ energy class.

Professional equipment
The 150 cm P15FSNE3/BUG cooking block is part of Ilve ‘s Nostalgie collection, which interprets tradition in a modern key. The Burgundy Red color and the brass finishes of the handles, knobs and frames create a retro effect, while the latest generation technologies are able to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding users. The product, in this configuration, features a gas hob with 7 burners (including a double crown burner and fish rack), Coupe de Feu and Fry Top plate. Furthermore, it is equipped with two electric ovens: a main one and a secondary one. Ilve ‘s P15N cooking blocks are available in various configurations and with different colors and finishes. Furthermore, they can be completed with the ladle holder panel and the hood. In addition to the 150 cm blocks, the Nostalgie range includes smaller appliances, with one or two ovens and also with an induction hob.

Gaggenau, the luxury brand for professional grade home appliances, introduces its latest innovation: the Essential Induction cooktop, a cooktop where the LED ‘dot’, the worktop surface, and the performance knob are all that are visible. The model is designed to integrate exclusively with Dekton stone countertops. These ultra-compact, stain- and scratch-resistant surfaces are available in 60 finishes, designs and colours to complement any kitchen design.

Gaggenau’s distinctive front-mounted performance knobs assist users throughout the cooking process. The dot, a smart centre light within the cooking zone, shows the user where to place the cookware, warns of residual heat and vanishes when not in use, transforming the cooktop island into a versatile area suitable for preparation, serving, dining, working and socialising.

In addition, to ensure efficient cooking, Gaggenau has developed removable magnetic surface protectors for the customer’s existing cookware. These protectors not only mitigate any noise of the pan moving across the stone surface and safeguard the worktop but also ensure the conductivity of the induction modules, guaranteeing optimal cooking performance. The Essential Induction cooktop offers the full Gaggenau capabilities: keep warm and boost functions and an illuminated performance knob in stainless steel or black. Combining the Gaggenau ceiling extractors provides a harmonious kitchen environment, especially for open-plan designs.
The Essential Induction cooktop will be available to purchase from May 2024.

The latest generation hobs allow you to cook well without particular efforts, making it easier to have a quality diet. They are among the most advanced kitchen appliances, whether you consider induction or gas technology. They allow for accurate control of heat, the intensity of which is easily and precisely adjusted. Induction hobs also offer the possibility of joining contiguous areas for cooking with large pans. In addition, suction hobs, which integrate induction and suction cooking, are increasingly present in the brand catalogs.

“Invisible” technology and Carbon.Zeo filters
Brera by Falmec is characterized by its minimal design: inside, the appliance hides a technology that integrates the hood into the induction hob, allowing to exploit the advantages of this cooking method, in terms of speed and heat management, and the effectiveness of aspiration. All with attention also to silence to ensure a high level of comfort when using the product. The cooking area and the extraction area are joined by a monochromatic glass, distinguished only by a thin slot that defines the two areas. When the appliance is in operation, the rear part opens automatically to extract the cooking fumes. In addition, the filter version includes the Carbon.Zeo filters, which combine two materials of natural origin (carbon and zeolite) to eliminate odors and absorb the vapors humidity.

Nine power levels
In the Aria+ suction hob by Fulgor Milano (one of the latest innovations of the brand), it is possible to easily select the most suitable power among the 9 levels available thanks to the multifunction touch control. You can also use the Booster function to make the most of the power in a particular area for a limited time. The hob has 4 inductors and allows to create 2 Bridge zones for cooking with large pans. The area dedicated to extraction is characterized by the flap system, which opens when the hood comes into operation. The appliance is equipped with anti-grease and anti-odor ceramic filters: special indicators alert when maintenance of the grease filters (dishwasher safe) and the regeneration of the ceramic filters is necessary. Other features of the product are the A++ class, the patented waterproof motor and the delayed self-shutdown of the hood which is adjustable.

Flame spreaders with non-stick nanotechnological treatment
Designed by EMO Design, the new HCPMT95D gas hob by Ilve expands the Panoramagic range. It is a 90 cm model with 5 burners, including a 5kW Dual burner. The appliance stands out for its brass flame spreader with non-stick nanotechnological treatment. In addition, the cast iron grids (with a design that recalls the Ilve brand hexagon) and the large Panoramagic knobs are iconic elements of the series that contribute to making it recognizable.

Three in one LHOV is the Elica's novelty that combines three appliances in a single solution (hob, hood and oven). This innovation, conceived and designed by Fabrizio Crisà, Chief Design Officer of the company, gives life to a new category of household appliances, designed for kitchens where every centimeter is exploited with intelligence. LHOV consists of a single module that enhances the linearity of the kitchen: no protrusions and no interruptions. In addition, the extraction system is integrated and the oven, located under the hob, is at a height that frees up space under it for an additional storage compartment. The suction system removes vapors and odors coming not only from the hob, but also from the oven. The latter, then, has a greater width than the standard models. Moreover, the interaction with LHOV can take place through the smart touch display or with voice control. The product recalls in its name the three elements that make up the system (Hob, Oven, Ventilation), to which the "L" adds the assonance with the English word "love".

Bosch Appliances created an innovative solution to make the induction cooktop more scratches resistant. This result has been obtained thanks to a special coating developed by the company’s partner Schott: GlassProtec, a solution that is especially resistant to unsightly scratches caused by sand or sponges. In many households, abrasive sponges are used to remove dried-on food from the cooktop. They generally do the job but can also leave behind unsightly traces. Ugly scratches can also be caused by fine grains of sand, which are all around us and can impact the cooktop when they come into contact with cleaning utensils or when pots and pans are shifted across the surface. In addition, all types of metal objects pose a threat to the flawless surface of every glass-ceramic cooktop. According to Bosch, GlassProtect can prevent most of the scratches. The special coating developed by the glass manufacturer Schott is approximately 95 percent more resistant to scratches caused by sand and about 70 percent more resistant to scratches caused by abrasive sponges than conventional glass-ceramic cooktops with no special coating.
The appliance with the GlassProtect surface is being presented as part of the elegant accent line carbon black product family in two versions: one model with the ComfortProfile and one flush-mounted model. Both models are 80 centimetres wide and have a multi-purpose FlexInduction zone and three standard cooking zones. DirectSelect Premium operation epitomizes modern operating standards. And with the Home Connect app, the extractor hood can be conveniently controlled via the cooktop. In addition, the PerfectFry frying sensor ensures healthy frying thanks to its reliable temperature control that preserves vitamins and is gentle on cookware.

With Stekio and Fireluft, 3P Engineering introduces important news in the world of gas hobs: all the powers in the same burner, native digital control and exclusive design (thanks to the halving of the grids height) are the main plusses of these innovative technologies.

Innovation and design at the highest levels are the objectives that 3P Cooking (strategic project of 3P Engineering in the gas cooking sector) has set itself to achieve with Fireluft and Stekio technologies. The results obtained by the dedicated and highly specialized team of the company increase the possibilities that a gas hob can offer, renewing a sector that in recent years has found itself having to deal with the growing success of induction models. The innovation of the new technologies has been recognized since the beginning by the Marche Region (where 3P Engineering is based), which financed the Efesto project (Extra-Flux stoichiometric gas burner cooktop ), from which the Fireluft technology was born and from which the development of Stekio is derived. The technical data show the level of innovations achieved, starting with the fact that every single burner, both Fireluft and Stekio, is able to supply all the fire powers, from minimum to maximum. The advantage is remarkable because the user can use the same burner to make coffee or to cook pasta. «The range of powers that so far corresponded to four burners is now found in a single stove – explain Michele Marcantoni and Rosalino Usci, managing directors of 3P Engineering -. When cooking food, it is no longer necessary to change burner because the same burner can be used from the larger pans up to the coffee maker». Another important point to underline is the central minimum flame that reaches 400 W, «a record – Marcantoni and Usci declare – that did not exist until today in the gas hob». In practice, the Fireluft and Stekio burners create a “bed” of vertical flames without gaps in the center that allows cooking better and faster, avoiding heat loss. Performance are optimized: efficiency increases by 10%, with a 20% reduction in cooking time, and an energy saving of 10%. Furthermore, there is a 20% gas saving and a 10% decrease in emissions and thermal radiation during cooking. «With these performances – Usci and Marcantoni commented – we are able to reduce what today appear to be the limits of gas compared to induction».

Examining the distinctive features of each technology, Stekio is a pre-mix atmospheric burner designed primarily for those who love luxury kitchens and, at the same time, want hi-tech performance. A single burner of this type brings together the powers corresponding to the rapid, semi-rapid and auxiliary burners; moreover, aesthetics was developed in collaboration with professors of the Polytecnic University of Milan. With the Stekio technology, it is possible to realize hobs with very thin grids (height ≤ 20 mm, 50% less than a traditional grid), obtaining an elegant and sophisticated design. The distance between the pot and the burner is reduced by 33% and this involves not only aesthetic advantages but also greater speed in cooking and lower energy consumption. «With Stekio the goal was to make it possible that technological innovations will translate into aesthetic beauty – Marcantoni and Usci explain -. To achieve this goal, we have started a collaboration with the Polytecnic of Milan, a university that is in the world top ten of academic industrial design. We realized that the technical targets obtained were not enough, we also wanted to emphasize the impact on the aesthetics of the product, obtainable with this new technology. We looked for an interlocutor able to interpret these innovations, creating a design capable of communicating and enhancing them, and worked in close synergy, “freeing” the aesthetics of gas hobs from the constraints imposed by some construction problems, such as size and height of the grids, traditionally massive and far from the flame zone for technical reasons.

With Stekio we have gone beyond these limits: the result is evident, so much so that a hob with this technology (already selected by the European Commission in the COSME program with the M- Stekio/Burnerway project and dedicated to campers, caravans and yachts) has been chosen for the Triennale in Milan.»
As far as Fireluft is concerned, 3P Engineering has developed a technology characterized by pressurized pre-mix burners. In this case, the distinctive feature is the extremely high power of the single fire (it exceeds 4 kW), managing to have in one only stove the equivalent of four burners (special, rapid, semi-rapid, auxiliary). This type of technical performance makes Fireluft a solution also suitable for vprofessional kitchens, where maximum firepower is sought as well as the top of technological innovation, without neglecting design. Furthermore, Fireluft also offers benefits in terms of Indoor Air Quality. «This technology – Usci and Marcantoni explain – is characterized by the presence of air provision that is used for combustion and also to increase the efficiency of fume collection by the hood combined with the hob.» Moreover, in terms of design, the new technology has a decisive impact on aesthetics: as with Stekio, even for Fireluft it is possible to halve the height of the grids compared to the standard, giving the appliance great refinement as well as improving performance (shorter cooking time and energy saving). In addition, Fireluft burners can be made with a circular or hexagonal design to adapt to any style requirement.
The innovations developed by 3P Engineering are patented both in terms of design and technology: with regard to the latter, eight industrial invention patents have been registered. «The technical skills of 3P Engineering in the gas sector – the two managing directors affirm – are the result of the experience accumulated over the years thanks to the collaboration with national and international customers, in particular as regards the gas combustion in domestic heating. This is the sector that first has used the pre-mix burners: to exploit the advantages of this combustion technology in home cooking is the challenge to bring a new and more efficient way of cooking into the gas cooking market.»

The plusses of digital also for gas
Stekio and Fireluft are characterized by digital native control in touch screen. «By introducing digital technologies into our solutions, we give gas many of the features that attract people about induction – Marcantoni and Usci underline -. This means an evolutionary step of domestic cooking technology , succeeding in integrating the benefits of induction cooking with the advantages of gas hobs.» And that’s not all. Fireluft and Stekio are also IoT Ready and therefore can interact with other systems from the perspective of the Internet of Things and smart home, as well as being manageable through a smartphone. Connectivity is the tool to enable future services and functions. «We are not far – the two managing directors explain – from the possibility of switching off the gas hob remotely. If I forgot the home appliance turned on and I only realized it when I am in my car, technically with Fireluft and Stekio it will be possible to turn off the stove at a distance.»
Safety is a topic that 3P Engineering has considered with particular attention, since both Stekio and Fireluft have equipped with a triple security level called SIL 3 (Safety Integrated Level), an international record. In detail, the two technologies provide a general safety valve that is integrated into the hob, and a safety valve for each burner. Moreover, since the burner consists of individual flame zones, these are also served by an interception device. Finally, another element that guarantees safety and brings Stekio and Fireluft closer to the functionality of induction hobs, is the ability to set the maximum cooking time and the related automatic shutdown. «Since the operation of the single burner is controlled by electronics – Marcantoni and Usci adds – power and time are easily manageable and programmable.»

Benefits for B2B
The Stekio and Fireluft technologies have been conceived to offer manufacturers of hobs a series of advantages in terms of performance, possibility of customization and reduction of management and logistics costs thanks to a single code for all burners. «With the new 3P Cooking burners – Marcantoni and Usci affirm – it is possible to realize a gas hob with superior yield at power parity, which translates into a market plus. Essentially, with the same number of burners, greater power and better performance are obtained in the hob.» Furthermore, having a single product code for all burners simplifies and speeds order and warehouse management, with the ability to automate assembly and make the production process more efficient. Finally, a non-negligible aspect is the maximum freedom of customization, choosing the number and position of the individual burners since the burners are all perfectly identical.

The most advanced household appliances do not only perform their main function in the best way, but widen their action, becoming multifunction products to be more and more efficient and offer a greater user experience

by Elena Corti

The world of household appliances is facing big changes: appliances, in fact, do not perform only a single function, but tend to gather different functionalities in a single product, in order to offer greater comfort and performance to consumers. Considering the various types of appliances, those dedicated to the kitchen environment are among the most evident examples of multi-functionality.

Think of the extractor hob, which combines the cooking functions with the extraction of fumes and vapors. This product generally presents all the features of induction models (for example the Bridge and Boost functions, pause and timer, touch control commands, precise adjustment of power levels, residual heat indicator, pan recognition, the control lock for child safety, ease of cleaning), to which the typical functions of a hood are added, with different suction speeds, automatic delayed switch-off function, electronic programming, grease and anti-odor filters , energy efficiency. There are models with the aspirator positioned in the center of the top (with a circular or rectangular grid) or versions in which the extraction takes place through lateral slits or even products characterized by the integrated hood that emerges from the hob when needed and then disappears when it must not be used. These types of products have allowed a greater freedom in the design of the kitchen, reducing the overall dimensions of the hood to a minimum. From a physical-technological point of view, the principle at the basis of the suction hob consists in intercepting vapors and fumes directly from below.

These, in fact, rise with a maximum speed of 1 m/s: the suction system intervenes by extracting them downwards with a greater speed, creating a transversal flow. The cooking vapors are captured and the grease particles and odors are not dispersed in the environment and are not deposited on the surfaces of the furniture or fabrics.
A further aspect that characterizes the versatility of this type of hobs is the possibility to choose between the suction or filtering version. In the first case, the fumes are conveyed outside the house through a pipe, while in the second case the air, filtered and cleaned from grease and odors, is returned to the kitchen. There are also models that combine the suction or filtering system with the cold plasma technology that cleans and purifies, further improving the quality of the kitchen environment.

Moreover, always with a view to multi-functionality, systems are available on the market combining – in a single solution – induction hob with aspirator and teppanyaki plate. Among the latest innovations, there is also the extractor hob that integrates a scale to weigh foods directly into the pot and at any temperature level, making the preparation of a recipe easier and more immediate. The scale can also be used when the hob is off: among the different options, this appliance has the “tare” function (to weigh the ingredients one by one resetting when a new one is added) and the function to keep the selected weigh.
Within the hobs, another innovation that allows the user to have more functions available are segmented models, which combine for example induction, gas and electric plate. In this way a 3 in 1 product is obtained, allowing the three technologies to be used in the space of a normal hob, exploiting all the possibilities offered by the different cooking systems. Mixed hobs “move” in a similar direction, combining gas burners and induction zones and are available in different variants to adapt to different space requirements. All these solutions are designed to allow the user take advantages from any different cooking modes: in this way water can be boiled in a few minutes using induction without renouncing powerful burners for other types of preparations.

Finally, another trend that runs parallel to the multi-functionality is managing the space in an innovative way to harmonize the various functions in the kitchen. For example, there are products that combine the cooking function and the washing area in a single solution to make the most of the corner space. These are proposals designed on the basis of a detailed study of the movements, gestures and dynamics involved in daily actions: the result is a multi-functional work area designed around the ergonomics of movements. Moreover, among the most original ideas in the kitchen, there is also that of making the hob no longer an immovable object but an instrument that can be placed on the work area when needed and then raised or even hung on the wall when no longer needed: when the appliance is raised, the hob space becomes a work surface.

 

Oven: the multifunction appliance for excellence

Surely the oven is one of the devices that have been able to combine a greater variety of functions, making available an ever increasing number of automatic programs and cooking modes. The increasing use of electronics allows to offer consumers advanced technologies to obtain excellent results thanks to intuitive and user-friendly systems: displays and electronic controls in fact guide the user who can rely on automatic processes.

The multi-functions ovens are designed to allow the consumer to cook easily without the need to manually set temperatures and cooking modes thus avoiding making mistakes: from bread to pizza, from meat to recipes that require slow cooking, up to keeping warm, these devices also allow less experienced users trying prepare also elaborate recipes. Desserts remain soft, bread perfectly rises and forms a golden crust, meat cooks in the best way while remaining tender. These results are also possible thanks to the fact that the more advanced models are equipped with accessories that were previously used only in the professional field, such as the meat probe or the refractory stone for ovens equipped with the Pizza function that are able to reach a temperature of over 300 degrees, creating a cooking similar to that of a wood oven.
Moreover, there are devices in which a series of recipes are already stored or models that allow you to connect to the Internet and view video recipes on the door of the product that becomes a screen.  In addition, the connected ovens enable new functions: they can be managed remotely through a smartphone, with which for example you can activate the pre-heating so that the user, returning home, find the appliance already warm.

Among the latest trends in the field of ovens, there is certainly steam cooking combined with traditional one. This type of product not only makes it possible to choose between different programs where the use of steam is regulated (for example for cooking sous vide), but also offers the possibility of combining steam and hot air for a tasty but at the same time healthy cuisine. Steam can be very useful in the kitchen: just to mention a few, it helps to obtain an excellent leavening of the dough, preserves the nutritional properties of the vegetables and makes the meat soft and succulent. The range of opportunities made available consumers to experiment with different types of cooking is further extended.
Among other products dedicated to the kitchen, it is also worth mentioning the microwave ovens which offers more and more features and types of cooking that can also be combined. Today microwave ovens not only heat and defrost, but can also be used for cooking: the most advanced models allow, in addition to cooking with microwaves, even ventilated and steam cooking.
Finally, even among freestanding cookers there are versions designed to allow a multifunctional use of the product: for example there are models equipped with an oven that can work both with electricity and gas, thus allowing the best of both technologies to be exploited, choosing the one or the other depending on what you want to cook.

Cold and not only

If the world of cooking has made multi-functionality one of its strengths, even the Cooling segment has been able to offer innovations in this direction, going beyond the already innovative technologies for storing food with differentiated areas and compartments. There are for example refrigerators that integrate the wine cellar, allowing you to preserve the quality of wines without having to provide an extra space in the kitchen. Refrigerators are also be launched on the market equipped with the accessory to make ice cream and products coated with a special slate-effect paint that turns the outside of the fridge into a blackboard on which to write. Further proposals are represented by devices that allow to choose any time which compartments to dedicate to cooling and which to freezing: the refrigerator becomes a very flexible multi-zone device, able to respond to the changing needs of the user. Finally, some refrigerators are equipped with innovative technologies and functions that make them not only a tool to preserve but also a hub for the Internet of Things.

This type of device is connected and allows to look inside the refrigerator even when you are away from home, using a smartphone and internal cameras. Moreover, through a large screen integrated into the product, you can create the shopping list and even order it on-line, find recipes, share photos and messages, watch TV programs and listen to music.
Remaining in the field of Cooling, a tool that stands out for its multi-functionality is the blast chiller. This product, created for the professional channel, is proposed on the domestic market as a device capable of performing multiple functions both in terms of cooling and cooking. The presence of numerous programs allows the blast chiller to be versatile and to be used to meet different needs. In terms of cooling, this product can, for example, quickly reduce the temperature, freeze, sanitize fish and cool the bottles. As for the heat, it can leaven, cook at low temperature, regenerate and thaw. It is a tool designed to be simple and intuitive so that the user can easily manage the multiple functions.

Purifying, illuminating , furnishing

Hood is a household appliance that in recent years has undergone a strong evolution, which has led it to improve its performance and to increase its functions. As already mentioned for the extractor hobs, it does not limit itself to extract fumes and odors but can also filter and purify the air. If domestic environments become unhealthy, the latest generation hoods are equipped with sensors that detect pollutants and are able to activate automatically to restore air quality. For the user, this translates into a healthier environment and greater comfort. Furthermore, new features have been made possible by the digital technologies: for example, connected hoods can be managed by the smartphone through an app and there are also models capable of communicating with the hob.

Thanks to the controls integrated in the top, in fact, hood operates automatically while the user cooks in order to always guarantee a healthy and pleasant environment. But not only. Among the different functions that the hood is able to carry out, there is also that of a chandelier, which ensures effective lighting and for some versions is also adjustable in intensity.  Light and suction, despite being two distinct elements, find harmony within a single product: in particular, there are models with a very refined design in which a perfect balance is created between technological innovation, visual comfort and attention to aesthetics.

Additional factors that make the hood a multi-functional product are inherent in the product structure itself. Think of the models that also become shelves (for example using eco-sustainable materials such as wood) and are equipped with electrical outlets, USB ports, supports for the tablet and areas set up for placing kitchen utensils. Among the most original solutions, there is the hood that can accommodate even a small vegetable garden with aromatic plants.
Finally, more and more frequently hood combines elements that make it a piece of furniture to functions related to the technological aspects.  The concept of multi-functionality goes beyond all the hi-tech functions of the appliance and extends to a range of finishes and styles that expand the use of the product, which can be displayed with pleasure because it becomes an object simultaneously functional and aesthetically pleasing.
In the area of ​​products dedicated to air treatment, not only kitchen hoods can be considered as multifunction products. Also purifiers have evolved, with solutions that are at the same time instruments able to guarantee the quality of the air and lamps to be placed in the environment, equipped with adjustable LED lights. Models made in various colors are available on the market (to better adapt to the context in which they are inserted) and with indicators that visually signal the state of the air and the progressive improvement of environmental conditions.

 

A 360 ° look at the world of household appliances Although in some segments the trend towards multi-functionality is particularly marked, it actually affects the whole world of the home appliance. Small appliances, such as food processors and cooking machines, are more and more all -in-one devices thanks to the large number of accessories and automatic programs available. A similar concept is also found in products for male beauty, also equipped with various accessories and functions to take care of beard and hair using a single appliance, while in the vacuum cleaners segment we find versatile electric brooms that allow users to pass easily from the broom mode to the hand held vacuum cleaner mode, or brooms that combine steam and cyclonic technology, or even robots that have wet and dry cloths with which they are able to perform both dry and wet cleaning. Another multi-function small domestic appliance is coffee machine, able of preparing numerous drinks in addition to the classic espresso. If we move then on to air-conditioning, there are now many products that cool and heat, while if we think of washing, the multi-functionality of a washing machine is increased not only by the growing number of programs but also by the new possibilities offered by the Internet connection: in particular, among the latest trends there are washing machines that can communicate with dryers or washing machines able to interact responding to voice commands. Finally, even Brown Goods are strongly distinguished by the tendency to multi-functionality: just think of smart TVs and smartphones.

Flex, Pro and Sense are three new kitchens series that Electrolux is launching in the European markets. These names derive from the main feature of the model: flexibility,  precision and assisted cooking. Combining technology with human-centric Scandinavian design, the company has developed a line of Electrolux-branded products comprising a truly intuitive kitchen range, designed to work in harmony with the cook. The Sense series includes ovens enriched with connected features which are compatible with Electrolux European smart kitchen partners, notably Google for voice assistance and the Innit recipe app.
«We’re extremely proud of the new Electrolux kitchen range, which truly puts the needs of the consumer first to offer outstanding experiences around great tasting food. For the past 100 years, Electrolux has improved the everyday life of people in their homes through innovation and superior design. We believe this range is a game-changer – said Anna Ohlsson-Leijon, Head of Electrolux business area Europe. The range will be launched starting in April. Several of the smart, connected appliances will also be shown at the Future Kitchen event, taking place at the Electrolux headquarters in Stockholm on March 21. Electrolux is inviting partners – from startups to retailers and tech giants – to discuss how to create value through the food and kitchen ecosystem.
Innovation is combined with refined aesthetic and attention to detail and ergonomics, making the products intuitive to understand and use.

The new Electrolux series include: hobs, ovens, fridges, freezers, dishwashers and hoods.  Among these, the multi-functional 900 SteamPro oven, with its Steamify feature, automatically combines the right amount of steam and traditional heat for best-in-class baking, roasting and steaming results. The oven is connected and works with the Innit recipe app and can be voice controlled through Google Home for even more intuitive cooking assistance.The Electrolux 900 CookView® oven, instead, has an integrated camera that together with the ‘My Electrolux’ app allows consumers to keep an eye on their food on a mobile device, even while not in the kitchen. The Electrolux 900 SensePro® hob, coming with the world’s first wireless and battery-less food probe, enables perfect results by letting the user simply tell the hob what’s cooking and how they’d like it done.

The Electrolux 700 Hob2Hood® hood, then, wirelessly synchronizes with most Electrolux hobs and is automatically activated when the hob is turned on, adapting the speed of the kitchen fan to the hob’s power settings. Finally, the 2019 iF Design award-winning Electrolux 900 ComfortLift® dishwasher with QuickSelect, features the new intuitive touch slider that only requires one choice to be made, cycle time, and guides the user to the most eco-friendly choice.

Sintesi, the Falmec hob with integrated suction system, won the Winner label in the Excellent Product Design category of the 2019 German Design Award.
The award, born from an initiative of the German Design Council – an organization founded in 1953 and strongly desired by the German Federal Parliament – recognizes the excellence of all those products designed according to three fundamental criteria: quality, originality and functionality.
Sintesi represents the union between suction and induction hob, all in one unit, with flaps that open electronically during operation and then close again, aligning with the hob once the use is finished, ensuring perfect integration into the worktop. The geometry of the black ceramic glass top framed by an AISI 304 steel profile, the suction performance, the high efficiency of the brushless motor (which allows the product to reach the A++ energy class), and the maximum silence, make Synthesis a very good solution for the kitchens of contemporary living.
Finally, Sintesi uses Carbon.Zeo, the exclusive filter that combines coal and zeolite to retain odors and reduce the humidity generated by cooking vapors with extreme effectiveness.

Material combinations to communicate the brand identity, thin light lines to enhance or distinguish the surfaces, aesthetic-functional elements able to simplify the use of the product. In the kitchen, as well as in the other rooms of the house, appliances rely on design, on its ability of modulating even smaller components to stand out on the global market.

by Eliviro Di Meo

Kitchen appliances are not all the same. Beyond the technologies, now widespread, that have become heritage of most companies, it is design to provide the added value, able to differentiate the product from the solutions proposed by the main competitors. Not only the project as a compositional whole, but also the attention to detail plays a fundamental role for the recognition of the brand and for its positioning on the international markets. An ergonomic handle, equipped with touch controls, or a smart knob marked by the ring nut containing the LEDs are elements that give character and functionality, contributing to the formal image of the product.
Kitchen hoods as pieces of furniture

Any detail becomes a function in the new Falmec hood, designed by Francesco Lucchese to furnish the kitchen in a unique and personal way. Spazio is a system that amplifies the characteristics of the traditional suspended appliance. Its versatility is a strength achieved by increasing the ability to hold tools and objects, distributed on different levels. If the aromatic plants – a small home garden supplied by the company – have a particular aesthetic value, offering a real interaction with the ingredients necessary for good food, the activities on the work surface are facilitated by a steel line where hanging accessories and a wide LED surface.

Hooks, shelves, electrical outlets and USB ports capable of charging electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones or MP3 players, are not or only the signs and the characterizing features, but also the choice of a careful engineering research aimed to increase the usability of the product both vertically and horizontally.

The beauty of Hive – the iconic suspended hood designed by Giacomo Fava, designer and creative director of Sirius – is the result of the elegant ceramic dome, entirely handmade by master craftsmen of the Umbrian town Deruta, and of a sheet of steel obtained through numerical control machinery, with a luminous circle as frame. «The dome – explains the architect Fava – represents the heart of creativity, the logos instead is entrusted to the design of the filter, whose particular pattern of the perforation wishes to express the cathartic function of the product in its mission to purify the air. This important functionality is conceptually enhanced by a crown of LEDs able to illuminate the surrounding environment». Unlike the appliances of the same type, often confused as chandeliers, the originality of Hive lies precisely in the peculiarity of the filter, which reinforces «the formal will to highlight the main function of the object». The drawing, besides being replicated in other hoods, has also been used for graphic projects, thus becoming from simple detail to main element for the brand communication.

It is minimalist design, intended as a search for the essence of the project itself, to provide the paradigm for understanding the philosophy that is often the basis of an industrial product. In the case of the recent wall-mounted hood conceived by Best, the culture of essentiality is inspired by a simple and linear composition, similar to a contemporary painting where the geometry of the figures emerges from the homogeneity of the background. Frame, with its suggestive black painted finish and with the pewter effect frame – refined compositional detail -, opens a window on the hob, sucking, silently (48-62 dB) and in a short time, fumes and smells.

The shape is not only a container and does not represent the ephemeral run of the designer towards the beauty of the created object. It is communication, in the sense that it communicates, through its chromatic pallet and the material component – both declined in various details – the value that the project conceals. An example? The collection of Still Line hoods by Faber, composed of three different models (ceiling, vertical and inverted T), designed by Angeletti Ruzza Design, characterized by a single fil rouge: the elegant black glass panel combined with a strong steel body. The juxtaposition of the surfaces is underlined by a thin LED light with a reduced power consumption. A solution chosen by Faber to light the hob, paying great attention to the environment. The two designers, Silvana Angeletti and Daniele Ruzza, use the sturdy metallic structure to highlight, in a sort of symbolic recall, the solidity of the technology and the innovative content of this appliance. Still Line also reflects the continuous stylistsic research of the company, represented by definite and minimal lines, which hide avant-garde solutions, expressing the reliability and safety of the products. To complete the whole, the squarcle commands. Modern and functional, they add a touch of class to the collection.
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The material versatility and the wide chromatic choice are the identity character of Pura: one of the top products of Fabita range, born from the pencil of Adriano Design and already winner of the 2015 IF Product Design Award. The simplicity of the lines draws a cube with harmonious fittings, concealing performance of very high level and evoking the right mix of style and modernity, through the combination of materials and shapes. The modular construction system, composed of nodes, rods and panels, allow this hood to be a custom object, tailored made, in order to fit to any environment. The glass, aesthetic and colorful – but it is also possible to choose wood or porcelain stoneware finishes -, is available in several variants: from classic black and white to stronger colors, such as red and orange, up to surprising nuance as yellow or lime green. The aluminum profile is combined with glass, also proposed in different colors. The final result is a distinctive product, where the attention to detail and the reliability of the brand are masterfully combined.

Clean lines for the new generation of ovens

NEXT 60 Smalvic flagship product, is the elegant oven with XXL internal cavity of 74 liters, smoked tempered glass door, activated by touch controls positioned directly on the ergonomic handle. The original design of the latter – a stylized “S” that reminds the “S” of the brand -, made of satin steel, in fact, contains the capacitive intelligence that allows the activation of the appliance, touching intuitive icons that regulate cooking functions and times. The display on the top allows the perfect visualization of operations, in an oven unique on the market for features and research of innovation. NEXT, designed by brogliatotraverso design studio – the atelier headed by the designers from Vicenza Alberto Brogliato and Federico Traverso – was awarded with the 2017 Good Design Award: award annually assigned by the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with The European Center for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. Besides the functionality, this built-in appliance stands out precisely for its rigorous and essential project. A distillate of pure elegance, perfectly able to transmit the values of Made in Italy, an excellent expression of style and technology.
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(credits B-movie production)

The essentiality of the sign and the refined compositional balance can also be found in the pizza oven (FCLPO 6215 P TM BK) realized by Fulgor Milano. Designed by the Belgian architect Alfred Hendricx, the model is part of the new Cluster Concept series, where the hug of the obsidian black glass with steel suggests the preciousness of a jewel, which emerges from the fusion of volcanic power and the strength of metal. The last born model in the Fulgor house features many pluses. To the structural changes from a technological point of view, such as the increasing cooking functions, become 15, including the system for cooking 2 pizzas simultaneously at 350° C in only 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the restyling of some external components has been added. New, in fact, is the concept of steel handle. Smaller compared to the previous versions, it aligns at the command dashboard, as they want the latest trends. The two lateral slots invite the eye to focus on the center; towards the display – true operative hub of the oven – where the functions are activated, recalled by iconic symbols.

The new era of the freestanding kitchens

More than an industrial object, the kitchen designed by Officine Gullo is a mix of refined details that determine, in some respects, the uniqueness of the product: synthesis of retro taste and contemporary spirit. It is the meeting between the high craftsmanship, strictly Made in Florence, and the most modern technology that provides tailor-made solutions, equipped with the most sophisticated cooking systems. Everything is completely customizable: the composition of the appliances, the shapes, colors and finishes. This is how exclusive furnishing elements are created, conceived to interpret the wishes and habits of buyers. Every detail, even the height of the hobs, is calibrated according to the customer requirements. Starting from the choice of materials: the noblest, such as thick stainless steel, burnished copper, cast iron and forged metal, to arrive then to the advanced technology that characterizes, however, the wide range of professional cooking accessories. The creations of Officine Gullo are comparable to the charm and the performance of a sporty car: a prestigious body that supports an engine with unique performance.

Different in style and design approach, but certainly not in quality, is Panoramagic, the latest range cookers by Ilve. It is the arrival of a wide restructuring program of the company that, for about a year, has review its strategy to give greater emphasis to its historicity in the world of kitchens. Designed by Emo Design – the studio founded by Lukasz Bertoli and Carlo Ciciliot – the project originates from a successful Ilve product of the Seventies: the Panoramagic monoblock, whose name was also adopted. To optimally adapt the facing of the models to contemporary declinations, classic and country, it was necessary to define the architecture of the product with the chameleonic characteristics. This was made possible by directing the design approach not so much on the coating elements as on the need to characterize the general architecture. Dressed in a way or another, this had to be not only recognizable, but also able to marry with the different dresses proposed by the brand. Panoramagic, winner of the Good Design Award, has the front with inclined shape to offer greater functionality. To make the brand even more distinguishable, aesthetic-functional details have been introduced, incorporating the distinctive element of the company logo. The hexagon is, in fact, proposed in the grills of the hob and in the gas control knobs. The LED lights, contained in plastic rings placed between the controls and the steel front, are useful, finally, as feedback to verify the ignition and operation of the appliance, while the lighting of the entire block serves as an ambient light.

The freestanding kitchen of Bompani, finished in corten like the combined hood, has all the charm of the past and the intimacy of the domestic environment. The old style taste, however, does not leave room for the rhetoric of imitation, re-proposing models with limited performances. The opposite is true, instead. The sophisticated design of this kitchen, equipped with comfortable soft knobs and robust cast iron grids, stands out for the efficiency of the results and for the large space destined to the steel worktop, equipped with 5 gas burners with powerful central triple crown. The electric multifunction oven with 7 functions has been designed for a more uniform distribution of heat, able to ensure a multilevel cooking and a high performance level.

Matrix is the freestanding kitchen created by Glem Gas and designed by the designer Marcello Cutino, founder of BCF Immagine e Design. His project immediately shows, without unnecessary decorative tinsel, the advantages offered by this innovative appliance. Hence the choice oriented towards a rational design, which we could define as honest, given the conceptual value that underlies it. «It is rare, speaking of design, to use the word “honest”; usually we hear about a brilliant, characterful, functional, vintage design ». Honest – the designer explains – is a sincere design. The object or the furnishing accessory is coherent with what is expected through its appearance and its performance, its being does not betray false expectations». Matrix best represents the design philosophy and the company mood. Philosophy that translates into the simplification of the product and ease of use. In this kitchen, the control panel uses a new concept for the knobs, intended to communicate a clear image of the functions. The handle to open the oven completely follows the profile of the control panel. The visual and tactile value of the handle is improved thanks to the anodized aluminum finish. The mirrored surface of the door reveals the capacity of the oven cavity, offering a clean and integrated appearance of the kitchen as a whole.

Another success is added to the history and tradition of Bertazzoni. The PROF366GASXT freestanding kitchen of the Professional Series, in red variation, was awarded with the Red Dot in the category Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018. The appliance, designed by Valerio Cometti+V12Design, combines the best engineering functionality with beauty of the typical Italian design, represented in this product by elegant knobs, ergonomically shaped handles and sophisticated finishes. These iconic elements merge the design language with an innovative approach to functions, supported by a deep technical knowledge. The monoblock contains everything a kitchen lover could desire: 6 gas burners and 2 side woks, brass burners and an optional cast iron plate. The gas oven has an extra-large cavity with 7 cooking levels, telescopic guides, oven door with triple internal glass and soft-close system. The bright red color gives personality to the environment. In the Professional range, hi-gloss color finishes are inspired by the impeccable painting of powerful racing cars.

Simplicity of use and functionality

The solutions of Alpes Inox are designed for the top of the kitchen. Their vertical position allows the use of the space below, once finished cooking. The flip-up hobs can be gas or electric with induction, from 2 to 6 burners. They do not require the built-in hole, but only a small opening to guarantee the passage of the electro-gas connection and the fixing of the rear bracket/hinge. Among the projects awarded in more than sixty years life of the Compasso d’Oro, there is also the overturnable hob, designed by Domenico Moretto, which became part of the Historical Collection of the Compasso d’Oro ADI Award. According with the jury, the project of Moretto «with materials and upgraded technologies, represents the classic principle of design task of facilitating lives of those who use the objects: the simplicity of cleaning (even in the dishwasher) of the grids-burners complex and the overturning on the worktop of the entire appliance realize, without renouncing a typically traditional approach, new qualities in terms of space saving, domestic hygiene and ease of use.»

Zepa and Teka Group surprise once again with highly qualified proposals. The new induction hobs I-KNOB are designed to appreciate the ease of use and the intelligent innovation. Practicality, minimum energy consumption, easy maintenance: these are some of the more interesting peculiarities of this product. Its removable magnetic knob, characterized by a LED ring, is the most significant detail. It gives personality to the product becoming its distinctive element. It features, above all, an important level of precision that controls every function. When it is removed, it blocks the hob, making less difficult to clean it.


Induction hobs with integrated hood

The ideal combination of a performant hob with a powerful hood. This is the DNA of Foster Milano Air: the advanced induction hob, perfectly coplanar also in the suction area, equipped with a double 7.3 kW Brige area and ample space generated by the design of the suction grid. This helps to expand the worktop, also optimized by commands compact area, so that pots can slide in absolute security. And it is precisely the ergonomic shape of the grid that facilitates the access to the filters and the collecting tank for cleaning operations. The geometry of the hood ensures abundant capacity in the shelf below, with the possibility of using two deep drawers. The minimalist design is shown by little signs, skinny and essential, that define the composition of the appliance developed and produced by Foster. The chamfering with which the glass is worked on the perimeter profile make the hob precious, ensuring, at the same time, a slight difference in height with the kitchen top both with top-mount installation and in the cabinet. The suction grid, finally, reminds the lines of the sink drain grid always belonging to Foster Milano collection, so creating an harmonious and balanced combination.

The name says everything. It synthesizes, in a single word, the concept and the language of the object. Diamond, the hob with integrated hood realized by Baraldi Cappe, reminds the quality of the most valuable natural stone: the purity, the solidity, the resistance that does not decrease over time. The project is the culmination of a challenge within the company, undertaken by the design and product development team, coordinated by engineers Fabio Cremona and Andrea De Marchi. This appliance is the only one of its kind that provides the possibility of being inspected inside it. It is enough to open the upper part that is hinged to the lower structure through a patented mechanism. With a natural gesture, without tools and without disassembling any elements, users can reach the heart of the product to perform for normal cleaning operations, to then reclose it with extreme ease. At an aesthetic-functional level, two vertical cuts in the glass give life to a linear shape, absolutely free of unnecessary tinsels, accelerating air up to 11 m/s for an effective suction. The same cuts become grip elements for the hands that, once inserted, lift the ceramic glass of the hob.

NikolaTesla Switch, awarded with the Compasso D’Oro ADI for the 2018 edition, is the latest induction hob with integrated suction system by Elica, created by Fabrizio Crisà to revolutionize the daily cooking experience and reverse the point of view of the kitchen. Induction and suction are combined in a single appliance, where the search for balance and extreme attention to detail, combined with innovative features and unique performance, represent the ultimate expression of technology and design. Cooking coexists with the suction power on a large ceramic glass platform, in which no element prevails over the other. Everything is concealed, becoming be-dimensional. And it is the graphic sign that determines the harmony of the compositional whole. «The stroke, the lines and the shape – Fabrizio Crisà explains – are conducted to the minimum, almost in search of a denial of the design, to obtain an essential element». At the center of the top, a ring with a cast iron effect and a glass circle, completely flush surface, hide the integrated hood. By rotating this circular element, the NikolaTesla Switch suction is activated and through the innovative flap releases all its power for a total control of the air. Not only. «The experience of using [the appliance] – the designer says – is given by a direct relationship with the hob, a relationship that has some physicality. The user interacts with the flap, adjusting the functionality at all times and, consequently, modifying its aesthetics», which is reflected in the overall appearance of the product. The controls interface is intuitive and simple to use. Thanks to the fifth direct slider, is totally invisible in the stand-by mode, helping to make NikolaTesla Switch extremely clean in terms of formal beauty.

The minimalist aesthetic is the distinctive feature also of another international brand, BORA: the company that wrote the history of the induction hobs with integrated suction system. The attractive language, composed by clear visual lines – typical of the design culture of the brand – and the maximum of the cooking hobs guarantee the widest flexibility in the design of the kitchen. The modular ones of the BORA Professional line are among the deepest available on the market, with enough space for two large pots, arranged one behind the other. The smart control knob allows to manage several function programs with one hand, up to the temperature indicator. At the same time, the knob provides indications on the functioning of the appliance for immediate control of it. The hob and the integrated hood communicate with each other in an intelligent way. This means comfort, obtained by simply pressing a button, and automatically efficient performance. BORA Professional has received four coveted awards in just a few months after its presentation. From the Red Dot Award: Best of the Best 2017 to the Plus X Award as the best product of the year 2017 for innovation, up to the Good Design Award 2017 and the German Design Award 2018.

Samsung Electronics closed with great satisfaction its first participation at EuroCucina in Milan.
The company used this prestigious international event to showcase its full range of premium built-in appliances As reported by Samsung, last year its European home appliances business grew five times faster than the market and this has been an important driver to decide to take part at the Italian exhibition. The European built-in market is worth 18.5 billion dollar annually, accounting for 40% of the global built-in market. Samsung’s premium built-in appliances, equipped with and IoT technology, are positioned at the center of the market. The opportunity to experience the kitchen of the future at the Samsung booth attracted the attention of many visitors at the exhibition. Among the most interesting products presented at the Fair, there was the Twin Cooling Plus technology refrigerator, the Virtual Flame cooktop and the Waterwall dishwasher. The company also unveiled the new Dual Cook Flex oven at the event. This innovative oven allows independent access to the upper oven compartment without compromising on cooking performance in the lower compartment. This means that users can set different temperatures and time settings for each compartment, with a greater control over simultaneous cooking.
But is was not the only innovation of the brand, that also displayed its Twin Cooling Plus technology, which independently controls the refrigerator and freezer; the Virtual Flame cooktop, an induction stove that mimics the appearance of flames to provide more intuitive visual control over the heat, and the WaterWall dishwasher that delivers remarkable cleaning results with a streaming wall of water.