ApplianceAdvisor Appliance Report FISHER

The New Appliance Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com

FISHER & PAYKEL
800-863-5394
New Zealand based appliance manufacturer

2006 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Prototype Cooktop
The prototype Gas + glass cooktop features a completely smooth glass surface when off, but with a push of the flush knobs, out comes, Phoenix like, the burner, the controls and the 5-point grate. The grates seem a bit too precarious for our comfort, but perhaps this is more a reflection of the overkill and ascendancy of the full surface grate. The knobs are really mechanical actuators of an underlying electronic gas control. The 3 burners feature 20K BTU. The burners rise at the center of the 5-point grate to the same height as the grate, becoming an integral part of the pot support system, as pots rest on the ersatz burner cap. No date on availability, but we assume not before 2007.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006fisherpaykel1.jpg

Water Only (no ice) Fridge Dispenser
The water dispenser is in the door. The ice maker is in the bottom drawer. We imagine that this is driven by the back to the future shift of freezers to the bottom which has engineers scurrying around trying to solve the ice making issue in this type of configuration. It may not be solvable.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006fisherpaykel3.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006fisherpaykel4.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006fisherpaykel5.jpg

2005 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
F+P Sources Products from GE
New CAMCO (GE Canada) front loader washer and dryer.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005FisherPaykel3.jpg

2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Minimalism
Fisher & Paykel added edge rounding to many of their products, showed off an anti-finger print coated stainless steel and discussed refrigerators first shown as prototype in 2003 but now on a glide path to availability. They will also offer a rangehood currently sold in the home market (New Zealand) but domesticated for US consumption.

Bait and Switch
With not much to report we decided to check what we wrote in 2003. Fisher & Paykel claimed that their refrigerators were "Ultra Efficient" on the 2003 pre-release brochures. The actual production units in 2004 were in fact not "Ultra Efficient" (and we assume the production brochures reflected this). The units met Federal Energy Requirements of course but did not beat the requirements by 15% as required to become Energy Star certified, and the minimum, in our humble opinion, to be called "Ultra Efficient". Fisher & Paykel told ApplianceAdvisor that prior to production it was "decided" not to push the system to reach Energy Star certification. We wish that they had, and we are certain that their North American fans would be disappointed that they did not. Fisher & Paykel owns "efficiency" in Washers and Dryers. Why have they let it slip away in refrigeration?
Fisher & Paykel claims energy usage of:
437kWh/year for top-mount 17.2 cu ft
487kWh/year for bottom-mount 17.3 cu ft
http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/kitchen/refrigerators/refrigerators.cfm

2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Crowded US Fridge Market Adds Another
F&P showed a New Zealand 18 cu ft refrigerator (bottom or top mount) with an expected US launch of January 2004. It features "Smart" control management which uses a motor technology to control the speed of the fans, and to send cold air only to the compartments in need of cooling. Also includes a door ajar alarm, and simple digital controls. F&P claims that the unit is "Ultra Efficient" but no data was provided to back up the claim.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2003Appliancephotos/fisherpaykelfridge.jpg
The fridge as their New Zealand site: http://www.fisherpaykel.co.nz/Products/Refrigerators/ActiveSmart.html

"The World's First Full Size Top Loading Dryer"
F&P has designed a technically interesting 18 lb capacity top loading dryer. It features an ingenious automatic lint removal canister which need not be emptied in 20 loads. Also features stainless tub, fabric sensing, moisture sensor, variable speed motor, maximum temp of 150F, anti-knot spin of 4 min in one direction, then 40 seconds in the other direction. Also features 3600 and 1400 watt elements or 20,000 BTU gas option. Available the 4th Qtr, 2003.

Man-Safe And Or Idiot-Proof Washer/Dryer Controls
It's not that we men are stupid, it's just that we really don't care. One hopes that F&P had men in mind when developing the EcoWasher/Dryer which automatically senses the type of fabric based on load flotation, inertia and perhaps even nuclear decay. Due out Qtr 1, 2004. The user enters information on how dirty the fabric is and the controls take it from there.

2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Redesigned Washer
This 2nd generation of the Ecosmart washer has a new top design with a wider opening. The lid is locked shut for safety during the spin cycle (1000 RPM) but unlike the 1st generation, the lid is unlocked during other cycles. While filling the tub, the tub turns slowly to evenly distribute the water? Ecosmart uses "a 42 pole direct drive DC brushless motor attached to the agitator by a single shaft", has no belts, pulleys or gears to break down, and uses automatic sensing of the load's weight and volume to adjust water levels and agitation power. The Ecosmart uses 26 gallons for the average load, which F&P claims is 18 gallon less than our domestic monsters. Retails for $700.
http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Laundry/Washers_GW11.html

New Oven
The "Aerotech" built-in 30" double and single ovens feature convection, self clean, an aerodynmic design removing sharp surfaces for smooth air flow, a solid state thermostat, 3.5 cu ft of usable space, 10 cooking modes, and 3 halogen lights. The oven also features an "AeroRoast" cooking cycle which starts with a high heat to brown and seal in juices, followed by a normal cooking temperature. The vented pyrolitic self-clean system, has an extra element in the bottom front to incinerate grease trying to escape out the door.
The double oven retails for $3000, and the single for $2000.
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2002Appliancephotos/fisherpaykeloven.jpg

New Stainless Substitute
New pewter tone fingerprint resistant stainless finish called "Iridium" now available for all F&P models. Iridium models will get an additional feature to communicate that Iridium is better than stainless. Iridium gas cooktops have (1) bigger burner, Iridium ovens get a pizza stone, while the Iridium dishdrawer gets a softener dispenser. This is a subtle attempt by F&P to position their proprietary "Pewter" as the next "stainless". First use the additional features to hook the "early adopters" (who made this country great but who are generally considered to be idiots for buying over priced untested equipment), then hook the followers (loosers who by and large have trouble picking out underwear in the morning) who get their cues from the "early adopters", mix in a little buzz and wahlah Pewter becomes the Next Stainless. This a game now being played by Wolf and KitchenAid.

......Like I Need Another Hole In My Head
New 36" ceran electric cooktop, with brushed stainless hobs, (5) heating zones. (2) large elements, (2) small elements, (1) dual element. Hot element indicator light.

2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
In 2001 F&P claims to be the number 1 home appliance seller in Australia, but so doesn't LG Electronics. We think LG pads its numbers with Air Conditioners and Vacuums, but then F&P should have said "kitchen appliances".

Cool Wok Grate
F&P introduced their low profile 36" 5 burner gas cooktop last year, but this is the first time we noticed the wok grate standard with the cooktop. One of the cast iron grates is specially designed for pots on one side, but by simply flipping it over provides the stabilizing nubs for Wok cooking. Brilliant. Total cooktop is priced at $1000.
http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/gascooktop/GasCooktops.html

A Very Convected Oven
F&P introduced a 30" built-in electric ovens with the convection equivalent of "surround sound", with hot air coming from the back and edges of the oven can.

Ceran Cooktop Prototype
F&P provided no information, and did not allow photography…..but I can confirm that it was a Ceran cooktop.

Redesigned Dishdrawer Dishwasher
Completely redesigned single and double Dishdrawers with better water pressure, increased water temperatures, improved drying performance, new gasket to replace the old inflatable gasket which at times leaked, and child lock. F+P claims the first flow through detergent dispenser, instead of simply dumping the detergent. Uses "as little as" 2.4 gallons and is very highly rated for energy efficiency by Energy Star. F&P claims this is "the only dishwasher certified Kosher by U.S. Kosher". F&P also claims great installation and service benefits from the redesign such as a reduction in installation time from 1.5 hours to 15 minutes. F+P, bless their hearts, has also targeted the lazy lout market by suggesting that with 2 units you never need put the dishes away….simply endlessly rotate the clean dishes from one Dishdrawer onto the dinner table and then the dirty dishes into the empty Dishdrawer. A $1000 dish rack. This is a brilliant little piece of equipment, but not deserving of the next item below……
http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/dishdrawer/dishdrawer.html

Marketing By Leveraging Really Bad Federal Data
During one of my booth tours, I was informed in passing that the Dishdrawer was the #1 rated dishwasher for energy efficiency by Energy Star. On the F&P website they have reprinted an excerpt from the Feb 7, 2001 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle, which we will quote here:

"The most energy efficient dishwasher is Fisher & Paykel's single drawer model (DS602-USA) which performs 152 percent above the federal standard for dishwashers. The double-drawer model (DD602-USA) performs 28.9 percent better than standard, using both drawers 322 times a year. http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Whatsnew/whatsnew.html#chronicle
NOTE: As of this day, August 22, 2001, F&P has removed this quote from their website.

The Advisor investigated and this is what we found out: The single Dishdrawer is Energy Star rated #1 at 152% above Federal Standards, but they are standards for full size dishwashers, not compacts. They are rated #1 because Energy Star has bundled all dishwashers of the same width into the same category, no matter the height. The single Dishdrawer is half the height of all the other dishwashers. These are highly efficient appliances, but they cannot be compared with full size dishwashers as Energy Star has done. F+P should not be deceiving consumers by reprinting flawed news stories, or spreading what they know to be badly designed product comparisons.

You can go to Energy Star to do your own search. Click on:
http://www.energystar.gov/products/search.asp?atype=DW
Change "Ordered By" from "Brand" to "Efficiency".
Click "Find Dishwashers".
NOTE: As of this day, August 22, 2001, Energy Star has corrected their database. F&P single Dishdrawer is no longer listed.

The testing standards will be changing next year so that number of place settings is the driver and not width. The single Dishdrawer will be re-categorized as a compact dishwasher. As of July 31, 2001 Energy Star has promised to correct their website even before the change in standards.
The F&P website also includes 4 links to a copy of the yellow Energy Guide (not Energy Star) label for the single Dishdrawer, which correctly categorizes the single drawer as a compact. It is all very very confusing.
http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/dishdrawer/energyguide_ds.html

2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
The little New Zealand maker of the dishwasher drawer continues on its huge investment in North America with the addition of washer, dryer, cooktop, oven later this year and a refrigerator next year. F&P hopes to build an entire North American presence on the back of their killer concept dishwasher drawer. They will now start to add some new products (some quite a bit less than killer concepts) to leverage their incredibly heavy investment in their 1 step distribution network.

A Most Efficient Washer
F&P claims that the new Ecosmart washer is the most energy efficient washing machine sold in America as measured by Energy Star Guidelines. The Ecosmart is a traditionally configured top loader with actuator. Energy savings are the result of precise water fill tailored to the load (savings on water heating energy), and a 1000 rpm spin cycle which reduces drying time by 30% (savings on drying energy). The spin cycle shuts down when the moisture level drops to a preset point. The washer is now in stores and can be yours for around $699. http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/ecosmart/ecosmart.html

And A New Dryer
And they have a dryer. http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/dryers/dryers.html

And A Very Thin Gas Cooktop
F&P is launching a stainless 36" 5 burner gas cooktop in the 2nd Qtr (MSRP of $799). The cooktop features an extremely shallow (1-5/8") rough-in box allowing a drawer under the cooktop, a 14,200 BTU burner, a griddle burner, electronic ignition and auto re-ignition, and full surface grates. In our opinion the features outpace the design. http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/Products/Products/gascooktop/GasCooktops.html

But Wait There's More!
F&P will offer single and double ovens by Q3 or Q4, 2000. They were shown but not described.