ApplianceAdvisor Appliance Report U

The New Appliance Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com

U - LINE
414-354-0300
Maker of high-end small built-in refrigerators and freezers

2006 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
U-Line feature improvements of full electronic controls, black interior, white on Echelon. This is all that we were told about, and the press releases were impenetrable as to what's new and what's not.

2005 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
New Undercounter Fridge
Is this really worthy of its own press release? Seems like no, but here it is. The U-Line "Origins" Beverage center features stainless steel, a new handle. Door is right or left but is NOT field convertible. What possible user benefit is more important than field convertible door swing?
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Uline2.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2005Appliancephotos/2005Uline3.jpg

2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Wine Drawer Line Extension (Model 2075DWRWC)
We are famously pro-Wine, and anti-Wine fridge. That being said, if despoiling the earth, if having our descendents curse our memory and spit upon our graves, if adding one more 24 hour per day energy sucking appliance of dubious benefit roughly balances out with your need to keep your wine collection cool....well this is the unit for you. It is beautiful, and there is something about drawers which lends the requisite level of class that wine deserves. This built-in unit holds 43 bottles in 2 separate glass fronted drawers, each with an independently programmable temperature range of 40 to 60F using Touch-sensor controls located on the thermal pane. Also features rack fronts of maple, and includes a take away 3-bottle wine caddy to carry your wine to wherever you will be wining. The inside light can be set to never ever ever shut off for "elegant bottle presentation when door is closed". Certainly the fact that our wine bottles looked spiffy should be our saving grace with those rather nasty looking cave dweller ruffians of the future. After all of that, we give this a Best of Show, because for some folks the wine fridge might be the only fridge.
http://www.u-line.com/products/drawers/2075_dwrwc.cfm
http://www.u-line.com/products/drawers/2075_dwrwc.cfm#

3 in One Combo Drawer (Model CO2075DWR)
This is another 2 drawer built-in fridge, but they have taken our 2003 advice (see below) and included a refrigerator drawer on the top, and freezer drawer on the bottom which includes a 6 lb/day ice maker. We are patiently awaiting our royalty checks. Our opinion about this unit is roughly equal to our opinion of the Wine Drawer above......but we are just too tired to be creative.
http://www.u-line.com/products/drawers/co2075_dwr.cfm
http://www.u-line.com/products/drawers/co2075_dwr.cfm#

2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
U-Line got Game
U-line got game, while Dacor clearly dropped the ball. U-Line didn't invent the refrigerator drawer, Sub-Zero did that, but what they did do was launch their own larger inside, smaller outside double drawer model. The U-Line drawer is 24" wide and with a 5.5 cu ft capacity vs Sub-Zero's 27" width and 5.3 cu ft capacity. The U-Line unit features automatic defrost, adjustable drawer dividers, internal lighting, and digital temperature display and diagnostics. Available in black or stainless, and the black unit accepts custom panels. MSRP of $2000 to $2350. Now if they can integrate an ice cube maker into a bottom freezer drawer..............hmmmm.
http://www.u-line.com/products/drawers/index.html

World's First Built-In Undercounter Refrigerator with Clear Ice Maker
We guess from this press release that this was a problem, and that this product launch signifies that the problem is solved, and that the solution was one hard nut to crack, and that future generations have U-Line to thank. It's just that I'm having a difficult time getting excited about this particular betterment of the human condition. The ice maker is a frost free unit which has a 40 lbs per day maximum production and a 15 lb storage capacity. The refrigerator cavity is 2.5 cu ft. MSRP is $2250 to $2900.
http://www.u-line.com/products/echelon/combo_model/clrco2075/index.html

2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Nothing to report.

2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
The new Echelon line sets a new standard for design and features, U-line claims. Employs a cohesive, integrated look for their line of cube makers, freezers, and refrigerators. Some of the Origin line will be terminated. Available 10/01.

2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Nothing to report