washernoob
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Saw this article on yahoo.com- **discuss*** 
http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estat...ew-spin-on-laundry?mod=realestate-homeimprove
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Sleek, High-Tech Machines Rolling Out
The lowly washer and dryer—for years condemned to toil in the basement—are increasingly becoming the showpiece of the first-floor laundry room. So more appliance makers are gearing them toward high-end, tech-savvy consumers.
Taking cues from the technology and fashion industries, appliance manufacturers are developing laundry machines with more specialized settings and chic-sounding finishes, such as blackberry and lemongrass. Some can even tell consumers when something goes wrong.
"As people have thought about their living space differently and found ways to make daily chores easier and quicker, the machine has migrated up to the living area," says Betsy Owens, vice president of Sears Holdings Corp.'s Kenmore brand. "People think of it almost like a piece of furniture. It needs to fit in with the style of the home and reflect the personality of the owner."
Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR - News) in August launched its top-load Vantage washers and dryers, priced at $4,000 for the pair—the most expensive in its line. The machines have 33 different settings for clothing and other items, such as blankets and shower curtains. Settings are made using an LCD touch-screen similar to one found on a smartphone. The company says it is also introducing other models at lower prices.
Appliance makers are also coming out with new technologies that they say will do a better cleaning job. BSH Home Appliances Corp.'s Bosch Vision washing machine, priced at $999 to $1,549, has a stain-removal button as well as paddles that saturate clothing with water to evenly distribute detergent, the company says. Sears and LG Electronics Inc. are launching machines that vary cleaning motions, such as scrubbing, swinging, tumbling and rolling, to get clothes cleaner. LG's new front-load steam washer with the technology is priced from $1,399 to $1,799, while Sears's Kenmore Elite steam washer with different washing motions, slated for release in December, is priced at $1,499 to $1,599.
One appliance maker has added a feature that allows consumers to do small loads of laundry overnight and have them ready by morning. General Electric Co.'s new Profile Steam Washer, priced at $1,399 to $1,499, has a cycle that can wash clothes and remove so much moisture from them that they are ready to wear without putting in the dryer.
New products come amid tough times for the industry. The world's two biggest home-appliance makers, Whirlpool and Electrolux AB, posted declines in third-quarter earnings and pointed to lower sales in Europe and North America.
Still, new laundry appliances reflect how companies are "making significant capital investments for the long term," says Michael Deneen, senior industry analyst at Freedonia Group in Cleveland. "They're getting themselves ready with new products to take advantage when things pick up."
Such recovery may not come anytime soon. "As the economy continues to sputter, sales of appliances have declined, and the fourth quarter will be an especially critical time period to watch," says Mark Delaney of NPD Group, a research firm in Port Washington, N.Y.
Write to Anjali Athavaley at [email protected]
http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estat...ew-spin-on-laundry?mod=realestate-homeimprove
_______________________________________________
Sleek, High-Tech Machines Rolling Out
The lowly washer and dryer—for years condemned to toil in the basement—are increasingly becoming the showpiece of the first-floor laundry room. So more appliance makers are gearing them toward high-end, tech-savvy consumers.
Taking cues from the technology and fashion industries, appliance manufacturers are developing laundry machines with more specialized settings and chic-sounding finishes, such as blackberry and lemongrass. Some can even tell consumers when something goes wrong.
"As people have thought about their living space differently and found ways to make daily chores easier and quicker, the machine has migrated up to the living area," says Betsy Owens, vice president of Sears Holdings Corp.'s Kenmore brand. "People think of it almost like a piece of furniture. It needs to fit in with the style of the home and reflect the personality of the owner."
Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR - News) in August launched its top-load Vantage washers and dryers, priced at $4,000 for the pair—the most expensive in its line. The machines have 33 different settings for clothing and other items, such as blankets and shower curtains. Settings are made using an LCD touch-screen similar to one found on a smartphone. The company says it is also introducing other models at lower prices.
Appliance makers are also coming out with new technologies that they say will do a better cleaning job. BSH Home Appliances Corp.'s Bosch Vision washing machine, priced at $999 to $1,549, has a stain-removal button as well as paddles that saturate clothing with water to evenly distribute detergent, the company says. Sears and LG Electronics Inc. are launching machines that vary cleaning motions, such as scrubbing, swinging, tumbling and rolling, to get clothes cleaner. LG's new front-load steam washer with the technology is priced from $1,399 to $1,799, while Sears's Kenmore Elite steam washer with different washing motions, slated for release in December, is priced at $1,499 to $1,599.
One appliance maker has added a feature that allows consumers to do small loads of laundry overnight and have them ready by morning. General Electric Co.'s new Profile Steam Washer, priced at $1,399 to $1,499, has a cycle that can wash clothes and remove so much moisture from them that they are ready to wear without putting in the dryer.
New products come amid tough times for the industry. The world's two biggest home-appliance makers, Whirlpool and Electrolux AB, posted declines in third-quarter earnings and pointed to lower sales in Europe and North America.
Still, new laundry appliances reflect how companies are "making significant capital investments for the long term," says Michael Deneen, senior industry analyst at Freedonia Group in Cleveland. "They're getting themselves ready with new products to take advantage when things pick up."
Such recovery may not come anytime soon. "As the economy continues to sputter, sales of appliances have declined, and the fourth quarter will be an especially critical time period to watch," says Mark Delaney of NPD Group, a research firm in Port Washington, N.Y.
Write to Anjali Athavaley at [email protected]
