Miele straying away from god

[rolls_rapide]

Miele probably has decided to go down the plastic tub route (polypropylene reinforced with glass beads) due to shipping/transit tariffs. Isn't it the case that quality heavy machines are penalised?

And I suppose too, that forming the plastic tubs will be easier and cheaper than buying expensive steel.

I dare say that Miele's plastic tubs will be more substantial than some of the others. I had a Chinese made Panasonic, and the outer tub was pretty much transparent. I remember reading an engineer's comment somewhere, where they bemoaned UK Hotpoint's outer tub being so thin that it was virtually see-through. This was around the early 2000's.

 

[henene4]

As has been said, Miele has had plastic tubs so far on their TLs for like 15 years or more.

They are not new.

And they have been proven to be just fine. No mold, no structural issues, no bearing issues.

And while I think this machine will sell well I do think that this is more like a model you can easily upsell from.

And further I doubt that they would dare to launch anything sub par. They are still Miele.

They have a second model in that new line that does still have 1600rpm with the larger full metal construction that is like 200€ bucks more expensive yet has the TwinDos feature.

 

[combo52]

Plastic outer tubs In FL Washers

Are actually much heavier [ weight wise ] than SS, probably the worst thing about plastic is it does not get recycled when the machine is crushed for recycling.

 

One of the other bad things about plastic is it has a lot of deep pockets and ribs on the back of the tubs for strength and these can get filled with minerals and other gunk leading to odors and spider failures.

 

I guess that SQ FL washers will soon be the only 50 year durability washers available  for the masses in the US soon.

 

John L.

 

[rolls_rapide]

"Are actually much heavier [ weight wise ] than SS..."

Are they? The original posting says it is 5 kg lighter.

 

[iej]

Well, there are pluses and minuses to using plastic versus stainless steel. The machines would be a little lighter, but also the resources involved in making large stainless steel components are huge in terms of energy input, mining and so on. If the plastic is recoverable or even safely incinerated in waste-to-energy it's actually potentially lower impact.

In a typical Miele washer life span, you're also talking 1 plastic drum in maybe 10 to 20 years. All the synthetic fibres that a machine washes and some of the components in the detergents would probably be of a lot more impact.

I mean in the life time of the machine, you'll have definitely used FAR more plastic in even the packaging for your washing liquids and softeners than would be contained in the entire washing machine's components.

Plastic drums, designed well don't have internal pockets and ribs, they put them all on the outside.

I'd assume you'd also have some degree of better heat retention for long washes, so might cut down on element heating time during the cycle.

The use of very heavy cast iron counter weights however is one of Miele's trade mark difference and I'd hope that certainly wouldn't' be replaced with blocks of concrete.

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, the GlaronK tub is lighter. The machine with this tub has a weight of 80kg, a similar model with stainless steel drum is 85kg.

 

[combo52]

Plastic Outer Tubs In FL washers

SS is simply much stronger for a given weight than plastic.

Hi James, you are correct that plastic outer tubs can be designed with the ribs on the outside or inside, I found these examples in our shop of building them both ways, I guess it would be interesting to see how Miele is doing it on this new model.

While it puts overall plastic use context comparing plastic bottles used in the life of a washer to the plastic used to build the outer tub, it simply does not justify using a plastic tub. Metals used in appliances are fully recycled back into new very high quality products.

Hi Louis, I don't think that you can compare the overall weight of two different model machines and conclude that the difference is do to a plastic outer tub, there are 100 other things that could have been made lighter in a washer, just a better computer balance control and better shocks would allow taking that much weight away from the counterbalance weights.

John L.[this post was last edited: 1/12/2020-21:22]

 

[foraloysius]

@john

This model is 80 kg. ALL other basic models are 85kg.

 

[henene4]

Sorry for such a late revival

So, due to some issues in my current flat share I am moving soon (probably before the end of February).

Already bought a DW (got an insane deal on a great machine due to a kind-of but not really pricing error)

But I have to buy a kitchen, so I pre-ordered a countertop (the cabinets will be delivered).

Doing that I had an hour to waste before heading to a doctors appointment so I grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the 2nd big electronics chain here in town (expert Bening).

Walked through the DW isle.

Checked out some machines I considered before.
Lucky I didn't go with the freestanding Samsung I was considering (spaceing there was horrific, upper rack only had 2 positions and the lower one was to low for my plates, the upper one far to high).
The Bauknecht might have been an ok option, but reliability is questionable.
The one I got is perfectly fine for the price I paid for.

Now I walked through the washer isle and looked at some Mieles.

And found something I wasn't aware off.

Miele has a second drum with Novotronic style drum lifters.
Same triangle shap, ribs and holes.

It is smaller (probably 55l or there abouts).
Used on machines with 7 and 8 kg.
And even on machines with the pre ironing option.

Didn't suspect that.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Henrik,

The 7 and 8kg models have had these drums since the W1 Classics were launched in 2017. Drum volume is 59.5l.

Jon