Niagra Portable Washer

[Chetlaham]

Cost

My ignorance is showing. How does that add cost to the timer? My understanding is that it removes one bypass contact in the timer and the extra power rail for the fill phase.

 

[thomasortega]

@henene

There's a joke we used to say in college.

Americans made the best intentions because of laziness. Remote control, power windows, automatic transmission, etc.

Even dosing the detergent is a "dreadful chore", that's why pods became so popular here.

People wouldn't really care too much about that feature. Think.. OMG, I'll have to unload the washer, load the spin dryer, switch the load back to the washer, wait for the rinse, then transfer to the spin dryer... NO WAY! I don't have time for that, I got things to do!"

Living here for almost 6 years, I learned that the "laziness" isn't exactly laziness, but lack of time. Culturally, the pace Americans live is way faster than Europeans or South Americans. (Maybe that explains why this is the country of Burnout Syndrome). Some people have schedules so tight that Americans make plans according to the season like "next summer I'll fix that washer in my collection".

You can get very decent rinses in the Niagara, no intermediate spin needed. Just use HE detergent and don't overdose. Simple as that.

 

[thomasortega]

@chetlaham

Any changes involves time and time is money.

There's my time designing (counted in minutes), then testing, validating. As it's a change, it's considered a different model, so it has to be tested again by UL and DOE. (That costs a fortune). Then there's the adjustments that have to be made at the timer supplier it will cost them money and of course they will put that cost in our price).

Something that sounds like "oh, it's just 10 cents more" ends up adding 30 or 40 dollars to the retail price.

And we're in a market that $1 (literally ONE DOLLAR) can be the difference between selling thousands of units or selling 10 units per year.

We had a model that was super nice, selling amazingly well (super compact automatic washer). I had to make a change on it... it would be so expensive to make that silly change that we decided to kill that model and release its "second generation" that was a completely different washer. (Silk Lux)

 

[Chetlaham]

I'm curious about your timer supplier. How do you work with them? How do you indicate what timer sequence you need, increments, ect? Midwest Timer?

 

 

I feel your pain, but I am also outraged at DOE, UL and all the unfair regulations you have to work with.

 

Trust me that one day these entities will not longer exist. And you and I will be free to do what we please.

 

You can't do revision changes without changing the model number entirely like Whirlpool? 

 

 

 

[ozzie908]

Thomas here's an idea....

With your Niagara washer why not add a spinner to the side of it in the same cabinet obviously a bit wider that could be used in a similar way to the AEG Turnamat it had a drum on the wash side that went back and forth and when it had finished rinsing you just had to lift the wet clothing into the spinner, Am sure a drain pump on the spinner would not add too much cost and would save the user having to move things around too much as the spinning is not done to the end you could arrange it so it drains into the wash tub and then into the sink.

Austin

 

[thomasortega]

@ozzie

Volume restrictions

Shipping would skyrocket and the price would be like 2 or 3 times higher than shipping a washer and a spin dryer in two boxes.

Also, storage... ti would be too wide, wouldn't fit in many closets and also a hassle to move back and forth from the storage.

Then, third issue... bathrooms getting smaller every day. We had customers returning the niagara as it is now simply because it didn't fit in front of the sink. Some bathrooms are now so small you can't even bend to spit the toothpaste without hitting the wall behind you. Here in Los Angeles, for example, there are some modern apartment buildings that look like stacked RVs so small they are... actually, their bathrooms are so tiny that make an RV bathroom look like a palace.

 

[sunspot42]

Yeah, do not add a spinner to the side of the Niagara. It's almost too large for my apartment as it is - I can just barely stash it in my broom closet. Also it would make the unit a lot heavier, which would make it more difficult for me to lift it into my bath tub, where I run my Niagara. That way I don't have to worry about leaks or anything - it all just drains away.

I did have one idea though. It looks like you've got a new top-loader coming, one that doesn't have a spin cycle. Might be cool if there were a companion spinner designed to sit down inside of it for storage. That way the spinner wouldn't take up any additional storage space...

 

[bradfordwhite]

That's an awesome product.

I agree with keeping the units separate. That way, worst case scenario, one appliance should break one can replace it and it has no impact on the other.

It's like the spinner the guy in the video has. He said he's had it for 14 years.

I've tried those LA spinners and they work great.

 

[thomasortega]

Yep, the new washer is coming really soon and it's called Poseidon.

It has a real agitator (not an impeller with a corkscrew-like auger), you can fill it with water up to the top and it's as close as possible to a maytag wringer, given the modern world limitations.

I wish I could have made it even better and more powerful but you know... DOE keeps my hands tied.

Don't expect it to be the holy grail of the washers. This is actually the BOL of a series of old school agitator washers. The TOL, which is much bigger and have a waaaay more powerful motor will come later this year.

Later this year we will also release the fully auto HATL washer. It's 9kg capacity, has an internal heater, all stainless steel (drum and tub), inverter motor and has other surprise features.

We also released recently the PuriFI. It's a super compact washer that has even a Cy le to wash diapers. It has an internal heater, it fills up to the top, stainless steel drum and impeller, badass motor, several cycles, and real spray rinses be a use I am pissed off with DOE and decided to add a series of spray rinses together with two deep rinses. (5 deep rinses in the diaper cycle).

The PuriFI can reach sanitizing temperatures and will freeze the timer until the temperature is reached. Because of EPA, we could not use the name "sanitary" for the cycle. Tech I ally, we can't even claim it cleans the clothes because after the pandemic started, EPA is very strict and only if we pay several thousands of dollars to have a washing machine certified as a "thermomechanical pesticide device", we can not say it sanitized.

We could even do that, but then DOE freaks out because saying "Sanitary" would incentivate users to use hot wash.

 

[pinkpower4]

Will these models also be available in the US?

Hmmm. With my kids getting older I wouldn't need as large of a washer. Would be cool if I could get one of these and just use the Maytag mvwp575gw for larger bulkier items to extend its life as it works really well!

I took a look at the PuriFI. I am guessing it can be used for regular clothes too. This would be awesome for baby clothes and smaller loads. How many cu. ft. is it? I'm trying to compare the load size of it against my Magic Chef. Unlike my Magic Chef, does this actually fill at least 3/4 full of water? My Magic Chef only fills half tub at highest setting. I can add water, but I don't go more than 3/4 full.

Posidon is interesting, but I'd probably be interested in the TOL version. Depends. Old-style may be a plus for me if it means more mechanical vs digital. Is there any difference in the wash action? How many cu. ft. are they going to be? If that is not available, about how many lbs. of dry clothes can be put in them? Will these REQUIRE a spin dryer?

It looks like I will be able to order any of these current and new models in the US off of your website?

The Magic Chef exceeded my expectations. The impeller does a really good job with smaller loads and smaller items. Its downfall, of course, would be bulkier items that can't turn over.

BTW. I bought a Ninja spin dryer from your website a few months ago. Awesome customer service. Received very quick and undamaged. While my Panda works well, it is loud. My dryer is old. Since I plan on replacing it only with one of two specific models right now, I wanted to make sure I could spin dry until my model was available. With prices going up, I knew I was going to replace the Panda with a Ninja when the time comes anyway, but I'll continue to use the Panda as long as it works. I have to say the Ninja spin dryer wins my overall first choice since both are priced about the same. It does balance better and is quieter. The design works better for me. I just set a timer on my watch, so no issue there. Surprising to me since it is plastic vs the mostly metal construction of Panda. Honestly, I was impressed!

I admit I've been thinking of getting the SQ TC when it's available in my area again. I do a lot more lot more smaller loads now and I'm guessing the Magic Chef won't last that much longer. I hope this comes out before I have to make my decision. Even so, the Magic Chef is a great niche washer, and I'm not sure I won't replace it with another similar (like one of the Laundry Alternative models) when the time comes. But. I'd rather extend the life of my Maytag and get one of these new models for my smaller loads.

Thanks for the great info!