Launch of Miele Scout RX1 robovac

Dr Eduard Sailer, born in 1955, has been the member of the Miele Board of Directors responsible for technical affairs since 1998. Here, Sailer, a Doctor of Physics, explains why the Gütersloh appliance pioneer Miele is only now presenting its first robovac. In addition: What differentiates the Scout RX1 from competitors' products and why has Miele turned to an OEM supplier to build this appliance.

Miele is due to launch a robovac in May of this year. Why?

Because consumers have always had an interest in ridding themselves of simple but time-consuming household chores. Meeting this most basic requirement has been reflected throughout the company’s more than 100-year history for example in the fact that Miele launched the first series-produced washing machine, Europe's first electrically powered dishwasher and now our Scout RX1 robotic vacuum cleaner. And, by the way, Miele has been in the business of producing vacuum cleaners since 1927.

Miele is not exactly the pioneer in the robovac sector. Why did you wait so long?

When the first models started to appear on the market, navigation, dust pick-up and battery charge - reflecting the state of the art at the time - were anything but satisfactory. But Miele customers do not take lightly to poor compromises; they expect products to be powerful and technically mature. Today we can offer a machine which does justice to the Miele brand in every respect. That is why I am absolutely convinced that the wait has been worthwhile and that our Scout RX1 will successfully establish itself in the marketplace.

Where do you derive your confidence from? After all, you are up against a series of well-established competitors.

Competition ensures innovation and quality. What speaks loudly in favour of the Scout RX1 is its unique and new navigation system, its good cleaning performance and the particularly long charge and life expectancy of the lithium ion rechargeable batteries which will last about three time as long as common batteries. In terms of the quality of results and user convenience, this machine sets new standards. The initial feedback from our resellers is very positive across the board.

So what makes the navigation system on your robovac so unique?

It combines what is called a gyro sensor which measures rotation and changes in direction with an integrated digital camera which scans the ceiling several times per minute. The robovac meticulously wends its way through the room track after track, covering edges and other inaccessible areas without gaps. Even complex homes with several rooms are completely cleaned, including trips back to the base for recharging. Seven infrared sensors protect against collisions with furniture; three further sensors prevent the Scout RX1 from toppling down staircases. This set of specifications together with the Turbo and Corner modes is referred to as Smart Navigation and is exclusive to Miele.

Why does Miele not produce the Scout in-house?

Because robotics simply isn't our core competence. We developed the Scout RX1 together with a young Korean company which is specialised in this particular field and manufactures this product exclusively for Miele. The process is supervised by performing similar functional and endurance tests at Miele's Bielefeld plant as we do on all our other vacuum cleaners. This division of labour guarantees top technology in superb Miele quality at an attractive price: In Germany, the recommended retail catalogue price is € 619.

Can a robovac replace a traditional vacuum cleaner entirely?

No, the robovac is currently intended as a practical second appliance for automatic cleaning inbetween times. For many years to come, a high-performance vacuum cleaner such as Miele's S8 will be difficult to beat in terms of dust pick-up. But, having said that, robovacs are likely to continue making progress – and might one day replace a manual canister vacuum cleaner altogether.

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Company profile: Miele is the world leader in the field of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floorcare products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2012/13 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.15 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of around 17,250 with two-thirds in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.