iF jury 'enthusiastic'

No fewer than three products from Miele made it in 2013: The KM 6395 FlexTouch induction hob, the KWT 6832 SGS wine conditioning unit and the PWT 6089 washer-dryer stack have been awarded the coveted and world-recognised iF Design Award for design excellence.

The FlexTouch induction hob gathered points for its simplicity of operation and unique flexibility. Miele's sophisticated technology allows up to five pots and pans to be placed anywhere on the glass ceramic screen. The hob unit detects both the size and position of the utensils automatically. The secret lies in the use of 36 individual induction coils which join to create larger zones. Positions of individual pots and pans are relayed to the hob display for precise mapping. Special aspects: The design of the KM 6395 makes it a perfect match for built-in appliances from the new Generation 6000.

Similarly, the new KWT 6832 SGS wine conditioning unit also basks in the sunshine. This high-performance free-standing unit excels in terms of stylish elegance, low consumption and flexibility. Lovers of fine wines can rest assured that their best bottles are both in the safest of hands and nicely presented with Miele thanks to exclusive high-end features. The highlight of this flagship model is the impressive 'SommelierSet', allowing wine to be decanted for the first time directly from the machine.

The third in line to receive an award was the PWT 6089 washer-dryer stack from Miele Professional's 'OctoPlus' series. This combination creates a high-performance laundry on the smallest of footprints: This stack, standing just less than 2 m high, can wash and dry two 8 kg loads on a floor space of just half a square metre as the tumble dryer is installed on top of the washer. This new combination offers a total of 50 washing and 40 drying programmes.

The iF jury has been promoting 'good design' since 1953, which it defines as being 'courageous, intelligent or passionate (…) humoristic, reputable or sovereign'. Each year, the organisation awards prizes in the categories 'product', 'communication' and 'packaging' after a vigorous selection process.

For decades, Miele has featured regularly among the winners; so, too, in 2013. In its correspondence informing Miele of its fortune, the iF team claims: 'With your design, you convinced and enthused the jury, consisting of experts and acclaimed designers from all over the world.'

(398 words, 2450 characters incl. spaces)

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. 2011/12 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.04 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 16,700 with two-thirds in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.