Laundry and drying products are growing

Both washing machines and dryers have gained increasingly higher capacities in recent years – they have grown on the inside without their outer dimensions becoming larger. And even bigger machines are just around the corner.

We have previously written on APPLiAnytt that white goods manufacturers are continuously developing their products so that they become increasingly energy efficient, and that there are now products in several product categories that easily meet the requirements for the best energy label, energy class A, even though it has only been a little over two years since the new energy label was introduced.

Product development is of course not only about energy efficiency, but also about other parameters, such as capacity. In washing and drying, most manufacturers now have machines that can wash close to ten kg and dry the same amount, and the combined machines are usually able to wash around nine kg and dry around six kg.

If you stick to the standard dimensions (i.e. 60 cm width, 85 cm height and 65-70 cm depth), there are actually models from, for example: Candy and Hoover which has a capacity of 14 kg of laundry. If you have space for a washing machine that is 70 cm wide and almost a meter high (with a depth of 77 or 85 cm), you can find models from LG with a 17 kg capacity and from Samsung with 18 kg capacity.

When it comes to dryers, Candy and Hoover offer models with standard dimensions that can dry as much as 11 kg, and Samsung has a machine in its range that can dry no less than 16 kg, but then it has the same external dimensions as the matching washing machine (i.e. 69 cm width, 98 cm height and 85 cm depth).

The standard-sized combined washer-dryers can handle 14 kg of washing and 9 kg of drying, and come from Candy and Hoover.

New form factors

An example of a new form factor in washing and drying is LG WashTower, which was launched last fall and is a combined washing machine and dryer with a separate drum, so basically two products placed on top of each other instead of two functions in one drum.

– Smart functions and solutions are important to make washing an activity that does not feel burdensome. Our new WashTower has functions that make everyday tasks easier, Smart Pairing, where the washing machine's washing program that is used is automatically transferred to the dryer's drying program, and TurboWash, a program that washes your laundry in only 39 minutes. WashTower's user-friendly display is placed between the two machines and improves ergonomics, and because WashTower is stacked vertically, it is perfect for narrow laundry rooms, says Mats Haglund, product specialist in white goods at LG Nordic.

The LG WashTower (which is 60 wide, 166 cm high and 66 cm deep) washes 12 kg and dries 10 kg, and has the two best energy classes for a washing machine and dryer, respectively, A and A+++. Using AI DDTM (Artificial Intelligence Direct Drive), the washing machine can identify not only the weight of the laundry but also the nature of the fabrics and then apply the most appropriate washing pattern for each wash, LG states, and says that this treats the laundry more gently to preserve fabrics and colors for as long as possible. With the Smart Pairing function, the dryer synchronizes its settings from the washing machine.

Around the corner

At IFA 2023, both LG and Samsung showcased upcoming combined washer and dryers with a capacity of no less than 25 kg of laundry and 13 kg of drying.

LG unveiled its latest addition to the second-generation LG Signature range, a combined washer and dryer with heat pump and Twinwash, which means there is a small washing machine placed under the main drum, which is said to be ideal for cleaning delicate clothes or daily exercise equipment.

The product's AI-powered washing and drying program detects fabric types and load size, as well as the presence of residual moisture, and automatically applies the optimal settings for the best washing and drying results, LG announces, adding that the drying process conveniently begins automatically as soon as the washing cycle has finished, reducing operating time.

The product's smart touch door and voice recognition features allow users to, for example, start the machine and open its door, with virtually no effort at all. Voice commands can also be used to set washing or drying programs, while the washing machine itself can verbally update users on the status of their laundry.

Samsung introduced a combined washer and dryer with Digital Inverter Heat Pump technology under the hood – the dryer uses a heat pump – and with AI Wash, the machine senses the weight and softness of the fabric in each wash, as well as the current dirt level, based on water turbidity, to optimize the amount of water and detergent. Using this information, it continuously adjusts the soaking, rinsing, and spinning times to achieve the best results quickly and efficiently, Samsung states.

“The Bespoke AI Washer/Dryer Combo was unveiled at IFA 2023 for the first time and product availability will vary by country,” said Junhwa Lee, EVP and Head of the Customer Experience Team of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics.

Text: Ola Larsson

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