Appliance Design - April 2008 - (Page 34)

Inducing r displays n area fo ws how a ns panel. ho ooktop s a Cleartra to uction c ador ind be integrated in Therm tors can .) ica and ind ermador, BSHG h (Photo: T DECORATION Printing patterns on both the top and bottom sides of a clear panel creates a three-dimensional effect on Schott’s Cleartrans. (Photo: Schott.) New concept draws attention to induction cooktops. D by richard babyak 34 applianceDESIGN April 2008 esigners are always looking for new ways to make their products stand out from the competition, and those working on induction cooktop designs have recently been provided with a new option for achieving a distinguished appearance. Developed by Schott Home Tech, Mainz, Germany, Ceran Cleartrans is a glass ceramic cooktop that can present a variety of glimmering metallic shades. The concept plays to contemporary design approaches that establish a connection between a metallic look and high technology. Given that induction heating represents state-of-the-art cooking technology, Cleartrans allows appliance manufacturers to make their induction products distinctly different from conventional cooktops, and some are already taking advantage of that possibility. (See photos.) Cleartrans consists of three parts, the core of which is a transparent glass ceramic. The top surface is decorated with a pattern, which can be created in a multitude of styles, colors, intensities, and textures. The third, and most novel aspect of the concept, is the shiny metallic coating applied to the smooth, nub-free underside of the glass ceramic panel. These coatings are typically comprised of noble metals, such as gold and platinum. The combination of top and bottom coating separated by the thickness of the glass ceramic material creates a 3D effect that contributes to the distinct look of Cleartrans. Another interesting feature of this technique is the potential to use a semi-transparent metal coating in a designated area to permit display and indicator functions to show through. When used in combination with multi-color displays and new LED color options, this approach provides even more design flexibility. The Cleartrans product is temperature resistant up to >500 DegC, which limits its use to induction cooking. But, as the technology develops, the temperature resistance will increase and the application of the product will extend to radiant heating. Schott Home Tech North American operations are based in Louisville, Ky.  For more information, enter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Or email: karen.elder@us.schott.com www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - April 2008

Appliance Design - April 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch A Variant of Thermoacoustic Refrigeration Known as Acoustic-Stirling is Expanding Its Range Outside Cryocooling Into More Conventional Applications Such As Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Free-Piston, Stirling Coolers Are Now Showing Up in Mainstream Applications As Costs Come Down and Heat Transport Solutions Are Devised Heat Exchanger Innovations Are Helping To Improve the Overall Efficiency of Vapor Compression Systems Environmental Concerns Have Once Again Ignited a Debate Over Refrigerants A New Glass Ceramic Material for Induction Cooktops Can Be Decorated In a Variety of Glimmering Metallic, 3-D Looks That Can Employ a Number of Shades, Patterns, Styles, Colors, Intensities, and Textures Colorful, Reflective Coatings for Glass Create a Variety of Design Options To Help Designers Establish a Unique Look for Their Products Appliance Designers Faced With Different Motor and Drive Options Need To Understand the Differences and Tradeoffs Before Choosing A New MEMS Valve Offers a Number of Advantages Over Solenoids In Certain Applications, Including the Opportunity To Cut Energy Use The AHR Expo Set Attendance Records and Showcased Thousands of Innovative New Products Classifieds Design Marts Advertiser’s Index Association Report: CEA

Appliance Design - April 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.