July 28, 2014

Known for its horse racing and baseball, Louisville, Kent. is also home to General Electric (GE) and it’s 1,000-acre Appliance Park. Along with several other media guests, I was invited to take part in a GE Appliances tour and learn about the new ideas, startups and products the company is exploring.

To exemplify its love of innovation, GE unveiled its FirstBuild microfacility on Thursday, July 24. This startup was created to help accelerate new product introductions through an online community. Members can participate by designing products and helping to solve engineering challenges. In collaboration with the University of Louisville, Local Motors, MakerBot and TechShop, the facility is working to create products like an easy-slide oven door; an oven that scans barcodes and automatically sets a cooking method; and particularly micro-kitchen concepts.

Between downsizing baby boomers and the changing employment picture for Gen Y, the population is more often choosing smaller dwellings and therefore micro-kitchen concepts. Through facilities like FirstBuild, GE is expecting to accommodate this need. The general idea is for a full kitchen suite in six linear feet—including an oven, microwave, sink, dishwasher and countertop space. Although the product is still a prototype, the company is improving upon the design for consumers that are looking to downsize.

Also in the kitchen, homeowners have started asking for alternatives to stainless steel. Long gone are the days of white and bisque appliances, but the sleek look of stainless steel tends to show every fingerprint and smudge, leaving it a messy choice for busy kitchens. GE’s slate appliance finish has the feel of stainless steel but with a matte quality that leaves no trace behind. This warm and neutral tone blends easily with most any surrounding. This year, GE will expand its slate offering to include built-in products such as wall ovens, slide-in ranges and cooktops.

Pfister also collaborated with GE on slate, expanding its offerings of Pasadena kitchen faucets in slate to also include a bath series. As the developers noted, other alternatives to stainless steel have been introduced, such as rustic bronze and fire toned, but few reach mass scale. Slate is neutral and safe, and the Pfister faucets in slate translate the color into a brush finish to bridge the traditional breakdown.

Since schedules are growing busier and yet homeowners are more likely to want a home-cooked meal, GE has also come out with new solutions. GE’s Brillion technology allows users to control appliances with their smartphones and can preheat, shut off, notify, instruct and alert. The GE Advantium Speedcook Oven cooks food two to eight times faster than a conventional oven with the same results. New double ovens are also providing a shorter preheat and an additional self-cleaning feature.

Among these new products is the Monogram line. Dishwashers have evolved from basic, steel pieces to sleek fixtures with hidden features. Fridges can either integrate into cabinetry or stand out with custom-designed fronts. With a gray interior, a new prototype from First Build replaces the traditional white interior and offers new features like slow-close drawers. For those looking for more ADA-approved fixtures, the French door wall oven is proving to be both useful and aesthetically pleasing for all ages.