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SANYO Announces the World-First*1
Drum Type Washing Machine
with ‘Air Wash’ Function
- Disinfecting & Deodorizing using
Ozone -
Change air to Ozone, Eliminate odors & bacteria*2
from clothing, Purify final rinse water |
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Tokyo, February 2, 2006 ---- SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), based
on its new vision ‘Think GAIA’, and using ‘tackle
global environmental problems’ as a keyword, is committed to
businesses using water circulation and recycling technology applications.
The ‘AQUA’, is a drum type washer/dryer that values the
importance of water, by applying technology that has previously only
been used in industrial products, to home use. With ‘AQUA’,
which is the world’s first*1 washer/dryer to utilize ozone,
which enables ‘reduction of water’ and ‘recycling
of water’, SANYO has broken away from conventional thinking
and is offering a completely new cleaning technology.
| Product |
Drum Type Washer/Dryer |
| Model Number |
AWD-AQ1 |
| Capacity (Wash/Dry) |
9.0kg/6.0kg |
| MSRP |
262,500 yen (250,000 yen without tax) |
| Initial Monthly Production
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20,000 units |
| Start of Sales |
March 11, 2006 |
| Color |
(W) Pearl White (T) Metallic Brown |
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| Background and Aim behind Development: |
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Since the Kyoto Protocol has come into effect, the concern for
environmental problems has risen, with initiatives to counter global
warming such as ‘Cool Biz’, which was introduced last
summer in Japan as an initiative for office workers to wear cooler
clothes and have companies not lower the temperature of the Air Conditioners
as much.
In naming this product ‘Aqua’, SANYO tries to express
its feelings about the environment- ‘The water that we use isn’t
unlimited’; ‘This washing machine values the importance
of water ’ - into this drum type washer/dryer,.
SANYO forecasts the overall demand for washing machines in Japan
for fiscal year 2005 at approx. 4.57 million units (a 102% increase
compared to last year), and of this, the demand for fully automatic
washing machines is approx. 4.28 million units (a 103% increase
compared to last year) - about the same level of demand as last
year. Conversely, the market for washer/dryers is approx. 1.2 million
units (a 135% increase compared to last year), which captures about
28% of the fully automatic washing machines market. This implies
one out of four customers that buy a fully automatic washer chooses
a washer/dryer type. SANYO expects the washer/dryer market to expand
along with the needs for diversification of washer/dryers types
in the future.
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| 1. |
World-First*1 Disinfecting & Deodorizing*3
using Ozone Function: ‘Air Wash’
Conveniently eliminate bacteria and odors from difficult-to-wash clothing
and small items at home by utilizing the power of Ozone.
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There are many such cases in everyday life
when items such as business suits or pillows etc. can’t easily
be cleaned in the house, or that catch smoke and other odors, but
not to the extent to wash by water or send to the dry cleaning.
SANYO has achieved with ‘AQUA’, the world’s first*1
‘Air Wash’ function that enables easy disinfection &
deodorization*3 of clothes without using water, by utilizing the power
of air at home. ‘Air Wash’, injects air combined with
Ozone on the articles inside the drum, and is able to disinfect &
deodorize*3 in about a 30 minute process. The Ozone that is injected
inside the drum decomposes odors and bacteria and then goes back into
the air. This washing machine is ideal for situations such as 1. Wanting
to deodorize without washing, 2. Disinfect without washing, 3. Not
wanting to wash the item right away, 4. Easily wash the item and 5.
Cannot wash in water. Also it is shown to be effective for countering
pollen and odors of pets. For clothing and small objects that would
normally lose their shape with the tumbling action of the drum, this
new washing machine enables operation by setting these items on a
shelf inside the drum.
*1 As of February 2, 2006, with regards to home use drum-type washer/dryer
*2 Change the oxygen in the air to ozone, and eliminate bacteria and
odors
*3 Tests conducted by Japan Food Research Laboratories/ Testing methods
agar plate cultural method, bacteria elimination using ozone
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| 2. |
World-First*1 Purifying Water*4
using Ozone Function: ‘Aqualoop’
Cleans the rinse water without disposal, enabling recycled use of
the water, thus achieving the industry-best*5
water conservation (use approx. 50L of water).
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SANYO’s new washing machine stores
water used in final rinsing in a storage tank and infuses ozone in
micro-bubble form (very fine air bubbles) into it, disinfecting and
cleaning the water. This thus allows the water to be reused without
disposal, and is the World-first ‘Aqualoop’ function.
Since the purified water is used for laundry (washing), the new washing
machine has successfully achieved the industry-best water conservation
of approx. 50L of water. Furthermore, the purified water is also used
for dehumidification when using the dryer function. Thus the large
amount of tap water used till now during drying is not used at all.
Hence the amount of water used for both washing and drying, is the
same as that used during washing alone, thus making possible the industry-best
50L of water usage.
Also, since during the drying process, no tap water is used and instead
a large amount of purified water, stored in the tank is used, SANYO
has successfully significantly raised the drying efficiency. Owing
to this, the operation time from washing to drying is an Industry-Best
approx. 180 minutes.
*1 As of February
2, 2006, with regards to home use drum-type washer/dryer
*2. Change the oxygen in the air to ozone, and purify final rinse
water
*3. As of February 2006, with regards to home use drum-type washer/dryer |
| 3. |
Easy-to-use design learnt from the kitchen: ‘Kitchen
Work Style’
Incorporated ideal height while standing in this design. |
Since this is a product to be used daily, SANYO tried
to achieve the ideal height for tasks done while standing. The height
of the center of the drum is approximately 85cm. – the same
as the most convenient height for working in the kitchen for women
of average height.
Moreover, in addition to the right-side open type washing machine,
SANYO has also made available the left-side open type washing machine*4
to match the needs of a wide range of customers, considering different
types of their installation locations and usability.
*4. Only for (W) Pearl White Model |
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| 1. |
Industry’s largest opening of approx. 38 cm diameter
for easy access |
| 2. |
‘Lift up baffle’ prevents the clothes from leaning
to one side inside the drum |
| 3. |
‘Non-detergent course’ option to remove light
dirt from clothes without detergent |
| 4. |
‘Mold guard course’ guard against black mold,
using Ozone’s disinfecting effects |
| 5. |
‘Ozone steam course’ to break down dirt and remove
it using Ozone |
| 6. |
‘Drying shelf’ enables drying of delicate clothes,
stuffed toys, shoes etc. without the
tumbling action |
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| Model number |
AWD-AQ1 |
| Capacity (washer/dryer) |
9.0kg/6.0kg |
| Dimensions |
1209mm (H) x 636mm (W) x 695mm (D) |
| Width of Body |
596 mm |
| Amount of water used for washer |
50L (9.0kg) when using recycled water
80L (9.0kg) when using tap water |
| Amount of water used for dryer |
Zero |
| Amount of water used for washer/dryer |
50L (6.0kg) when using recycled water
78L (6.0kg) when using tap water |
| Color |
(W) Pearl White (T) Metallic Brown |
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| For Reference - Familiar Ozone Uses: |
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Disinfecting Function:
Mineral water, aquarium pool, food factory, fresh produce market,
seafood and vegetables, operating room medical apparatus
Deodorizing Function:
Bathroom sink, refrigerator, small water purification tank, water
purification plant, air purifier
Bleaching Function:
Pulp bleaching, food discoloration, factory disposal of dye
Please note the contents of this press release are regarding the
product sold in Japan. An overseas launch of this product has not
been decided yet.
Information contained in this news release, including product
prices, specifications and content of services is current on the
date of the news release, but may be subject to change without prior
notice.
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