Extensive research that confirmed hygiene is currently at the top of consumer concerns led Beko to prioritise at-home disinfection when it came to developing its new portfolio of HygieneShield appliances. We take a look at the new products and talk to Vijay Bhardwaj, marketing director at Beko plc, to find out more.
Can you tell us about the concept behind HygieneShield and the research that it's based on?
"Our ground-breaking portfolio of household products, HygieneShield, was created in response to emerging consumer needs in the post-lockdown era. Having conducted consumer research across 31 countries, we found that hygiene was revealed as one of the primary concerns. Many of us are disinfecting supermarket purchases when we get home, worrying about handling mobile phones and keys, or not bringing coats into the house. People have increased the amount of cleaning and laundry in their homes, with some disinfecting bedding for the first time. Our research showed that 75% of people are cleaning the house more often, 64% are doing more laundry and 68% are paying more attention to the cleanliness of the packaging on purchased products."
What are the different products in the range?
"The new portfolio includes seven appliances with in-built disinfection programmes and functions to disinfect packaged food and belongings to help people adjust to the ‘new normal’ at home. Developed with innovative new technology, the HygieneShield product line has the power to kill more than 99% of bacteria and viruses (including coronavirus), providing a level of reassurance that's unrivalled in the marketplace. The home has played a pivotal role in the recent global crisis and as more people start to think about hygiene, it’s more important than ever that everyone should have access to good quality products that care for them and the environment. Beko’s latest innovations have been tailored to help consumers achieve professional levels of hygiene and protect them from infections and diseases."
The new refrigerator disinfects food items in their original and sealed packaging, eliminating more than 99% of bacteria and viruses in approximately 40 minutes.
The tumble dryer's UV Hygienic Refresh programme refreshes up to six dry pieces of clothing. Moreover, the UV Hygienic Drying programme dries and sanitises up to 5 kg of washed laundry, even clothes that need washing at low temperatures.
With a smart algorithm, an additional heater channel and fan system, the hygiene therapy programme fills the drum with hot air to keep the laundry at 60°C to thoroughly sanitise clothes without water. More than 99% of viruses and bacteria are eliminated from 2 kg of clothes in 58 minutes, saving money and the planet from the use of chemicals and extra water.
This oven disinfects food as well as cooking it. Using the disinfecting power of saturated steam and heat there are two separate disinfection programmes available with this appliance. Use of the oven at 70°C for 15 minutes will disinfect the surfaces of packaged food and make the outside of baked goods more hygienic, without affecting their taste and structure. Use of the oven at 120°C for 20 minutes will disinfect items like metal bowls and glass products.
Beko says that the steam mist generated from using higher temperatures and additional hot rinsing ensures that the entire surface of every dish is hygienic. Dishwashers with the Hygiene Intense function can be used with every programme, which provides disinfection using higher temperatures of 60°C (during main wash) and 70°C (hot rinsing).
Coronavirus can survive for five days on smooth surfaces, so the HygieneShield cleaning cabinet uses UV light technology to clean items that consumers have used outside the home or are concerned about, from keys and phones, to packaged food from a supermarket. This portable device can live anywhere in the home and its touch display is said to make it easy to use.
