Spanish steps

The fifth largest appliance manufacturer in Europe, Fagor is set to target consumers with young families and the eco-conscious, with its 2010 collection. To meet the needs of these consumers, it has designed a range of appliances which focus on safety, energy and power-efficient features. All of which, the company claims, culminates in the philosophy of wellbeing’ in the kitchen.

But far from substance leading appliance styling, these models have their practical benefits tied up in a contemporary-design bow. And this design-led range of appliances was recently launched into the UK at kbb Birmingham. Richard Walker, sales and marketing director of De Dietrich Kitchen Appliances (De Dietrich and Fagor) says: kbb was a huge success for us. The show itself delivered a constant footfall of positive new and existing customers, which is testament to the passion and commitment within our industry. The reaction to the new Fagor range could not have been better, and this brand is really turning heads in the market place. Our existing customers are maximising upon our success and new customers are coming on board to take their business to the next level.

Cooking up a storm

Taking centre stage of Fagor’s 2010 collection is its latest line-up of built-in cooking appliances. It features single and double ovens in new anti-fingerprint stainless steel, along with compact steam and combination microwave models. And these ovens were joined by a raft of hob designs from induction, spanning 600mm and 900mm, through to ceramic and gas models. All were on display at the trade exhibition, along with stainless steel and glass hoods, created to be part of the same design family. However, the talking point of the stand was the FSO1700X Touch Control Multifunction Oven with pyrolytic cleaning and steam function. In just one model it illustrates Fagor’s entire design ethos of safety and energy efficiency in a feature-packaged oven.

Taking touch control

The contemporary-styled FSO1700X Touch Control Multifunction oven features 17 oven functions, including Fan Assisted, Conventional, Pizza Setting, Turbo Plus and most notably Steam. Boasting dedicated accessories, it features a stainless steel tray, with glass lid, that helps create the steaming function. And this 52-litre oven also comes complete with 35 pre-programmed recipes, plus a choice of 12 pre-programmed recipes dedicated to steam. Completing the oven functions is a choice of three pyrolytic cleaning systems. Consumers can choose from Economy, when the oven requires a light clean; Intensive, when the oven is dirty and needs a longer clean and an Automatic setting, when the oven’s built-in sensor detects the amount of cleaning required.

Example of efficiency

Although packed with a choice of cooking and cleaning features, the FSO1700X Touch Control Multifunction oven demonstrates Fagor’s drive towards energy and power efficiency, with an energy rating of A-10%. This is a new system of EU energy rating, which illustrates the oven is 10% more efficient than a standard A- energy rating.

Helping to achieve this standard, Fagor has built-in power saving lighting features (which can be overridden when desired). The two internal halogen lights switch off after two minutes and the illuminated controls can be dimmed to save power.

However, the oven has been designed so that its cooking functions can also save energy. It features a pause control, like on consumer electronics, which can pause and re-start the cooking process, so no energy is wasted. In addition, it features an Exact Temperature control, so dishes can be placed in the oven during preheating, making cooking quicker and thus saving energy.

Scoring on safety

Using high temperatures to clean this flagship Touch Control oven, it’s perhaps not unsurprising that safety ranks highly in its design. And, as you would expect, features such as triple-glazed doors and a door lock that is automatically operated at 300’C, when the Pyroclean function is chosen, are part and parcel of the specification.

However, Fagor offers additional safety features. The FSO1700X Touch Control Multifunction oven boasts a child lock which can be operated when the oven is in use. Plus, should the oven be left on inadvertently, it will switch off after 10 hours if the temperature is lower than 100CC. If over 100’C, it will switch off after three hours, unless timed to remain cooking. In addition, there is also a residual temperture indicator, when the oven is heating up or cooling down. Even after the oven has stopped cooking or cleaning, the icon will remain on until the heat level is less than 60CC.