Kitchen & Bath Design News

MAR 2016

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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GE Marks Year One Of FirstBuild LOUISVILLE, KY — GE has crossed the one-year mark with its FirstBuild initiative – a global, online co-creation communi- ty and physical microfactory on the University of Louisville campus. The concept of FirstBuild is to change the way major home appliance products are conceived, designed and man- ufactured, speeding up the process by enabling customization through small-batch production. In its first year, FirstBuild has garnered a global online co-creation community of over 7,500 members from around the world. The mem- bers worked together to create cutting-edge appliances, including the Paragon Induction Cooktop, ChillHub Refrigerator and Opal Nugget Ice Maker. An additional 24 projects are being developed right now, and can be viewed by visiting www.frstbuild.com. In addition, the microfactory in Louisville started producing microkitchens and the Easy-Load Double Ovens, among other prod- ucts, in small batch production. Products that start at FirstBuild can scale up to large-scale production in GE's factories across the country. University of Louisville stu- dents are currently working with FirstBuild on 32 capstone projects – giving them access to state-of-the- art manufacturing equipment and real–life experiences unavailable in a classroom setting. Plans for the second year include a built-in home pizza oven and tech- nology to allow for cofee roasting in a traditional oven. "Our partnership with FirstBuild has exceeded our expectations. Uni- versity of Louisville students are learning in a high-tech, innovative en- vironment in which they are capable of designing and producing concepts and products that will fourish in the 21st Century marketplace," said Dr. James Ramsey, president of University of Louisville. Heck to Succeed Ord at Miele PRINCETON, NJ — Miele's U.S. President Nick Ord has announced he will be stepping down after 34 years with the company. Ord, who will leave at the end of July 2016, plans to pursue new interests out- side of the industry. "This was always going to be a very difcult decision, because it has been a privilege to have worked for this great family-owned business and with so many good colleagues and dealers for so long," said Ord. "The timing of my decision is tied to the strong footing the com- pany now enjoys, which will aid in ensuring a smooth transition to my successor." Succeeding Ord is Jan Heck, who has been president of Miele Canada's operations since 1999. A search process for a successor to lead Miele Canada's operations has begun. March 2016 • KitchenBathDesign.com 17 ardware Arc itectural Your for Fine "Fine Furniture" ® h w w w . m o c k e t t . c o m • 8 0 0 - 5 2 3 - 1 2 6 9 Kitchen Power Grommet PCS77 Circle No. 10 on Product Card

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