The axiom according to which the higher are watts the better are the product performances is nowadays obsolete; it is instead true that the quality of a vacuum cleaner is ascribable to mechanical components and suction power.
Vacuum cleaner means an electrical machine intended for cleaning and provided with motor fan able to suck the dust and other filth particles. It consists of an aspirator (a fan mounted on an electric motor) and of a filtering system, all housed inside a body that can take different shapes, colours and lines.
We can group vacuum cleaner models in four typologies – cylinder, canister, electric broom or portable with battery – and distinguish them according to the modality of capturing and disposing the dust.
There are mainly two models, with bag, which is thrown away when it is full, or without bag, that is to say with a container powered or not by “cyclone” that must be periodically emptied.
In the latter model, the so-called “cyclonic”, the air is sucked into a cylindrical body equipped with conical extremity and set in fast rotation, where the dust, due to the centrifugal force, is pushed against the internal wall of the cylinder, then towards the tapered extremity and, finally, into the container.
The air, before being ejected, flows through a high-efficiency filter that retains impurities. Its efficacy depends on the implementation and assembling modality in the vacuum cleaner, it is necessary, in fact, that all sucked air crosses the filter, without leaks, before returning into the environment.
The most debated question, however, has always been connected with power and consumption. Nowadays the axiom according to which the higher is wattage the better are the product performances is overcome; the truth is that the only value of absorbed power does not grant the cleaning performances of the appliance. The quality of a good product is determined by the mechanical components and by the suction power rather than by a higher wattage, only synonym of a higher energy consumption.
Since 2014, the energy label has been introduced for vacuum cleaners, too: it is not possible to produce vacuum cleaners with a power exceeding 1600 Watts, limit that starting from September 2017 will decrease to 900 W; seven energy classes, from A to G; they have introduced the limit of the annual energy consumption, less than 62 kWh yearly; the suction power must reach at least 70% on soft surfaces, like carpets, and 95% on hard floors such as tiles, marble or parquet.
The new regulations concern only vacuum cleaners and electric brooms, excluding battery models, robots and centralized vacuum cleaners.
The introduction of the label has imposed an important change in the vacuum cleaner design to all manufacturers, since nowadays they are studied to consume less while granting better suction performances.
Integrating manifold functions
Not only suction but also an integration of functions aimed at facilitating the cleaning work, transforming it into a less tiring activity, to be carried out with a single instrument on several surfaces.
Different materials, natural or artificial fabrics, coatings: the possibility of intervening effectively on each of them is one of the real advantages of the new machines, as confirms Antonio Albano, Strategic Marketing Manager of Vorwerk Folletto “The company’s target has always been integrating innovation and automation with user-friendliness, thus turning the house cleaning into a simple and gratifying activity. Folletto system has an added value: it treats with a single vacuum cleaner, and related accessories, very different surfaces. In fact, besides sucking the dust, Folletto cleans deeply delicate materials like upholstered furniture and mattresses through washing, permitting to eliminate all those noxious particles that are the cause of disturbances for allergic persons. Folletto VK150 together with its partner EB371, another motor that hooks to a VK150, allows vacuum cleaning automatically carpets and hard floors. Besides, thanks to its accessories, it permits to wash carpets, to beat delicately, to wash and to sanitize the mattress. Moreover, Folletto has also other motors that hook to VK150 for other cleaning needs, like the washing of floors or the care of upholstered furniture. A complete cleaning system that the single consumer can modulate according to his various cleaning needs”.
Susanna Salvaterra, Brand Manager of Miele describes the direction pursued by German company: “The new Miele vacuum cleaner models stand out for their efficacy on surfaces and for the environment protection. All range models belong to the A energy efficiency class and thanks to special brushes and filters they can reach also the A class for the vacuum cleaning of hard floors and for the dust reintroduction. In addition to that, the practicality and the use comfort to which Miele has always paid particular attention”.
Manifold are the aspects at which also Samsung has worked, as tells Carlo Paris, Product Manager White Goods of Samsung Electronics Italia “The performances of the Motion Sync series are concentrated in ultra-compact sizes, low weight, forefront design and multi cyclone force system. Excellent suction performances are granted by the Multi-cyclonic System that, with its exclusive internal structure, Motion Sync Design is equipped with a good fourteen independent air chambers that, generating a high cyclonic force, separate the air from the collected dust and provide high constant suction force in operation, avoiding hitches and bottlenecks”.
Marco Raiola, Marketing Manager Small Domestic Appliances Candy Hoover Group introduces the silence issue “We have just launched the new range 4A Excellence in performance, composed by cylinder vacuum cleaners, with and without bag, able to reach the 4 A in the energy label while assuring excellent silence results. These products allow saving up to 50% of energy compared to the previous high-wattage models, achieve the highest suction performances, up to 111%, over 91% on carpets and up to 99.98% of filtering efficacy; the air reintroduced during the use is always clean, making these products perfect for those suffering from allergies. We can use these appliances at night and while children are sleeping, thanks to the Intense Silent Power System, which is the perfect combination of innovative materials, optimized airflow and super-silent accessories”.
On the same wavelength also Electrolux, Katalin Csörgöl Product Line Manager Italy&Greece explained us the novelties by the Swedish brand: “Last year, in September, we launched our new ranges of cylinder models for the inhabitants of small houses or people specifically demanding for silent operation. 2016 will be the year in which we will focus even more on our product silence, which is an important factor for consumers and which, starting from September 2017, will have mandatorily a value under 80dB(a). The launch of the entire line of rechargeable brooms with the new generation of lithium batteries TurboPower, which assure up to 60 minutes (UltraPower range) and 35 minutes (Ergorapido) of autonomy with a complete recharge in few hours (3-3.5), was an important time for the category. The project is fruit of a detailed study, fully executed in Europe by our team of internal engineers in collaboration with our Design Lab in Stockholm. The other crucial step was to restore the whole production of rechargeable cleaning products in Europe, portable vacuum cleaners included.
To meet the requirements of the consumers who live with pets, we will widen our range of cylinder and rechargeable versions with some specific accessories for the hair removal and with high filtering performance”.
Giampaolo Coggi as well, Product Manager Rowenta, underlines silence as the aspect at which they worked to reach very satisfactory levels, in addition to the commitment to the consumption ambit: “In the development of the new models Rowenta strived to reach the best cleaning performances (especially on hard surfaces) with the lowest energy consumption (Class A). Afterwards, we focused on the silent operation of our vacuum cleaners while keeping the same performances, in fact with the launch of the new Silence Force 4A vacuum cleaners with bag we have reached the top performances with the minimum noise, 66dB(a) only”.
The technological innovation is the protagonist for Dyson. Daniela Pighini, Managing Director Dyson Italia told us how: “We mainly focused on the evolution and on the improvement of the base technology, which refers to James Dyson’s invention concerning the application of the cyclonic separation of particles in the suction field. Since then onwards, the cyclonic technology and its implementations (Dual Cyclone, Radial Root Cyclone, Two Tier Radial Cyclone, Cinetic) have lived a significant increase of the number of cyclones and the reduction of their sizes, with consequent performance improvement. The Cinetic technology, for instance, thanks to the flexible points at the cyclone extremity allows the elimination of the permanent washable filter. Precisely thanks to the development of this technology, also our design activity has changed in terms of models and sizes of vacuum cleaners: the conventional vertical and cylinder vacuum cleaners have been joined by wireless brooms, to which over the years the cyclonic technology has been applied. Besides the integration of this function, which is then the essential one for the product performances, several evolutions of Dyson vacuum cleaners had to deal with other problems: avoiding the contact with dirtiness (containers with quick-release buttons); attention to cleaning criticalities, health and domestic economy (lines and models equipped according to the surface to be cleaned, presence of allergic individuals or pets); finally, handiness, without affecting the traditional long service life and functionality of the product. Wireless V6 brooms are made, like cylinder and vertical models, of ABS and resistant polycarbonates; our lithium batteries have no memory effect and allow an adequate autonomy for conventional cleaning operations, too”.
Ends Sergio Rivellino, Business Unit Marketing Manager Tenacta Group: “Energy saving, cleaning efficacy and silence are the elements that characterize the range of vacuum cleaners by Imetec. The range offer is complete and able to satisfy the various consumption requirements, by size and technology (with bag or cyclonic). The “Eco Extreme Silence Pro” model, for instance, represents the range high-end version, triple A-class coupled with extreme use silence (only 72 dB) thanks to an innovative motor and to an accurate design of the suction room”.
Practicality and performance
Fundamental aspects for the comfortable use of the vacuum cleaner are lightness and manoeuvrability. For this reason, manufacturers have worked on lines, sizes and materials to create more and more comfortable and ergonomic appliances.
They are the guidelines that have ruled the development of the new Vorwerk Folletto products, as underlines Antonio Albano “Shape ergonomics, information Leds, valuable plastics and optimized weight discharges to make it light and handy while using. Choices that, overall, communicate Folletto’s brand identity in distinguished manner and its premium ranking on the market”.
Giampaolo Coggi as well, from Rowenta, specifies that: “Each generation of Rowenta vacuum cleaners is improved to make them more practical and manageable, thanks to new accessories as well as to a study of the vacuum cleaner body that makes the use more and more comfortable. In the new Silence Force 4° cylinders, in addition to extreme handiness (thanks to its 4 pivoting wheels) we were committed, with the use of Rowenta self-sealing and super-filtering bags, to prevent consumers from getting in touch with dust and to eliminate the filter replacement.
In bagless cylinders we have improved the dust management, drastically reducing the possible contact with dust thanks to Ergo Clean System that makes the container emptying very user-friendly, even with one hand only”.
Samsung Electronics Italia specifically concentrated on multi-cyclonic systems, working in particular at the aspects highlighted by Carlo Paris “Independent body from wheels, accessories integrated into the handle, infrared controls and controls from the handle, lightness and ergonomics. With the new Motion Sync F700 Compact vacuum cleaner, the performances of the Motion Sync series are concentrated in ultra-compact sizes, reduced weight, forefront design and multi cyclone force system. The light weight and the small volume increase its handiness, making cleaning operations easier and lighter. Thanks to the ultra-compact sizes, the new Samsung vacuum cleaner is by about 30% lighter and by 40% more compact than the Motion Sync. series. The minimal lines of the rotary body and the inclined wheels grant utmost practicality and stability”.
Integrated wheels and accessories are of primary importance for Miele, too “Our vacuum cleaners are equipped with 3 casters and some models with dynamic drive, too, which makes them very sliding – points out Susanna Salvaterra – Moreover, a bumper protects the vacuum cleaner and house furniture. The accessories integrated into the bodywork of some models, the Park System with quick coupling of the brush to the vacuum cleaner body and the comfort cable to withdraw the entire electrical cable with a simple touch are further equipment granting the use practicality”.
The analysis by Sergio Rivellino for Imetec focuses instead on electric brooms. “In the field of electric brooms, Imetec offer is founded on two characterizing elements: lightness and performance. Thanks to an accurate design and the meticulous choice of materials, the brooms of Piuma line weigh less than 3 kg. The newly- born by Imetec is Piuma Force Cordless, the ultra-powerful 32V rechargeable electric broom with lithium batteries that represents the answer to the ever-growing demand for powerful, but wireless, products. Practicality and power encompassed in a new and exclusive design, with a weight of only 2.7 kg”.
Hoover operated in different ambits and product typologies, as explains Marco Raiola:
“Hoover has always invested to achieve high parameters in the energy label, for instance the new wireless broom Athen Evo is conceived to allow the best comfort and use flexibility. Thanks to the innovative Easy Driving System with 180° ball joint, it is possible to slide around the furniture and the other obstacles met in the house and also to clean the harshest areas with a simple wrist rotation. Whereas for cylinder bagged vacuum cleaners, Hoover has developed the patented Nanopack system, which allows winding comfortably the tube around the product, so that it is possible to store the vacuum cleaner in narrow spaces. Moreover, the possibility of having all brushes on board allows the consumer to have all cleaning instruments always at disposal, and placing the vacuum cleaner after use in more orderly way”.
By Electrolux, instead, “The new families of cylinder Silent Performer and Power Force stand out for their practical pivoting wheels, for a 360° manoeuvrability with Motion Technology, which makes them easy to move and drag in whatever direction. Control pushbuttons and the balanced equilibrium of the appliances allow consumers to press the pushbuttons even with their feet, avoiding bending and then stressing their back. The 180°-opening simplifies the access to filters and bag, for quick maintenance and cleaning. The line of wire Ultraenergica brooms has been designed with optimized centre of gravity that makes the whole appliance balanced, to be able to use it easily with one hand, cleaning all surface types. Thanks to the new generation of lithium batteries, the rechargeable brooms are lighter and more manageable: a slight wrist motion is enough. Since they have slightly enlarged the wheels, the powered broom is optimized for a 180°-manoeuvrability also on carpets, as well as to collect the tiny dust particles, crumbs or coarse debris from hard floors”.
Finally Dyson, always committed to develop strategic choices in terms of shape and ergonomics. According to Daniela Pighini “Since the birth of the vacuum cleaner, Dyson has concentrated its efforts on a functional design, more entrusted with highlighting the fundamental operation parts of vacuum cleaners, rather than a product aesthetics in itself: the visible coloured portions on our products are exactly aimed at this goal. In terms of ergonomics, fundamental was the application of the Ball technology, derived from James Dyson’s first invention: an improvement of the ergonomics of a previous invention such as the wheelbarrow, where the front wheel was replaced by a rotary ball that made it handier and more resistant to collisions and unbalances. Since when the Ball technology has been applied to our products, the result was the achievement of more stable appliances, which in case of dragging (as far as cylinders are concerned) were less subjected to overthrow and then more manageable, therefore able to steer more easily. Concerning lightness, finally, the choice of resistant materials, with not excessive weight, like ABS and polycarbonates, allows the creation of not only efficient but also durable machines, to the detriment of the presumed obsolescence of products in this sector”.
Reducing consumptions
Speaking of consumptions, the power declared by manufacturers for their appliances can vary.
The suction performance, certainly one of the essential aspects to evaluate the overall appliance quality, is not always declared. The power alone is not sufficient, it only informs about the absorption of electrical current, in other words how much the consumption will determine the bill, but with the same absorbed power and filtering modality, the force with which the dust is sucked can, actually, vary even considerably.
The suction efficacy depends on brushes, on the sucking tube and on the filtering system, and not on power only. It is not certain that several Watts are index of better vacuum cleaning result.
To the ends of sustainability, manufacturers have implemented some solutions and developed cutting-edge technologies permitting to keep consumptions low, in favour of a concrete energy saving.
“For years we have adopted eco-sustainability as philosophy in the manufacturing of our products, for both productive processes and the choice of materials. A strategy that has been unavoidably concretized in favour of our consumers. Thanks, in fact, to the introduction of the new energy efficiency class, the Folletto system ranks in A-class on the market”, told us Antonio Albano from Vorwerk Folletto.
Giampaolo Coggi from Rowenta talks about corporate farsightedness: “Rowenta, long before the introduction of the energy label, had launched the ecologic vacuum cleaners with low energy consumptions, for this reason the entire vacuum cleaner range ranks in A-class for energy consumptions, without damaging their performances, they too still in A-class on hard surfaces”.
Imetec as well can boast a primordial awareness of the sustainability theme: “It was the first company in Italy that developed and released on the market a complete product line specifically studied to reduce the energy consumption while maintaining top performances. Over the last few years, our commitment has resulted in the implementation of over 30% of our products sold since 2010 with these requisites, with the target of reaching 70% of our sale proposal within 2016. In the specific sector of vacuum cleaners, all Imetec models of electric brooms and cylinder vacuum cleaners are exclusively proposed in A-energy class”, underlined Sergio Rivellino.
“A motor with low kW and a high suction force can grant excellent suction performances –so Carlo Paris from Samsung Electronics Italia synthesizes the peculiar features of their vacuum cleaners – All models (multi-cyclonic and cyclonic) share the triple A-class that evaluates objectively three parameters: cleaning efficacy, consumptions in Kw and filtering. The suction power expressed in kW (force that reaches the brush) is the real plus of Samsung, which expresses it in the label”.
Same themes for Miele, as expressed by the brand Manager Susanna Salvaterra: “Our engineers’ attention focused on the research of the utmost efficiency of the vacuum cleaner, even with low wattage motors. Consequently, we work hard on the airflow optimization, so that there is the minor possible dispersion and the delivered power reaches the nozzle. Some Miele vacuum cleaners are equipped with Powerchip, an optimized version of the vacuum cleaner electronics core that detects and adjusts the electrical energy consumptions and the motor performances to keep the electrical energy consumption constant and to satisfy the requirements for the A class of the energy label. Besides, we have studied optimized brushes that always allow minor power dispersion and the highest efficiency on all surfaces. Miele filtering system has always featured top levels and therefore all the models with AirClean Plus or Hepa filter reach the A-class of dust reintroduction”.
A strong green policy is pursued by the Swedish Electrolux, too: “Already in 2015, we certified for the Italian market our range of cylinders and wire brooms, with models equipped with motors with a power ranging from 600 W to 750 W, adapting them to the directive. Besides, almost the entire range of cylinders is included in triple A-class, while brooms rank in double A-class. Long time ago, Electrolux started proposing a line of high-performance vacuum cleaners with a strong ecologic bent and excellent performances that, besides drastically reducing the energy consumption in comparison with conventional models, use recycled materials, fully eliminating PVC. The green orientation of our vacuum cleaning appliances is highlighted not only by low energy consumptions but also by the use of recycled plastic up to 70% for the manufacturing of Green vacuum cleaners that are at the same time recyclable by 92%”.
Constant utmost attention by Hoover to optimal performances with the minor energy consumption. According to Marco Raiola “Hoover has worked, in compliance with the new EU regulation about the energy label, decreasing the wattage of vacuum cleaner motors but constantly granting excellent cleaning performances on all surfaces, in order to supply less energy-eating vacuum cleaners but with high performance”.
Very direct the statement by Daniela Pighini, from Dyson Italia: “In the ambit of consumptions, we have always believed it is right to underline that “green” products, as they are presented on the vacuum cleaning market, very often hide inefficiencies or limitations in terms of performances and that “to lurk” behind an ecologic reason does not eliminate the problem of an inefficient performance of vacuum cleaners. The inefficiency in executing cleaning operations determines a longer time and a higher frequency of these operations, involving a higher energy consumptions despite the acknowledgement of an A-class in terms of energy saving. Our position contrasts the current methods of performance assessment for the attribution of the Energy label because carried out in lab and not under real use conditions. First of all, our vacuum cleaners do not provide for the use of consumables like replacement bags or filters. Moreover, our appliances are made of materials that, once reached the end of the household appliance lifecycle, are fully recyclable. Concerning instead the energy saving, we carried out a campaign in favour of the introduction of wattage limits for motors and we have positively welcomed the fact that the energy label, since September 2014, has provided for a maximum power supply for the new vacuum cleaners, establishing a maximum level of 1600 W, in order to reduce the electric energy consumption. Dyson has never engineered, in its history, an appliance with a motor exceeding 1600 W”.
Besides using it attentively, we can save energy by regulating the vacuum cleaner at the minimum power, whenever possible. The most virtuous models, in fact, give the possibility of varying the suction power.
