There’s No Place Like Home: 5G Heralds the Rise of Smart Home Appliances

If the idea of home appliances conjures up boring images of microwaves or refrigerators, think again. We’re entering a new era of smart home appliances that will combine with fifth-generation wireless broadband technology (better known as 5G) to offer consumers a lot more than their traditional counterparts. This next generation of appliances can be controlled with the help of commands from a central system or communicate with other appliances in a network to make certain decisions for the owner. From every corner of the house, smart appliances – ovens, toasters, refrigerators, stoves, microwave ovens, air conditioners, thermostats, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, lighting systems, television sets, sound systems, garage doors, hot water systems, security systems, even toilets and more – will operate using mobile computing devices, a simple app, and some kind of 5G network that connects the user with the devices.

They all promise added convenience, time saved and reductions in power consumption that should flourish over the next few years as the infrastructure for wireless 5G broadband slowly integrates with the $22 billion U.S. household appliance manufacturing industry.¹

WHY ALL THE FUSS?
As smartphones and other digital devices get smarter and more numerous – and as the applications they run generate ever more data – the wireless network that connects them must be faster, more reliable and efficient to keep pace. Enter the 5G communication network, the emerging motherlode of broadband technology that is being rolled out by telecommunications companies to bring faster, more reliable and increased connections to users and will eventually unleash the full potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), where every digital device on the planet is connected: phones, computers, robots, cars, anything and everything – including smart home appliances. Although 5G is not scheduled for launch until 2020, appliance manufacturers are already incorporating elements of the coming standard’s specifications into their products.¹ Why? Several trends of tech-savvy consumers that demand new functions using connected technologies will drive the increase in sales of smart home appliances:

• The rising adoption of mobile devices and technologically advanced products; the expanding 5G network of high-speed Internet.
• The energy-efficient nature of the appliances themselves.
• Technological advancements in the fields of connectivity mediums, sensors, microchips, and hardware products.
• The declining prices of connectivity modules.²

These trends have already led Samsung, LG and other prominent consumer electronics manufacturers to shift their focus from mature businesses (such as smartphones and televisions) to the smart home appliance market.¹ For example, Samsung Electronics Home Appliance America recently began production of washing machines in their $380 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newberry, SC. The plant will eventually employ over 900 workers that operate two manufacturing and assembly lines with 20 presses and 30 injection molding machines, with plans to produce one million washing machines in 2018. Much of the production in this 450,000 sq ft plant is focused on robotics, with robots ferrying specially designed trays of parts and other robots retrieving the pieces and putting them together. “The process can be slower than at other manufacturing facilities,” said plant manager Tony Fraley, “but more mechanization means higher productivity and also fewer scratches that can come along with human handling.” ³

The global market for electric household appliances is projected to reach 1.5 billion units by 2020 when 5G begins.⁴ Along the way in 2019, sales of automatic washers will increase to almost 11 million units (or 4.6 percent), dryers will increase to 8.4 million units (3.4 percent), gas ranges and surface cooking units will increase to 3.9 million units (3.9 percent), gas furnaces will increase to 3.5 million units (5.1 percent), dehumidifiers will increase to 2.5 million units (6.1 percent), and freezers will increase to just over 2 million units (4.1 percent).⁵

The vast growth opportunities in 5G-connected smart home appliances have already lured technology giants Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Cisco, Intel, Xiaomi and Apple into this market with embedded microphones, sensors and large numbers of cloud integrations that can connect all sorts of appliances to the Internet through Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri or other voice control assistants.¹ As thousands of new 5G cell towers are installed across the country over the next few years, IoT will permeate the appliance industry and revolutionize the consumer experience like never before with innovations that were once unthinkable: From refrigerators that monitor food and alert you when something’s going stale, to mobile apps that allow people to operate their dishwashers while they’re out shopping, to washing machines with Amazon Dash that enable them to order laundry detergent online instantly with the press of a button.²

EXPERIENCE MATTERS
As appliances become more personal, intuitive and human-like, the key to future success for appliance manufacturers will be to redefine the customer experience. “Gone are the days when consumers bought what’s available in the market,” notes Carlo Alberto Degli Atti, the co-founder and chief executive officer of thingle.me, an information technology site that helps manufacturers improve service to their end-users. “Now it’s the other way around, with consumers influencing what’s available in the market. In other words, customers enjoy greater bargaining and decision-making power than distributors do.” ²

Using the Internet and social media, consumers will be better informed and demand greater value for their money throughout the lifecycle of an appliance. “Customer service can never be understated, but the key to success as an appliance manufacturer in the digital age lies largely in how well they anticipate customer needs and how quickly they convert them into a valuable proposition,” explains Degli Atti. “Contrary to what many manufacturers believe, post-sales goes beyond customer support and technical assistance. It offers them chances to connect with customers and unleash opportunities to produce tangible business results. For example, a manufacturer can suggest that consumers replace their water filter every other month while, at the same time, they offer them the convenience of buying that new filter on the spot. This promotes and sells parts while providing service, enabling them to retain and reinstate customer faith in their brand.” ²

Manufacturers can also offer something extra to the users of their appliance, such as DIY tools, handy tips, or customized props tailored to the age group or other demographic. “This builds brand image and reputation while tapping into the evolving demands of a highly competitive market. It’s a service-driven business strategy that connects with buyers who no longer want to spend time looking for product documentation, searching for an invoice, or making multiple calls to support helplines for help with their appliances,” adds Degli Atti.²

References

1. “Smart Home Appliances Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016-2024,” Transparency Market Research. Retrieved on March 9, 2018, from www.transparencymarketresearch.com/smart-home-appliances-market.html.
2. “The Changing Dynamics of the Appliance Manufacturing Industry,” Carlo Alberto Degli Atti, Customer Experience Blog, November 9, 2016. Retrieved on March 9, 2018, from thingle.me.
3. “Samsung Kicks Off U.S. Production of Premium Home Appliances,” Samsung Newsroom U.S., January 12, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from news.samsung.com/us/samsung-kicks-off-us-home-appliances-production; “Samsung Launches Second Appliance Line at South Carolina Facility,” SC Biz News, March 19, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018, from scbiznews.com/news/manufacturing/74078.
4. “Household Appliance Manufacturing Industry Profile,” Dunn & Bradstreet, February 19, 2018. Retrieved on April 6, 2018, from www.firstresearch.com/Industry-Research/Household-Appliance-Manufacturing.html.
5. “Forecasts and Shipments,” Appliance Design, February 2018. Retrieved on March 9, 2018, from www.appliancedesign.com/ForecastShipmentArchives.

Appliance manufacturers and the fabricators who supply them with parts, assemblies and other support services see all of these trends as big opportunities to grow their business, but competition can be brutal. To help them stay competitive, here is some of the latest fabrication equipment that can reduce cycle times, make complex parts quicker and more accurately, and save them more time and labor:

The World’s Fastest Automated Bending Cell for Appliance Manufacturing
The TruBend Cell 7000 from TRUMPF is comprised of a TruBend 7036 Cell Edition press brake, a BendMaster bending robot, a LoadMaster Bend material handling unit, a pallet system and tracks, all within an enclosure that requires only 69 sq ft of floor space.

Deep-Box Bending of Sheet Metal Makes Appliance Manufacturing Easier
The X-Press SuperCustom press brake from Gasparini uses 1,300 mm daylight with 900 mm tool adapters to produce very deep boxes up to 600 mm and easy bending of the biggest sheet metal parts.

Guided Pierce Cylinders for Appliance Manufacturing
These hydraulic cylinders from Coldwater Machine feature an internally self-lubricated, guided rod inside a steel cylinder body that provides stable, non-rotating performance with the ability to reach hydraulic pressure of up to 3,000 psi.

Corrosion Protection for Galvanized Steel Used in Appliance Manufacturing
InterCoat ChemGuard from Chemcoaters continues to protect during bending, stamping, welding, post-painting and even shearing of the steel.

Software Tools Provide Competitive Advantages in Appliance Manufacturing
Software tools from Lantek Systems can maximize the profitability of design, nesting and sheet metal fabrication processes used in building stoves, washers, dishwashers, ovens or other home appliances.

Accelerated Fabrication of Complex Stamped and Wire Components for Appliances
The 4Slide NC system from Bihler features variable production speeds up to 250 ppm that combine with a standard servo clamp feed or optional endless “caterpillar” feed to reduce manufacturing times by up to 50 percent for a variety of part sizes.

Extend Blanking Line Capabilities with Automated Stacking
Coil-fed laser blanking systems from LaserCoil use end-of-line robotic stackers in either single or dual stations that are side-by-side capable and can reach 120 spm.

How to Heat Treat D2 and A2 Steel for Precision Metal Stamping Operations
The Model HL7-M24 box furnace from Lucifer Furnaces has chamber dimensions of 12 in H x 18 in W x 24 in D and heats to 2,300 deg F with 15 kW heat supplied through easy to replace, coil-wired heavy duty heating elements in V-grooved radiant panels on sides, back and door of the furnace.

Industry 4.0 Machinery for Smart Factory Operations
ToolCell press brakes from LVD Strippit use the Easy-Form Laser adaptive bending system for in-process angle monitoring via laser scanners located on the front and back of the press brake table.

Monitoring Control for Advanced Fiber Laser Cutting
The M800 laser control on the Mitsubishi Advanced 800 Series eX-F fiber laser cutting machine from MC Machinery Systems has a processing speed up to 100 m per minute and includes an expanded cutting condition library with even more flexibility for improved hole circularity and process times on small geometrically intensive parts.

Press Brakes Automatically Adjust for Deflection on Tough Jobs
The EasyCrown Hydraulic Crowning System on Piranha press brakes from Mega Manufacturing eliminates guesswork and rework on tough jobs by automatically compensating for deflection through hydraulic cylinders in the brake’s bed.

Laser Cutting of Polished Stainless, Aluminum, Brass and Copper at Full Power
Job shops and OEMs can cut even the most reflective “red” metals using CL 900 series fiber laser cutting systems from Cincinnati Incorporated that use 8 kW nLIGHT alta fiber lasers with proprietary back reflection technology.

Turn Every Design into a Successful 3D Print
Sunata software from Atlas 3D works seamlessly with direct metal laser sintering printers, eliminating the expensive and time-consuming simulation process that plagues 3D design engineers.