Hitachi Global Life Solutions has announced that the vertical washing machine "Beat Wash" has achieved a total of 10 million units in February 2022.[See another image about this article] Beatwash, which was released in June 2004, was a drum type even in a swirl (vertical cleaning method) by "push, hit, and wash".Nevertheless, it is developed as a "third generation beat type".It is still gaining popularity as a mechanism that has the power to remove dirt while saving water.In addition, in addition to the first time in 2011, a "automatic cleaning", which automatically washing the washing tub was washed, was installed in 2011, introduced a "wind iron course" that enhances the drying function, which is an unprotected lid.And it is still evolving.According to GFK JAPAN data, the washing machine market in 2021 was 5.2 million units as the same as the previous year, exceeding 5 million for the fourth consecutive year.The drum type, which is good at 14%year -on -year, is still performing, but even now, in terms of quantity configuration ratio, the drum type is 17%, the vertical type is 80%, and the tank type is overwhelmingly large.A machine.Even so, Hitachi's beatwash is very popular with its own cleaning method.Looking back on the achievement of 10 million units, we talked to the launch in 2004 and the current product planning staff about the difficulties and current trends at the time of development.■ Beatwash is a characteristic effort to improve the detergency of Hitachi washing machines born from dried technology, not laundry.This was a soft water that is suitable for removing dirt using the "salt" at home.Although it was necessary to add salt, Hitachi's washing machine was evaluated due to its high detergency.After that, the Beatwing was born while improving dry performance and water saving, which was a vertical weak point, as the drum type became widespread.With a plate -shaped "pulsator" that rotates at the bottom of the washing tub, the laundry has been moved significantly and a "push, hit, and wash".According to Yusuke Morikawa (currently the Marketing Headquarters CRM Department CRM), who was working as a product planning in 2004, the Beatwing was initially developed to improve drying performance, not cleaning performance.When I tried using this for cleaning, I found that the laundry was improved and it had high detergency, so I recalled, "It was a scale from my eyes."Regarding the task of water saving, the laundry was always circulated with a pump from the top so that the laundry was always immersed in a detergent (watered water), and made it "like a swimming clothes".As a result, we arrived at detergency beyond the previous ion cleaning while saving water.In addition to the addition of functions, the design and the actual usability are continuing to improve, and the operation panels are integrated into the lid part, and the wiring is stored in the hinge part and it is not noticeable.He has verified it.■ Polish the washing tub directly with a brush? I was told about the various trial and error that did not appear in the table and the difficulties of developing the development so far.One of them is a measure against black mold around the washing tub, which was often raised as a common washing machine.The company tried to say that the laundry had a black thing (black mold), "let's wash off the mold directly with a brush."He tried a variety of methods, such as a mechanism to insert a brush with human hands so that it can be washed, and how to attach a small brush inside the main unit.Although the method of "washing with a brush" was not realized as a result, we focused on changing ideas and focusing on "prevent mold from growing instead of dropping the attached ones", and the automatic cleaning function is 2011.Born in the year.In the latest model "BW-DX120G", etc., it is automatically washed off sebum stains, detergent scum, bacteria, black mold spores, etc., which are easy to adhere to the invisible part, such as the back of the washing tub, to suppress black mold.As a unique function for Hitachi, there is also a process of rinsing after rinsing and rinsing from the top with a clean tap water shower.Currently, manufacturers are using technology to keep the washing tub beautiful, but the various trial and error of the development team, including technology that did not realize as a result, such as the method of washing with the above brush.It seems to be linked to the evolution of.In addition, in the dry function that is a vertical weakness, it is also used in the beatwash by applying the technology of "wind iron", which is a characteristic of the drum type "Big Drum" (Beatwash's functional name ".It is said that there was a lot of trouble for the "iron course".In the drum type, the laundry can be lifted up by rotation and the wind can be passed through, but in the vertical type, it requires considerable wind power to lift it up from the bottom and dry it, and it also needed to devise feathers.Therefore, in the 2020 model, a new jet fan motor that blows a high -speed wind of about 500 km / h is newly installed on the fan unit.In addition, by creating a hollow in the new beat wing, a high -speed wind that reached the bottom was sent upwards, so that the wind hits the clothes from the top and bottom to reduce wrinkles and dry them.Morikawa explains that two turning points and the future washing trends in the Beatwash for more than 17 years, and there were two major turning points.One is the new "glass top design" born of the 10th anniversary of the birth.The two -fold lid, which had been common, had a lot of debate in the introduction of a single plate lid, because if a dryer was placed on a washing machine, it would hit a dryer.Nevertheless, commercialization has been decided due to the goodness of the finished design and the fact that the surface has little irregularities and easy to care for.Just because the glass door in the refrigerator was also popular, a highly designed gallery came out.Another turning point is the development of technology that is a substitute for a "circulation pump".The circulation pump was a technique for saving water, and was costly to install it.Therefore, by changing the shape of the blades of the beat wing, we have developed a method that can be washed so that water is applied to the laundry without a pump.It has reached the current form while considering the balance such as preventing the cloth damage.Ryuta Dei, the chief of the Corporation Product Planning Division, which is in charge of the current product planning, points out that the number of washing style in the corona evil has increased considerably.This is clearly clear that the user's use history, etc. can be collected as big data through smartphone app linkage.Hitachi has adopted a "bactericidal cleanliness course" since 2021, while washing machine manufacturers have become a characteristic trend of strengthening their clean functions.It is said that the mist of tap water is sprayed on clothing and heated by heating with warm air, and it is easy to use for things that are concerned about shape collapse, bags, uniforms, coats, hats and cushions that cannot be washed in water.[Correction] At the time of the first appearance, the "Escinerous Clean" course was taken from 2020, but it was correctly from 2021 (17:40), as well as the current washing trend, such as automatic insertion of detergent.Mr. Dei explained that the direction of "reducing" and the "height of design", which leads to the satisfaction when placed, is attracting attention.Under such circumstances, it seems that what is always required is the detergency, which is the basic performance.As a general image, the vertical type is more advantageous than the drum type in terms of cleaning power, but Hitachi says that both drums and vertical types are the same cleaning power.This is a major factor because the large diameter "big drum" enables high detergency by hitting from a high place.Therefore, even if you are wondering whether to use a drum type or vertical type, you can consider it in other items such as design and place.It seems that it is a good era that makes it easy to choose a washing machine based on the ideas and lifestyle of the users, such as the popular drum type and familiar vertical type.

Home Appliance Watch, Akira Nakabayashi