From January 19, 2022 (Wednesday), ELECOM Co., Ltd. is an IH hot plate "HOT DISH", which can be easily "made, eat, and clear up" on the Makuake on the purchase site.Previous sales were started.ELECOM, known as an IT -related device manufacturer, is the first product to be launched in the genre of a completely new "white household appliance".

This product is an IH hot plate that is convenient for living alone that can complete one dish with one plate.It is easy to use even for single households, and the aim is to thoroughly eliminate the "equipment -like" of home appliances so that there is no discomfort even if it is left out.And there were various difficulties before realizing this design that seemed simple.Overcoming a lot of difficulties, he told Saeki, a project staff, about the reason why ELECOM developed this product and his thoughts and commitment to the product.

Dissatisfaction in our lives is a hint of development

It was around 2018 that we started development specifically.At that time, there was a story inside the company that wanted to challenge home appliances as a new business, and I was wondering if a newly established design team could do something.In order to propose a new plan with a new team, we have discussed the home appliances they actually use in their lives.I realized that while sending busy days for work and hobbies, I cherished "home time", and that there were similar dissatisfaction with my diet and cooking appliances.

"HOT DISH" project member

From that notice, I would like to investigate in detail in hearing and questionnaire surveys, etc., "I want to cook myself as much as possible for health and beauty" and "I want to enjoy rice slowly at home", but "I have no time" and "Cooking is troublesome."It turned out that there were more people who could not cook self -catering because of the fact that cleaning up was troublesome.

There are already many such dissatisfaction, and the number of single -person households is increasing socially.Can you develop a product that can solve this dissatisfaction?And the design team discussed.

What melts into your life and can easily cook every day

Based on the survey, the team removes the stereotypes of "food is done in the kitchen", and if it is easy to "make", "eat", and "clean up" in everyday life, enjoy the daily home rice more casually.I thought I could get it.

Specifically, basic cooking such as "baking, boiled, steamed" is made on a table, and it is just right for one person.Also, it is much warm until you finish eating, and you want to clean up by reducing the washing.Furthermore, in order to solve the problem that once the cooking appliances are removed, it will be troublesome to get out of it, the aim is to design a tableware that can be placed in a table or kitchen with a highly versatile IH cooking heater.

Many difficulties that were hit to realize their commitment

I proceeded with the project and hit the first wall when I put my idea into a specific design.Because of the challenge to a new area, of course, there are no people in the company who have developed white goods.There are directions and ideas to aim for, but there are no people, organizations, or flows that can realize product development.There were no people who could help to make new projects that were not visible ahead.

Therefore, we asked the department that managed quality control, and searched for a factory that would help us to cooperate by utilizing the strengths of fabless manufacturers.He continued to work inside the company and polished his project.About two years have passed since the idea was to have one developer.

Difficulty to shape a simple design

The next wall after starting the development in earnest is the difficulty of removing the design to realize the concept into the product.Unlike a general hot plate, an IH cooking heater is a digital device with a substrate inside, but the proposed product design was an analog lever -type switch that could intuitively operate the temperature.It is very difficult to operate a change in the digital device setting temperature by lever operation stably.

The design was so difficult to realize, so I was wondering why digital devices could be operated in an analog way.However, in order to achieve design that users can use without stress intuitively, we are particular about installing a lever -type switch along the curved side, so we adjusted the details many times.

He also focused on the concept of "blending into his life", and proposed a positive round design like a dish that looks delicious.In addition, in order to reduce the discomfort when arranged on the dining table, I wanted to make it as small as possible so that the IH body could not be seen as much as possible from above.Normally, many hot plates have a square shape, and there are few rounded ones in the market.Due to the problem of exhaust heat and substrate implementation, it was extremely difficult to realize a round and small IH hot plate.

Nevertheless, the intention of the original purpose, "I want to enrich the time of many people, including those living alone," did not shake.In order to achieve the goal, it was necessary to make it easy to make "make", "eat", and "clean up", and have a stress -free design even if it is left out like a plate.Even with a design concept with little precedent in the IH device, it is not possible to compromise to realize it.He repeated trial and error while changing the structure and circuit with the developer and stakeholders.

Furthermore, it was necessary to take care not to touch a hot plate inadvertently because it looks like a dish.In order to achieve these, we carefully verified secondary prototypes and tertiary prototypes.Although it was a tough task, I was particular about the details so that it would be the best use for users who use this product.

In June 2021, after trial and error, we were able to get a commercialization within the company.

I want to enrich my house time

This time, we have developed HOT DISH, the first white goods sold by ELECOM over three years.Through this development, I felt that there were various difficulties to realize new things, and I needed a strong desire to realize it, the ability to act, and the tenacity.

I hope that as many people as possible will make their daily meals a little fun and rich time by delivering such a lot of difficulties and delivering their commitment.If you feel that you want to eat delicious and satisfying home rice, but you're busy every day and can't do it, please pick it up.

ELECOM plans to develop white goods in the future, starting with HOT DISH.ELECOM's challenge will continue so that he can be gently snuggled up to the lives of people, as he says, "If you notice, the cooking appliances at home were ELECOM."