Lothar Hummel, regional manager, international sales shows off key features of the new M-iQ dishwasher at April's FHA
It was at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Singapore, at a spectacular gala dinner on the night before the opening of the Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2012, that Meiko unveiled its M-iQ series dishwasher to industry profesisonals from Asia Pacific and Australia, with a handful of Middle East delegates representing GCC countries.
The machine, which Meiko promises is set to revolutionise the global dishwashing industry, has already made a huge impact in Europe, taking home three awards, two for its green technology, when it was launched at Germany's Internorga earlier in the year.
Lothar Hummel, regional manager, international sales, said "Everybody in Europe is very eager to save running costs. They're not so bothered about the initial investment costs, but they are eager to save water, energy and chemicals, and this machine is a real innovation compared to everything else on the market - it has more or less taken the market by storm. This is not exaggerated."
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When asked how he thought the machine would perform in the Middle East, where green concerns are not at the same level as they are in Europe, Hummel said: "We must create a lot of consciousness. We must talk with the owners, with consultants, and we must make them aware, because even with low energy costs in the Middle East, the cost is still increasing. You have a problem with the water, and the chemical costs are even more expensive in your area. People will change their thinking."
The main USPs of the M-iQ series are the raft of new processes and the ‘M-iQ M-Filter’ active wash water filter system.
The M-iQ is based on a platform concept that yields high levels of flexibility while enabling highly cost-effective production. By assembling M-iQ machines from individual modules and adjusting their height and width as necessary, Meiko can adapt the system to fit virtually any location.
A completely new airflow system that guides the air against the direction of conveyance makes the very best use of energy resources. The holistic design makes a heat pump superfluous from both energy and air conditioning perspectives.
Operation, documentation and servicing are greatly simplified by a new control system featuring modern interfaces (Bluetooth plus the option of GSM/GPRS) and a glass display with an intuitive user interface. The incorporated computer software can be updated as required.
One of the system's most impressive concepts is its self-cleaning capacity. The only items that require minor manual cleaning after the fully automated cleaning cycle are the wash pipes and screens. Alll items which need to be washed manually are coloured in blue so they can be recognised easily.
At the launch event Meiko reported a growth in turnover from 60 million euros (US $79 million) turnover in 1999 to 250 million euros in 2011.
It also reported a sale of over 1,000 machines since the Germany launch, 50% of which having been sold beyond the German border.
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