Refrigeration: The new freestanding Generation K 20.000 units from Miele offer plenty of space and convenience

Shopping list, school timetable, forthcoming doctors' appointments – all readily visible in many families because they are stuck to the door of a refrigerator using fridge magnets. Miele now offers a solution which is as practical as it is stylish: 'Blackboard Edition' fridge-freezer combinations offering a surface which simply invites notes and jottings. This product was recently awarded the coveted iF product design award. These and other door designs are the most striking feature of Generation K 20.000 units. All models sport a puristic design without visible handles, are well endowed and economical in use.

The K 20.000 series comprises refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezer combinations. The award-winning model KFN 29283 D bb is a fridge/freezer combination. As freestanding units with a height of 125 cm to 200 cm, the new-generation models subscribe to the most popular formats on the market. All models sport an A++ or A+++ energy efficiency rating. And, what's more, Miele now offers even greater value for money. 'Thanks to a combination of high energy efficiency, elegant appearances and clever features, we forecast great market potential for these models', says Verena Pohlmann, chief product manager for refrigeration and beverage preparation products in Miele's Domestic Appliances International division.

An XL interior which even accommodates baking trays, exceptionally low sound emissions of an average 38 dB (about as loud as quiet music), the ComfortFrost feature for less frequent defrosting and, not least, connectivity speak in favour of this new range.

The door on the two 'Blackboard Edition' models can be written on with school chalk or liquid chalk markers and is easy to clean. Designed above all with young families in mind, this product is part of an extensive designer range.

New, too, are high-gloss glass surfaces in brilliant white and obsidian black. These sit alongside classic surface finishes in white and stainless steel. The models are straight-laced and puristic and therefore blend in seamlessly with contemporary, high-end kitchens. Side-by-side units are available in white and CleanSteel stainless steel.

Similarly, Miele has dispensed with visible handles. Instead, a recessed handle with assisted opening action (Click2open), guarantees ease of operation, even when the door is opened several times in succession. For the first time, the new model series features a TFT colour display and touch controls, geared to match the design of Miele's Generation 6000 range of kitchen appliances.

Miele is also exploring new avenues with the interior design of its K 20.000 series. A tube of mustard, a small jar of spice paste or a bar of yoghurt chocolate – small items have a tendency to become lost in a large refrigerator or clutter up the door racks. Now, they can be neatly stored in a protected environment in the new CompactCase drawer which can be conveniently housed on any of the refrigerator's rack levels.

Versatile lighting, enduring freshness

All free-standing units feature energy-saving LED lighting which – only on a Miele – slowly lights up to prevent any shock to the eyes when the door is opened. FlexiLight provides uniform and non-glare lighting with light sources along the front edge of glass shelves where they cannot be covered or obstructed. Thanks to side electrical contacts at each shelf level, glass shelves can easily be relocated, taking their light source with them as they go in order, for example, to create space for a large gateau. And the whole subject of lighting is rounded off on fridge-freezer combinations by freezer lighting. This is located along the lower edge of the refrigerator door, providing illumination for the drawers below.

Depending on the model, a variety of systems are available aimed at extending the storage life of food and keeping produce fresh for longer. With the new DailyFresh function, moisture in the vegetable drawer can be regulated separately, improving the storage of fruit and vegetables. In addition to this, PerfectFresh and PerfectFresh Pro both reduce the temperature, resulting in fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and milk products staying fresh for considerably longer.

Verena Pohlmann: 'DailyFresh is very practical in bridging the gap between conventional vegetable drawers and Miele's optimum PerfectFresh and PerfectFresh Pro approaches.'

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Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2014/15 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.5 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for around 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. The Miele company, now in the fourth generation of family ownership, employs a workforce of around 17,740, 10,350 thereof in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.