SlimTech™ Insulation Technology named winner in the Home category and an honoree for Design of the Year
SlimTech™ insulation technology, the first vacuum insulated structure technology in a refrigerator in the North American market, has been recognized by Fast Company with an “Innovation by Design” award in the Home category, while also being named an honoree for “Design of the Year.”
“We are thrilled to have Fast Company recognize what we believe is the most significant innovation in refrigeration in the past 50 years,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “Like the electric wringer washing machine and the first home dishwasher, SlimTech™ insulation technology is another milestone in Whirlpool Corporation’s 113-year history of purposeful innovation and improving life at home.”
Announced in November 2023, SlimTech™ insulation technology fundamentally rethinks the design and manufacturing of a refrigerator by replacing bulking polyurethane foam with a proprietary, powder-like material that is held in a vacuum within the structure of the refrigerator. This radical new approach to building a refrigerator unlocks increased capacity, better performance and future design evolutions, while also opening paths of increased sustainability options when it is time to replace the appliance.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Responsible Appliance Disposal program, nine million refrigerators go into a landfill annually. Over time, SlimTech™ insulation technology can play a significant role in reducing that number, as processes are developed to ensure that appliances made with SlimTech™ insulation are reclaimed at end of use.
“At the core of our innovation strategy is a multidisciplinary team with the ability to see beyond current needs to create long-term solutions for shifting priorities and emerging challenges for our consumers and our planet,” said Roberto Campos, executive vice president of Whirlpool Corporation’s Global Product Organization and strategic sourcing. ”This technology has the potential to change how people think about refrigeration in their homes, and is the result of years of tireless work by designers and engineers who continue to contribute to the success of SlimTech™ insulation technology.”
Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards are judged by a variety of designers, business leaders, and Fast Company editors, whom evaluate each entry based on functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, depth of user insight, cultural impact, and business impact.
For more information, visit Fast Company here.