The ACED, established in 2014 and held every three years, is the international organization for ergonomics and design. For this year’s conference, the organization selected four winners in the sectors of software, automotive products, household furniture and home appliances, with Samsung’s activ dualwash^TM, AddWash^TM and FlexWash^TM winning the Grand Prix award in the home appliances category.

“This recognition reflects our effort to create consumer-focused and ergonomic products derived from countless hours of behavioral research and user analyses,” said Hyunjoo Song, Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to make groundbreaking new technologies and innovations to better the lives of our devoted consumers.”

The three advanced laundry machines at the heart of Samsung’s ergonomic design series showcase Samsung’s relentless innovation and continued industry leadership in the home appliances space:

• activ dualwash^TM: features an upper sink for easier pre-treatment without having to bend down.
• AddWash^TM: attaches a small window on the main door, which can open widely when consumers have extra clothing, detergent or fabric softeners to add during the wash.
• FlexWash^TM: a holistic and all-in-one laundry system that offers an upper washer and a main washer on the bottom in one compact unit.

For its part, FlexWash^TM also was recognized with the Best of Best Ergonomic Design Award by the Ergonomic Society of Korea (ESK) in April. The system adds flexibility to laundry routines and saves time by enabling users to handle multiple loads of sorted clothing at once. Rather than putting the second compartment in the pedestal, Samsung installed it on top of the main drum so users can comfortably perform laundry without stretching or bending over.

In addition, the transparent glass material of the top door of FlexWash^TM allows users to look inside the machine and monitor the cycle’s progress, and the ‘VRT plus (Vibration Reduction Technology plus)’ of the washing machine reduces noise and disruptive floor vibrations.

The Samsung activ dualwash washing machine has achieved sales of one million units worldwide since its debut in February 2015. As Samsung’s most successful washing machine to date, the activ dualwash has set a record, generating a sales of 3,500 units per day, or two or more units every minute.

The innovative appliance was launched earlier this year in South Korea before it was introduced in North America, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The activ dualwash made up 17 percent of Samsung’s global sales of top-loading washing machines during the first quarter of 2015, then 36 percent and 41 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively.

In particular, the activ dualwash played a main role in increasing Samsung’s market share of the washing machine market in the United States, while April 2015 sales were up 80 percent compared to those of last April. Samsung partnered with Lowe’s, a large home improvement and appliance store in North America, to promote the activ dualwash. In addition, Samsung grabbed the attention of US consumers by providing a unique product experience through revolutionary features.

The appliance includes a patented built-in sink with a gentle scrubbing surface and water jet, providing a one-stop solution for stain removal and prewashing. This sink acts as a separate space to conveniently pretreat tough stains, like those on heavily soiled sports uniforms, or to hand-wash delicate materials such as silk and chiffon so the entire wash process can be completed in one place. After pretreating and/or prewashing, the laundry and water can be easily transferred into the machine to reduce water waste and prevent spills.

The activ dualwash also accelerates the wash process with its industry-first Super Speed technology. With it, consumers can wash a normal load of laundry in as little as 36 minutes. That amounts to a savings of over three hours of laundry time every week!* Furthermore, the appliance’s AquaJet feature utilizes the power of high-impact water jets to gently wash your biggest laundry loads. Its powerful spray guarantees an ultra-deep but safe clean for all your clothing.

The activ dualwash is available in white (5.2 cubic feet and 4.8 cubic feet) and platinum (5.2 cubic feet) and features a rear panel with a dual-cluster design and easy-to-access, water-resistant control buttons.

*DOE consumer average of 350 10-pound loads per year with an average normal wash cycle of 53 minutes equals a time-savings of over three hours per week.