LG innovates home products for cleaner air and water, writes Balqis Lim
WATER may contain dirt, chemicals and other impurities that make it risky to consume directly without filtration, even from the tap. However, one can overcome this by using water filters.
Filtering can help purify water, removing impurities and contaminants to make it safe to drink, sometimes even adding a nice taste to it.
The same thing can be said about the air that we breathe. Don’t be surprised that many homes that look clean actually have poor indoor air quality. This is where an air purifier can come in handy.
In Malaysia alone, there are quite a number of brands offering water and air purifiers to meet the demands of the masses. The emergence of smarter, better products also shows that manufacturers are heeding to the ever-evolving needs of consumers.
Recently, an invitation was extended to Life & Times to tour the LG Electronics (LGE) facility in Seoul to check out LG’s latest offering, the LG PuriCare Tankless water purifier.
A visit to its state-accredited water science research laboratory in its research and development facility in Changwon, Korea, showed just how committed the company is in improving the quality of tapped water in homes, further bolstering its position in the country’s water purifier market.
Its water science research laboratory also received acknowledgement in the form of accreditation from the South Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, which means it is certified to conduct water quality examinations based on global standards.
In the laboratory, its engineers, who work together with scientists from the country’s acclaimed academic institutions, are studying and developing next-generation water filtration technology along with other innovations to improve the quality of drinking water.
HEALTHY SIPS
Tap or drinking water in Malaysia is treated; however, most Malaysians abstain from drinking water straight from the tap because of concerns on the quality of the water due to rusty pipes or old water tanks.
Installing a water purifier is deemed to be a very wise choice here but do take note that even if you use a water purifier at home, there is no guarantee that the water that you drink is clean.
As most water purifiers have an accompanying tank to store water, this poses the risk of contamination when stored water is left idle for too long.
“To combat this, LG has come up with a tankless water purifier that filters water in three seconds, so users will always get clean, fresh water directly from the tap,” said Jeong SoonGy, head of LG’s Water Purifier Business Division.
The LG PuriCare Tankless water purifier boasts a three-stage filtration process that can eliminate microorganisms and seven types of heavy metals contained in water, namely mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, iron, copper, and aluminium.
The products of other competitors in Malaysia, he pointed out, only address three or four heavy metals.
WATER TEMPERATURES
For parents, it can be a struggle when mixing baby formula or warming up milk as the water can be too hot for infants.
LG has incorporated an innovative feature where users can choose between three temperatures - 40-degree, 75-degree and 85-degree Celsius.
According to Jeong, the first, 40 degrees, constitutes warm water and optimal for mixing baby formula, while the second, 75 degrees, is optimal for brewing tea; and the third, 85 degrees, ideal for coffee and cup noodles.
As this water purifier doesn’t use a tank, it doesn’t need to constantly reboil water, thus users can expect up to 15 per cent power savings compared to a constant-speed compressor.
At 17cm, its slim design means the device can be installed in any part of the kitchen without hassle, and its 180-degree rotating tap allows for optimal use of space.
The water purifier also has an intuitive touch display that allows users to set their preferred volume of water - 120ml, 500ml or 1000ml - and check filter status via the indicator light.
The water purifier can be connected to LG’s SmartThinQ app to monitor water usage by day, week, month or even year.
The Smart Diagnosis mode simplifies troubleshooting, detects issues and provides solutions. Users can also check the UV Sterilisation process and receive notifications of any problems on their smartphone.
Backing this advanced system is LG’s comprehensive customer and product care service called Total Service Care1.2.3., comprising annual replacement of internal pipes, two-way sanitisation by UV sterilisation and professional service visits every three months.
The product has been officially launched in Malaysia on July 11.
Jeong said that the areas of focus for this segment will be Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor for a start, and will be expanded to other states in stages.
HEALTHIER AIR INDOORS
Living in the city means that there is a higher chance of inhaling impurities and air pollutants that can affect one’s health.
Thus having a good air purifier which removes dust, allergens, gases, and other pollutants from the room or area can vastly improve air quality in your home.
LG Electronics has introduced a one-of-a-kind 360-degree design LG PuriCare Air Purifier to create a healthy, comfortable indoor environment.
Additionally, the advanced Clean Booster - a fan located at the top of the air purifier - enables it to emit/disperse clean air up to a distance of 7.5 metres.
The company says LG’s axial-centrifugal fan and guide vane with chevron nozzle also help make the new model 20 per cent more effective than conventional air purifiers.
The air purifier is also ideal for use in kitchens as it can remove food odours.
LG has also incorporated a Baby Care feature in this unit. What it does is generate gentle airflow from its base so even crawling toddlers can reap the benefits of healthy air.
Available in two Single and Dual Booster sizes, there is a 360-degree filtration system to combat microparticles, harmful gases and odours.
This air purifier provides a real-time reading of indoor air and particulate levels with its smart PM 1.0 and Gas sensor that automatically sets the airflow and operation cycle.
The smart sensor uses a lighting system to show different colours indicating the level of pollution - from the cleanest to being polluted.
This product can also be connected to the SmartThinQ app, enabling users to control PuriCare from any location.
Users can monitor indoor air quality, change settings and power the appliance on/off from their smartphone. The air purifier even provides status updates and sends alerts when its filters need replacing.
SHOWROOM TOUR
Ken Hong, LGE Global’s Corporate Communications senior director said that washing machines and refrigerators also contribute to sales for the home appliance department.
At the LG Science Park located in Seoul’s Magok district, the research campus provides state-of-the-art facilities to support innovative research and industrial prototyping.
We were given a showroom tour of its latest technologies including a variety of electronics ranging from home appliances such as futuristic televisions and air conditioners to next-generation robots.
The company also unveiled its latest slim French-door refrigerators for the Asian market. With sleek designs and handy features, LG’s competitive new lineup presents premium quality refrigeration solutions in space-friendly sizes.
The first French-door refrigerators to be fitted with the company’s cutting-edge Linear Cooling and DoorCooling+ technologies, the slim models boasts the compact SpacePlus Ice System for ice whenever they are needed and the folding shelf helps to create extra space for big, bulky items.
Furthermore, LG’s Inverter Linear Compressor provides for 32 per cent lower energy consumption.
LG TWINWash comes with a SideKick unit underneath so you can wash two loads simultaneously. The small washer is also ideal for delicate clothing that requires a gentler touch.
Equipped with WiFi and SmartThinQ, the TWINWash washer and dryer are also voice-assisted. Users can turn the machines on or off, start or pause a load, monitor the cycle status and more using Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The dryer’s Smart Pairing function eliminates the need to manually choose a drying cycle as LG’s intelligent technology will suggest the most optimal setting.
Hong stressed that they are constantly enhancing their core technologies and will continue to deliver intelligent products that make life easier.
LG is also developing innovative robots that incorporate AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to help with tasks and provide pampering services such as delivery, shopping and cleaning.