Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Apparently there's a new Dyson model that will be launched in February at the VDTA Convention.  I don't know any further specifics on whether or not it's going to be a canister or upright, but apparently all attendees of the show will be able to see it and place their orders.  I wonder if the $899 pricetag will be a detriment to sales, or are Americans willing to pay a premium for superior performance and space-age motor technology?

Has anyone else heard anything yet?  I'm curious to know what it is as I bought the DC21 right when it came out in March.  That and the DC17 are the only ones that impressed me so far, it will be interesting to see how this one is.

CarmineD wrote:
I haven't seen the AirBlade anywhere either, yet, which is a disappointment since I would like to see and use one.  Here it's only paper towels, or your standard World hand dryer (sometimes other brands). 

Since the AirBlade uses the DDM, I wonder if James built that solely to test the DDM in a real-world application to see how it would hold up, before moving on to using it in vacuums?

Motorhead wrote:

If so, the dyson strategy, which is very costly [funding two new products with the same technology at the same time] back-fired.  No sales for the AirBlade, no test results, huge sunk costs for the product with no tangible benefits.

A better dyson business strategy is determining which one of the two new products is likely to be successful and profitable.  Then, go with the one.  Get the sales and profits from the product before undertaking a  spin-off product with the same technology.  Rather than taking dual risks and costs that both products may have dismal results leaving the company with double the sunk costs for 2 failed products.  

The dyson core business is vacuums.  Use the DDM in a new vacuum product and market it first and foremost, before using the "unproven" technology on an unrelated product [like a hand drier].  This gives the added benefit of reducing the retail price of the spin-off product [hand drier].  Why?  Much of the R&D costs of the DDM would be amortized and deducted over the life cycle of the new vacuum sales, making the costs [losses] for the spin off product less and potentially the profits more [if there are sales].  And another benefit, a lower retail price can be set for the spin-off product.   

Still another benefit of honing in on one product first for the new technology, is getting it to the market quicker.  This In turn gets the spin-off technology product to the market quicker too.  Plus, management has more knowledge,  based on the new technology experience, to decide if it will be profitable to bring the spin-off product to the market.   Plain and simple business common sense.

Carmine D.

We've had two Dyson Airblade units installed at the shopping mall near where I live. It's perfect for the site as the washroom in question is very small and the last thing you need is people in queues for the hand drier. Its digital motor is noticeably different in sound to the conventional type - you can hear it soft start and finish and as described, the airflow heats up within a few seconds due to the high velocity.

I've never seen the airblade units in need of an urgent clean - it looks like it'll be just fine being cleaned as part the daily routine. One point is that as long as the digital motor holds up, I'd imagine it'll give many more hours between servicing than a standard type. At the business centre where my office is, the shared washrooms regularly have hand driers where the heater element has failed. It can go a very long time before it is reported to someone and even longer before it's fixed.

Recent case studies PDF downloads have been added to the Dyson Airblade web site :-

http://www.dysonairblade.co.uk/why/case_studies/

Recent patent filings suggest that Dyson is continually looking to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process with the digital motor to make the cost more competitive to a standard motor type. Reliability is important and I suspect that the DC12's 'phone home' feature was more about getting back usage reports 'in the field' than providing enhanced customer service - from what I can work out from the DC22 photos, they're no longer using this feature? Lastly, the sound levels need to be reduced as much as possible. I understand that the DC12s with digital motor have a 'turbo' power setting for this reason.

Very interesting that there appears to be two new airblade models in the pipeline. I wonder what the improvements might be? Cost could be one. A hand sanitizer could also feature - if you look up Dyson's peroxide making unit patent it suggests uses including a dishwasher, but also for hand sanitation. Although with regards to a germ control application (e.g. in hospitals) would this add any real benefit over existing wall mounted hand sanitizers? Maybe they can further improve the drying time; maybe they can further control the noise level.

 

The DDM from past articles I've read was adapted for the Airblade so there may be differances from the one that is in the DC12\DC12 Plus in Japan.  The basis of the DDM is used in both!  I'm sure Dyson will continue to develope this project - Dyson Digital Motor.  I personally don't think he used the Airblade to test the DDM's use in a wider area, the DC12 in Japan has given the Dyson enough proof I would of thought to say it works hence the DC22 in Japan.   Dyson is probably already on the 3rd, 4th generation of the DDM and from what M00seUK says 'to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing process', and I also believe to make the motor even smaller and the electronics that go with it!

One thing that is a little strange is apart from the Airblade now, why Dyson has not launched the DDM in a vacuum in the UK!?  After all it is where it all began mainly!

DC18

Airblade:  The Dyson Airblade exhibiting at the Consumer Electonics Show.  News article here.  Dyson’s exposure to deep pocketed, high tech exhibitors (alone) justifies Airblades presence.

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Will the Airblade fail?  I hope not.  Can it succeed?  It should. - Look no further than Mitsubishis' (successful?) Jet Towel.  The Airblade technologies and features smoke Jet Towel’s (IMO).  There is plenty of info on the web to do your own comparisons.  Dyson has only one competitor at this price – Mitsubishi, those are good odds.  Dyson got the attention of Mitsubishi - the Jet Towel came to the US only after Dyson announced plans to market his Airblade here in the US.

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I know someone who knows little of Dyson and does not use his products.  She told me she used an Airblade at a restaurant.  “It was awesome, I love it.”, was her comment.  Restaurants who offer this Airblade in their washrooms cannot fail in the minds of its customers.  Never mind if it is cost effective or not, it is a win/win for both customer and restaurant owners.  Paper towels should be provided as well.        DIB

DysonInventsBig wrote:

A public restroom hand drier just doesn't appeal to me as a consumer electronic device.  The CES in LV has become unwieldy in recent years with all the various venues of electronics bombarding consumers all at the same time.  My sense is that the CES will be partitioned into key consumer segments of electronic gismos and offered in several different shows in the near future vice one conglomeration.  Even with that, the dyson AirBlade wouldn't be well suited for any CES venue.  It's more or less a "toaster" in form and function.  Now, add a screen with wireless cable channels and it may fly as a CE. 

I believe there is at least one more air hand drier on the market beside dyson and Mitsubishi.  It is the one that won the contract for use in the new NY public restrooms. 

Carmine D.

Hiya Carmine,

Funny the subject should come up but per the Times the Big Apple doesn't appear to be going for anything out of the ordinary for the everyday public other than a flower arrangement or two.  Do you think "The Donald" might have picked up some for a few of his spots?

Bryant Park

The Port Authority Bus Station

Another part of the Port Authority

Our first pay toilet -- and almost as fancy as we get until you hit the Waldorf.

Best,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Thanks for the pics and clarification.  All the casinos and hotels I've visited in LV use the conventional hand drying means too, like the big Apple.  There's a new one being built closeby to me and due to open in Nov 2008.  Have to see what they use in the WC.

The "Trumpster" may spring for a few dyson AirBlades at his new Trump Tower in LV but like all things with the Donald it always depends on what's in it for him.  Sanitaires and ORECKS are the vacuums of choice from my observations.  Even at the recent CES.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Carmine,

Since a good portion of Silicon Valley exhibits at CES, Airblade’s presence and exposure (to them) is justified.  Certainly CES exhibitors have Biotech friends who may appreciate and can afford a non-fecal-bacteria throwing hand dryer such as the Airblade’s.        DIB

DysonInventsBig wrote:

The last time silicon valley joined forces with biotechnolgy "hooters" was born.  This week's Las Vegas Exhibition of the AVN is a much better venue for 'hooters" than the CES.

Carmine D.