SlimTech insulation can reduce the thickness of refrigerator walls by up to 66%, providing up to 25% more interior capacity.
Fast Company lauds revolutionary fridge insulation
YSN Staff
SlimTech, 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.
The business publication also named Whirlpool a “Design of the Year” honoree for its proprietary approach to fridge insulation.
See: Whirlpool Revises Refrigeration
Announced in November 2023, SlimTech insulation technology rethinks the design and manufacture of refrigerators by replacing bulking polyurethane foam with a powdery material that is held in a vacuum within the fridge’s walls and doors. Describing it as a “radical new approach to building a refrigerator,” Whirlpool said its proprietary insulation allows for increased capacity, better performance and new design possibilities, while also creating opportunities for more sustainability options when the time comes to trade out the appliance.
Freeing Up Space
Specifically, SlimTech can trim fridge wall thickness by up to 66%, providing up to 25% more interior capacity within the same footprint, Whirlpool said. What’s more, the new insulation cools up to 30% faster than foam, which reduces temperature swings from door openings to keep food fresher longer. In addition, increasing the thickness of SlimTech insulation can further reduce thermal conductivity, boosting energy efficiency by as much as 50% and requiring fewer compressor cycles for even quieter operation.
Appearance-wise, SlimTech will allow for more interior customization via metal interiors with cleaner angles that eliminate the need for the molded plastic interiors, the vendor noted. Longer term, the technology can lead to the development of “more discreet refrigeration spaces” that could be used in other rooms of the home and even be contained within pieces of furniture.
Whirlpool is also working on a way to reclaim the material at a refrigerator’s end of use to make the products more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.
“We are thrilled to have Fast Company recognize what we believe is the most significant innovation in refrigeration in the past 50 years,” said Whirlpool Chairman/CEO Marc Bitzer. “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.”
Future Focused
Roberto Campos, executive VP of the company’s global product organization and strategic sourcing, said the new technology reflects his team’s focus on emerging challenges and long-term solutions for consumers and the planet that extend beyond current needs. “This technology has the potential to change how people think about refrigeration in their homes,” he said.
SlimTech made its North American trade debut earlier year at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and CES events, within the doors of select JennAir 30-inch column refrigerators. Plans call for a broader rollout across the KitchenAid line, where it will be utilized within the entire structure. The products will be built at Whirlpool’s Ottawa, Ohio, production facility, which received a $65 million upgrade to implement the technology.
Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards are judged by a variety of designers, business leaders and Fast Company editors, who evaluate each entry based on functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, depth of user insight, cultural impact and business impact.
Other appliance winners included Impulse Labs’ Impulse Cooktop, a battery-powered induction range that captured the “On the Rise” category for start-ups.
Related: Appliances Unplugged
Manufacturers can receive notification when applications for the 2025 Innovation by Design competition become available by entering their contact information here.
