The Aqualtis washing machine: Comfortechnologically Yours Ariston’s new Aqualtis washing machines are the result of years of research and development in the field of washing. To create the new washing machine, Ariston used innovative, new-generation technology to make a single product incorporating all the progress made in over ten years of continual research and development and to transferring it into meeting the consumers’ needs. Flexibility, comfort and care are things that everyone seeks outside and at home, we want to feel that the world around us is taking care of us. That’s why Ariston decided to launch a new washing machine with precisely those three characteristics. Ø Flexibility. Aqualtis adapts well to all washing requirements. The 7.5 kg model

has 50% more load capacity in spite of being the standard 60 x 60 size. This means it can satisfy all consumers’ needs. It can be used everyday thanks to the Mini-load option, or it can handle a week’s laundry in a single cycle, using various garment-specific programmes and guaranteeing optimum results even with bulky garments. And all this with considerable water, energy and time savings.

Ø Comfort. To make life easier by easing daily routine, the drum access has a

diameter of 35 cm and the drum is tilted back 8°. It is 5 cm higher off the floor than traditional washing machines and 25 cm higher in the case of the Aqualtis with the laundry drawer. Its rigorously ergonomic design provides extraordinary accessibility and improved vision of the inside of the drum. Innovative and massively comfortable is how to describe the version with the integrated laundry drawer in the bottom half of the machine. This pulls out in a simple “telescopic” movement and can be used to store soap powders and laundry.

Ø Care for the environment ensured by the “SuperEco” function that indicates

when the wash options can deliver energy savings, meanwhile the care for the delicate woollen items is certified by the “Woolmark Platinum Care” programme which enables the washing of woollen garments in the washing machine, stops the fibres rubbing together and keeps them soft.

The Plus

Duvet cycle Aqualtis is the first washing machine to provide washing specifically for feather down quilts and duvets, which will no longer have to be taken to the dry cleaners every year. Ariston developed an innovative programme that’s perfect for these bulky items. The roomy drum accommodates items with due delicacy and the right quantity of water, to wash them deep down without spoiling colours or stuffing.

7 day laundry cycle This programme enables users to wash a family’s bedding and towels for a whole week, in one go, thus saving time, water and energy and optimizing the action of softeners. With the 7-day laundry programme, the Ariston Aqualtis’s formidable loading capacity saves time and space in the home.

Keep your shirt on! Like Aqualtis, which never loses its cool, its special shirts programme washes these indispensable garments with maximum care and ensures they’ll be easier to iron. Thanks to special rotation of the drum and precision supply of water, Aqualtis means no more worries about creasing or colour run and textures.

Night-time washing as well Silence is guaranteed by the Super Silent system with the new tri-phase brushless motor and soundproofing panels. It suspension system is capable of absorbing even the slightest vibrations and is made of special soundproofing materials that fragment sound to ensure perfect silence – which is particularly appreciated at night.

The only late start that doesn’t waste time With its Delayed Start option, Aqualtis can be programmed to start on its own whenever you want. Once the time to start the wash has been selected, Aqualtis does the rest while you get on with your day.

Exclusive care for delicate garments The “Woolmark Platinum Care” programme is a washing cycle ideal for woollen and cashmere items that should only be hand washed. Thanks to this programme, the Aqualtis washing machine delivers such high quality washing that garments bearing a “hand wash only” label can be washed in it. The programme stops the fibres rubbing together and keeps garments soft. All of which guaranteed by The Woolmark Company’s exclusive Platinum certification.

ECO System Aqualtis is also respectful of the world around us. It is a Class A+ washing machine of course and with its new ECO system, a LED will indicate when the wash options can deliver energy savings of at least 10% with respect to Class A+.

Easy Iron Thanks to the Easy Iron option, no more problems with creasing or crumpling for people who can’t always empty the washing machine as soon as it stops. Not only do garments get treated with maximum delicacy but when the cycle is over, the drum turns slowly at regular intervals to stop garments creasing.

Aqualtis in three versions: LCD, Digit and LED With Aqualtis everything is always under control thanks to Ariston technology, which is intuitive, clear and easy to use. The controls are on the door and the graphics interface can be chosen by consumers according to their “technological” preferences. There’s the liquid crystal display (LCD), the DIGITAL technology version and the more traditional LED interface. Liquid Crystal Display This type of interface is designed for consumers who are pragmatic and demanding and who like to feel in step with new technologies.

The main advantages are: Ø 4 memories for recording preferred wash cycles and options so that a series of

pre-set functions can be activated at a single touch Ø constant feedback on its operations and maximum load possible suggested,

according to wash cycle and type of fabric Ø extra information and advice on wash cycles and options on request.

DIGITAL interface: The DIGITAL interface is suitable for consumers who look for balance between traditional and innovative interfaces. Interaction is simple and smart, with no frills.

The main advantages are: Ø immediate, visible feedback on all operations, from choice of cycle to starting Ø constant monitoring of time and possibility of delayed starts Ø possibility to check the whole process at a glance

LED interface (Light Emitting Diode): Consumers who choose the LED display are guaranteed the tranquillity of a traditional interface that delivers maximum performance with maximum simplicity.

The main advantages are: Ø the intensity of the wash is chosen by the user Ø all programmes and advanced options are available and use is simple and

immediate.

Ariston and Design Ariston’s Aqualtis brings cutting edge technology and unique design into the homes of millions of people. The new Aqualtis washing machine springs from the genius of designer Makio Hasuike and the determination of a team of engineers to anticipate people’s need to make their lives more comfortable. A washing machine with an absolutely innovative design – appealing and elegant. An appliance that makes extremely advanced technology extremely easy to use. Dedicating special attention to product design to create solid, functional structures with an innovative style is a tradition at Ariston. It’s why they’ve always had their products designed by someone as renowned as Hasuike. Ariston developed Aqualtis to combine functionality and comfort with good looks but also with a strong focus on its ergonomic aspects.

Sophisticated forms and materials Aqualtis marks a return to natural colours, with ice and silver, forming an elegantly sophisticated colour palette. Meticulous study of forms and materials is immediately evident in the exclusive profile of the door, which opens like a book and comes in two different colours. Strong personality can also be seen in the smaller details in the Aqualtis, such as the control display, which is on the door, and the soap powder tray, which isn’t visible from the outside. Everything was studied and designed to produce a washing machine that’s also a desirable object of sophisticated beauty. The machine’s forms are soft and elegant, designed to go well in any interior thanks to its range of sizes: models with 7,5 kg and 6 kg load capacity or the slim model which is 40 cm deep.

The history of a brand: from Margherita to Aqualtis Ariston’s history is a continual stream of innovations, it’s the history of a brand, its products and a designer - Makio Hasuike. Ariston has entered the homes and everyday lives of millions of European families and with its unmistakable style has turned the kitchen into a place not just for working but for enjoying company. It has studied and developed innovations that are not only efficient but also nice to look at and that represent a particular taste. Many of its innovations have also had considerable stylistic influence, innovations whose formal aspects have marked the history of design and whose new functions have applied pioneering technological development to the production of household appliances. 1983 was the year of a new conceptual leap forward, the year of Margherita, the first washing machine with the name of a woman. Margherita has a powerful identity and personality and thanks to ongoing technological development has become, in less than a decade, Margherita Dialogic, the first washing machine with sensors and electronics. It was, in fact, to be the platform for a whole new generation of digital appliances linked together on-line. 2000 saw the launch of Leon@rdo, the first interactive, multimedia kitchen monitor providing access to web services thanks to its Wrap technology (Web ready appliances protocol). To look at, Leon@rdo is small touch screen. It has an Internet browser, e-mail, agenda, notepad, calendar, shopping list and numerous other functions tailored to domestic life. What’s more, it displays a whole series of useful information on the appliances in the home and offers practical, personalized advice on how to get the best out of them. Leon@rdo can interact with all Wrap appliances and because its electronics are similar to a PC’s, it has advanced functions such as its highly intuitive user interface. Innovation marches on 2002 was the year of Pay per Use, a revolutionary system that supersedes the logic of buying an appliance and offers consumers the possibility of only paying the cost of each wash, including the electricity used. This new service also makes it possible to record the quantities of electricity actually consumed when using appliances and provides real time information on how appliances are working. The innovation in 2003 was the Super Silent, featuring a special tri-phase motor never before used in washing machines, a suspension system designed to handle from the faintest to the strongest vibrations and special sound-proofing materials ensuring silent operation – a noise level comparable to a whisper. Super Silent means living freely without bothering others. You can even programme a wash for when you, and everyone else, are asleep.

Ariston’s commitment to technological innovation has been duly acclaimed by various prestigious authorities in the industry. In 2004 and 2005 the brand won the coveted German Plus X Award and in 2005 the UK Home Innovation Award for innovation, for its drawer fridge and Experience oven. It was also awarded the Grand Prix de l’Innovation for its Extendia line fridge. So the brand is universally recognized as the jury of the Home Innovation Award, having “an extraordinary capacity to innovate by combining technology and design in products that consumers find simple to use”. Further, Ariston is the only brand in the world to have obtained the "Woolmark Platinum Care", the highest level of certification issued by The Woolmark Company, awarded exclusively when the quality standard of a washing machine is so high it can safely wash garments with a “hand wash only” label.

The new Aqualtis washing machine: the face of innovation Indesit Company ran an internal communication campaign completely dedicated to the new Ariston washing machine. On this occasion, Aqualtis spoke 18 languages and involved 18,000 employees in 19 production facilities and 22 branches across the world. The aim of the initiative was to publicize the Company’s capacity to innovate and boost a sense of belonging in the recipients of the message by actively involving them in the communication and enabling them to share in the Company’s objectives and values. The communication campaign, which lasted months, was in three stages. In the teaser phase, it helped arouse employee curiosity about the project. The climax of the second stage was the photo shoot, during which the Indesit Company community was invited to have their pictures taken. In the third and final stage, the photos were used to make up an image of the Aqualtis and create two maxi posters, which were then displayed on the façades of the Fabriano headquarters and the Comunanza plant, where Aqualtis is produced. A draw was organised amongst the employees taking part in the initiative, the prize for the winner being a trip to Marrakech. The aim of the campaign pay off, “Aqualtis, the face of innovation”, was to associate the concept of innovation with the faces of everyone who contributed to the project.

Aqualtis & Lifestyle Easy to use, low consumption, advanced technology, generous sizes and striking design are the basic characteristics that “ideal” household appliances ought to have. They’ve got to be aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced but at the same time save time and money, make life more comfortable and be environmentally friendly. The Aqualtis washing machine was designed to meet such requirements and also anticipate consumers’ future needs. This is why Indesit Company ran a pan-European survey, in collaboration with the Makno & Consulting research institute, to identify the characteristics that appliances in the future will have to have, not only in terms of practical needs but also changing lifestyles and new consumer trends. The survey spanned 11 European countries and was based on a high-powered interview platform (WEB + CATI) applied to a sample of 660 people representing Europeans between 18 and 74. They were asked to associate appliances with the concepts of Comfort, Beauty, Time, Innovation and Social Responsibility. Washing machines and fridges were the appliances that 75% of respondents said they couldn’t do without and which were most frequently associated with the concepts of family and comfort. They are expected to offer high performance and nearly 30% of the sample said they’d like bigger sizes to meet the needs of modern families, who often have only the weekend to do a whole week’s laundry and shopping. Aqualtis responds perfectly to Comfort requirements, a concept that around 30% of respondents associated with the ideal washing machine, thanks to its being taller than traditional washing machines and to the ergonomic details facilitating use. Comfort was also perceived in the silence and resulting domestic tranquillity that Aqualtis technology can guarantee. It thus satisfied around 35% of Italian respondents, who’d like to dedicate what little free time they have to enjoying leisure with their families. Designed by Makio Hasuike, the Aqualtis meets comfort and maximum capacity requirements in minimum overall dimensions and without in the least sacrificing Beauty of form or excellence of materials. Aqualtis functions make it easier to organize Time, which a substantial number of respondents would like to spend with friends and relatives thanks to innovative appliances that can programme functions for day to day needs or for a big wash once a week. Time saving is also guaranteed by wash options that can handle delicate garments that would normally have to be handwashed and make ironing easier and quicker. The concept of Innovation was associated by 30% of respondents, on average, with technological development, which is what is being expected of white goods producers. The appliance most readily linked with this concept by 20% of eastern european respondents was the washing machine. Aqualtis represents the technological state of the art, rendered simple to use by a range of interfaces geared to different consumer needs.

Social Responsibility, meaning low energy consumption above all, was indicated by around 70% of respondents as one of the main criteria of choice when making a purchase. Here too, Aqualtis can boast extremely high performance, with Classe A+ products that save energy and respect the environment.

Indesit Company at a glance • 1930 incorporation of Industrie Merloni

• 1975 incorporation of Merloni Elettrodomestici

• 1987 listing on Milan stock exchange

• 1987 acquisition of Indesit

• 1997 appointment of an external CEO

• 2005 Merloni Elettrodomestici becomes Indesit Company

• 2 main brands: Ariston and Indesit

• 3 main regional brands: Hotpoint, Scholtès, Stinol

• Indesit Company is one of the top three European white goods makers

• 15% market share in Europe

• 19 production facilities in Europe and the rest of the world

• 22 commercial offices world-wide

• 18,000 employees

• 50,000 people world-wide everyday buy an Indesit Company product

• Sales of over 3 billion euro

• Around 14 million appliances produced every year.