Whirlpool has confirmed plans to launch the Leonardo built-in dishwasher range to the Australian market to complement its freestanding Da Vinci dishwasher range launched late last year.

“Freestanding dishwashers dominate the Australian dishwasher market but built-in and fully integrated dishwashers are gaining more share in line with purcahse trends we’re seeing in European markets,” Whirlpool director of sales and marketing for Oceania, Liam Bryers told Appliance Retailer.

“With the Leonardo built-in dishwasher range, we want to take the conversation away from place settings and instead talk about the dishwasher in the way households want to use it with maximum flexibility.

“With MaxiSpace, these dishwashers are tall tub machines which can fit 32cm plates in the bottom rack, making it one of the biggest on the market and giving consumers more room to accommodate larger dishes.

“In the back of the machine, we have developed a special mechanism to control the water pressure of the water jets, which are 60% more powerful than traditional spray arms. With PowerClean Pro, consumers no longer need to pre-rinse or pre-clean dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and giving consumers more time back into their day. It also allows more room at the back of the bottom rack for a pan or serving dish.

“Auto Door Open is another key feature which automatically opens the door at the completion of the cycle when the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius. Taking this a step further, beyond a light indicator to show when the dishwasher is on or off, there is a display that indicates the remaining time of the cycle.

“Another unique feature is the top rack now allows consumers to place their cups in a flat position rather than upright as the water jets spray directly into the cups. There’s a cutlery basket at the bottom, in addition to the cutlery rack at the top. We’ve redesigned the railing system making it smoother when pushing and pulling the racks in and out and the dishwasher operates quietly at just 41dB.”