New Generation of Horizontal-Axis Washing Machines on the Way

Clothes washing is on the threshold of a major revolution in North America. Indeed, 1997 might well be remembered as the beginning of the end for the good old top-loading, vertical-axis washing machine. With much fanfare, industry-leading Maytag announced its new Neptune high-efficiency, horizontal-axis washer on March 20th in New York City. (Horizontal-axis washers are often called “front-loading” washers, but “horizontal-axis” or “H-axis” is the preferred term.) Meanwhile, Amana unveiled its new line of H-axis washers at the NAHB Builder’s Show in Houston in late January.

Frigidaire is actively selling its totally redesigned H-axis washer introduced last fall (the new machine replaces the company’s older H-axis washer, which for years was the only such product made in the U.S.). Staber Industries manufactures a unique