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Winix Company Info

Winix Air Purifiers are manufactured and sold by the Winix Corporation. Started in 1973 and settling on the Winix name in 2000, their head office is located in Shiheung City, a suburb of Seoul, South Korea. The company owns manufacturing factories in Korea, Thailand and China. Winix produces a wide range of home environmental appliances, including air purifiers, air coolers and cleaners, dehumidifiers, fan heaters, cold and hot water purifiers, water dispensers, air conditioner components, evaporators, condensers, bidets and others; however their air purifiers are the only products exported to the United States. Some of their products are also exported to Japan.

Winix’s United States offices are located in East Dundee, Illinois which is about an hour from downtown Chicago, which handles all North American sales and warranties. They are partnered with a large number of US retailers, including The Home Depot, Sears, Walgreen’s, Target, Best Buy, Costco, Fry’s, and Hammacher Schlemmer, among others.

Air Purifier History

Winix has been making air purifiers since at least 2003 and exporting them to the US from around 2006. They have built up the reputation of their air purifiers to the point that they are highly regarded by many reviewers. Although not excellent, more than one reviewer of their PlasmaWave line of air purifiers have commented that, comparing the features to the price, Winix offers a good value in their product, especially their higher end products.

Awards and Recognition

According to the English language version of their Korean corporate website, Winix has been awarded with a number of awards in Korea, although it is a little unclear what products those awards are for. Some of the awards are for simply being a large successful company while the majority of their company history discusses their growth in foreign markets.

Winix Air Purifier Technology

For their top three models, Winix uses a 5 stage cleaning method, while their base model, the 5000B uses a 3 stage cleaning method. Their claimed cleaning efficiency is 99% for the 5000B and 99.7% for their lowest level 5-stage air purifier or 99.9% for their two top models. The 5 stage models use the following steps: washable anti-bacterial pre-filter, true HEPA filter, nano-silver mesh, washable carbon filter, followed by their final step, the PlasmaWave Technology, which is their biggest selling point and the namesake of their product line. It claims to generate both negatively and positively charged ions that, combining with water vapor in the air and form Hydroxyls.

These Hydroxyls, according to Winix literature, instantly neutralize viruses, bacteria, chemical vapors, odors and gasses in the air. This technology is the basis for Winix’s claims to silently remove from the air pollen, mold, smoke, dust and pet dander, while at the same time, neutralizing flu viruses, odors and bacteria. Their lower end model, the 5000B 3-stage air purifier, has only the carbon pre-filter, true HEPA filter and the PlasmaWave Technology.

Replacement Filters

While few of these claims have yet to be verified, such as the neutralization of flu viruses, Winix air purifiers do consistently receive high praise from reviewers and customers. The one point of contention seems to be the price of the replaceable filter. They typically run around 100 bucks and Winix recommends they be replaced every year or so with regular use.

Zojirushi Company Info

With over 90 years of experience in making household and kitchen appliances, the Zojirushi Corporation has expanded their products to offer two air purifiers that have an ultra slim design and attractive appearance. The company made a name for itself when it launched a glass-lined vacuum bottle that was nothing short of quality and innovative materials back in 1948.

After establishing its credibility, the Zojirushi Corporation began branching out into other products, using top-of-the-line technology to bring forth rice cookers, electric boilers, electric warmers and kettles. Although it is unknown how long Zojirushi has been making air purifiers, the products make up a light sales volume for the company.

What Zojirushi prides itself on is that they use innovative designs and cutting-edge technology to introduce products that are stylish and easy to use. Zojirushi operates on a global level, with its headquarters being located in Osaka, Japan and service centers located throughout the world. In 1987, Zojirushi America Corporation was established and run out of California.

Air Purifier Price Range

The air purifiers offered through Zojirushi are very similar, except one is a bit larger than the other and offers more features that make it more favorable to use. What makes these air purifiers stand out is that they are small, compact and super slim, measuring only 5 inches thick and being able to fit in virtually any space. They are also quiet and near silent when placed on low settings, which is why they are a popular buy for college dorm rooms or home offices.

Clean Air Delivery Rate Certified

The Zojirushi PA-LTC10 air purifier is AHAM certified and its clean air delivery rates add up to 84 for dust, 69 for smoke and 81 for pollen but is only based on 110 square foot room size. The units are best served in rooms of that size or smaller and their ultra sleek design makes this possible without taking up too much space. Zojirushi also ensures that their products are easy to use and maintain and their air cleaners fit right into this category. There is a convenient air quality monitor that allows consumers to check the quality of the air, as well as a shut-off timer and remote control.

Zojirushi Air Purifier Technology

The air cleaners use HEPA-type filters and carbon filters, which need to be replaced every two years or so. The company warns that heavy dander and smoking for example, will shorten the lifespan of the filters. However, for a pack of four filters (2 HEPA-type and 2 carbon), the bundle only costs $48. While there are many great benefits to Zojirushi air cleaners, reviews warn that the low powered fans and the sleek design compromises the power of the cleaners. In addition, there is no prefilter to trap larger particles and there is some debate as to the efficiency of HEPA-type filters instead of true, certified HEPA filters.

Kenmore Company Info

The Kenmore line of appliances became associated with Sears since back in the late 1930s, and by 1936 over one million Kenmore appliances had been sold through Sears stores and mail-order catalogs. Over the decades, Kenmore has become their number one appliance brand, selling over 50% more than its closest competitor.

Kenmore Air Purifier Options

Out of the 5 air purification products offered by Kenmore, 4 are EnergyStar qualified for efficient operation, with the exception being the electrostatic model. They come in a range of coverage sizes from 150 square feet to 450 square feet and are competitively priced. All but one one unit has a true HEPA filter with a carbon filter with Sanitized® designed to remove smoke, dust and pollen. The units are advertised as having quiet motors, but no decibel figures are included in the product descriptions. All Kenmore air purifiers have a one year warranty.

Air Purification Technology

Kenmore’s HEPA filters are washable, but they still need to be replacedand replacement intervals are not mentioned in the product descriptions. The HEPA filtration systems capture 99.99% of the particulates in an air stream down to 0.3 microns. Room air quality is controlled by sensors that detect pollutants and automatically adjusts the fan speed for optimal cleaning. A blue LED “smooth touch” control panel is programmable.

Consumer Issues

Overall, the Kenmore line of air purifiers receives more bad reviews than good, many having to do with issues about getting repairs, receiving improper replacement parts and filters or about Sears policies and/or their customer service department. Some critics suspect that the units sold as Kenmore products are actually inferior knockoffs of brands like Sharp and Whirlpool.

Kenmore Air Purifier Models

• Kenmore PlasmaWave™ Small Room Air Cleaner EnergyStar ® will cover 150 square feet. The CADR rating is 98 smoke, 98 dust and 103 pollen. The black plastic tower case includes a washable true HEPA filter with a carbon filter.

• Kenmore Cleanable HEPA-Type Tower Air Cleaner cleans up to 150 square feet and does not have CADR testing information available. It only contains a washable HEPA-type filter and three cleaning power levels. It also includes a timer and an intelligent filter change/clean indicator that alert to when it is time to clean the filter.

• Kenmore PlasmaWave™ Midsized Room Air Cleaner ENERGY STAR® cleans up to 300 square feet and has a 3-stage cleaning system. It has a CADR of 197 for smoke, 219 for dust and 214 for pollen.. The unit includes the true HEPA filter with the activated carbon treated with Sanitized® and the Advanced PlasmaWave™ Technology.

• The Kenmore EnviroSense 85500 is not listed on the company website. Reviewers say it has a 5-stage cleaning system that includes a pre filter, a true HEPA filter, a nano-silver filter, a washable carbon filter and Advanced PlasmaWave™ Technology. Comes with a four speed fan and measures 27″ high,” 16 wide and 8.5″ deep. The CADR rate was quoted as 182 for dust, 183 for smoke and 194 for pollen. The review gave it an overall rating of 73 out of 100.

• Kenmore PlasmaWave™ Small Room Air Cleaner ENERGY STAR® covers up to 450 square feet. Unit contains the true HEPA filter with the activated carbon filter treated with Sanitized® and the Advanced PlasmaWave™ Technology.  It comes with a programmable remote control and an integrated back handle for portability.

• Kenmore Electrostatic Air Cleaner is a 3-stage portable air purifier and covers 465 square feet, or a 23′ x 20′ room. The washable filter system has a HEPA filter with the activated carbontreated with Sanitized® as well as the Advanced PlasmaWave™ Technology. It has a CADR of 300 dust, 380 pollen and 300 smoke.

LG Company Info

Founded in 1958 as GoldStar to produce Korea’s first line of electronic appliances, this company quickly grew to become an electronics and appliance industry leader in that country. LG Electronics Gulf FZE was established in 1996 and by 1999 it had become a worldwide leader in digital technology with emphasis on the Middle East with offices and affiliates in Dubai. LG Electronics has developed innovative, industry-setting standards for digital technology and appliances.

LG Air Purifier Technology

LG Electronics air cleaning technology uses washable filters as part of a 16-stage multi-layer filtering system that includes an anti-virus pre filter, a photocatalyst plasm filter, an allergen filter, a washable HEPA filter, an activated charcoal filter and a platinum deodorization filter. These 6 filters not only remove 99.97 percent of the particulates from an airstream down to 0.3 microns, but they tackle the tough pollutants like animal dander, allergy causing germs, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and even nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions that irritate respiratory conditions.

Replacement filters are only required for the allergy filter which costs $30.00. LG Air purifier prices or warranty information are not listed on the manufacturer’s website, consumers are referred to their nearest location to get further information. LG Electronics produces five types of air purifiers, but not all are listed with online retailers so prices are not available for all models.

NQ Industries Company Info

Since 1993, NQ Industries has been manufacturing air filtration and air sterilization devices, utilizing UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation), HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration, UVPCO (ultraviolet photo catalytic oxidation) and activated carbon filtration technologies.

The company began as a supplier of tuberculosis isolation units to hospitals and homeless shelters. NQ’s primary product lines are still targeted to medical care facilities, but the company has branched out into military and food industry applications as well, and the company also makes air treatment systems for commercial and residential use.

In isolation rooms, operating theaters, and other hospital setting, air purity is of critical importance. Today NQ’s air treatment systems are used in over 370 healthcare facilities in 37 states, as well as by U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) and numerous school facilities throughout the nation. NQ products have a strong international following as well, and in 2003 the company donated several air purifiers to help combat the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in Hong Kong.

Air Purifier and Sterilizer Price Range

NQ’s filtration and sterilization devices are standalone products designed to be utilized around the clock, 365 days a year. NQ sells its products through a comprehensive network of dealers. List price for the basic Clarifier-Standard NQ Industries Air Purifier, designed to be used in the home.

While the majority of air purifiers manufactured today are made overseas, all components used in NQ products – with the exception of the blower – are manufactured in the United States from American produced steel. NQ Industries eschews the use of plastics in its products in order to guarantee that its customers receive the cleanest air possible.

NQ Air Purifier Technology

Each NQ product is designed to accommodate a slightly different process, but generally all of them work by trapping particles larger than 10 microns in size with pre-filters. Then air is circulated through some combination of specialized filters like activated charcoal or HEPA filters to remove odors, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals, and particulates as small as 0.3 microns. Finally air is circulated into a specialized chamber where UVGI is used to destroy biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold. Purified air is then discharged back into the room.

Most air purifiers that deploy UVGI technology use it only on the surface. NQ Industries pioneered the use of the single pass UVGI kill chamber.

NeoAir Company Info

NeoAir manufactures high grade air purifiers that range from typical HEPA and carbon activated filtration systems to high tech ultraviolet filtration for hospital grade sterilization. New NeoAir filter units are only available through online sources and can not be found in retail outlets. The brand has been in the marketplace long enough to have developed a healthy positive reputation among consumers who have posted glowing reviews of the filters on several different retail websites.

NeoAir Air Purifier Technology

NeoAir air purifiers are manufactured in China and exported to a United States base of operations in Miami, Florida. These filters have been available to United States customers for approximately two years. The company strives to remain environmentally safe and claims that that their air filters emit very little ozone. NeoAir states that their pre-filter and HEPA/Carbon filters enjoy long life spans and do not need to be replaced very often when the units are used on a daily basis.

Since the air purifiers utilize a multi-filter system, owners will need to replace the pre-filter as well as the HEPA or Carbon filter at different times. The pre-filter tends to need replacement more often than the internal HEPA filtration system due to the fact that it collects more particulates than the HEPA/Carbon filter.

All of the units offered by NeoAir were created with portability in mind. Even the more powerful units are designed to be moved comfortably from room to room. NeoAir’s innovative multi-filter design includes a pre-filter that catches particulates from the air before the air passes through a more delicate HEPA or Carbon filter.

Some units include a third layer of filtering that involves the use of UV light filters or sterilization filters for medical uses. Some NeoAir purifiers are designed specifically to remove mold and mildew from basements, boats, and other areas that acquire moisture on a regular basis. NeoAir is committed to finding affordable ways for consumers to improve the air that they breathe through researching and developing new technology in air purifiers of all types.

Air Filter Price Ranges

Prices may vary depending on the website where you shop. Shipping and handling charges will also impact your final cost. Customers who need more than one air purifier can take advantage of discounts that NeoAir offers for purchases of two or more air filters at once.

Oransi Company info

Oransi is a company based in Austin, Texas that has primarily been manufacturing and distributing air purifiers for 15 years. The company was started by Peter Mann, whose child suffered from asthma. Because of this, Oransi strives to make air purifiers that can especially help people suffering from asthma and allergies. Peter Mann also started Alen Corporation, another air purifier company. Oransi prides itself on a business model of giving back to the community by employing stay at home moms, encouraging employees to work from home to cut down on motor emissions, and donating 5% of their income to promoting student interest in the sciences.

Oransi Air Purifier Technology

The v-hepa air purifiers are energy star qualified and operate at a low cost. The company states that they are the quietest HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) air purifiers on the market, and are RoHS lead free directive certified. Oransi’s HEPA filters utilize two filters to clean the air. Air will go through a pre-filter which traps large particles. By filtering out the biggest particles, the pre-filter helps extend the life of the next filter – the HEPA filter. The HEPA filter removes 99.97% of dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, smoke and other particles that are between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers in size. The filter also utilizes low air flow resistance so it can function more powerfully and effectively.

The v-hepa filtration system also includes negative ionization, which uses chemical injection technology. Negative ions are molecules that have an additional electron. This electron makes the ion negatively charged. Because the ion is charged, when it touches another element like a particle of dust, it sticks to it. The air purifier sucks in dust laden air, and the negatively charged ions stick to the dust and trap it inside the machine.

To entice new users, Oransi is offering three additional HEPA filters when you buy a new v-hepa air purifier. These three filters should keep your purifier running for the next two years. The purifiers are small and less than six inches deep so they can fit easily and unnoticeably into corners and against walls. The company claims that compared to other air purifiers, these are very quiet machines, and that they are easy to use and incredibly effective at removing particles from the air. The air purifiers do not weigh more than 10 pounds, and thus are easy to move around.

These v-hepa air purifiers have a v-lock magnet that creates a strong seal around the air filter. This seal locks the filter cover in place and makes sure that all the air inside gets filtered properly. While other air purifiers cost anywhere from $3-$8 in electricity per month, it only costs $2 a month in electricity to run a v-hepa air purifier. This filter has safety certifications from ETL, GS and CE as well as the RoHS lead free directive, and is made of fire-resistant ABS materials. As a safety feature, if someone opens up the cover of the air purifier, it will stop working. Oransi stands by its v-hepa purifiers, going so far as to offer a 10 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.

The two ionic air purifiers use negative ionization to remove odors and particles from your room or fridge. They work silently, do not require you to replace the filters and come with a one year warranty.

Panasonic Company info

The Panasonic brand is known the world over, as is the company’s short but significant brand slogan: “ideas for life”.  The Panasonic Corporation’s headquarters are in Osaka, Japan, and this multinational corporation started up in 1918 as the Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works. At the time of writing, the corporation has 680 subsidiaries, which are divided up into 14 different business domains. Panasonic is one of the largest corporations in the world and boasts market share in almost every country on earth.

Panasonic specializes in the manufacture and sale of all types of electronics products, which products are broadly classified into three groups: consumer products, business products and industrial products. The Panasonic air purifiers fall into the consumer products’ group, and, although these purifiers may have been manufactured under a different brand name in the past, in 2008 the corporation consolidated all separate brand names into one umbrella brand: “Panasonic”.

Air Purifiers Sold Under a Few Different Names

Panasonic continued to sell air purifiers under only the Panasonic brand name until December 21st, 2009, when it purchased Sanyo, another large Japanese electronics company and one that already had its own brand of air purifiers. At present, Panasonic-manufactured air purifiers are marketed under both the Panasonic and the Sanyo brand names.

Apart from Sanyo – which markets Panasonic air purifiers under the Sanyo brand name – a further two of the Panasonic Corporation’s 680 subsidiaries manufacture and sell air purifiers: Panasonic Corporation of North America and Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd. Although both the multi-award winning Panasonic and Sanyo brands have been known for their product excellence for many years, it is unclear exactly when the companies began to develop and manufacture their air purifier lines.

Price Range

Consumers looking to buy an air purifier from the Panasonic Corporation of North America, which markets three distinct models. Those looking to buy from Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd, which does business out of Hong Kong and supplies mainly the Middle Eastern and Asian markets, will have to contact the company directly in order to ascertain unit prices as the company’s website is silent in this regard. Panasonic Ecology Systems Co Ltd has eight distinct models of air purifiers for sale.

Panasonic Air Purifier Technology

The Panasonic Corporation of North America claims that their air purifiers both “reduce noise” and “save energy”. It also claims that their units’ High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters only have to be replaced every three years and remove over 99.5% of all noxious air particles larger than 0.3 microns. The purifiers marketed by Panasonic Ecology Systems, on the other hand, claim to sport sophisticated “nano” technology that “senses, attacks and inhibits” as many as 28 separate strains of allergens and viruses. This nano technology is apparently aided by such features as the units’ front and upward 3D Circulation Airflow systems and their anti-allergen substance, Super Alleru-Buster.

Pure Air Systems Company Info

Pure Air Systems is celebrating 25 years of service in the production of commercial-grade air purifiers. The company states on their webpage that they offer the best filtration systems on Earth, with a focus on using the latest technology that does not compromise the environment. Pure Air Systems has been in business since 1985 and is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. They offer a complete line of air cleaners that use HEPA and carbon base filtration systems and have experienced a 20% growth rate on an international level each year.

Allegedly, Pure Air Systems has a reputation for manufacturing high quality, high performance HEPA air filtration systems that are dependable and reliable for residential homeowners. Yet what makes this company unique to its competition is that it has been the one to offer many “firsts”. The company was the first to offer commercial-grade air cleaners for residences and the first to use GE ECM digitally controlled speed motors, an appeal to the international market. Furthermore, Pure Air Systems claims to be a green company, reducing waste and using less energy.

Pure Air Systems Air Purifier Technology

The steel frames of the air cleaners account for less waste and disposing of the parts. The motors on the air cleaners are energy efficient and have Energy Star ratings. In fact, the GE ECM speed motors have accounted for using 50% less electricity than other motors on the market. Besides having a general concern for the environment, Pure Air Systems also uses commercial-grade parts throughout their air cleaners, including HEPA filters that are certified at 99.99% in trapping airborne particles. With a focus on the residential market, new advances have been made, such as the ability to use a by-pass arrangement to install a whole-house filtration system instead of having individual units in each room.

In fact, many of Pure Air System’s air cleaners can be used as either portable units or attached to a HVAC system. While all of the products use high-performance HEPA filters, the air cleaners can also be purchased with carbon filters instead. Although the company focuses on the residential market, their knowledge in using commercial-grade products has also led them to offer a complete line of commercial air cleaners as well.

Rexair Company Info

Rexair LLC was founded in 1932 in Troy, Michigan, where it maintains headquarters to this day. Rexair has consistently sold just one product line through the years, the Rainbow Cleaning system. This series of home cleaning appliances uses the power of water sometimes combined with a HEPA filtration system for deep cleaning interior surfaces and improvement of indoor air quality. In 1959, the company developed a direct marketing strategy using independently distributors whose sales methods were focused on door-to-door tactics and home demonstrations.

Sales and Testing For the Rainbow System

Known as “The Rainbow Opportunity,” the Rexair company continues to use the direct-sale method of advertising and distribution for their Rainbow vacuum cleaners and recently introduced a line of Rainbow RainMate room air fresheners. Rexair is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) and adheres to their policies of conduct and advertising.

Rexair’s Rainbow Cleaning System appliances have been tested by independent laboratories and received the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) seal of approval and the Carpet Industry Standard (CRI) certification for removing three elements that affect carpets – soil removal, containment of dust particles and overall carpet appearance.

Trademarks and Brands

Rexair has registered trademarks for Rainbow, eSeries, e2, AquaMate, Hurricane and Rainbow Mate. They also sell cleaning products, fragrances and deodorizers that are designed to work specifically with their machines.

The Rainbow eSeries Vacuum combines a water bath filtration and HEPA Neutralizer filtration using a brushless process to trap dirt, dust, pollen and allergens, both from surfaces and from the air. The unit contains a water reservoir that can be emptied out, eliminating the need for vacuum cleaner bags.

Where To Find the Rainbow Products

Rexair products are not offered in any retail stores, only through direct marketing demonstrations and online independent dealerships. Some independent distributors have established their own local showrooms and repair shops to service the units they sell and have online marketplaces for supplies and replacement parts. The retail price of a Rainbow RainMate air purification system varies since they are priced according to whether or not they come with extra scent packages. Since there are no filters to replace, the only ongoing expense is the fragrance additions.

You have to contact the company directly for information about prices and distributors in your area either through their website at http://www.rainbowsystem.com/rainbowsystem/locator or you can call (248) 643-7222 during regular business hours (EST).

Overview

Riccar makes just a handful of air purifiers sold through authorized dealers.  Two of its units were submitted for testing under the Clean Air Delivery Rate program but scored low.

Riccar Models

Riccar EcoPure Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – NA / 450
• Pollen – NA / 450
• Dust – NA / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 324 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : 28-85 CFM

Filter Type ? : HEPA Filter

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 15″H x 13″W x 8″D

Weight: 8.9 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : No

Riccar RAPL Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 183 / 450
• Pollen – 194 / 450
• Dust – 182 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 284 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, Carbon Filter & PlasmaWave

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 21.9″H x 16.5″W x 9.9″D

Weight: 18.8 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : Yes

Riccar RAPM Ratings Technical Specifications

Est. Price – NA

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ?

• Smoke – 117 / 450
• Pollen – 138 / 450
• Dust – 126 / 450

Consumer Reports ?

• Score – NA / 100
• Dust/Pollen/Smoke(High Setting) – NA / 5
• Est. Yearly Cost – NA

Room Size ? : 180 Sq. Ft

Circulation ? : NA

Filter Type ? : Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, Carbon Filter & PlasmaWave

Filter Life Est. ? : 12 Months

Size: 18.5″H x 13.8″W x 9.1″D

Weight: 13.7 lbs

Noise Level: NA

Energy Star? ? : Yes

Air Purifier Noise Chart – Decibel Ratings of Common Sounds

Source

Decibel Rating (dB)

Falling leaves

Soft music

Mosquito buzz

Normal voices

Traffic sounds

Vacuum cleaner

Rock concert

Pain threshold (jet take off)

Perforation of ear drum (gun shot)

160 and higher

Riccar Company info

Riccar is a division of the Tacony corporation, the family-owned business primarily known as a wholesale distributor of high-quality vacuum cleaners, ceiling fans, sewing machines and floor care equipment with their headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Riccar label is under the home floor care division which also includes the Fuller Brush Company. In 2007 the company launched the Riccar FreshBreeze and EcoPure air purifying systems and marketed them alongside their line of vacuum cleaners.

Products Offered, Warranty Info, and Pricing

Riccar vacuum cleaners and air purifiers are only sold through authorized dealers, usually professional vacuum cleaning shops and repair businesses. These dealerships have received factory training regarding the line of Riccar products they carry and their technicians can provide customer support services and repairs in-house. These products are also available online through auction services as new, used or refurbished models, but are not covered by warranty when purchased from such dealers.

Riccar FreshBreeze products come with a 2 year warranty and the EcoPure air purifiers only have a 1 year warranty. The larger FreshBreeze model sells for between $500 and $600 while the smaller model cost $350 to $490. The compact EcoPure ranges from $40 to $75. Filter cassettes for FreshBreeze models cost $60 to $70, and only $20-$25 for the EcoPure.

Riccar Air Purifier Models

• Riccar FreshBreeze RAPL – The large Riccar FreshBreeze RAPL air purifier features a 5-stage room air cleaning system designed for a regular sized bedroom or office, about 280 square feet. Standing 21.9″ tall, 16.5″ wide and 9.9″ deep, this unit weighs 18.8 pounds and comes with a metallic silver plastic case. The filtration system includes a washable anti-bacterial cotton filter for trapping big particles, a washable nano-silver mesh/carbon filter to neutralize bacteria on contact, a HEPA filter that can capture 99.99% of the particles down to .3 microns, a charcoal filter to eliminate odors and a PlasmaWave electrostatic filter to neutralize odors, bacteria, viruses and chemical vapors.
• The fan comes in 4 speeds — low, medium, high and turbo — and can be controlled on the unit or via remote control. The LED digital display has a timer that can be set for 1, 4 or 8 hours and includes a “sleep mode” for quiet nightime operation. The display panel includes a dust and odor sensor that allows you to automatically monitor the room’s indoor air quality and adjust the fan if needed. You can set this feature to run in automatic mode to instantly adjust to the level of impurities in the air. The control panel also has a light sensor that, when activated, automatically switches the unit to the lowest, quietest fan setting (and dims the display panel) when the room is dark.
• There is a CHANGE FILTER indicator on the control panel that will light up when it is time to replace the 3 non-washable filters, which come in a single cassette for easy changing. The filters have to be replaced around once a year, depending on usage. The washable filters should be cleaned every three months.
• Riccar FreshBreeze RAPM – The smaller Riccar FreshBreeze RAPM air purifier has the same 5-stage air cleaning system as the big model, as well as all the control features and a LED screen with remote. The metallic blue plastic model stands 18.5″ high, is 13.8″ wide and 9.1″ deep and weighs 13.7 lbs.
• Riccar EcoPure – Riccar’s EcoPure is a compact tabletop air filtration unit that uses a 3-stage process which includes a HEPA filter, an antimicrobial pre-filter and a carbon-deodorizing filter to freshen the air and to block particles down to .3 microns and capture 99.97% of the dust, mold and other contaminates from a small room. The system also has an electrostatic filter to capture airborne particles and neutralize bacteria. The filter lasts for 12-15 months, depending on frequency of useage. The EcoPure air purifier is extremely quiet to operate — only 46 decibels on high speed — and has two fans to circulate the air at three different speeds. Weighing only 9 lbs., this small unit easily fits on a desktop or nightstand.

For more information and service, you can call toll-free to 1-888-6-RICCAR (in Canada call 403-248-4344) or to find the nearest authorized service representative, use their internet form at http://www.riccar.com/where-to-buy/.

 

Sharp Company Info

Sharp Corporation’s business creed is “sincerity and creativity”, and the companies making up the Sharp empire generally succeed in living up to this ideology.

The small manufacturing business owned by Tokuji Hayakawa that would eventually become today’s multi-national Sharp Corporation – named after their iconic product, the “Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil” – began life in Japan in September 1912. Hayakawa incorporated in 1935, and his business became known as Hayakawa Metal Works Institute Co. Hayakawa’s – soon Sharp’s – energetic marketing and innovative engineering quickly combined with their products’ universal appeal to make Sharp a leader in the manufacture and sale of industrial, corporate and household electronics.

Sharp branched out into the design, manufacture and sale of air purifiers during 2000 and soon introduced their Plasmacluster ion air purification technology to the public. Sharp claims that the Plasmacluster system is a world first as it “deactivates” airborne impurities by emitting both positive and negative ions. Sharp’s advances in the air purification field have been recognized by several international institutions, and the company has been awarded both the Japanese Takagi Award and the British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval.

Sold As “Sharp” or “Sharp-Roxy”

Sharp Corporation, which is headquartered in Osaka, Japan, comprises 13 separate Japanese companies, 44 consolidated overseas companies and 12 unconsolidated overseas companies. Not all companies are, however, involved in direct-to-public sales, and some concentrate on research and development. Air purifiers are, furthermore, not sold through all of Sharp’s manufacturing/sale outlets but are offered for sale by at least 23 of them. All air purifiers are sold under the “Sharp” brand, except for those available in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, which are sold under the “Sharp-Roxy” brand.

Air Purifier Price Range

The purifiers sold by the Sharp companies are listed below, with the companies in roughly the same order as found on the Sharp Corporation website.

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Sharp Air Purifier Models

Sharp Electronics Corporation: Sharp USA is presently headquartered in Mahwah, NJ.

• FP-P35CX: purifies rooms measuring up to 228 square feet;
• FP-P40CX: works equally well clearing air of dust, pollen and smoke;
• FP-P60CX: features an odor-sensor that automatically adjusts purifying speed;
• KC-C100U: includes a 10-hour humidifying function; and
• KC-C150U: boasts an 8.5-pint humidifying system.

Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd: The Canadian company is located in Mississauga, Ontario.

• FP-R30CX: has double the ion-generation capacity of earlier Plasmacluster units;
• KC-C70U: equally effective against fungi, bacteria, viruses and mold spores;
• KC-C100U and the KC-C150U: see the American unit list;
• CV-P12PX: comes with an LCD remote control unit; and
• CV-P10MX: one of Sharp’s few portable purifiers.

Sharp Corporation Mexico SA de CV: Sharp Mexico’s corporate offices and manufacturing plants are located in Mexico City and Baja California respectively.

• FP-P40CX, the FP-P60CX, the KC-C100U and the KC-C150U: see the American unit list;
• KC-C70U: see the Canadian unit list; and
• FP-R45CX: can operate in both active and passive modes.

Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH: Offices are located in Hamburg, Germany, and Vienna, Austria.

• KC-850EW: features 3 fan speeds;
• KC-860E: runs on both automatic and cleaning modes; and
• KC-930EUW: has a 2-in-1 filter that removes odors and dust particles.

Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd: Sharp UK includes the Middlesex corporate offices and the state-of-the-art Oxford research facility.

• KC-860EKW, the KC-850EKW and the KC-930EKW: see the German units KC-860E, KC-850EW and KC-930EUW;
• FU-Y30EUW: features a filter that deodorizes and cleans the air.

Sharp Electronics (Nordic) AB: Sharp Sweden is headquartered in Bromma, Stockholm.

• KC-C70E: see the Canadian unit KC-C70U; and
• KC-C100E and the KC-C150E: see the American units KC-C100U and KC-C150U.

Sharp Electronics (Schweiz) AG: Sharp’s Swiss office is found in Rüschlikon, Switzerland.

• KC-6400E: features a pre-filter specially designed to remove extra-large particles; and
• KC-6500E: comes with an active washable carbon filter.

Sharp Electronics France SA: Sharp has a manufacturing and sales presence in both Paris and Soultz.

• KC-850EW and the KC-930EUW: see the German unit list; and
• FU-Y30EUW: see the British unit list.

Sharp Electronics (Italia) SpA: Sharp’s Italian plant is located in Milan.

• KC-840EW: includes sensors that measure humidity, odors and dust level;
• KC-850EW and the KC-930EUW: see the German unit list; and
• FU-Y30EUW: see the British unit list.

Sharp Electronics Benelux BV: Sharp Benelux serves Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg and is headquartered in Houten in Holland.

• KC-840EW: see the Italian unit list;
• KC-850EW: see the German unit list;
• FU-Y30EUW: see the British unit list; and
• FU-W28E: features an anti-bacterial micro-HEPA filter.

Sharp Electronics Espana SA: Barcelona is where Sharp’s presence in Spain is located.

• KC-860E: see the German unit list;
• KC-6500E: see the Swiss unit list;
• FU-P60SE: features a “silent” ventilator mode;
• FU-60SES: comes with a “clean indicator” that shows when purification is complete;
• FU-425E: operates in both pollen and auto-quick modes;
• FU-440E: accessories include the filter package and remote control unit;
• FU-40SES: can alternate between pollen and snuff modes; and
• FU-21SES: its LCD screen includes both the Plasmacluster and clean signal indicators.

Sharp Electronics Sales (China) Co Ltd: Sharp has a major presence in China, with offices/plants in Shanghai, Nanjing, Changshu and Wuxi.

• FU-Y180SW: eradicates between 96% and 97% of all airborne microbes;
• FU-W150SW: displays a 98% purification efficiency;
• FU-W240SW: features three separate filters; and
• FU-W240SR: displays a >98% sterilization efficiency.

Sharp-Roxy Sales (Singapore) Pte Ltd: Sharp’s facilities in Singapore comprise both corporate offices and a service center.

• KC-840E: see the Italian unit KC-840EW;
• KC-860E: see the German unit list;
• KC-850E and the KC-930E: see the German units KC-850EW and KC-930EUW;
• FU-Y30E: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW;
• FU-W28E: see the Dutch unit list;
• FU-W43E: its high-density ion shower emits 7,000 ions per cubed centimeter;
• FU-W53E: features a deodorizing/HEPA filter that can last for 5 years; and
• FU-Y28E: specially designed to remove dust mites and viruses.

Sharp (Phils) Corporation: The Philippines’ Sharp plant is located in Manila.

• KC-860E: see the German unit list;
• KC-930E: see the German unit KC-930EUW; and
• FU-W43E: see the Singaporean unit list.

PT Sharp Electronics Indonesia: Sharp has a presence in both Karawang and Jakarta.

• KC-C70E: see the Canadian unit KC-C70U;
• KC-C100E and the KC-C150E: see the American units KC-C100U and KC-C150U;
• KC-840E: see the Italian unit KC-840EW;
• KC-860E: see the German unit list;
• KC-850E and the KC-930E: see the German units KC-850EW and KC-930EUW;
• KC-6400E: see the Swiss unit list;
• FU-Y28EW: see the Singaporean unit FU-Y28E;
• FU-Y30EW: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW; and
• FU-S28E: features an inverter control fan system.

Sharp Corporation of Australia (Pty) Ltd: Sharp Australia is located in New South Wales.

• FU-Y30JW: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW;
• FU-W28J: see the Dutch unit FU-W28E; and
• FU-W53J: see the Singaporean unit FU-W53E.

Sharp Electronics (Vietnam) Company Ltd: Sharp Vietnam is headquartered in the country’s largest business center, Ho Chi Minh City.

• KC-840E: see the Italian unit KC-840EW;
• KC-930FUW: see the German unit KC-930EUW;
• FU-Y30EW: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW;
• FU-W28E: see the Dutch unit list; and
• FU-W53E: see the Singaporean unit list.

Sharp Electronics Incorporated of Korea: Sharp has offices in both Seoul and Incheon.

• KC-960K: removes 99% of all airborne viruses;
• KC-950K: its HEPA filter features particle eradication, sterilization and humidification functions;
• KC-860K: the KC-850K and the KC-930K: see the German units KC-860E, KC-850EW and KC-930EUW;
• KC-940K: helps maintain a healthy relative humidity of 60%;
• KC-840K: see the Italian unit KC-840EW;
• FU-570K: features an odor-sensor with adjustable sensitivity levels;
• FU-Y50K: comes with a HEPA-certified filter that purifies and humidifies;
• FU-650K: features the new-generation “clean-out mode” function; and
• FU-Y30K: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW.

Sharp Corporation Taiwan: Sharp Taiwan is based in Taipei.

• KC-850T: see the German unit KC-850EW;
• FU-W43T: see the Singaporean unit FU-W43E; and
• FU-Y30T: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW.

Sharp-Roxy (Hong Kong) Ltd: The Hong Kong head-office is located in New Territories.

• FU-W25AW: removes all odors including garbage and cigarette smoke;
• FU-Y30A: see the British unit FU-Y30EUW;
• FU-W50A: includes a deformaldehyde filter that removes up to 96% of the air’s formaldehyde;
• FU-W40A: discharges the Plasmacluster concentrated ion-shower every 15 minutes;
• KC-840A: see the Italian unit KC-840EW;
• KC-850A and the KC-860A: see the German units KC-850EW and KC-860E;
• KC-C70A: see the Canadian unit KC-C70U; and
• KC-C100A and the KC-C150A: see the American units KC-C100U and KC-C150U;

Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn Bhd: Sharp bases in Malaysia are located in Kedah, Selangor and Johor.

• FU-Y28EW, the FU-W43EW and the FU-W53EW: see the Singaporean units FU-Y28E, FU-W43E and FU-W53E;
• FU-Z31E: offers continuous air-flow monitoring;
• KC-840E: see the Italian unit KC-840Ew; and
• KC-850E, the KC-860E and the KC-930EW: see the German units KC-850EW, KC-860E and KC-930EUW.

Sharp India Limited: The Indian Sharp manufacturing arm is located in Maharashtra.

• FU-W53E, the FU-W43E and the FU-W28E: see the Singaporean unit list.

Sharp Amenity Systems Corporation: Although this corporation, which is located in Osaka, Japan, manufactures and sells air purifiers, its website contains no itemized list of units.

Sharp also has manufacturing/sales outlets in Poland, Russia, Thailand and the UAE. As these companies, which are listed below, do not appear to have websites, no data is available regarding which, if any, air purifiers they sell:

• Poland: Sharp Manufacturing Poland Spzoo
• Russia: Sharp Electronics Russia LLC
• Thailand: Sharp Thai Co Ltd
• The UAE: Sharp Middle East Free Zone Establishment