February 13, 2002

Contact: Thor Appliance Company
(206) 850-6596
mlee@thorappliances.com

 (LOS ANGELES) – Thor Appliance Company, a leading manufacturer and retailer of specialty appliances, today unveiled its new front-loading SoftLine® laundry system, the largest capacity washer/dryer combination available in North America.

Available immediately online at www.thorappliances.com, the new SoftLine washes and dries 14.5 lbs. of laundry, nearly 20% more than any other combination washer/dryer available in the United State or Canada. “We found that consumers like the compact dimensions offered by washer/dryers, but are not willing to sacrifice capacity,” said Matt Lee, Vice President of Product Development.  “The SoftLine offers the best of both worlds by combining compact dimensions, with the capacity to handle bulky items usually off-limits to washer/dryers.”

SofLine offers a variety of space-saving advantages over laundry machines with similar capacities. As an all-in-one machine measuring 23 inches wide by 33 inches tall and requiring no dryer vent, Thor can fit where traditional laundry appliances cannot. SoftLine washer/dryers can be installed, under-counter in a kitchen, free-standing in an extra closet or in a traditional laundry room.  In addition, the machine is practically silent during operation, allowing for installation in bedrooms or other living spaces.

SoftLine uses the latest in technology to offer exceptional fabric care. Its front-loading design eliminates the agitator found in traditional laundry machine, and allows for complete cleaning without stretching or abrading fabrics. Sensors inside the machine determine the correct water level, water temperature and load saturation, and use this data to ensure fabrics receive the right care on all cycles.

Like other Thor laundry machines, SoftLine earns high marks for its energy efficiency. Thor’s latest washer offers outstanding cleaning, while consuming nearly 70 % less water and 65 % less electricity than standard washing machines. For the average American family, this means a annual savings of 600 kilowatt hours of electricity and enough water to fill a typical backyard pool; nearly 14,000 gallons.

Los Angeles-based Thor Appliance Company is a leading supplier of specialty laundry appliances for residential use. In 1907 Thor changed forever the way Americans wash clothes when it invented the first electrically powered clothes washer.   More information on Thor’s products and history may be found online at www.thorappliances.com.