Since 2005, Italian manufacturer Irinox has been producing some of the world’s most innovative professional tools designed specifically for residential use. The Irinox Home Collection focuses on food preservation and improving long-term storage techniques that ensure families a healthier meal. Not only does quick freezing and rapid thawing help retain flavor and nutrients, it helps prevent the growth of bacteria. The unique collection, available through Snyder Diamond, includes the patented Freddy, which combines slow heat and blast chilling options; Zero, a vacuum sealer; Fresco, a new countertop blast chiller; Wave, a water dispenser; and Vinoteca, a built-in or freestanding wine chiller. To find out more about what’s ahead for Irinox, we spoke with the company’s Vice President, Katia Da Ros. As well, we’re getting a special peek inside Irinox’s newly installed demo-kitchen at its headquarters in the Veneto.

Last month marked Irinox’s debut at KBIS in Las Vegas with distributor and Snyder Diamond partner, Purcell Murray. Tell us a little about your experience. The show is really big and you can find a wide selection of materials, interiors, furniture and overall a lot of new ideas—it’s a great show! The booth had a lot of activity all three days, with customers, friends and architects stopping by. Our appliances caught the eyes of many visitors and, thanks to our chef, there were always a lot of people around to see how the Freddy blast chiller and the Zero vacuum sealer work. Interest in these new technologies is growing and people are getting more and more familiar with these new professional ways of keeping fresh food fresh for longer time. They will be a must have in every kitchen very soon!

Katia Da Ros, Vice President of Irinox

Irinox has a sleek and distinctive style. How do the appliances reflect the latest in Italian design and manufacturing? The collection is designed by Milan-based studio Decoma Design. It’s all very minimal—with no handles, for example, so the appliances can blend in with any kitchen. Stainless steel and glass are the two materials used for the front panels. Our region in the North East of Italy actually has a long history of working with stainless steel, so much so, it’s know as the "stainless steel valley.”

How did the partnership with Luigi Mascheroni, founder of Decoma Design, begin? Luigi and I met through a friend ten years ago. He immediately loved the idea of introducing professional appliances into a domestic kitchen. He is a great expert in material and has a very clean approach to design—Decoma Design has designed our entire home range. Our Freddy was recognized by Compasso d'Oro, a very exclusive Italian design award, and it won the German IF Award too. Also, Freddy and Zero were awarded as two of the most innovative products at our first trip to the Architectural Digest Design Show with Purcell Murray two years ago. So, I can say that this partnership with Decoma Design has been very fruitful and very successful!

Tell us about Irinox’s new demo-kitchen and exhibition area. The Irinox Home Kitchen is designed by MZC+ Architects and is meant to welcome our customers and let them experience our design, freshness and atmosphere in one shot. The project is called "Freshness Meets Design" and has been done with other major companies and brands (Gaggenau, Cotto D'Este, Moroso, Carl Hansen, etc.) with the aim of fulfilling and exceeding customer’s expectations. We want our clients to spend a couple of hours with the best design, technology and atmosphere we can provide, and to then go home thinking they want to create that same environment in their own homes.

Who are some of the top chefs using Irinox appliances, either professionally or at home? Many famous chefs that use our technology in their restaurant kitchens also use Freddy and Zero at home. We have many pictures of their private kitchens at our headquarters! Among our restaurant customers are Cipriani, Noma, The Fat Duck, Alinea, and The French Laundry, and we also work with famous hotels like the Four Seasons and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, as well as renowned places like La Fundación Alícia y el Instituto Catalán de Oncología in Barcelona.

What can we look forward to next from the collection? We are working on making our appliances even more compact and more energy efficient, as well as studying new finishing materials. We are are also passionately continuing to promote and demonstrate these new ways of preserving food freshness. Freddy and Zero really make it simpler to organize fresh, good meals, even if you work hard and have a busy life. Once you understand how the magic works, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!

Heading to Salone del Mobile in Milan this April? Don't miss EuroCucina, where Irinox will be demonstrating it’s latest offerings.