Press reports, product reviews and trade articles about WIBO radiators
Do something good and talk about it*
WIBO-WERK Hamburg donated a skirting board radiator to a seriously ill girl, whose mother could no longer afford the back payments for her night-storage heating.
When WIBO sales force employee, Ali Mortezavi (31) switched on the radio, as an exception, in order to hear the traffic information about the bad weather conditions, at the beginning of December, he was moved by the story of Birgit Philipp's plight. Under the motto, "Hamburg helps children", Radio Hamburg presents a fated situation each day during the weeks preceding Christmas and asks for donations.
Mortezavi switched on, just as Birgit Philipp (43) was telling of the fate of her 16-year-old daughter, Jacqueline, who suffers from an autoimmune disease. On this day, she had finally received Jacqueline's consent to report to the listeners about the urgently required furniture and therapy measures. The seriously ill girl, with an uncertain life expectancy, sits in a wheelchair, repeatedly undergoes long hospital stays and can no longer participate in lessons at school because of her severe pain, weakened immune system and the possible risk of infection. Mother and daughter need to live off of Hartz IV benefits and can neither pay for the urgently required mattress and other furniture, nor the therapeutic lessons needed. When the hefty back payment for the night-storage heating then arrived, Birgit Philipp no longer knew what to do. For Ali Mortezavi, the word night-storage gave him the incentive to take action.
WIBO was immediately prepared to donate a radiator and thermostat to the family, so that the girl's room can be kept warm and save electricity at the same time.
At the handover of the skirting board radiator, which Jacqueline picked out, mother and daughter report: "When the Radio Hamburg presenter told us that the required amount of money had been donated, we could hardly believe our luck. We were overcome by tears. And we unexpectedly received a new radiator that heats more economically. We really did not expect so much sympathy."
* hopefully it will inspire others to do the same
Radiators: New WIBO GSM modem
Control via mobile phone
One call is all it takes and many kilometres away, a GSM mobile radio receiver switches on the electric radiators in the house.
Electric radiators are very popular and frequently used in weekend homes. The problem until now: During the cool seasons, it takes a while after arriving before the chilled house is pleasantly warm and when departing, people often turn back again because they are not certain whether everything has been switched off and set correctly (e.g. frost protection). An innovation by WIBO for electric radiators now makes this even easier and more convenient. Remote-controlled through the mobile phone network, thermostats control the radiators and even send the current room temperature by telephone. Of course, the same functions can also be used from a landline connection.
Austria
Kronenzeitung on 12 November 2010
Electric fireplaces – safe, clean and super easy
SAFE: WIBO radiators stand for the highest safety standard. This is guaranteed by the TÜV [Technical Inspection Agency] seal, i.e. the process in accordance with strict European testing standards. On WIBO products, it guarantees the quality - and the Made in Germany.
CLEAN: At the largest manufacturer in direct sales, WIBO-WERK produces electric fireplaces that are maintenance-free and clean to handle. In order to install them, only a 230-volt mains socket is required. Complex and cost-intensive brickworks are not required.
SUPER EASY: It is easy to put the fire together with WIBO fireplaces. The crackling flames are activity at the push of a button and the heating function is switched on in the same way.
Electric fireplaces combine tradition with progress
The start of cultural life is closely associated with the hearth. 80,000 years ago, people already gathered around the fire. In addition to vital protection from wild animals and cold, the hearth was already a symbol of community and discussion at that time.
Even today, these moments of relaxation at home are creatively arranged, in order to regenerate from over-stimulating daily life. However, not every living space is suitable for the installation of a fireplace. Compared to an expensive open fire place, electric fireplaces by WIBO-WERK enable daily flickering flames for contemplative moments, or lingering for a while.
Mood-makers
Families particularly profit from a living atmosphere that quickly and conveniently sets atmospheric highlights. An evening spent together in front of the fireplace strengthens the feeling of togetherness. The crackling flames, which WIBO offers without annoying ambient noises, and the pleasant warmth, convert the living space into an oasis of recovery. When it is cold and unpleasant outside, an evening in front of the electric fireplace is the epitome of recovery: Warming up and gazing into the astonishingly realistic, flickering flames again and again, provides deep relaxation.
And also in the summertime
However, this experience is not reserved for the cold season. The summertime campfire romance can be brought into one's own lounge with an electric fireplace by WIBO. Even on warm summer evenings, they provide the magic of the flickering flames – without a heating function. With WIBO fireplaces, the fireplace mood or the flickering flames can be set without the heating effect: This way the electric fireplace becomes an atmosphere enhancer. Watching flickering flames, instead of the television: This leads to long-lasting relaxation.
Safe, clean and super easy
Radiators by WIBO fulfil the highest safety standards. The production of the WIBO radiators is monitored and certified by TÜV [Technical Inspection Agency] Rhineland on a regular basis with regard to product safety and production quality. As the largest manufacturer in direct sales, WIBO-WERK attaches a great deal of importance to the fact that the fireplaces are exclusively produced in Germany. The Made in Germany seal stands for the careful review of self-imposed, highest standards at WIBO. WIBO electric fireplaces are maintenance-free. In order to install them, neither brickworks nor other connection works are necessary. Only a 230-volt mains socket needs to be available. In order to operate the electric fireplace, there is no need to study pages and pages of instructions. It is easy to operate, so that the mood-enhancing atmosphere is guaranteed to quickly establish itself within your own walls.
The electric fireplace as full heating
WIBO-WERK, the European market leader in direct sales of electric heating systems, has also been involved in forming the technical development of electric fireplaces since the invention of the electric tiled stove. The determination of the quality standards has always had the aim of combining tradition and well-proven craftsmanship with the latest standards. Usually, the reflective mood that a fireplace emits and the decorative aspect are the main reasons for a purchase. However, the heating output of the fireplaces and with open fireplaces, particularly the radiant heat, is another frequent reason for buying.
WIBO has developed a new generation of electric fireplaces, which have all the functions and strengths of full heating. In relation to the heat emission, this means that the convection output is an optimum ratio to radiant heat. Through this air circulation, which WIBO creates naturally, i.e. without disturbing fans, the air is also constantly heated in the entire room and remains noticeably, evenly warm. Therefore, anyone who heats with a WIBO electric fireplace always makes the right decision: with full heating power for timeless, attractive living design.
Bundestag in WIBO-WERK
17 August 2010
Dr. Petersen explains the traditional work at WIBO to the Member of the Parliament Mr. Kruse, as well as Members of the Parliament, Mr. Stemmann and the Member of the Municipal Council, Ms. Seif, together with Mr. Fischer from the Chamber of Skilled Trades.
SOLARDIREKT NEWS
Newspaper for renewable energies, comfortable warmth – clean and economical
Heating with electricity? In Scandinavia and France, it has been common practice for a long time. Too expensive, most Germans still think. However, the long-established prejudice is crumbling away in times of rising oil and gas prices. That is good for WIBO-Werk GmbH Hamburg, the European market leader in direct sales of electric radiators. The 350 sales force employees of the traditional company argue with convincing facts: Electric radiators are clean, space-saving, maintenance-free and even more economical than the fossil competition, when calculated over their entire service life.
WIBO-WERK Hamburg was founded in 1892 by master tiler, Ferdinand Homann. The name was given by furnace builder and engineer, Wilhelm Bottermann, who took over the company management in 1946 and turned the workshop into a medium-sized industrial company. The breakthrough was achieved in 1962, with the development of the first electric tiled stove. The idea of combining the cosy warmth from the traditional tiled stove with the comfort of an electric radiator quickly found many fans.
After the triumphant advance of the Bottermann stove, further innovations followed: In 1970, the Webotherm electric skirting board radiator (due to the low height, particularly suitable for installation under windows); in 1978, the Thermatic surface storage radiator, which is characterised by its particularly flat design. In 1988, Wilhelm and Hermine Bottermann handed over the reins of the company to their daughter Elke and her husband, Dr. Kay Petersen. The third generation of the family dedicated itself to the task of making the successful, traditional products fit for the future. "The aim of this was primarily to increase the control precision with modern heaters and thermostats", explains Managing Director, Dr. Kay Petersen.
For example, radio-controlled thermostats were developed, which communicate with window and door detectors and automatically switch themselves off as soon as a door or window is opened. WIBO customers can even switch their heating on or off by telephone. This little extra is interesting for holiday homes, for example, according to the Managing Director. The surface storage radiators were also modernised. Through integrated chimney draughts, the radiant heat of the radiators was able to be improved again. Another innovation from WIBO-WERK GmbH Hamburg is the fitting of the electric tiled stoves with water pockets to humidify the ambient air. Since the year 2000, there have also been electric radiators available at WIBO for the bathroom and kitchen. The radiators are certified according to the spray water standard IPX 4. In 1992, the workforce at WIBO-WERK Hamburg celebrated the company's 100th anniversary. The event coincided with the opening of the European Common Market. However, the family-owned company was already open to trading contacts with the European neighbours long before this. Subsidiaries were already established in France, Austria and Switzerland at the end of the 1980s. Today, the Hamburg-based electric furnace builders earn 40 percent of their annual sales abroad. Important export markets are presently also England and Spain. For the future, we have our eye on Poland, reveals Dr. Petersen. The formula for the company's success is the same as that of master furnace builder, Bottermann. Dr. Kay Petersen sums it up in one sentence: "Our products are simply better than those of the competitors."
WIBO even distinguishes itself from its competitors in terms of service. To fit the elevated living comfort of its premium products, the company offers its customers a comfort package of services. In addition to thorough advisory, these also include a heating requirement survey on site and a safety check of the electric lines. Dr. Kay Petersen is optimistic about the future. After a good financial year 2009 with sales of nearly EUR 40 million, he is expecting an increase of five to ten percent for 2010. Not without pride, he mentions that his three daughters have already assumed responsibility in the company: Sina in Marketing, Lena in Sales and Anna as a consulting lawyer. Therefore, the continuity of the Hamburg-based family-owned company is ensured.