LG Electronics (LG) will unveil its new ‘Universal UP Kit’ by the end of the year, enabling differently-abled persons to use LG home appliances with more ease without having to replace the whole appliance.
The kit is a collection of innovative home appliance accessories and add-ons embracing universal design and made from recycled materials crafted to enhance usability for individuals facing physical challenges, exemplifying LG’s vision of a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Making the announcement, LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company president Lyu Jae-Cheol said through the Universal UP Kit, LG will ensure that all appliance owners, regardless of age or physical limitations, can enjoy a convenient user experience.
“The Universal UP Kit is designed to enhance the usability and accessibility of our home appliances and has been developed to resolve pain points shared with us by real consumers,” said Cheol.
Soon to be unveiled at this year’s IFA, the kit will comprise innovative, thoughtfully crafted solutions compatible with a wide spectrum of LG home appliances, including the refrigerator, CordZero™ stick vacuum, the Styler™, dishwasher, water purifier, washing machine, and dryer.
Besides, customers can seamlessly integrate Universal UP Kit products into their existing LG home appliances so that the whole item does not need to be replaced, elevating user experience without the need to upgrade to the latest models.
The kit represents a continuation of LG’s strong efforts towards more environmentally conscious and accessibility-focused ESG initiatives. Last year, the company introduced its minimalist design appliance lineup – a testament to LG’s commitment to more sustainable manufacturing through reducing components and increasing the utilization of recyclable materials.
To aid in developing the Universal UP Kit, LG enlisted the help of its Accessibility Advisory Council, an independent board, an assembly of individuals with health conditions such as hearing or vision impairments and cerebral palsy.
The council’s members shared their insights, experiences and the challenges they had experienced while using various home appliances. LG compiled, categorized and analyzed the individual feedback, shaping the foundation of the Universal UP Kit design and steering the course for future accessibility-led projects.
This collaborative effort led to the creation of ‘aid kits’ featuring solutions engineered from recycled plastics utilized to help conserve resources and minimize waste – a cornerstone of LG’s overarching ESG management strategy.
Universal UP’s Easy Handle Kit comes with detachable handles for the door and a detergent drawer for LG’s washer. The handles have been designed to facilitate accessibility for users with diminished manual dexterity or wrist strength to grasp the washer’s pocket handles. The kit also offers high-contrast colour options created to accommodate the conditions such as amblyopia.
Other aid kits from the Universal UP portfolio include the Assistant Kit. This detachable, wheeled strut redistributes the weight of LG’s CordZero stick vacuum, offering enhanced control and maneuverability.
The Easy Hanger Kit introduces a long handle with a circular grip to the Styler’s clothes hangers, allowing wheelchair users to easily place them on the Moving Hanger system at the top of LG’s clothing care cabinet. Additionally, LG will introduce the Rotate Shelf Kit to increase the usability of the refrigerator’s shelves and the Easy Nozzle Kit, which attaches to the water purifier, and elevates accessibility through height- and distance adjustability. The water purifier can also be upgraded for those with visual impairments by adding the Silicon Cover with Braille.
Attendees at LG’s IFA 2023 booth (Hall 18, Messe Berlin) from September 1-5 can see Universal UP Kit solutions applied to a variety of the company’s home appliances in the ThinQ Home Zone.