German Manufacturer Brings 60 Years of Experience to North America
Jason GuilliamQ&A with Jason Guilliam, CFSP, sales manager, Commercial, North America, Refrigerators and Freezers Division, Liebherr USA, Co.
Q. Who is Liebherr and when did you enter the North American market?
Jason Guilliam: Liebherr is a third-generation, family-owned, German-based company. With over 60 years of success, Liebherr Appliances is Europe's largest privately-owned, award-winning manufacturer of refrigerators and freezers. Liebherr has been selling residential appliances in North America since 2004 and launched its commercial line earlier this year.
Q. What have been the challenges with equipment used in the lodging industry?
JG: Oftentimes, equipment is in areas that can be seen or used by guests. It is important that the equipment not only performs its function perfectly, but also looks great and fits the overall décor.
Q. What are the newest innovations that have helped solve these problems?
JG: Liebherr combines the aesthetics of residential appliances with the performance of commercial units. We use state-of-the-art 
The WS 17800 Wine Cabinet is a great addition for high-end hotels, featuring three independent temperature zones and up to 178-bottle capacity. components, efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerants and precise controls that ensure product quality and freshness is optimally preserved.
Q. What equipment is best suited for the lodging industry?
JG: The Profiline top-mount compressor offers easy access for servicing and cleaning. It utilizes R290 refrigerant that is both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. These units also have hot gas defrost, which reduces the defrost cycle from 30 minutes to 10
minutes, resulting in reduced temperature fluctuations and preserved food quality. The molded stainless steel inner liner has smooth edges for easy cleaning and a sleek appearance and makes adjusting shelves extremely easy.
Another great feature is the door hinges that can be easily reversed on-site to accommodate space and design requirements. The precision control system has visual and audible door alarms to alert the user to any excessive rise in temperature and loss of cold air. There is also an integrated min/max logger that stores interior temperatures at regular intervals for HACCP compliance.
The WS17800 3-Zone Wine Cabinet offers constant air quality, temperature and humidity control as well as vibration-free storage. Liebherr uses an insulated glass door with UV protection and an activated charcoal filter to protect the wine from outside influences, such as light and odor. The energy efficient LED ceiling light emits virtually no heat and is dimmable to cast a cool glow across the room. The solid beechwood shelves on telescopic rails enable easy access, as well. There is no other unit on the market with this level of sophistication.
The BCDv1003 counter-top beverage unit offers three cubic feet of space, making it a great solution to store individual portions of milk, yogurt, butter, hardboiled eggs, etc.
Q. What up-and-coming technological advancements does Liebherr offer?
JG: Refrigerators will be smart, connected devices! Liebherr works with Microsoft and other partners to bring solutions that
will add value to commercial and residential markets.
