Sub-Zero Unveils ´Monument to Food Preservation´; New PRO 48 Creating Buzz Among Kitchen Professionals and Homeowners

MADISON, Wis., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Sub-Zero Freezer Company, the leading manufacturer of luxury residential refrigeration and wine storage units, announced today the introduction of a bold new addition to its complete line of refrigeration: the company's PRO 48 will bring professional-style refrigeration to consumers. The 60-year-old company pioneered built-in refrigeration and throughout its history has led the industry with many firsts.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050510/DATU004A )

The new product, scheduled to hit retail showrooms in fall 2005, is available as a freestanding or built-in unit. The all-steel PRO 48 boasts a large storage capacity -- 18.4 refrigerator cubic feet and 11.4 freezer cubic feet -- making it the largest combination unit Sub-Zero offers.

"The PRO 48 continues Sub-Zero's rich tradition of superior food preservation and innovative design," said Jim Bakke, president and chief executive officer for Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc. and Wolf Appliance Company. "We've combined form and function to offer consumers a new concept in refrigeration. People who love food and entertaining and who aspire to a professional kitchen lifestyle will especially appreciate this new product."

The PRO 48 provides homeowners with exceptional food preservation through Sub-Zero's exclusive dual refrigeration system. Two compressors keep foods fresher longer and prevent odor transfer between the refrigerator and freezer sections. Three evaporators allow the unique ability to set a different temperature for the two refrigerator drawers from the temperature for the door cavity.

Constructed of 100 percent welded stainless steel inside and out, the PRO 48 complements the quality professional "Pro" line of cooking equipment from Wolf, Sub-Zero's sister company specializing in ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills. The product is available with solid stainless steel doors (Model 648PRO) or with a glass door on the refrigerator side (Model 648PROG). Both models feature LED channeled sidewall and ceiling lights that bathe the upper refrigerator compartment in a soft, even glow and can serve as door-area night-lights with the glass door model. As well as providing convenient visibility, the triple-pane, argon gas-filled glass acts as an insulator to save energy.

Built by hand with the Sub-Zero dual refrigeration system at its heart and with three compressors, all PRO 48 models meet rigorous Department of Energy standards for residential use, consuming less energy than a 100-watt light bulb over the course of a year. The PRO 48 is the only residential pro-style refrigerator available on the market today that meets energy standards.

The new PRO 48 offers an array of versatile storage options to maximize storage capacity. Homeowners have full access to food with the full extension drawers and interchangeable refrigerator drawer dividers. Two two-gallon stainless steel bins fit under any refrigerator shelf and can store smaller items that might get misplaced in a normal refrigerator as well as isolate particular foods such as cheese. The bins are washable and even oven-safe, so a homeowner can marinate meat in the refrigerator overnight and then transfer a bin directly to the oven for cooking. The touch-and-glide crisper drawer lid has a tight seal allowing for a bird's-eye view of fresh produce, and it maintains ideal levels of humidity in the top refrigerator drawer.

In addition to the PRO 48's food preservation capability, storage and beauty, the new models are loaded with other features:

* The exterior temperature display with digital readouts allows a homeowner to easily monitor temperature conditions in three separate areas. Electronic controls offer accurate, precise temperature adjustment, maintaining the temperature to plus or minus one degree of the homeowner's choice. * The intelligent microprocessor and interior control panel can sense a homeowner's usage patterns and adjust defrost patterns accordingly. * An audible alarm lets the homeowner know when a door or drawer has been left ajar. * The automatic icemaker can fill either the stainless steel bucket or an entire drawer with ice made from filtered water. The bucket holds up to eight pounds of ice, and the drawer more than seven pounds. * The easy-to-replace, high quality water filter reduces contaminants so water and ice will be taste- and odor-free. The filter lasts up to 12 months, and an indicator light lets the homeowner know when it is time to change it. * The precision-built auto-close hinges enable the doors to finish closing easily and automatically rather than slamming shut. * The easy-access grill features a no-tools, flip-up, cam-assisted design to reveal the service diagnostic board and condenser for cleaning. * The unit has a Sabbath mode for certain religious observances. * A homeowner can power down one or both sides of the unit for the weekend or an extended period of time. * The all-glass refrigerator shelves and stainless steel freezer shelves are adjustable and cantilevered, and the freezer shelves are also spill-proof.

The PRO 48 will initially be available in fall 2005. For further information or to reach a Sub-Zero distributor in your area, please visit http://www.subzero.com/ or call 800-222-7820.

About Sub-Zero and Wolf

Sub-Zero Freezer Company is the leading manufacturer of luxury refrigeration and freezer units for residential use. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is a privately held, family-owned company in its third generation of ownership. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Sub-Zero also operates a manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona, and employs more than 1,100 employees. Wolf Appliance Company is a premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills in the U.S. It offers ventilation products and microwaves to complement its line. Since its inception more than 70 years ago, the company was the first to introduce the snap-action griddle and the Therm-O-Ray infrared griddle. Wolf was among the first to introduce the convection oven into the market, and its red knobs are now famous. Since March 2000, the company is an affiliate of the Sub-Zero Freezer Company. It is based in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, in a state-of-the-art production facility.