October 2026
ertonline.co.uk
Rather than simply throwing a graph at the
consumer and leaving them to work it out, the app will make suggestions about how the appliance could be configured or used more efficiently. A new appliance check will also provide an overview of the health of the refrigerator, including areas such as filters and appliance status. It is perhaps a good example of where
connected appliances are finally starting to move beyond the novelty stage. The question is becoming less ‘can I connect my fridge to an app?’ and more ‘what do I actually get from doing it?’
Wine goes digital Wine storage gets its own connected upgrade too.
For the first time, Liebherr’s SmartDevice
app will include a dedicated wine section, allowing consumers to create a digital record of their collection.
Bottles can be added either by scanning them or entering them manually, after which the app automatically adds information including the winery, grape variety and region. Users can add their own ratings and the app
distinguishes between bottles already tasted and those still sitting in the collection. Interestingly, the feature does not require the consumer to own a Liebherr wine cabinet, potentially giving the brand another
digital
touchpoint with wine enthusiasts before they ever purchase one.
At the other end of the size scale, Liebherr is going bigger with refrigeration itself. Its new German-made XL and XXL built-in appliances offer increased storage capacity, larger BioFresh safes and high levels of energy efficiency while being designed to integrate into contemporary kitchens. Among the
highlights is what Liebherr described as an industry-first built-in side-by-
side solution for a 194cm niche, combining an XL refrigerator and freezer. The proposition is simple enough: more space for the big weekly shop, families and entertaining without sacrificing the increasingly seamless appearance consumers expect from integrated kitchens.
Keeping things fresh Yet for all the technology on show, Liebherr’s wider message in Berlin was deliberately human. Maria Ma said that in an increasingly complex world, where information, decisions and experiences are becoming more digital and influenced by AI, qualities such as “orientation, responsibility, reliability and trust” are becoming more important.
That thinking runs through the company’s global ‘Matters’ communications campaign for 2026 and 2027, which focuses on real people and the things they value. Liebherr’s IFA slogan, ‘Preserve what matters’, takes the same idea onto the show floor.
Technology, the company argued, should not exist simply for technology’s sake. Instead, it should help preserve food, reduce energy consumption, extend product life and make everyday routines easier. There is also a sustainability story behind that message.
Liebherr revealed in Berlin that it had achieved EcoVadis Platinum status for the first time, recognising its work around transparency throughout the value chain across its worldwide production sites.
Repairability is another increasingly important part of that discussion. The manufacturer welcomed the direction of the European Right to Repair legislation, arguing that longevity, repairability and spare parts availability have been part of its approach for decades. Its new Appliance Analytics Dashboard takes service in another direction, allowing potential appliance problems to be identified – and in some cases resolved – before the customer even notices them.
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