In Pursuit of Innovation

In Pursuit of Innovation

By Richard Wright

Innovation remains the key word that defines the Vesta Awards Program. That is the attribute most sought out by Vesta judges, and the quality that is necessary in any industry to ensure future growth.

Photos: 2014© douglas barnes Photography. www.nowpicturethis.com.

The 14th Annual Vesta Awards Ceremony was held on Friday evening, March 7, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. At 5 pm, a large crowd gathered in the Ballroom to enjoy 30 minutes of music, wine and networking with friends.

Once again, the Vesta Wine Reception was sponsored by Schott Robax and, judging by the crowd gathered around the bar and tables, it was much appreciated following a tiring trade show day.

This year there were 69 Vesta entries, one more than last year but still a great distance from the 165 entered in 2007 (that was still in the time of plenty, when few had an inkling of the downturn that awaited a year or so away).

In 2007, approximately 2,800 people attended the Vesta Awards Ceremony; this year a best guess puts the number around 1,200 or so.

However, what that crowd lacked in numbers, it made up in enthusiasm.

Bill Sendelback, a past chairman of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) and presently a writer for Hearth & Home, was the evening’s emcee. His first introduction was of Jack Goldman, president and CEO of the HPBA. He said a few words about the Expo, then a few about Dan Shimek, an industry giant who died toward the end of last year.

Goldman also referenced Golden Blount, who had died just a few days prior to the Vesta Ceremony.

Operation BBQ Relief

At that point, the crowd welcomed back Stan Hays, one of three founders of Operation BBQ Relief. Last year, Hays pulled the heart strings of everyone in the audience as he showed images of disaster areas throughout the Midwest where he and many other volunteers had served barbecue to those in need.

Last year, the tears shed by Hays were mirrored by those in the audience. This year was no different. Hays broke down time and again as he reflected on the trauma and suffering of those impacted by disasters over the past 12 months.

That triggered tears and moist cheeks from many (the majority?) of those in the audience. Hays received not one, but two standing ovations for the tremendous effort he and his group are making to help those in need.

Operation BBQ Relief is now the charity of choice for the HPBA.

Excellence in Retailing Award

This was the second year that the Vesta Awards Program included a Retail segment. The backbone of this segment is the nomination process. Only HPBA members are allowed to nominate, or to be nominated.

In 2013, two awards were presented.

The Hearth Retailer of the Year award went to Brent and Christy Buchan of Energy Products & Design in Rochester, Minnesota; the Outdoor Room Retailer of the Year went to Doug and Sharon Sanicola of Outdoor Elegance in La Verne, California.

This year there were ample multiple nominations on the Hearth side, but not so on the Outdoor Room side. Therefore, only one award – Hearth Retailer of the Year – was presented, and that went to Friendly Fires, with three stores in Ontario, Canada. The business is owned by Brad Leonard and Alex Soubliere (Leonard was present to receive the award).

Ed. Note: The Vesta judges have complete autonomy in determining winners and finalists. They may designate a Winner and two Finalists in any category, or any combination of the above, including designating no awards in a category.

It may seem odd that a category would have a Finalist but no Winner, but in that case the judges felt that, while the product displayed some innovation, it was enough to reach the Finalist level, but not sufficient to warrant a Winner’s award.

The following descriptions of products are the words of the manufacturers.

Best-in-Show
Outdoor Room Products

Breeo Industries

Ablaze – CK-24FP Fire Pit

Higher, more even temperatures mean faster cooking, and patent-pending smoke re-burning technology nearly eliminates annoying smoke that usually plagues those sitting around a fire.

Ablaze fire pits are built to last. Coated with 1,200-degree F heat-resistant paint, they can definitely take the heat. Maximum fuel efficiency extracts every Btu out of every piece of wood, resulting in longer burn times. Ablaze fire pits are covered by a three-year warranty (paint excluded).

Optional features include a heavy-duty, swing-away kettle winch with stainless-steel cable, and an adjustable height, swing-away stainless-steel cooking grill. Ablaze uses a patent-pending secondary afterburner to drastically reduce smoke by igniting it before it has a chance to escape.

With double-walled construction, the outer surface and top rail stay cool for safer campfires. Even though this unit is cooler outside, it’s 30 percent hotter inside, and designed to distribute heat evenly across the cooking surface for more consistent temperatures.

Call (717) 368-7492 or visit www.ablazefirepits.com

Outdoor Hearth Products

Breeo Industries
Ablaze – CK-24FP Fire Pit
(Category Winner)

Jonathan Miller.

Daniel J. Melcon Award
Best-in-Show
Hearth Products

WiseWay

Non-Electric Pellet Stove

This stove is in a class of its own. Some say it’s the missing link between wood and pellet, using the best both have to offer. From pellet it takes the fuel that makes burning solid fuel so convenient; it’s easy to handle and one load lasts all day. From wood it takes the benefits of radiant heat, has no need for electricity and is capable of heating an entire home.

Gary Wisener has opened the door for a new chapter in the hearth industry. This new and exciting stove will fill a much-needed niche in the industry.

Model GW-1949. Height 52 in., Width 24 in., Depth 15 in. Hopper Capacity – 40 lbs. Actual burn time on high – 40 lbs. 12-14 hours. Actual burn time on low – 40 lbs. 34-36 hours. EPA certified. Patent # US7861707. Particulate emissions per hour – 1.9 grams. Moving parts – none. Electricity usage – none. Manufacture warranty – five years.

Call (541) 660-0021 or visit www.wisewaypelletstoves.com.

Pellet Products

WiseWay
Pellet Stove
(Category Winner)


L. to R.: Gene Bradley, Matt Aguirre, Gary Wisener, Juan Terminator.

Outdoor Room Products: Category Winners

Gas Barbecues

Napoleon Grills

TravelQ 285l

The TravelQ is a dual-burner, portable propane barbecue with a unique scissor-cart design. It’s made from cast aluminum and all stainless-steel fasteners. It has 12,000 Btus, JetFire ignition, a windproof design, folding legs, locking drip pan, locking slide track system and large two-piece wheels.

Each burner is controlled with separate ignition and features a stainless-steel crossover lighting path; if an ignitor fails in strong wind conditions, both burners can still be lit for reliable and full control grilling.

It features Napoleon quality construction backed by a 10-Year Limited Warranty, innovative scissor cart design with large eight-in. wheels for easy mobility, and folds upright for convenient storage or can hang on a wall.

Spacious side shelves with integrated towel and utensil holders hold up to 30 lbs. per shelf.

Call (705) 726-4278 or visit www.napoleongrills.com.

L. to R.: Ron McArthur and Chris Schroeter.

Barbecue Accessories

BakerStone International

BakerStone Pizza Oven Box

The BakerStone Pizza Oven Box is a grill-top oven. The design consists of an enameled steel housing that surrounds a ceramic stone baking chamber. The oven is lightweight at 27 lbs. and can easily be placed on and removed from the grill. It measures 23 in. wide, 16 in. deep and 6 1/2 in. in height. The BakerStone oven comes with a temperature gauge for ultimate cooking control and is packed in a four color carton and requires minimal assembly. This new and unique product cooks pizza in two to four minutes, bakes cookies and breads, roasts meats, fish and vegetables.

The BakerStone Oven sits on most backyard grills and functions like a wood-burning stone oven. The Pizza Oven Box’s patent-pending design raises the temperature of outdoor grills to that of a real wood-burning pizza oven. Unmatched baking and cooking performance is achieved by combining a stone baking chamber with an enameled steel housing, creating a unique airflow system that enhances the convective, conductive and radiant heat in and around the cooking chamber.

Call (855) 657-6836 or visit www.bakerstonebox.com.

Tim Case.

Barbecues, Other Fuels

MAK GRILLS

3 Star General

Two hallmarks of every MAK GRILL are: Quality and Innovation. Crafted by precision metal fabrication experts using state-of-the-art equipment, the 3 Star General holds a tolerance of 20 thousandths of an inch. It’s constructed using Marine Grade 304 stainless steel. Loaded with unique features, the 3 Star General will be the crown jewel of any outdoor kitchen.

Features:

Firepot Clean-out mechanism.
Pellet hopper dump mechanism.
Two Quart ash and grease drawer.
Flame Sensors inside each firepot.
Unique upper grill rack system provides an additional 2,080 sq. in. of cooking area.
Instant Read Temperature Probe.
Direct Grid Temperature Control.
Displays and monitors up to four separate temperature probes at one time.
Open Grilling Mode.
MAK Grills Mobile Wi-FiTM.

Call (503) 623-1234 or visit www.makgrills.com.

L. to R.: Bruce Bjorkman, Matt Tucker, Bob & Kerrie Tucker.

Charcoal/Wood Barbecues & Smokers

Galaxy Outdoor

GXKL Large Kamado Rocket

The only U.S.-made Kamado that can cook with all types of fuel, the Kamado Rocket is artistically tiled with the finest imported porcelain ceramic glass and stone tiles. Standard tile options of blue, black, green or brown are available, plus additional upgraded tile options of Pressed Latinum Series-Pearl, the Asteroid series of stone/glass/tile, and the Trillium Stainless-Steel.

Every piece of the hardware (inside and out) is handmade and built with only U.S.-made #304 stainless-steel. This work of art comes in sizes of small, medium, large and extra large. Use the gas to assist in lighting charcoal or wood, or just use the gas burner as a standard grill and add a piece of lump wood, charcoal or mojoe bricks for added smoke flavor.

Heat by Convection allows proper heat circulation for uniform cooking and for more cooking levels. In the engineering dictum, round is better than square. With Heat by Radiation, the retained heat in heavy composite walls creates an even, all-around cooking experience that you cannot receive with thin-walled metal barbecues or ceramic smokers.

Designed to outperform any other type of smoker/grill on the planet, the Kamado Rocket is 100 percent handmade in the U.S. and offers more standard options and capabilities than any other smoker/grill.

Call (702) 488-5600 or visit www.galaxyoutdoor.com.

Bruce Spangrud.

Outdoor Room Equipment

Cal Flame

Master Chef

The Master Chef is uniquely designed with a sleek, arched curve with over 100 LED lights that illuminate the countertop, raised bar seating for entertaining eight–10 people and a large, open, cooking space to enhance the Master Chef cooking experience. The front side offers a complete outdoor gourmet kitchen that includes a convection grill smoker, refrigerator, ice maker and two shelves on either side of the island lit with LED lights.

The backside is a beautifully designed wall of water and fire that creates a stunning visual image. A dramatic contrast of nature’s elements, this unique innovation is adorned with two recessed slate fountains on opposite ends of the island, and a recessed fireplace in the center that truly transforms any space into a luxury lounge.

The perfect blend of uncompromising design and practical function, the Master Chef is a fully encompassed entertainment and cooking station that features a sturdy metal frame constructed from commercial-grade 16-gauge galvanized steel, dressed in ceramic tile backerboard for added durability and moisture resistance, with two external electrical outlets and vents at the base to release heat and gas.

Call (909) 623-8781 or visit www.calflamebbq.com.

L. to R.: Cal Flame’s Rob Santos and Joe McNamara.

Hearth Products: Category Winners

Hearth Accessories

American Panel Hearth Products

Hearth Classics Modular Hearth – Type 2

The modular hearth pad is designed to be used as a type 2 hearth pad for installation under a stove that requires the hearth pad to provide thermal as well as ember protection. It is designed to ship as a complete kit for the homeowner or installing dealer to assemble. The design allows this hearth pad to ship in a box that will be about 14 in. wide x 36 in., or 48 in. long x 4 – 12 in. high that will allow for an overall hearth pad size of 12x48 to 48x60.

This hearth pad design will provide the ultimate in safety for the homeowner thanks to its non-homogenous substrate construction. Additionally, this product is repairable (if tiles crack), can be easily moved, installed on carpeting, and the homeowner can order replacement pieces to increase the size of the hearth pad after installation.

Call (616) 296-0533 or visit www.americanpanelhearth.com.

L. to R.: Jeff Kreiser and Jeff Yoder.

Hearth Products, Other Fuels

Duraflame

Illuma Slimline – Traditional Unit

This unit uses proprietary fueling technology and builds on it by adding new patent-pending wicking burners inside artificial logs to create a traditional looking slimline fireplace that has the additional capability of modulating the flames randomly. It can be either a free standing or in-the-wall, slimline fireplace.

The technology uses an innovative fueling system that allows safe refueling of the appliance while it’s still on and without the danger of spilling. Patent-pending wicking burners use a porous material inside the burner that lets the fuel to wick to the surface and burn there. This allows for the burners to be at different heights, different angles, and for some loose material to be placed on the burner, all of which cannot be done with traditional ethanol-burning appliances. This unit also has a control system built into it that allows for the flames on different burners to be modulated independently, and randomly to create flames that dramatically change in size over the span of a few minutes.

Call (714) 307-7986 or visit www.duraflame.com.

Chris Caron speaking to the audience.

Electric Products

Dimplex North America

Opti-V

The Opti-V is a fireplace like no other. The flames flicker and dance like gas, but it’s not gas. It crackles and sparks like wood, but it’s not wood. Similar to ethanol, it requires no venting, but it’s not ethanol.

Opti-V is the first electric fireplace to faithfully recreate the sensory experience of sitting in front of a wood fire, but without all the hassles or health and safety concerns. Opti-V meets the strictest building codes and is 100 percent safe with no hot surfaces, making it ideal for any residential or commercial installation. Designed for built-in applications, Opti-V is zero clearance so it can be installed anywhere.

Using a unique and patented combination of real fire footage displayed on a High Definition LCD screen, and a clever illusory technique, the Opti-V renders scenes of flickering flames dancing on a vertical fuel bed in front of refractory brick with a three dimensional depth of field. With the addition of an audio element of crackling logs, the illusion of an authentic wood fire is startlingly real.

Call (519) 650-3630 or visit www.dimplex.com.

L. to R.: Fergus Chapman, Gino Tersigni, Adam Klein, Kristen O'Shea, Yves Cardinal, Kristine Rose.

Wood Products

Supreme

Vision

The Vision is the only see-through, wood-burning stove in the industry. It’s a non-catalytic, EPA-approved stove with an emission rate that averages 3.6 g/hr when tested in compliance with the EPA Method 28 and 5G option 3, and 2.2 g/hr when tested in compliance with the CSA B-415.1.10 method.

The Vision is one of the largest stoves on the market, big enough to fit six logs (maximum log size: 24 in.). It has been tested and approved for a six-in. flue.

The Vision can heat up to 2,000 sq. ft. with Btu ratings estimated at 100,000.

The Vision can also be used as a cooking device, since a barbecue grill is stored inside the firebox.

The secondary combustion is regulated by a unique control (patent-pending # GB1307429.1). This control and unique baffle design give this stove very appealing flames and help to prolong the combustion, increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions of the fireplace.

Call (514) 593-4722 or visit www.supremem.com.

L. to R.: Emmanuel, Anastasia and Katherine Marcakis.

Hearth/Barbecue Components & Controls

Copreci S. Coop

Safe Ignition System

The Copreci Safe Ignition System ensures that the gas grill re-ignites. You can program how many times the system will try to ignite (two, three, four); if after these attempts the flame is not detected, the system will automatically shut off the gas. The system consists of a valve, a magnetic group, a thermocouple and an electronic card.

This system is based on experience that Copreci has had in other industries, such as domestic gas cooking, boilers and now, for the first time, it’s being successfully applied to gas grills.

The system incorporates not only different ignition tries, but also flame detection as well as a thermo-electrical safety shut off. The system allows adding optical (LEDs) or acoustic signals in order to give the final user more information about the real status of the grill.

Call +34 943 71 94 99 or visit www.copreci.com.

Inigo Albizuri.

Gas Products

Travis Industries

DaVinci

The DaVinci has the best fire presentation of any linear fireplace on the market, according to the manufacturer. It is modular in that it can convert from a Single-Sided glass unit, to a See-Thru unit, to a unit with all four sides in glass, to a Pier showing two glass sides, and to a Bay displaying three glass sides.

Residential applications include three-, four- and five-ft. lengths.

Commercial applications are ordered by the foot and include lengths ranging from six to 20 feet.

There are two standard glass heights of 12 and 20 inches.

The revolutionary patent-pending Modular Fireplace Track System solves all building and installation inefficiencies, making it the easiest fireplace to install.

This saves thousands of dollars in installation fees, cuts down on wait and lead times and makes jobsite assemblies hassle-free.

A clear, crushed glass floor is under-lit by multi-color LED lighting that is available with 10 vivid colors along with multiple color combinations, brightness levels and special effects modes.

Call (800) 654-1177 or visit www.travisindustries.com.

Kurt Rumens (center) and some of the Travis Industries’ crew.

Outdoor Room Furnishings

(No Winner)

The Art of Fire

(No Winner)

Green Award

(No Entries)

Vesta Finalists

Hearth Products

1. Hearth Accessories a. Grill Daddy Brush Company King Tong (203) 637-0001 www.buygrilldaddy.com b. Microtex Products firemizer (614) 530-2928 www.firemizer.com 2. Hearth Products, Other Fuels No Finalists 3. Electric Products a. Amantii Electric Fireplaces BI-72-DEEP (604) 644-2091 www.amantii.com b. Dimplex North America PF3033HL (519) 650-3630 www.dimplex.com 4. Wood Products No Finalists 5. Central Heating Systems No Finalists 6. Hearth/Barbecue Components & Controls a. Alpine Research WiFire (844) 494-3473 www.wifireremote.com 7. Gas Products a. Innovative Hearth Products in conjunction with Copreci & Skytech Astria - Devonshire Direct-Vent Fireplace (330) 936-4104 www.ihp.us.com 8. Pellet Products No Finalists 9. The Art of Fire a. The Outdoor Plus Tsunami of Fire (909) 786-1642 www.theoutdoorplus.com	1a.
	1b.
	3a.
	3b.
	6a.
	7a.
	9a.

Outdoor Products

1. Gas Barbecues a. Caliber Range Corporation Rockwell by Caliber (714) 240-9541 www.Caliberappliances.com 2. Barbecue Accessories a. Smokehouse Products Smoke Chief (541) 386-3811 www.smokehouseproducts.com 3. Barbecues, Other Fuels a. Camp Chef Pellet Grill & Smoker (800) 783-8347 www.CampChef.com 4. Outdoor Hearth Products a. Supreme Duet 4 Seasons (514) 593-4722 www.supremem.com b. SteeLog Rectangular in Mesquite (970) 949-5757 www.steelog.com 5. Charcoal, Wood Barbecues & Smokers a. Food & Fun Grillerette Deluxe (316) 449-0399 www.grillerette.com 6. Outdoor Room Equipment a. Wood Pellet Products Wood Pellet Patio Heater (877) 553-9900 www.woodpelletproducts.com b. Saber Grills Dual Burner Built-In Sideburner (706) 571-7036 www.sabergrills.com 7. Outdoor Room Furnishings a. Sunset Bay Outdoor Heritage Outdoor Kitchen (414) 760-0071 www.sunsetbayoutdoor.com b. American Heating Technologies Luxor - Illuminated Accessories (877) 447-4554 www.luxorgrills.com	1a.
	2a.
	3a.
	4a.
	4b.
	5a.
	6a.
	6b.
	7a.
	7b.

Our cover this month is an architect’s rendering of the twin towers of King Blue, 44- and 48-story condominium residences at the intersection of King Street West and Blue Jays Way in the heart of Toronto.

In early March, Hearth & Home faxed a survey to 2,117 specialty retailers of hearth, barbecue and patio products asking them to compare February 2014 sales to February 2013. The accompanying charts and selected comments are from the 208 useable returns.

The owner of this home requested a firebox open on two sides. Tony Miller, the architect, was concerned the size of the firebox would prohibit sufficient draft, so he called upon Mike Van Buren of Blazing Design (well-known to most readers of Hearth & Home) for his opinion.

Hearth & Home April 2014