New Inductee Named to National Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame
Online, February 6, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The National Kitchen & Bath Association has announced Surjit Kalsi as its 2011 inductee into the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame. Kalsi is the 82nd person ever to receive the honor. Induction is bestowed on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.
Among his many achievements, Kalsi developed the first commercial quality residential ranges and the world's first all-stainless steel outdoor barbecue line. His many contributions include invention of the world's first pyrolytic self-cleaning oven, the low-input natural gas pilot, the retention-flame burner, and the universal gas burner. He, for a long time now, has been considered one of the foremost experts in cooking range design and manufacturing according to David Alderman, president of the NKBA, who credits Kalsi with "changing the face of the appliance industry."
"Surjit Kalsi's advancements in appliance technology and design have paved the way for today's generation of popular applications of commercial-grade ranges in residential kitchens," Alderman said. "His products have elevated home cooking to a new level."
Surjit Kalsi began his career in 1957 as a lab technician for the Main Gas Appliance Company in England, where he created the world's first dual-flow burners and the self-cleaning gas oven. He later worked for U.S. Range as vice president of engineering, research and development. In 1985, he developed the industry's first-ever, commercial-quality, professional-style gas range for the home, which led to the birth of Viking Ranges. At the time, other appliance manufacturers considered the project nonviable. "When the first range was introduced back in 1986, nobody knew this market existed," Kalsi said. "It was a shot in the dark." In 1988, he founded Dynamic Cooking Systems, where he designed the all-stainless steel barbecue. In twelve years, sales exceeded $100 million. DCS private-labeled for such industry leaders as GE, Jennair, Thermador, William Sonoma and Costco. In 2001, Kalsi founded Capital Cooking Equipment.
Inductees into the Kitchen and Bath Industry Hall of Fame are selected by a standing program committee from nominations made since the Hall of Fame's establishment in 1989. Including the 2011 inductee, the NKBA has selected 82 individuals, who receive national recognition. This year's inductee will be honored on April 26 at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2011 in Las Vegas.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association is a 45-year-old non-profit trade association with 40,000 members. It seeks to promote professionalism, excellence and ethical business practices and to provide leadership for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. Each year it hosts the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.
For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room at NKBA.org/Press or call 1-800-843-6522. To schedule an interview with Surjit Kalsi, contact James Aitchison at james@impresse.us.
MEDIA CONTACT:
James Aitchison
President of Impresse Marketing
714-888-4252
james@impresse.us
