TEC Brings Home Best of Show Awards for New Gas Barbecues and For All New Outdoor Room Products
March 15, 2005
Since it brought the benefits of infra-red grilling to the barbecue-loving American public in 1980, TEC Infra-Red Grills has been a major player in the high end of an industry that now accounts for more than $3 billion in annual retail sales. This year the company was recognized for its advanced development of infra-red grill technology when it won the prestigious “best of show” Vesta Award at the grill industry’s annual trade show.
The Company patented its infra-red grill invention in 1982 and, since that time, has continued to enable consumers to grill foods at home with all the charbroiled taste, moistness and tenderness once available only in upscale restaurants. Consumers cite the “great taste of the food” as the number one reason why they like outdoor cooking.
Two Wins at HPBExpo
The annual Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) EXPO trade show, is the longest-running industry show focused on the booming home lifestyle. The show originated in Atlanta and it returned there for the first time in 2005 to celebrate its Silver Anniversary. It showcased the latest in grills, fireplaces, gas log sets, woodstoves, outdoor hearth appliances, furniture and accessories and related products. More than 400 manufacturers showed their wares this year to a record 13,000 retailers and industry figures.
The Vesta awards, a highlight of EXPO, are sponsored each year by Hearth & Home magazine to encourage innovation in design and technology. TEC won the award for best new gas barbecue, then received the “best of show” for all outdoor room products for its flare-resistant infra-red gas grill featuring an innovative burner built totally from stainless steel.
Winners were selected via an evaluation process conducted by 10 teams of independent judges, mainly from the retail segment. The 2005 Vestas involved a record number of entries, including 170 new products in 26 different categories.
TEC’s ‘Resident Inventor’ Honored
According to David O’Kelly, TEC division president, “This is wonderful testimony to the vision of our founder, Bill Best, who created the world’s first infra-red gas grill. Other grill companies have tried to copy the concept since the expiration of our original patent in 2000. Thanks to our founder and CEO, we expect to be out front for a long time.”
In light of the widespread copying of our original technology,” O’Kelly added, “these 2005 awards underline the fact that we are still the leader in this arena and that Bill has continued to invent still better systems.”
“The new TEC grill employs radiating glass panels to transmit infra-red heat from the burners into the grilling surface. TEC patented the use of radiant glass in grilling in September 2000 using its original ceramic infra-red burners. In the new system TEC replaced the ceramic burners with new all-metal infra-red burners, which are virtually indestructible. The system cooks with 100 percent infra-red energy, so there is no drying out of food – even well done meat is tender and juicy. You can turn the burners down so low they’re just warming instead of cooking--something not previously possible with under-fired infra-red grills. The new grill doesn’t vary by more than 5 percent in temperature across the entire cooking area, uses about one-third as much gas as a conventional grill, and resists flare-ups regardless of what you’re grilling. It’s also probably the easiest-to-clean grill ever manufactured.”
O’Kelly concluded, “Great tasting food is what backyard barbecuers really want, and that’s what drives our continuing new product efforts. The new system, compared to conventional grills, produces food that is far more moist and tender and has outstanding charbroiled taste. Add to those benefits its ease of use, resistance to flare-ups, and extraordinary temperature range, and we believe you’ve got the best gas grill ever developed.”
Contact: Renee Perks, Director of Communications
renee.perks@tecinfrared.com
Jack Taylor, Vice President—Sales and Marketing
Jack.taylor@tecprocess .com
803.783.0750
