Are Downdraft Extractors Any Good?
Downdraft Extractors are the new kids on the block as far as kitchen appliances are concerned, and can be a neat method of ventilating your kitchen because the extractor is hidden from view when you’re not using it. They can be installed in any area of a kitchen and are a particularly attractive option when placing a hob on an island.
Early downdraft extractors were housed at the back of the hob, and when not used would be positioned below the worktop with just the top visible. When you needed to cook, you just pressed a button and the downdraft extractor would rise from the worktop ready to use.
Whilst revolutionary, there was a major drawback with this design… Being positioned to the rear of the hob meant that it extracted vapours from the the rear hob rings fairly efficiently but struggled to pull vapours from the front rings being so far away.
Because of it’s lack of effectiveness and the amount of cabinet space that was required, kitchen designers were reluctant to specify this type of extractor, instead opting for traditional overhead options…
This was something that infuriated German kitchen designer, Willi Bruckbauer… With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen sector, the qualified master carpenter knew what people wanted from modern kitchens: to create a living space that meets the needs of the individual and makes them happy. Every day.
Willi Bruckbauer
Extractor hoods were simply not part of this picture: they are loud, ineffective and visibly intrusive. They also restrict the possibilities when designing a kitchen. Willi Bruckbauer’s vision was to invent an effective vapour extraction system that meets the highest standards in terms of both technology and aesthetic appeal. Thanks to continuous experimentation and discovery, an innovative system was devised that draws off cooking vapours more effectively than ever before possible.
In 2005 Willi created a prototype tabletop extractor that was positioned in the middle of 4 cooking zones so that it extracted vapours from all zones effectively. In 2006 he patented the, game changing, Bora Professional cooktop extractor system.
Since the introduction of the Professional model, Bora have gone on to develop a versatile range of cooktop extractors that cater for a wide range of budgets and are the market leader for downdraft extraction in the world today. Other manufacturers are now getting onboard with the principle and releasing their own versions, some more effective than others.
THE BORA PRINCIPLE
