RIKA WarmUp_2022_EN by rika-stoves

CLEAR VIEW ECOLOGICAL STYLE MODERN LIVING DEVELOPMENTSINNOVATIVE FROM THE IDEA TO THE FINISHED STOVE HEATINGSUSTAINABLE REVIVAL OF WOOD AS A FUEL CHALLENGING YEAR STOVE PRODUCTION IN TIMES OF THE STACKING CRISISTECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY WARM UP September 2022 | www.rika.eu 01

Karl Stefan Riener Karl Philipp Riener RIKA Executive Director RIKA Managing Director

Participants in this year’s European Pellets Conference were also convinced of the importance of wood pellets as a fuel as part of the energy transition – we interviewed Gerhard Dell from OÖ Energiesparverband (Upper Austrian Energy Saving Association), the event organiser (page 26).

And last but not least, we give you a small outlook for the year 2023: the effects of the stacking crisis and accompanying global economic and social developments are more present in our everyday lives than ever before and posed us, and especially our production team, with major challenges once again this year. The expansion of the production site in Adlwang took place in record time despite extreme conditions, taking us one big step closer to our goal of significantly increasing production in the long term to meet the huge demand (page 24).

The fact that heating with wood is becoming increasingly attractive is not only due to current events and price developments in the fossil-fuels energy sector, but also to a general growing awareness for environmental issues. We show the advantages and potential of pellet and wood-burning stoves and explain what to look out for when planning and buying one (pages 08-12). Food blogger cookingCatrin, who spent two days heating up our DOMO BACK, is also more than convinced of the benefits of a pellet stove (page 27). We present our latest reference projects to inspire you. What the houses have in common is sophisticated architecture, ecological construction with lots of wood and glass and, of course, a RIKA stove (pages 13, 14-15 and 22-23).

The expansion of our RIKA Premium Stores is progressing: five new shops are opening in 2022. We introduce you to three of our “new” partners by asking them five questions each (pages 16-17).

We hope you enjoy reading this magazine and thank you for your interest in our company and our products. We appreciate feedback and look forward to welcoming you to our next edition!

Welcome to the new edition of our WarmUp Magazine!

The heating season 2022 / 2023 is just around the corner and we are pleased to give you a little insight into our world and all the topics that we are dealing with: Our modular, customisable stoves reflect the spirit of the times – especially with the large corner view on our new models. Our CONNECT series really wins people round (page 04-07). It’s the result of our innovative in-house product development, whose process and team we would like to introduce to you (pages 18-21).

THE CURRENT CHALLENGES ARE BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN US.

Elisabeth

Do you want to see more reference projects? Then visit our website –you will find what you are looking for in the blog www.rika.eu/blog a great time and an entertaining read! Söllner-Kalß

| Editor CONTENTS

Have

It is not only here that a lot revolves around wood. Wood is generally more in demand than ever, its possible uses almost endless. A fascinating, living natural material with extraordinary properties: durable, resilient, stable and flexible at the same time, combustible, sustainable, with precise machinability, and thermally insulating. As part of biomass, wood is becoming increasingly important in the current debate on climate change and the energy transition. Apart from thermal utilisation, wood has always been an important building material and I am delighted to be able to present some very special wooden houses to you in this edition. They express their owners’ love for nature and environmental awareness and are each heated with a RIKA stove – an extremely coherent and consistent continuation of the sustainability concept, in my opinion. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their (sometimes very private) insights, photos and information!

Do you know of any exceptional properties that are heated with a RIKA stove?

Then I would be thrilled to receive an email from you at soellner-kalss@rika.at

DEAR READER!

04 WARM UP RIKA INNOVATION Modern pellet stoves offer much more than just warmth.

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It’s all about the fire

The great potential of the modular principle lies in the expandable modules – on the product development side too. The add-on elements have now been extended to include drawers for the benches. They are available in decor oak or walnut and, similar to the door elements, are equipped with a Tip-On mechanical opening system. The range has also been supplemented with cover panels, which conceal the safety distance to the wall perfectly without affecting the required convection air.

THE NEW CONNECT MODELS WITH CORNER VIEW OPEN UP NEW PERSPECTIVES IN EVERY RESPECT.

EDGYPRETTY

The modular CONNECT series stands for personal and flexible design freedom. Its various add-on elements and diverse shapes, functions, colours, surfaces and materials enable a holistic design of living in your personal style. CONNECT PELLET (with front view) is now also joined by the wood-burning version CONNECT WOOD and a pellet version with corner view: CONNECT PELLET EDGE.

CONNECT News

The spectacular corner view connects the two new CONNECT mod els and makes them particularly attractive. With a bit of creativity, many installation options can be realised, be it on the wall, as a room divider or corner solution, in the living room or in the kitchen – the view of the dancing flames is always in focus. Thanks to optimised glass flushing system and high combustion chamber tem peratures, the curved glass panel does not get sooty and thus guaran tees a beautiful, clear view of the fire in the long run. Drawer insert for the bench Optional cover panel for elegant wall connection

Cupboard with/without decorative doors, open with/without inserts, 30/42 cm width, 121/134/170 cm height. Bench 78/42 cm, with decorative door in white Corner base with cover

Karl Philipp Riener, RIKA Managing Director

The cupboard and benches for all CONNECT models can be perfectly matched to personal requirements and your own living style. The cup boards are available in two widths (30 cm and 42 cm) and three heights (121 cm, 134 cm and 170 cm) and can be combined with rear panels, inserts and decorative doors (four standard designs or custom-made).

Whether logs or pellets – the corner view of our two new CONNECT models accentuates their exclusive character. The corner glass panel on the CONNECT PELLET EDGE is unique among modular pellet stoves on the market. It was a great challenge from a technical point of view and we are very pleased that it turned out so well!

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The same goes for the benches, which are available in two widths (42 cm and 78 cm). The corner base provides additional storage space that can be filled from the top. The cushions, available in a choice of six different covers, turn the CONNECT bench into an elegant and com fortable seating at the same time.

Tip: Use our online configurator! With our new online configurator, we placed particular emphasis on user-friendliness. We want to make stove planning as easy as possible for you and support your imagination. The configurator impresses in particular with realistic flame animation (pellet and wood-burning fires) and numerous state-of-the-art features: the stoves can be viewed as 3D objects from all sides down to the smallest detail, dimensions can be optionally displayed and with the AR view each model can be viewed virtually within your own four walls. The configuration can be shared on social media, by email or link and downloaded as a PDF including the stove data sheet. Furthermore, the configuration can be accessed at any time and from any end device using a personal code. www.rika.eu/configurator RIKA INNOVATION

Fabio Forte, Managing Director RIKA Italy In Italy, interior design plays a very important role. CONNECT embodies aesthetically functional heating furniture like no other stove and equally gets stove and design lovers’ pulses racing.

Karl Philipp RienerFabio Forte Upholstery in leather, fabric or Alcantara in various colours.

Individual, diverse, variable

• Right

• Pellet

corners. WARM UP 07

• Rear and top connection options • Retractable touch display • Modular clip system • Variable add-on elements • Customisable accessories and designs • RIKA FIRENET and RIKA VOICE (optional) • Automatic regulation of the fan speed (DAR) • Automatic tipping grate ash removal • Room air independent operation Details at www.rika.eu/connect-pellet-edge WATCH NOW WATCH NOW As

•

The CONNECT

connection options • Modular clip system • Variable

elements • Customisable accessories and designs • Room air independent operation Details at

• Heat

• Corner

the CONNECT

•

A whole corner more beautiful

• Top,

CONNECT

CONNECT WOOD – the facts: 4-8 kW heating power view Stove body width 42 cm or left door stop storage system: 60 or 70 kg (optional accessories) rear or side add-on www.rika.eu/connect-wood

• Stove

• Corner

CONNECT PELLET EDGE with its corner view is an expression of the diversity of the CONNECT system and is a totally special feature among modular pellet stoves. It is available with a pellet capacity of 26 kg or 40 kg, depending on the width. Its touch display can be invis ibly recessed into the body and emphasises the clear, linear design. The corner glass panel not only opens up an exceptional view of the fire, but also completely new installation. Optionally, the CONNECT PELLET EDGE can be controlled online using RIKA FIRENET and, if you like, even by voice (RIKA VOICE) – simple and convenient at the same time. PELLET EDGE – the facts: 2.5-8 kW heating power view body width 66 cm or 85 cm capacity 26 kg or 40 kg a storage stove, WOOD provides cosy warmth for an extremely long time. PELLET EDGE is the creative solution for

CONNECT WOOD Endless: warmth & design With up to 8 kilowatts of heating power, CONNECT WOOD brings com fort into every home and its corner view provides exceptional sights of the dancing flames. The stove bench with seat cushion creates a cosy atmosphere and, with the optional heat storage package, invites you to enjoy the cosy warmth for hours. With its various connection options and freely selectable door stop, it is extremely flexible and adapts per fectly to any installation situation. The add-on parts can be connected to each other using a clip system and rearranged quickly and easily at any time. CONNECT WOOD can be combined with numerous custom isable CONNECT elements.

CONNECT PELLET EDGE

•

Whether new construction, conversion or renovation – more and more people have their heart set on heating their own home with an environmentally friendly and regionally available fuel. Greater independence from international developments and price fluctuations are other advantages that “pay off” in the long term.

RIKA design fireplaces with their panoramic window and extremely calm dancing flames create an exceptional mood.

RIKA TRENDSSETS

Underfloor heating 6-8 hours Tiled stove 2-3 hours Central heating with radiators 30-60 minutes Woodburning stove 15-30 minutes *A pre-programmed hourly cleaning process, during which the pellet supply is briefly stopped, ensures that ash residue is blown out of the burning pot by increasing the speed of the flue gas fan.

AUTHENTIC, SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICAL HEATING WITH WOOD IS TRENDY

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With the wood-burning stove LOOK you can use the garden shed in comfort in winter. Heating power comparison: a wood-burning stove heats up a room within a very short time.

When heating is not just to generate warmth but should also be a personal warming experience, individual heating appliances such as wood-burning or pellet stoves come into their own. They combine en vironmentally friendly, cost-effective heating with wood, convenient, simple operation, and incomparable feel-good moments with visible flames. A wide variety of models open up personal freedom of choice and meet subjective design requirements. Supplementary or main heating? Individual heating appliances are primarily used as supplementary heating. Heating with a wood-burning or pellet stove is particularly popular in transitional seasons such as autumn and spring, because they warm up the room after just a short time and often effectively supplement sluggish central heating systems. Under certain conditions, they are also suitable as a sole heat source: in smaller buildings such as holiday homes and chalets or even socalled tiny houses. RIKA pellet stoves offer the advantage that they can run continuously for several days thanks to their patented self-clean ing* RIKAsystem.wood-burning and pellet stoves heat rooms of up to 260 m3 or 100 m 2 with a maximum heating power of 10 kW. Good insulation is always of key importance, other influencing factors are the type

Generating and experiencing warmth

Innovative technologies such as controlling the stove by smartphone are not just nice to have, but make an important contribution to ef ficient, economical operation and are thus also an important quality criterion. Automatic combustion control, which is not only available in pellet stoves but now also in many wood-burning stoves, regulates the combustion air depending on the heating phase and thus not only gets the maximum out of the fuel but also reduces emissions to a minimum. The quality of the material cannot necessarily be de termined by the stove’s overall weight – a better comparison is always the weight without casing.

Heating and baking in one: with the pellet stove DOMO BACK with integrated baking compartment, you can use the heat twice. Round and even rotatable – with the wood-burning stove SWING, you can see the fire from every perspective. The high-quality side casing on REVO II is available in the two natural stone versions soap stone or white stone. The glass ceramic for the generous corner view on the modular wood-burning stove CONNECT WOOD was designed as double glazing. This model can also be extended with a heat storage package.

Areasdistortion-free.inthecombustion

Recognising quality When buying a stove, particular attention should be paid to quality features such as material thickness, which mainly affects the weight of the stove, and tightness. A tight stove can be recognised by the fact that it is only possible to close the stove door using more force and the (renewable) seal fits consistently tight all round. Permanent tightness is also ensured by cast-iron doors or lids, which are extremely durable and chamber exposed to fire should be protect ed from the effects of high temperatures by fireclay, vermiculite (clay minerals in granular form) or cast iron – they are harmless to health and increase the stove’s efficiency and service life in particular.

Inferior products can be recognised, among other things, by not having an inner lining. Natural stone with a minimum thickness of 3-4 cm is best for heat storage when it comes to the side casing. An additional heat storage package is also available for some stove models, which makes the heat usable for even longer.

of construction, weather conditions, window areas and also the building’s orientation. The calculation of the heat demand, also known as the heating load, is usually carried out in the preliminary planning stage using appropriate software. The heating power should definitely be taken into account to avoid any overThedimensioning.numberof rooms to be heated also has an influence on the intend ed use. The wood-burning or pellet stove is located directly in the room to be heated and can also heat other rooms, depending on the stove model (RIKA MULTIAIR). The air heated by the stove is transported to adjacent living areas through connecting pipes.

In the case of stove models with a particularly large viewing window, double glazing is especially suitable because it prevents excessive heat radiation and thus overheating the living space.

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TIP

TRENDSSETS

DI Andreas Tschulik

“GreenforFederalAustrianMinistryClimateActionenergyremainsan import ant issue and is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality. Renewable energy sources must also be used more in future for the heat sup ply. Austrian companies are at the technological forefront, especially in the wood heating sectors, and many of these companies, such as RIKA from Micheldorf, have been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. Currently, more than 4,800 products and services from almost 500 companies from different sectors meet the strict criteria. They are therefore making an important contribution to climate action and conserving resources. This also applies to ecolabel-certified heating systems, which not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also save on heating costs at the same time.”

Andreas Bloderer ProductRIKA

quirements.”significantlyforbustionintensivelyphilosophy.an“SustainabilityManagementhasalwaysbeenintegralpartofourcorporateWehavebeenworkingonoptimisingthecomtechnologyinourstovesyearsandouremissionsfallbelowallstatutoryre

Manfred Ritt Schiedel chimney systems“Ifthefluegas system is unsuitable to run a modern stove, it must be renovated accordingly. Installing a stainless steel or ceramic pipe can ensure that a flue gas system for a stove will work properly. If there is no flue gas system, you can very easily install one running up the outer façade. These are available in a wide variety of surfaces and colours and can be perfectly matched to the façade. As Europe’s leading specialist for highly energy-efficient chimney systems, we at Schiedel are happy to help with comprehen sive advice!”

Guarantees also testify to high-quality products and workmanship. The type plate on each stove provides information on whether it com plies with the applicable regulations. A comprehensive operating man ual is another indication of quality. A wide range of certificates, such as the Austrian Ecolabel, provide information on the best possible en vironmental compatibility throughout Europe. The national implemen tation of the Ecodesign Directive also ensures energy-efficient, envi ronmentally friendly pellet and wood-burning stoves. The installation site Comprehensive advice is generally offered by specialist stove deal ers. The expert provides information on whether the chimney meets the requirements or needs to be rebuilt or refurbished, for example, which pipes and base plates should be used, whether the floor’s load-bearing capacity is sufficient and which safety distances must be observed. It is essential to match the chimney and the stove to each other to discharge combustion gases safely and ensure low-emission oper ation. With the help of the type plate and various documents on the stove, all the necessary data can be determined and the suitability can be assessed or the chimney design can be defined based on this. If there is no chimney, it can also be retrofitted. It does not necessarily have to run through the entire house, but can start on a ceiling between floors. Alternatively, it is also possible to fit a stainless steel chimney on the house façade. Multiple occupancy of chimneys are also possible in principle – both the flue gas system and the stove must be approved by regulations or standards for this area of application.

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The combi stove PARO has a storage mass of 65 kg and combines all the technological features of wood-burning and pellet stoves.

Philipp Tsilimigras RIKA Customer Relations “RIKA stoves are durable and safe. Our warranty guarantees of five years on the stove body and ten years on the availability of spare parts speak for themselves. RIKA stoves are available exclusively from authorised specialist dealers – with expert advice, planning and servicing included.”

RIKA

The price comparison with fossil fuels such as gas or oil shows: the price of wood is cheaper and, above all, more stable. Heating costs can therefore be calculated more reliably in advance. Modern wood-burn ing and pellet stoves also have a high level of efficiency, i.e. they get the maximum out of the fuel as useful heat.

+ Regional & independent Wood grows in domestic forests and is available regionally. When buy ing wood or pellets, the added value stays in the country. This strength ens the national economy and regional forestry, makes us indepen dent of imports and international developments, secures and creates jobs.

Valeria Feist Vital Camp Tiny House “Almost all customers who buy a chalet from us have a stove installed sooner or later. The cosiness fac tor in particular is very important to them. In addition to high-quality wood panelling, heating with wood is simply part of the package here. We ourselves have equipped a chalet on our tiny houses showground in Zierenberg-Oelshausen (Germany) with a DOMO BACK and use the pellet stove every day, especially in winter. Its baking compartment is also regularly in use during the lunch break.” RIKA was already awarded the glob ally renowned Energy Globe Award in 2014 for the RIKATRONIC3 inno vation. The technology regulates the actual amount of air required ful ly automatically depending on the heating phase and indicates the ide al time to add more wood to the fire. It reduces emissions by up to 90% and wood consumption by up to 50% –compared to non-specialist manual operation. The further development RIKATRONIC4 even lets stoves ignite on their own.

3D models for the “Palette CAD” software are available free of charge in the download section on the RIKA website www.rika.eu for digital interior design planning. All RIKA stoves can also be viewed virtually in the room using the new online configurator www.rika.eu/configurator

The advantages of wood logs and wood pellets:

Comparison of energy sources in cents/kWh Electricity 22.48 Natural gas 9.46 Heating oil 13.93 Pellets 6.85 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

The combustion works by means of negative pressure in the com bustion chamber. This negative pressure must be maintained during the entire operating time. The stove needs fresh air for this, which is supplied either from the installation room itself or through an external pipe. Particularly modern, energy-saving buildings have a very tight building envelope, which requires the stove to run independently of room air, as does running it together with controlled domestic ventila tion or an extractor hood. Stoves with DIBt approval are intensively tested in this respect and are considered safe. If the supply air line and flue pipes are tightly sealed, the stove may also be installed in utilisation units that are permanently airtight according to the state of the art, as well as in utilisation units that are equipped with mechanical ventilation or exhaust systems. A differential pressure test is used to check whether the supply air is sufficient – a window contact switch or pressure switch might be required.

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TIPTIP

Basis: Delivery quantity 6 t for pellets, 3,000 l for heating oil, delivered, excl. hose-off flat rate; 15,000 kWh for gas, 3,500 kWh for electricity; incl. VAT, source: proPellets Austria, BMK, e-Control. The reference value for the calculation is the energy sources’ heating value. This cost comparison does not take the heating system’s efficiency, conversion or investment and maintenance costs into account; as of: 04.05.2022

flueConcentricplatesystem

+ Economical & efficient

Air supply line external wall External air supply shaft Air supply line bottom

Units independent of room air are also advantageous for existing buildings, as thermal refurbishment can be as sumed in the medium to long term. When planning new buildings and conversions, the respon sible planning office should in principle be informed of the specific requirements, at best after consultation with the chimney sweeper.

A room air independent operation can be based on different air supply systems.

+ Cosy & pleasant Wood creates authentic fire. The pleasant radiant heat is relaxing and has a positive effect on well-being. The visible fire is not only visually very appealing, but also creates a homely atmosphere throughout the living area.

+ Ecological & sustainable Wood is a renewable energy source and will also be available for future generations. The area of European forests increases by one football field per minute. Wood burns carbon neutral. As they grow, trees ab sorb CO 2 , which is released again when they burn (as in natural decay in the forest). Professional heating and modern combustion technolo gies are a prerequisite.

RIKA PELLET STOVES + Fully automatic control + Touch display control, online using any Internet-enabled end device or by voice (RIKA FIRENET & RIKA VOICE*) + Automatic refilling of pellets + Silent operation: runs quietly due to stepless pellet feed motor + Easy to clean (automatic tipping grade ash removal, interval self-cleaning system and easily accessible cleaning openings)

TRENDSSETS

I really want to use 100% renewable energy all year round. I am already very close to that: I heat partly with pellets, partly with the heat pump, which also produces the hot water for my sanitary facilities, and I drive electrically on the basis of self-generated solar power.

+ Low power consumption + High efficiency over 90% + Optimised combustion process + Lowest emissions + Control of interior temperature (in combination with the RIKA room sensor*) + Programmable heating times + Heating of up to two additional rooms (RIKA MULTIAIR*) + Extremely calm flames and optimised combustion thanks to targeted air supply (Dynamic Air Regulation DAR*) + Heating power of up to 10 kW + Clear viewing window in the long run thanks to optimised glass flushing system + Long running times of up to 70 hours continuous operation + Room air dependent and independent operation* + DIBt tested* + Safe and fast ignition due to long-lasting ceramic heating element

Of course, I thoroughly analysed the appliances available on the mar ket, paying particular attention to combustion efficiency, ease of use, availability of local dealers and, of course, price. Then I came across RIKA stoves and bought the MIRO pellet stove from a RIKA dealer near me. I am much happier with the stove than I expected. I had feared that the stove would be difficult to keep clean, but after four years it still looks like new, inside and out.

Pellets are carbon neutral. I deliberately chose pellets, which are a residual product of the local furniture and wood industry. Then it re ally is a green fuel. My RIKA pellet stove has a combustion efficiency of > 90%.”

PELLET, WOOD-BURNING OR COMBI STOVE YOU’RE SPOILT FOR CHOICE

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My goal: 100% renewable energy Alex Polfliet of Zero Emission Solutions (www.zeroemissionsolutions. com) in Belgium bought a RIKA pellet stove four years ago, getting him very close to his goal of only using renewable energy.

At first glance, manual refilling is what distinguishes wood-burning stoves from fully automatic pellet stoves. A direct comparison of the features for both types of stoves can be found in the following list. And for those who are undecided combi stoves are highly recommendedthey combine both heating systems in one stove and can be operated either with pellets or logs and thus also without electricity. Fuel detection is even fully automatic, i.e. the stove goes into log mode when logs are detected, i.e. inserted, and switches back to pellet Mode. When the logs have burned away.

RIKA WOOD-BURNING STOVES + Traditional, calm flames + Crackling and popping sounds + Manual refilling + Ergonomic, simple one-handed operation of the air regulation (RLS) + Clear viewing window in the long run thanks to optimised glass flushing system + Fully automatic air and combustion control (RIKATRONIC3 & RIKATRONIC4*) + Signal at the optimum time for refilling (RIKATRONIC3*) + Runs independently of power + Heat storage package* + Heating power of up to 10 kW + Programmable ignition (RIKATRONIC4*) + Generous panoramic window and corner view* + High efficiency significantly over 80% + Room air dependent and independent operation* + DIBt *dependingtested*onthe model or available as an option.

“My main heating system consists of a heat pump. I generate the elec tricity I need for this with solar cells. I am energy neutral on an annual basis. But when the sky is grey for a long time in winter, my solar pan els produce very little, so I would have to supply my heat pump with household electricity. And I don’t want to do that. Hence the purchase of an efficient pellet stove as an alternative for grey winter days.

www.freund-eisenwaren.de

The wood-burning stove LOOK provides warmth and comfort in each of the “Woidhaisl”. The effect of primal fire on holistic well-being and the idea of sustainability were paramount to architect Albert Koeberl. The charming design and ease of use led to the decision in favour of the wood-burning stove LOOK. Manual, environmentally-friendly heating with wood, a regionally available renewable raw material, is part of the overall concept of a personal retreat all about relaxation, comfort and pleasure.

RIKA REFERENCES

Best view of romantic moments “Our guests love to enjoy the flickering fire together on the cosy couch with a glass of wine,” says Daniela Mautner, who took over Land gasthof Euler from her uncle in 2019 and now runs it together with her husband Roland, including the Naturhotel and Woidhaisl. During the cold months, the wood-burning stove is used almost every day, she adds pleased about the positive response. She personally sees the fact that the glass panel does not get sooty and that the wood-burning stove is very easy to clean as the LOOK advantages that really benefit her. The generous base, which harmonises particularly well with the steel feet of LOOK, and the custom-made, colour-coordinated chimney pipe complement each other perfectly and make the stove look all the more beautiful.

ON THE RIGHT WOODEN TRACK DIRECTLY INTO “WOIDHAISL”*

www.euler-neuschoenau.de Architecture: koeberl doeringer architekten, Passau RIKA Premium Partner Siegfrid Freund is also proud of his contribution to this successful project. Together with his team, he planned and in stalled the stoves in the chalets.

"Woidhaisl" coloquially means forest cabin.

The new nature hotel with its six “Woidhaisl” chalets stands for zest for life and light-heartedness, naturalness and sustainability. This is also reflected in their architecture and the used building materials - but especially in the interior design. Stone, glass, spruce and fir wood come directly from the region and lend a rustic but modern character.

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Opened in 2021, the Euler Neuschönau chalets in the Bavarian Forest National Park embody the culture and history of the region, which has always been characterised by wood. No wonder that wood-burning stoves play a very special role here.

Holidays at Euler Neuschönau: relaxation close to nature, culinary delights and cosy warmth in a stylish ambience.

As a RIKA specialist in the Bavarian Forest, we were delighted to receive this order. A great deal of mutual appreciation and respect was shown when working together with the clients and architects, and the result speaks for itself! Siegfrid Freund

WOODEN HOUSE ON THE WESER RIKA REFERENCES

This small retreat in the fishing village of Heinsen in the middle of Weserbergland directely on the river bank is owned by family Ahad. As builders and architects at the same time, they realised their very personal dream house – an interpretation of the unique cultural and landscape space, a smart building that uses resources moderately and wisely. And does so with the pellet stove SONO from RIKA. When intelligent architecture meets ecological and sustainable con struction, the result is something very special. Like the curved wooden building by Katja and Sascha Ahad with its high and narrow propor tions, which fits harmoniously into the row of old half-timbered houses. Separated only by narrow alleys and located directly on the Weser, the challenges were mainly concerning fire safety and flood protection.

A well thought-out construction that is fully reversible without leaving a trace, does not contain any harmful substances, as well as a care ful selection of building materials, which are ecological and recyclable, are the basic framework.

Prefabricated walls made of water-impermeable concrete were used for the basement, natural spruce wood from the region is used for the supporting structure, façade and interior design, and the house was given a skin of clay tiles as weather protection. It has a large dormer The SONO pellet stove heats the whole house from a central position.

The big picture and its details

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facing west and the huge glass front on the river side, installed by hand, is undoubtedly the highlight. The windows and doors were made of oak wood, the joints sealed with hemp. Heating is carbon neutral and en ergy saving thanks to the SONO pellet stove, which was placed prom inently in the centre of the house and thus supplies the entire building with pleasant warmth through the two-storey air space. Like all RIKA pellet stoves, the stove can be controlled by touch display and online via RIKA FIRENET, is economical in consumption, quiet, low mainte nance and low in emissions. The wood pellets come from regional pro duction, of course.

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Clean design and a warm look make wood attractive.

Environmentally-friendly construction and extravagant architecture perfectly combined.

“Haus an der Weser” is a case study house and constructive answer to fire safety and flood protection issues in timber construction. It was shortlisted for the Lower Saxony Timber Construction Award in 2020 and was designed by AHAD Architekten. ahad-architekten.com We connected the SONO pellet stove to an internal stainless steel chimney. The central positioning puts the fire in the centre of this ex ceptional wooden house. Friedrich Ahrens www.ahrens-fachmarkt.de

VieserDanielPhotos:

What do you pay attention to most when it comes to your customers? It is extremely important to us to address the customer personally on an individual basis; we always want to offer the best solutions for the customer. Long-term customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are our top priorities.

What would your perfect stove have to be able to do?

GEORG SCHURZ jun. RIKA Premium Store Villach (AUT) Showroom space: 300 m 2

Where exactly are your three RIKA showrooms located?

SEMIR VARLI RIKA Premium Store Wiener Neudorf (AUT) “Blaue Lagune” prefabricated house park Showroom space: 72 m 2 Why opt for RIKA?

QUESTIONS TO…

Our RIKA Premium Store is located in Villach, our RIKA Premium Part ner Shop in Klagenfurt and our RIKA Classic Partner Shop in Dürnstein, so all in Carinthia. My parents and sister are part of our family busi ness. I was allowed to take over the management of the Premium Store in Villach, which makes me very happy.

What was your funniest or most bizarre experience with customers?

We have already been in the stove trade for about 30 years and the demand for stoves has been growing in recent years. We appreciate RIKA’s design and value for money as well as the fact that RIKA pro duces in Austria.

A customer’s wish for an “all-purpose burner”. When we asked him what exactly he meant by “all-purpose burner”, he replied that he wanted a stove in which he could burn anything, from wood to waste and his mother-in-law (with a wink).

The best part of my job is when we have installed the stove at the cus tomer’s and then test heat it: the pleasant warmth, the flickering fire and all-round satisfied customers.

We are a family business; our customers are advised by family members in all areas and at all locations. We also consider all team members to be members of the Varli family. Our aim is to cover all areas of heating as an all-rounder.

My perfect stove would have to be heatable with pellets and logs, and equipped with a nice viewing window.

Where do you see the biggest challenges in the stove industry in the future? Hard to say. In these times of inflation, I think pricing will definitely be come a big challenge.

Our RIKA Premium Store operators are united by their passion for stoves, fire and heating, as well as their many years of experience as RIKA partners in the stove trade. We introduce you to three of our partners, who opened their RIKA Premium Store in 2022, by asking them five questions.

What motivated you and your family to open two new RIKA shops in 2022 – in addition to the one you already have?

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What do you particularly appreciate about your work?

How would you describe your corporate culture?

We appreciate the outstanding quality of the products. In addition, we have worked closely together with RIKA since we started almost 40 years ago. What role do stoves play in your private life? If it were possible, I would have a stove in every room of my house.

Showroom space: 250 m 2 How did you come to the decision to open a RIKA Premium Store?

What are the key advantages of the RIKA Premium Partner concept for you?

My personal favourite stove is the DOMO because of its perfect pairing of design and function.

We offer all services from consulting, delivery, installation and custom er service from a one-stop shop and are therefore available to our cus tomers for any questions related to their stove. What skills are needed to be successful in the stove trade in future?

I grew up in the stove trade in my parents’ business. At trade fairs and consultations in our showroom, I was able to acquire a lot of insight into “stoves”, which aroused my interest. Our family business has been working successfully with RIKA for three generations. After opening our “Schmucker Ofen-Stube” exclusively with a RIKA range and great success, we received the offer to open a RIKA Premium Store in Nie dernberg. As a result of the offer and the trust in the company RIKA, it was obvious to me to give up my previous job as site manager at Raiffeisen Waren-Zentrale Rhein-Main eG and to focus solely on the family business.

MORITZ SCHMUCKER RIKA Premium Store Niedernberg (GER)

It is important to advise your customers on an individual basis, to an swer all questions professionally, to support the customer from the be ginning to the end, and to offer good customer service. Which RIKA model is your personal favourite stove and why?

+ Biggest possible selection of RIKA stoves + Numerous models in operation + Live demonstrations of RIKA technologies + Personal, individual, expert advice, at the customer’s home too + Comprehensive customer service and all-round support + Long-term customer relationships + Exclusive offers and promotions THE ADVANTAGES OF THE RIKA PREMIUM STORES FOR CUSTOMERS: RIKA PARTNERSPREMIUM WARM UP 17 www.rikastore.com

The whole RIKA concept is convincing but especially the close cooper ation and support from RIKA in planning, designing and running adver tising campaigns for the new store. What is your personal recipe for success?

From the idea to the first draft

FROM THE FIRST SKETCH TO THE FINISHED STOVE: THE RIKA PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TEAM OFFERS A FASCINATING GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES.

Every product development is based on needs. The needs of customers and partners clearly come first – problems are to be solved and boundaries redefined. In the first stage, the ideas are put into shape together and the new development’s essential product features are defined. This results in an initial basic design concept: the technical design, combustion technology, dimensioning of the combustion chamber as well as selection and positioning of the individual compo nents are determined.

IT1

To ensure optimum combustion in the stove in the long term, tailormade hardware is crucial, in addition to well thought-out mechanical 2

In the next stage, the basic concept is validated using computer-aided flow simulations and optimised step by step through geometric adjust ments and the selection of suitable materials. The result is a heating sample draft. It’s all about the inner values: hardware ...

ALL BEGAN WITH AN IDEA

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RIKA is the European market leader in the pellet stove segment and one step ahead of the stove industry in many aspects. The high value placed on technology and innovation is particularly evident in the mapping of the entire product development process in-house. Not only the in-house hardware and software department, but also the internal test laboratory in particular, one of the most modern on the market anywhere, provide a crucial advantage. A well-coordinated, experienced team of highly qualified employees from a wide range of disciplines works hand in hand – the perfect conditions for technological innovations at the highest level. The product development team at RIKA is proud of its innovations.

the carrier element for electronic components.

the physical processes

design. The developers design all system-relevant assemblies using the latest CAD software. From component research and selection to the finished circuit board layout, all areas are covered in-house. The hardware prototypes are also created on site. In doing so, RIKA focuses on the highest component quality and safety. ... and software

The –

the stove.

flow

The simulation provides deep insight into within

Now the software comes into play. Software developers program everything at RIKA: starting with reading sensor data to complex touch-display visualisation, wireless communication interfaces and even mobile applications for smartphones.

312 3 The software is largely responsible for a safe, comfortable and efficient combustion process in the stove. Josef Ballenstorfer, RIKA Software WARM UP 19 RIKA INNOVATION All the stove’s technology must perform perfectly in the smallest space –that is the great challenge. Marco Krenmayr, RIKA Design Engineering

PCB

The stove is finally assembled in prototype construction together with the design engineer, where ease of assembly and servicing as well as suitability for series production are the focus.

All individual parts are manufactured based on the design data. All sheet metal parts are produced in-house at RIKA and carefully assem bled by hand. Great attention is already paid to the later series pro duction during this phase. The design engineer assists with assembling the heating sample and incorporates suggestions for improvement di rectly into the design.

A first prototype is created

On the home straight: from pilot series to series production

First test phase

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Wilhelm Riedler, RIKA Test Laboratory

After the successful heating sample test, the design process begins together with the international design agency KISKA, a long-standing partner of RIKA. The aim is to find the perfect interplay between forms and functions as well as colours, materials and surfaces. The final con cept is chosen from several design proposals together with manage ment based on the aspects of appearance, feel and economic viabil ity. In the next stage, the final construction proposal is subjected to a rough technical feasibility check in the design department and then the manufacturing technology is worked out in detail.

Manuel Kössl, RIKA Technology & Innovation

The first ten appliances of the new stove model are produced in series production at the production site in Adlwang. After final testing in the test laboratory, series production is finally approved and the new stove model is added to the RIKA stove range.Our philosophy is: The norm is never our goal, but the lowest benchmark. We always want to get the best out of our appliances.

Handcrafted into a heating sample

In the test laboratory, ideas and visions are turned into tangible and measurable products for the first time. The heating sample is put through its paces using state-of-the-art equipment. The essential goals at this stage of development are, on the one hand, optimum combustion and, on the other, tight, safe operation. Although we also attach importance to user-friendliness and practical operation even at this stage. Designing desire: the stove design

The first near-series prototype is subjected to extensive testing. The focus is clearly on verifying the design specifications. The safe ty-relevant standard specifications, such as temperatures in relation to adjacent components and materials, must comply with the stan dards. Likewise, emission values and efficiency must comply with the standard. In addition, usability, i.e. user-friendliness, is closely scru tinised in this phase. Together with the design engineering and software development department, this is continuously developed further. The goal is a mature, technically flawless prototype, ready for type testing at an accredited test centre.

Seeing the prototype of the new stove model in real life for the first time after assembly is one of my highlights. Peter Brandtner, RIKA Prototype Construction

We are already working on the stoves of tomorrow today. Fire fascinates us, technology is our passion. And that is the special bond we share.

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Series production takes place at the production site in Adlwang, Upper Austria.

RIKA STORYHOME 22 WARM UP Barbara lived out her passion for design and architecture to the fullest during the four-year planning phase for their weekend home. Inspired by the huts typically found in the area at the edge of the forest and influenced by minimalist Scandinavian style, a modern, ecological and energy-saving house was created in timber frame construction, mainly out of local materials such as spruce wood. The large window front, facing south, brings a lot of light into the rooms and creates the feeling of being outdoors indoors. It also gives a clear view of the gar den – Sebastian’s creative field. He lets his imagination run wild here and enjoys working in the fresh air. Their house is well thought out down to the smallest detail and embod ies their philosophy on life. They did as much of the construction work as possible themselves. The furnishings reflect their personalities, are timeless, high-quality and comfortable at the same time, the feel-good factor is particularly important to them. The close proximity to Barba ra’s parents reinforces the feeling of home.

BAREFOOT THROUGH THE WEEKEND

“Even in the depths of winter, DOMO heats the house to a constant 15 degrees Celsius for three weeks when we’re on holiday,” Sebastian says enthusiastically.

Preferably out and about In the garden, in the forest or at the lake – nature lets them experience life with all their senses. Exercise in the fresh air feels liberating. But they also relax and unwind indoors, preferably barefoot. While cook ing vegan meals, reading or drinking wine in front of the blazing fire, Barbara and Sebastian recharge their batteries to start a new working week full of verve and energy.

Barbara and Sebastian shape their lives consciously. Work-life balance, mindfulness, enjoyment and closeness to nature are their life principles. They love spending their weekends at their holiday home in the Lower Austrian Waldviertel, which they heat with a RIKA DOMO.

The stove is regularly in use until well into spring due to climatic con ditions in the region with big fluctuations in temperature on a daily basis and severe cooling down at night. The fact that it is completely sufficient as a sole source of heating even in winter is due firstly to its heating power and secondly to its large 50 kg pellet hopper capacity.

Heating with quality of life

The MULTIAIR feature is also a strong argument in favour of the stove, as it allows the heat to be transported directly into the adjacent bath room. “It almost feels like underfloor heating there,” raves Barbara and continues, “our guests are always surprised that our DOMO is the only heating in the house.” The pellet stove with its black steel casing fits perfectly into the overall concept and offers the huge advantage of being controllable online from anywhere at any time using RIKA FIRENET.

BOXFACT Total living space: approx. 77 m 2 Ceiling height: max. 5.5 m in the main room Year of construction: 2018 Construction: Timber frame & low-energy construction Insulation: Cellulose cavity wall insulation + wood fibre insulation Orientation: South facing

Barbara “Last year we had a total consumption of around 350 kg of pellets during the main heating period. As a result, our fuel costs amounted to around 100 €. And the beautiful atmo sphere was a priceless side effect!”

The bathroom is located directly behind the open living area and is heated by MULTIAIR. The temperature in the bedroom next door can be easily regulated by the sliding door: if it should be cooler to sleep, the door is simply kept closed to keep the heat out.

WARM UP 23

Sebastian “Free time plays an essential role in our lives, so we have been working a four-day week for a long time. We both love our jobs and like living in the city. In the countryside, we find the perfect balance to our demanding professional lives and enjoy nature, peace and quiet and, above all, time to ourselves.”

pelletDOMOstove design.andtechnologythecomfort,Maximumlatestsimple

Our everyday working life is like a constant juggling act. Every day we receive new information that we have to react to quickly. The dynamics of our already very complex environment sometimes seem overwhelming.

RIKA INSIDE 24 WARM UP A YEAR OF SUPERLATIVES

The massive increase in production already achieved under these cir cumstances could only be supported by the immeasurable commit ment of RIKA employees – on the basis of the most innovative work processes and maximum organised flexibility. A new increase in pro duction is being aimed for in 2023 with the expansion of the production site in Adlwang. In just six months, an extension of more than 2,000 m2 was completed, which not only allows shipping and logistics to be structured even more efficiently, but also makes it possible to run two additional complete assembly lines. As one of the largest regional em ployers, RIKA is creating numerous new green jobs as a result.

The expansion of the site took place parallel to normal production operation and within a very short period of time. We are very proud of this and are delighted to be able to therefore increase our production capacity to 70,000 stoves per year.

The extension at the Adlwang site was planned in cooperation with the ARKFORM firm of architects. The energy concept is particularly impressive: the entire production plant is climate neutral, is heated with regional biomass (wood chips) and produces around 80% of the electricity it needs itself using a photovoltaic system.

Peter SchwarzenbrunnerTomislav Dramac

Peter Schwarzenbrunner, RIKA Adlwang site

Tomislav Dramac, RIKA Production

The strong increase in demand for RIKA stoves throughout Europe in the last two years reached its absolute peak in 2022: at the beginning of May, stove orders had already exceeded the entire capacity for the year – and this despite the fact that production has already been in creased by 100% since 2019. During this same period, the number of employees within the RIKA Group grew from 300 to 400 people. However, the framework conditions for this incredibly rapid growth turned out to be extremely difficult. The global economic impact since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has been amplified by the Ukraine war and is particularly evident in supply chains and goods availability: suppliers are no longer available, delivery commitments are being cancelled, fixed delivery dates for semi-finished products hardly exist any more, strong price fluctuations and surcharges of up to 200% make long-term price calculations impossible. These are now well-known phenomena that hardly any industry is being spared from and which have long since become part of consumers’ everyday lives.

The most difficult production conditions coincide with an unprecedented boom in the stove industry in 2022, which RIKA is meeting with a new expansion of the Adlwang production site – in absolute record time.

RIKA invests millions

The second online keynote took place on 16 February 2022 and was once again a huge success. It was viewed over 1,000 times within a few days by RIKA partners from over ten countries. The entire keynote, this time with a focus on product development and innova tions, as well as the product films it contains, can be found on RIKA’s YouTube channel.

WAY

THEUPGRADED:ONLINE

The innovative CONNECT PELLET online configurator has been upgraded to include all RIKA stove models – with the exception of heating inserts. The configurator impresses in particular with realistic flame animation and numerous state-of-the-art features: the stoves can be viewed as 3D objects from all sides down to the smallest detail, dimensions can be optionally dis played and with the AR view, each model can be viewed virtually within your own four walls. The configuration can be shared on social media, by email or link and downloaded as a PDF including the stove data sheet. The con figuration can be accessed at any time and from any end device using a personal code.

WOOD: CHOPPING, STACKING, AND DRYING WOOD THE SCANDINAVIAN

NORWEGIAN

Did you know that the highest wood consumption is reported from Bhutan and not from Scandinavia or Russia? That trees are cut down in spring for the best firewood? That it makes a difference whether wood is stacked “bark up” or “bark down”? That the wood stack allows conclusions to be drawn about the nature of the stacker? Apricot wood burns differently to almond wood. Birch logs exude a fine scent in the fireplace … This is what Lars Mytting’s book is all about, which is also a guide to felling, chopping, stacking – and teaches the art of keeping a beautiful fire burning. Craftsmanship and cultural history as a thoroughly entertaining piece of writing – a must-have for any practitioner in the woods or “Armchair Woodsman” at Larshome.Mytting, born in 1968, comes from Norway. An avid woodsman and stove enthusiast himself, his book was a bestseller for months immediately after pub lication.

THECONTINUED:SUCCESSFUL

25 RIKA NEWS WARM UP

RIKA KEYNOTE EVENT FORMAT

CONFIGURATORSTOVE

CHATSFIRESIDE OÖ Energiesparverband is a province of Upper Austria institution (chairperson LR Markus Achleitner) and acts as a regional energy agency. It is the central contact point for product-independent energy information and promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy, e-mobility and innovative energy technologies with a comprehensive range of services – at private, municipal and company level. In addition to cooperation with energy institutions at home and abroad, the Ener giesparverband is also responsible for the management of the Cleantech-Cluster Energie (RIKA is a partner in this company network). It also organises the annual World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Upper Austria, including the European Pellet Conference, which has established itself as the largest annual pellet event worldwide.

What are the biggest challenges in the pellet sector at present and in the future? As in many other industries, the supply chain issue is a challenge, as is securing pellet supply in the long term.

The various “Made in Upper Austria” pellet heating technologies pre sented showed that we are the number one pellet country in Europe.

The 2023 World Sustainable Energy Days will take place from 1-3 March 2023 in Wels.

GERHARD DELL ON THE EUROPEAN PELLET CONFERENCE 2022

What contribution do pellet stoves specifically make to achieving this goal as individual heating appliances or supplementary heating?

Fortunately, pellet production and pellet consumption are increas ing worldwide. Developments vary from country to country and from technology to technology. According to Bioenergy Europe, for ex ample, new pellet stoves boomed last year in France and Spain, and there was strong growth in automatic pellet heating systems in Austria, Germany and France.

Personally, I was also impressed by the work shown by young energy researchers, who show that the future of energy is also in good hands.

What makes pellets the fuel for the energy transition?

“Fit for 55” refers to the European target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. We have to get away from fossil fuels in the area of space heating in particular and pellets are a very good solution for this.

Which projects presented at the conference do you consider particularly innovative and promising?

The European Pellet Conference took place in Wels, Upper Austria, on 6 th of April with over 400 participants from more than 50 countries, making it the largest annual pellet event in the world and the meeting place for the international pellet industry. The organiser is OÖ Energiesparverband (Upper Austrian Energy Saving Association) under the management of Gerhard Dell. We asked him: Dr Gerhard Dell is Managing Director of OÖ Energiesparverband and the Energy Commissioner for the province of Upper Austria

What international developments are emerging on the pellet market?

That after the online conferences due to COVID-19, there was once again a very successful live, in-person conference with hundreds of participants from all over the world in Wels and that the conference leader Christiane Egger and the entire team from the energy saving association put on a perfect event in terms of content and organisa tion.

The 2023 conference will once again be the meeting place for the in ternational pellets industry and offers the ideal opportunity to find out about cutting-edge bioenergy trends. Leading experts will pres ent markets, strategies, technologies and innovations in the pellet and bioenergy world. Thank you!

Looking back, what were your personal highlights from the pellet conference?

RIKA

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What was the focus of this year’s pellet conference? The international conference’s focus was on how we can advance the energy transition and position pellets as a key climate solution by boosting the pellet markets.

Energy is responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. As a carbon-neutral fuel, pellets are a cornerstone of climate action and the energy transition! What is the “Fit for 55” package and what role do pellets play as a fuel – especially in the private sector?

As a climate-neutral fuel, pellets make an important contribution to achieving Upper Austrian, Austrian and European climate targets. Pellet stoves also reduce the load on central heating systems that still run on fossil fuels and can thus reduce fossil fuel consumption.

What topics can we expect at the upcoming conference in March 2023?

DOMO BACK brings friends and family closer with its integrated baking compartment, as cooking and eating together creates a special bond. That is cookingCatrin’s belief. For the food blogger and stylist, it’s all about cooking and baking. In the meantime, she has her own cooking studio and is nationally and internationally known for her modern in terpretations of traditional dishes. She accepted our invitation and put the DOMO BACK to the acid test.

For two days, cookingCatrin cooked and baked using DOMO BACK. “I have never been as relaxed in the kitchen,” raves the blogger with regard to the soothing effect of the radiation heat, “and watching the fire is something really special,” she adds, quite impressed. The won derful scent of home-made pizza is in the air: a summer version with fresh vegetables, light and easy to digest. “Baked on the lowest shelf, the bottom heat in the baking compartment makes the pizza base ex tra crispy,” says cookingCatrin enthusiastically with regard to the tem perature distribution in the baking compartment. True to the motto “a feast for the eyes”, she had put the finishing touches on the pizza and turned it into a real piece of art. Her attention to detail and her flair for aesthetics are reflected in all her culinary creations.

A CULINARY REVELATION

RIKA COLLABORATION

Crispy, luscious, fluffy – it simply tastes best fresh from the stove.

Brilliant, energy-saving and fun – that’s Catrin’s final summary after the two days with DOMO BACK. For her, using the stove’s heating en ergy for the baking compartment and not only controlling its tem peratures but the entire stove online or even by voice (using Amazon

A stove totally to her taste

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cookingcatrin.at

COOKINGCATRIN AND DOMO BACK

Austrian food blogger Catrin Ferrari-Brunnenfeld alias cookingCatrin really fired up our DOMO BACK pellet stove.

Illustrated configuration Configure your CONNECT now at your RIKA specialist dealer or online at rika.eu. YOUR HOWWHICHSTOVE.YOUDESIGN.YOUWANT. rika.eu