Forget Keeping Milk Chilled — Japan Is Now Selling Refrigerators for Humans

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When you think of white goods, standard kitchen appliances like frost-free freezers, smart dishwashers, and French-door fridges usually come to mind. Japanese engineering, however, just took appliance cooling technology to a whole new level.
Meet the Do Hiemon Box, a standalone, personal walk-in cooling booth designed not to store groceries, but to rapidly lower human body temperature during extreme heatwaves.Developed by Japanese refrigeration specialist SDRS and distributed by industrial supplier Trusco Nakayama, the unit draws direct mechanical inspiration from Japan’s iconic refrigerated vending machines. Standing roughly 2 metres tall on caster wheels, it is a single-person, stainless-steel cabin equipped with a glass door and an internal seat.
Rather than cooling an entire room like a traditional air conditioner, the booth focuses localized, high-efficiency refrigeration straight onto the body.

Currys’ Essentials Brand Joins AMDEA, Strengthening the UK Appliance Voice

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AMDEA has confirmed that Currys’ Essentials — the retailer’s value‑driven appliance brand — has officially joined its membership community, further broadening representation across the UK home appliance sector.

Essentials brings a portfolio of budget‑friendly small and large domestic appliances, aligning with AMDEA’s mission to champion quality, innovation and high standards across the industry.

AMDEA CEO Stefan Hay welcomed the move, noting that Currys’ scale and expertise will help strengthen AMDEA’s collective voice as it continues promoting excellence and sustainable growth. Currys’ Group Technical and Health & Safety Director Judith Peacock added that the retailer looks forward to collaborating with fellow members to support the sector’s ongoing development.

The addition of Essentials marks another step in AMDEA’s expanding role as the UK’s leading home appliance association.

Blueair Opens New Shunde Office, Strengthening Its China-Based Innovation Hub

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Blueair has marked a major milestone in its global air‑wellness strategy with the official opening of its new office in Shunde, China — a move designed to tighten collaboration across R&D, production, and supply chain teams right at the heart of one of the world’s most advanced home‑appliance manufacturing clusters. A Strategic Expansion in a Global Innovation NetworkThe Shunde office sits within a region known for its world‑class smart‑appliance ecosystem, giving Blueair direct access to mature supply chains, engineering talent, and rapid‑iteration manufacturing capabilities. This location strengthens the brand’s three‑hub innovation model spanning Sweden, Shanghai, and now Shunde — a structure designed to accelerate product development and bring new air‑wellness technologies to market faster. Blueair leaders emphasised that the Shunde site will play a critical role in engineering execution and fast prototyping, complementing the advanced research and design work carried out in Sweden and Shanghai. Together, the three centres will support the brand’s push into next‑generation purification, smart air‑management systems, and emerging categories such as humidification and air circulation. Strengthening Collaboration at the Source by positioning teams closer to manufacturing partners and certification bodies, Blueair aims to streamline development cycles and enhance product quality. Representatives from SGS, CVC, Intertek, and UL Solutions attended the opening ceremony — signalling strong alignment between Blueair and key testing and compliance organisations. The new office also reinforces Blueair’s long‑term commitment to the Chinese market, where engineering capability, supply‑chain maturity, and innovation velocity continue to shape the global appliance landscape.A Milestone Year for BlueairThe Shunde opening coincides with Blueair’s 30th anniversary.

𝗘.𝗚.𝗢. 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

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E.G.O. Elektro-komponente d.o.o. (E.G.O. Croatia) has once more been honored with the “Golden Key Award” as one of Croatia’s leading exporters. Matija Hržan, Head of Production – Switches and Injection Molding at E.G.O. Croatia, accepted the award during the 21st Convention of Croatian Exporters in Zagreb in late June.

Why Your Outdoor Kitchen Needs Proper Extraction: A Look at the Elica Capri Range Hood

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Designed to handle heavy-duty outdoor cooking, the Elica Capri delivers both performance and durability:
Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Construction: Built to withstand outdoor elements, corrosion, and moisture without degrading.
High-CFM Ventilation: Powerful airflow capability quickly captures high volumes of heat and smoke before they disperse across the dining area.
Professional Baffle Filters: Heavy-duty commercial-style baffle filters trap grease efficiently while remaining easy to remove and clean.
Integrated Overhead Lighting: High-output lighting ensures clear visibility over the grill during evening gatherings

Smeg UK Reports 9.3% Revenue Growth as Cooking & Coffee Strategy Pays Off

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Smeg UK has delivered a confident performance for 2025, recording 9.3% year‑on‑year revenue growth and a 20% uplift in profit, according to newly published figures. The business reached £73.7 million in revenue and £1.54 million in profit,

Heatwaves Drive 43% Surge in Chinese AC Exports to Europe

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Heatwaves Drive 43% Surge in Chinese AC Exports to Europe
By White Goods Now
Amid shifting global trade dynamics, China’s home appliance export sector delivered impressive H1 2026 numbers—led by a 43.2% year-on-year surge in air conditioner exports to the EU ($3.76 billion).
Driven by severe European heatwaves and structural supply shortages, demand was especially high for portable and mobile AC units (+70%), which suit Europe’s historic buildings, strict drilling bans, and high renter demographics.
Brand Highlights
* Midea: Led the market with its PortaSplit portable split AC (15-minute DIY setup). Shipments topped 200,000 units, driving a >70% sales surge across Germany, France, Spain, and the UK.
* Haier: Posted a 24% increase in residential AC brand sales in Europe—the highest among Chinese brands. Emergency orders from France and Spain alone exceeded 100,000 units.
* Gree: Doubled sales in Spain and saw a 50% rise in France, extending installation waitlists through late August.
* Hisense & TCL: Hisense AC sales in Europe soared 117% (up 900% in France), while TCL saw over 300% growth in France and the Nordic region.
Key Drivers
* Supply Chain Scale: China produces over 85% of global AC capacity and 90% of compressors, allowing rapid production scaling.
* Targeted Product Design: No-drill, portable units bypass high European installation costs and building regulations.
* Faster Logistics: Rail transport via the China-Europe Railway Express cut delivery times from 40+ days (sea) down to 15–20 days.
* Brand Value Growth: Chinese manufacturers are increasingly exporting under their own brand names rather than low-margin OEM contracts.

Blueair coolDrift

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Blueair introduced their latest innovation: CoolDrift™, the new air circulator fan designed with sleep science in mind for the ultimate restful experience.

Combining exceptional cooling performance with one of the quietest fan experiences on the market, CoolDrift is the only tabletop fan with science-backed Smart Modes, developed in collaboration with our wellness expert to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Valberg Tops France’s Washing Machine Market in 2025

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Valberg, the private‑label brand of Électro Dépôt, has officially become France’s best‑selling washing machine brand in 2025, according to GfK MI Sales Tracking. It’s a milestone moment for a marque built on value, accessibility and rapid product development.

The brand’s rise is closely tied to its energy‑efficient A‑class washing machines, launched in 2023 at the same price point as lower‑rated models. That move resonated strongly with cost‑conscious shoppers and helped cement Valberg’s reputation for delivering quality, performance and affordability.

Over the past decade, Valberg has sold more than 13 million products, maintaining an impressive 4.4/5 average customer rating. Électro Dépôt says this success reflects its strategy of building MDD ranges directly around user feedback. One example: a new automatic door‑opening function to improve drying, now fitted across all Valberg and HighOne dishwashers.

Ion Slavov, Director of Offer at Électro Dépôt, says the results show that “innovation, performance, quality and accessibility can go hand in hand” — and that MDD brands can now compete head‑on with long‑established industry giants.

BSH Reaffirms Its Commitment to the Right to Repair — What It Means for the Appliance Sector

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The Right to Repair movement continues to gather momentum across Europe, and BSH is positioning itself firmly at the centre of the conversation. In a recent update shared by the company, BSH reiterated its long‑term commitment to repairability, spare‑part availability and sustainable product lifecycles — signalling a clear direction of travel for the wider white goods industry.

The Sector View

Across the industry, manufacturers are responding to regulatory pressure and consumer demand with varying levels of ambition. BSH’s proactive stance places it among the leaders pushing for a repair‑friendly future — one that balances innovation with responsibility.

For retailers and trade professionals, the takeaway is clear: repairability is no longer a compliance box to tick. It’s a competitive differentiator.