BSH Home Appliances has welcomed back a familiar face: Bruno Piquand has been appointed Western Europe Marketing Director for Gaggenau, the group’s premium home appliance brand. Although the official announcement came in early December, Piquand stepped into the role at the start of autumn.
In his new position, Piquand leads marketing strategy across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. His mission is clear: to reinforce Gaggenau’s position as a leader in the luxury appliance market. This includes cultivating strategic partnerships, deepening customer engagement, and strengthening ties with B2B stakeholders such as kitchen specialists, interior architects, and designers.
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iRobot, Maker of Roomba, Files for Bankruptcy Protection Amid Market Pressures
iRobot, the pioneering company behind the Roomba smart vacuum cleaner, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States as it struggles to navigate a challenging global market.
The filing, made under a pre-packaged Chapter 11 process, will see Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics—iRobot’s primary manufacturing partner—take over ownership of the company. This strategic move comes after iRobot faced mounting competition from Chinese brands and was hit hard by rising tariffs.
According to court documents filed Sunday, iRobot was forced to slash prices and ramp up investment in innovation to stay competitive. However, U.S. tariffs of 46% on imports from Vietnam—where most of its devices for the American market are produced—added $23 million to its costs this year alone.
Once valued at $3.56 billion during the pandemic-driven boom in home automation, iRobot’s market value has plummeted to around $140 million. The company’s shares dropped more than 13% on the Nasdaq last Friday.
Despite the financial turbulence, iRobot has assured customers that its mobile app, product support, and supply chains will continue to operate without disruption.
Founded in 1990 by three MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab alumni, iRobot initially focused on defense and space robotics before launching the Roomba in 2002. The Roomba quickly became a household name, capturing 42% of the U.S. and 65% of the Japanese robotic vacuum market.
A proposed $1.7 billion acquisition by Amazon was blocked last year by the European Union’s competition authority, further complicating iRobot’s path forward.
A Broader Crisis in European Manufacturing
Groupe Brandt’s collapse is not an isolated case. It reflects a growing crisis in Europe’s white goods sector, where even market leaders are under pressure.
– BSH Group, Europe’s largest appliance manufacturer, recently confirmed it will shutter two German plants—Nauen (washing machines) by mid-2027 and Bretten (cookers and hoods) by early 2028—resulting in 1,400 job losses. Production will shift to lower-cost European sites.
– Electrolux continues its restructuring efforts amid rising debt and liquidity concerns, despite recent strong performance.
– Miele has already relocated washing machine production from Germany to Poland, citing cost pressures.
The Bigger Picture: Europe’s Manufacturing Squeeze
The European appliance industry is being squeezed from all sides:
– 📈 Rising energy and labor costs
– 🏛️ Regulatory and bureaucratic burdens
– 🌏 Aggressive competition from Asian—especially Chinese—manufacturers
Brandt’s liquidation is a stark reminder that legacy, innovation, and even public support may not be enough to withstand today’s economic headwinds without private sector confidence
Groupe Brandt Liquidated After Rescue Plan Fails: A Stark Warning for European Appliance Manufacturing
The curtain has fallen on one of France’s most iconic appliance manufacturers. On Thursday, December 11, the Nanterre Commercial Court ordered the liquidation of Groupe Brandt, marking the end of a months-long effort to save the company through an employee-led cooperative. The decision spells the loss of approximately 700 jobs and halts production of legacy brands including Brandt, De Dietrich, Sauter, and Vedette.
This outcome underscores a broader and troubling trend: the continued erosion of European-based appliance manufacturing in the face of global competition, financial fragility, and investor hesitancy.
A Last-Ditch Effort That Fell Short
The final hope for Groupe Brandt rested on a bold proposal—a Scop (Société coopérative et participative), or employee cooperative, backed by Groupe Revive and entrepreneur Cédric Meston, co-founder of plant-based food brand HappyVore. The plan aimed to preserve local jobs and maintain production in the historic Loiret and Loir-et-Cher regions by turning employees into co-owners.
Despite strong political and regional support, including €17 million in public funding from the French state, Centre-Val de Loire region, and the city of Orléans, the plan ultimately collapsed. The court deemed the proposal financially unviable, citing a shortfall of €3–8 million that banks refused to cover.
Political Will Meets Financial Reality
The rescue effort drew unprecedented political attention. Industry Minister Sébastien Martin pledged €5 million in state aid, while regional leaders rallied to raise additional funds. Yet, even with this show of unity, the private sector’s reluctance to assume risk proved decisive.
With no viable path to cover the remaining funding gap—and no means to pay salaries beyond December 15—the court had little choice but to proceed with liquidation.
What This Means for the Industry
Groupe Brandt’s collapse is more than a corporate failure—it’s a symbolic blow to the European white goods sector. Once a pillar of French industrial pride, Brandt’s demise highlights the vulnerability of legacy manufacturers in a capital-intensive, globally competitive market.
For industry watchers, the case raises urgent questions:
– Can cooperative ownership models realistically rescue distressed manufacturers?
– What role should public funding play in safeguarding industrial heritage?
– And how can Europe retain its foothold in appliance production amid mounting global pressures?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Brandt story will resonate far beyond France’s borders.
Safety check for 85,000 tumble dryers at risk of fire
Urgent safety check for 85,000 tumble dryers at risk of fire. Affected brands include: Candy, Baumatic, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna, Montpellier. ⚠️ Check yours now. 👉 It takes just a few minutes to check if yours is affected. Find your model and serial number, and either check online or contact the manufacturer. If you own one of the affected models, you should STOP using it immediately and unplug the appliance https://www.gov.uk/government/news/urgent-safety-check-for-85000-tumble-dryers
Whirlpool Invests R$3 Million in Advanced Training Hub in Brazil
Whirlpool is investing R$3 million in a new advanced manufacturing training center at its Rio Claro plant in São Paulo, where it produces washers, stoves, ovens, and cooktops.
The “Factory of the Future” aims to deliver 6,000 hours of annual training through 2030 for employees and students from São Paulo State’s technical colleges (Fatecs), with the goal of boosting local manufacturing productivity by 50%.
Whirlpool employs 12,000 people in Brazil, including 3,000 in Rio Claro, and operates additional plants in Manaus and Joinville. Over the past five years, the company has invested R$1.3 billion in Brazil and $4 billion globally in R&D and capital expenditures. Currently, 97% of its products sold in Brazil are manufactured locally.
Middleby to Sell 51% Stake in Residential Kitchen Business to 26North in Transaction Valuing the Business at $885 Million
The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD) has agreed to sell a 51% stake in its Residential Kitchen business to affiliates of 26North Partners LP, valuing the unit at $885 million. Middleby will retain a 49% non-controlling interest in the new joint venture, receiving approximately $540 million in cash and a $135 million seller note.
The Residential Kitchen portfolio includes premium brands such as Viking, AGA Rangemaster, La Cornue, Kamado Joe, Marvel, Novy, and U-Line. This move, alongside the planned spin-off of Middleby’s Food Processing segment in H1 2026, advances the company’s strategy to become a pure-play commercial foodservice leader.
With a sharpened focus, Middleby is positioned for accelerated growth through innovation and automation, offering a robust lineup of commercial kitchen solutions that enhance labor efficiency, reduce food costs, and expand into high-potential markets like ice and beverage.
The commercial foodservice business stands strong with 2024 revenue of $2.38 billion, $654 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and a margin exceeding 27%
TCL to manufacturer in Bangladesh
TCL Global Marketing Company Limited has officially launched operations in Bangladesh, partnering with local tech leader DX Group to handle marketing, distribution, and manufacturing. The announcement was made at an event at Hotel Sheraton, Banani, where TCL shared its investment plans and commitment to building robust local production capabilities.The company plans to produce a range of products locally, including televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines,
Jensen North America Acquires G.A. Braun, Strengthening Its North American Presence
Jensen North America, a proud member of the global Jensen-Group, has officially acquired the business operations of G.A. Braun. This strategic acquisition represents a major leap forward in Jensen-Group’s long-term growth strategy, significantly enhancing its manufacturing capabilities, broadening its product offerings, and expanding its service network throughout North America.
By integrating G.A. Braun’s expertise and infrastructure, Jensen-Group is poised to deliver even greater value to customers across the region—reinforcing its commitment to innovation, quality, and customer-centric solutions in the industrial laundry sector.
Midea Unveils Miro U: A Next-Gen Humanoid Robot Set to Revolutionize Smart Manufacturing
Midea is pushing the boundaries of industrial automation with the unveiling of Miro U, the third-generation model in its humanoid robot series. Confirmed by Wei Chang, Midea’s Vice President and CTO, Miro U represents a significant leap forward in robotics innovation—designed and developed entirely in-house by the company’s R&D team.
At the heart of Miro U’s capabilities are its six bionic mechanical arms, engineered for high-precision control and rapid end-effector switching. This modular design allows the robot to seamlessly adapt to a variety of tasks on the production line. It also boasts vertical lifting and 360-degree in-place rotation, giving it exceptional flexibility and range of motion in confined industrial environments.
Looking ahead, Midea plans to deploy Miro U at its high-end washing machine factory in Wuxi by the end of 2025. The robot is expected to deliver measurable gains in operational efficiency, including a 30% improvement in production line adjustment speed and enhanced takt time performance—a key metric in lean manufacturing.
With Miro U, Midea is not just automating tasks; it’s redefining the future of smart factories
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