Rising material costs and high energy prices are posing significant challenges for EU manufacturers in maintaining global competitiveness.
Electricity prices in Europe are currently 2-3 times higher than in the US, resulting in increased investment costs for EU manufacturers compared to their global counterparts.
Additionally, the global supply of critical raw materials is concentrated in a few regions, making the EU vulnerable to price fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, and potential geopolitical leverage. This underscores the urgent need for diversified supply chains and the establishment of new and existing trade relationships to boost critical raw material extraction and recycling within the region and beyond.
We advocate for a stronger alignment of policies with decarbonisation goals to enable Europe to lead the #techrace, ensuring a competitive and sustainable future for European manufacturers.
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Introducing the Second-Generation LG Signature Collection
The second-generation LG Signature Collection seamlessly blends the brand’s signature minimalist design with top-tier performance and intuitive AI features. This new lineup includes the LG Signature Side-by-Side Refrigerator with OLED-T Panel, the LG Signature Smart InstaView™ Built-in Microwave, the Built-in Double Oven with Integrated Induction Top, the LG Signature Dishwasher, the LG Signature Washer-Dryer, and the LG Signature Washer and Dryer. The InstaView Side-by-Side smart refrigerator stands out with its innovative OLED-T panel integrated into one of the doors. This display allows you to manage the refrigerator and view its contents without opening the door, thanks to the digital touch interface and Dual InstaView panel. It can also display hologram-like images, merging the virtual with the real in a sophisticated blend of art and technology. For an enhanced ambiance, the refrigerator provides access to a playlist. The ThinQ™ app and AI camera recognize food items, suggest recipes based on available ingredients and user preferences, and track expiration dates. These features simplify grocery management, meal planning, and preparation, transforming the kitchen into a truly connected and dynamic space.
The LG Signature Built-in Microwave Oven and Oven offer diverse cooking options. The microwave oven is equipped with three built-in cameras for real-time cooking monitoring and creating original time-lapse videos. With a 27-inch Full-HD touch display featuring InstaView, built-in speakers, and Wi-Fi connectivity, the microwave oven offers a wide range of entertainment options. The screen also provides access to the LG ThinQ Smart Home dashboard, allowing control of all LG AI devices and compatible Matter and Thread appliances in your home. Additionally, when paired with the oven, the microwave’s LCD display shows the progress of the oven’s dishes, eliminating the need for manual checks.
Europe’s Best Coffee Equipment Manufacture
Cimbali Group ‘s La Cimbali brand was awarded the prestigious ‘ Europe’s Best Coffee Equipment Manufacturer’ award in the Fully Automatics category promoted by Coffee Ventures Europe at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin.
With over 500 industry experts gathered for the occasion, the awards honored the companies that are driving the evolution of the coffee and hospitality sectors in Europe.Almost 60 years, Cimbali Group has been a pioneer in the field of superautomatic machines. This award celebrates Cimbali Group’s continuous commitment to innovation and the quality of its solutions, consolidating its leading role in the superautomatic coffee machine
Samsung Wants Screens on Every Appliance by 2025
Samsung Electronics is set to revolutionize home appliances with its advanced display technology, embodying its vision of ‘Screens Everywhere’.
This year, Samsung is transforming the kitchen experience with a refrigerator featuring a new 9” AI Home screen and incorporating the 7” AI Home into the Wall Oven. The laundry category isn’t left behind, with the 7” AI Home integrated into the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™, now included in the new Bespoke AI™ Washer and Dryer Set. These innovative products will debut at CES 2025.
### Bespoke Refrigerators Get New Compact Screen and Improved Functionality
By offering a range of products with varying screen sizes, Samsung enhances user accessibility and brings the smart home closer to reality. With Bixby voice control, Samsung home appliance screens provide essential activity information like internal temperatures or wash cycle details in a user-friendly format. The Map View feature stands out, allowing these screens to act as convenient control hubs, enabling users to monitor and control connected appliances from a single screen. Additionally, the screens offer various entertainment features via Internet connectivity, broadening the role of home appliances within the home environment.
Samsung Unveils ‘Peltier Cell’-Powered Refrigerator
At CES 2025, Samsung will unveil a groundbreaking innovation in refrigeration with its AI Hybrid Cooling technology. This advanced system combines artificial intelligence with the Peltier effect, an innovative cooling method. The Peltier effect involves passing an electric current through two conductors, creating a heat transfer that expels heat from the refrigerator, thereby lowering its internal temperature. This technology kicks in alongside conventional cooling methods when the internal temperature rises, such as when the refrigerator door is left open for a prolonged period (like when restocking after shopping).
An AI algorithm determines the optimal times to activate the additional cooling provided by the Peltier cells, working in tandem with the normal compressor to maintain the ideal cooling mode. The AI inverter compressor, with its improved design and increased inertia, runs longer and uses less energy, dynamically optimizing its speed through an AI algorithm.
### Enhanced Food Freshness with Hybrid Precise Cooling
AI Hybrid Cooling technology ensures perishable foods stay fresher for longer by reducing internal temperature fluctuations with Hybrid Precise Cooling. This feature activates even during automatic defrost cycles, using the residual heat from the Peltier module to minimize temperature fluctuations that can affect food quality. As a result, fresh foods like pork and salmon can last up to 1.4 times and 1.2 times longer, respectively, when Hybrid Precise Cooling is activated.
Maximized Space Efficiency
Refrigerators equipped with AI Hybrid Cooling technology offer a substantial 900-liter capacity, enhancing usability while maintaining the same external dimensions. By replacing traditional heating elements with a Peltier module, the internal space is utilized more efficiently, resulting in a 25-liter increase in capacity. This allows for 60 mm deeper shelves and a 13.8% larger loading area compared to conventional models.
The future of home appliances in Europe
The home appliance industry is a cornerstone of Europe’s economy, contributing €79 billion to the EU’s GDP and supporting over 1 million jobs across 130 factories in Europe. Appliances such as fridges, washing machines and irons by sit in the homes of every European household, highlighting the importance of these products in our everyday lives and to the success of Europe’s decarbonisation and housing plans. With the new EU mandate, the sector strongly supports the following recommendations as in line with the ‘Draghi Report’: ⭐ Promote innovation in energy-efficient home appliances to help drive decarbonisation while lowering costs for consumers ⭐ Support the growth of a competitive and sustainable home appliance industry to maintain European leadership in technology ⭐ Safeguard jobs and ensure fair competition within the European market
Ewbank new products
Ewbank’s newest products: AIRWAND (EWVC0602) & ACTIVE+ (EWVC0307)!
The compact yet powerful AIRWAND Handheld Vacuum is perfect for tackling car interiors, tight corners, skirting boards, and more with ease.
The versatile ACTIVE+ 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum brings powerful cleaning performance and unmatched convenience to every home.
Stalemate in Negotiations Between Italian Government and Beko Europe Over Factory Closures
Negotiations between the Italian Government and Beko Europe have hit a substantial deadlock regarding the planned closure of several factories and production lines acquired from Whirlpool in Italy. During a hearing before the Chamber of Deputies’ Productive Activities Committee, Maurizio David Sberna, Beko Europe’s head of external and institutional relations, expressed the company’s commitment to evaluate all potential industrial operations. He emphasized that any actions taken to mitigate the impact of these closures would only proceed if they do not alter the economic impact of the current plan, which aims to halt unsustainable financial losses.
The factories in Siena, Comunanza (Ascoli Piceno), and Cassinetta (Varese) are particularly affected, with each incurring over €50 million in annual losses. This situation is exacerbated by the overall decline in demand for household appliances in Europe and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. Beko Europe estimates a loss of €224 million in the large household appliances sector in Europe for 2024 alone.
Beko Europe also reiterated that their plan complies with the requirements notified under the Golden Power regulations. Consequently, there are no grounds for government intervention to alter Beko Europe’s actions, with the government’s role limited to monitoring the implementation methods.
MediaMarkt delivers on the same day
MediaMarktSaturn is expanding its same-day delivery service for large household appliances. The German market leader has long offered delivery within 90 minutes for packages weighing up to 23 kg (thanks to a partnership with Uber). In some cities in the regions of Cologne, Koblenz and Dortmund, delivery of household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines or televisions of 42 inches and above is now also available. Pilot projects offer same-day and next-day delivery with three selectable service levels for installation and assembly of the product at the customer’s home.
Midea inaugurates its first wholly owned factory in Brazil
Chinese home appliance giant Midea Group has announced the opening of its new Brazilian factory in Pouso Alegre, a city in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The official inauguration was held on 9 December, reports Brazilian outlet Diário do Comércio.
The sprawling factory covers an area of 73,000 square metres and has the capacity to produce 700,000 refrigerators and 600,000 washing machines annually. Midea Carrier CEO Felipe Costa told reporters that the company aims to reach maximum production potential in two years.
While the factory will be employing 700 employees initially, Midea expects to increase this to 1,000 jobs by December 2025. Mayor Coronel Dimas said he believes the factory could transform the municipality into a hub for the home appliances, as the investment has already triggered conversations about similar manufacturers coming to Pouso Alegre.
The new factory will be Midea’s third in Brazil, following the Manaus (Amazonas) site, which produces household air conditioners and microwaves, and the Canoas (Rio Grande do Sul) site, which makes commercial air conditioners. While the previous two are operated in partnership with Carrier, Pouso Alegre
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