Category Archives: Air treatment

Philips is to sell its domestic appliances business to Hillhouse Capital

Posted on by

Philips is to sell its domestic appliances business to Hillhouse Capital with a 15 year licensing deal in the last of its re-structuring deals.

The domestic appliance business had sales of EUR2.2bn in 2020 in kitchen, coffee, garment care and home care devices as part of total sales of EUR19.2bn for Philips. The license agreement has annual payments that represent an estimated net present value of approximately EUR 700m, resulting in a total deal value of approximately EUR4.4bn. The deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2021 subject to customary closing conditions. Philips and Domestic Appliances will enter into an exclusive brand license agreement to use the Philips brand and certain of Philips’ other domestic appliances brands for manufacturing, sales, and marketing globally for a period of 15 years, which is renewable subject to the terms of the brand license agreement. This will see the Domestic Appliances business presented as a discontinued operation in Philips’ financial statements from the first quarter of 2021, minimising the financial impact of losses from the Covid-19 pandemic. “I am pleased that in Hillhouse Capital we have found a new home for the Domestic Appliances business to further expand on its market leadership, strong brand and pipeline of new innovations,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. The deal, which started in January 2020, continues the focus for Philips as a medical technology company, after its recent acquisition of medical data management companies, although it has kept the personal health business. “This transaction concludes our major divestments,” said van Houten. “Going forward, our focus is on extending our leadership in health technology and continuing our transformation into a solutions company supporting professional healthcare customers achieve the Quadruple Aim and consumers with their personal health.” This includes the EUR 3.2bn Personal Health businesses as part of the integrated health continuum approach through consumer-driven product and solutions innovation in areas such as oral healthcare, personal care, and mother & child care, says van Houten. “We look forward to joining forces with Philips to expand into new markets and capture more growth opportunities globally,” said Lei Zhang, Founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital. “We are aligned with Philips’ mission to bring high quality products to support healthy and fulfilling lifestyles for consumers across the globe.” The domestic appliance business has 7000 staff and operates in 100 countries. The headquarters will remain in the Netherlands, says Zhang. “I am convinced that together with Hillhouse Capital’s deep e-commerce, supply chain and digital expertise, we will be in a great position to continue bringing meaningful innovations to the consumer’s homes,” said Henk de Jong, CEO of Philips Domestic Appliances. “Based on our market leading product portfolio, broad customer and consumer base and R&D capabilities, we are keen to keep supporting families and individuals to lead healthier and happier lives. We look forward to working with Hillhouse to capture additional growth opportunities.” Hillhouse is backed by US universities including Yale, Stanford and Princeton and has strong links in China with investments in Tencent and JD.com, but has also invested in an organic baby food and snack manufacturer called Little Freddie, a Californian craft beer maker and a pet food brand. https://www.philips.com

Conair Corporation To Be Acquired By American Securities

Posted on by

Conair Corporation, a global leader in premium kitchen electric appliances, non-electric kitchenware, personal care, grooming, health and beauty products, and American Securities LLC, a leading U.S. private equity firm, announced today that Conair has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of American Securities.  Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  Certain members of the Rizzuto family will retain a minority ownership in Conair.

Based in Stamford, CT, Conair’s iconic brands include Cuisinart®, Conair®, Babyliss®, Scunci® and Waring®.  Founded in 1959 by Leandro Rizzuto, the Company started as a small hair appliance company.  Today, Conair sells its products in more than 120 countries across six continents.  

“I am proud to continue the journey I started under Mr. Rizzuto more than 40 years ago that helped us grow our iconic brands into a world class, diversified global company proudly sharing our products in millions of consumers’ homes,” said Ron Diamond, Conair’s President.  “The partnership with American Securities will allow us to continue our evolution with a focus on new product development and an acceleration of our M&A activities while continuing to bring efficiencies to our operations.”  Following the consummation of the transaction, Mr. Diamond will become President and CEO of Conair. 

“We are excited to partner with Ron and the rest of the Conair management team as they continue to execute on a strategy to expand on the exceptional brand portfolio that consumers love all over the world,” commented Kevin Penn, a Managing Director of American Securities.  “The Company’s scale, best-in-class product offering, supply chain capabilities, and strong management team creates a sustainable competitive advantage and makes Conair a strong fit for our investment strategy,” added Helen Chiang, a Managing Director of American Securities. 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison, LLP served as legal counsel to Conair and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel to American Securities with respect to the transaction.  Sawaya Partners LLC and PJ Solomon acted as financial advisors to Conair with respect to the transaction. 

About Conair
Based in Stamford CT, with operations worldwide, Conair is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded personal care and small kitchen appliances, cookware, hair brushes & accessories, cosmetic bags, and travel accessories.  For more information, visit www.conair.com.

About American Securities
Based in New York with an office in Shanghai, American Securities is a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in market-leading North American companies with annual revenues generally ranging from $200 million to $2 billion and/or $50 million to $250 million of EBITDA. American Securities and its affiliates have approximately $23 billion under management. For more information, visit www.american-securities

Posted on by

Cata home appliances has very good results in 2020. The Spanish company, based in Madrid, with a factory in Catalonia has managed to increase its sales in the Spanish market by 3.7%, to 79.9 million euros .

During the 2020 financial year, the company has had the support of financial institutions and new developments have been signed in the refinancing agreements, which have allowed the company to have circulating financing and to continue growing in 2021.

contributing to this good performance is that the group’s factories have worked tirelessly to meet all market orders.

It should be noted that the entire CNA Group has continued to develop its export activity, which has represented 65% of the company’s total consolidated sales.

For 2021, the CNA Group plans to continue growing moderately above 2020 and, for this, among other actions, they will expand their product ranges with many new features.

Cata launches a new family of air purifiers on the market this year. It is Cata Purifyer, a product that can actively reduce the contagion of Covid-19 both in homes, as in businesses and in all kinds of commercial and industrial activities.

CNA Group is a global leader in the home appliances sector and has recognition across the world. It includes the Cata, Nodor, Apelson, Edesa* brands.

CNA Group is committed to offering the latest in technology and design. Together these provide the high performance and efficiency required to meet the needs of our customers. It was founded in Barcelona in 1947 and since then has been a pioneer in the domestic extraction business, with a wide range of products which includes extractors, conventional and decorative extractor hoods, ovens, cookers, microwaves, taps and sinks, using high quality, environmentally friendly materials . The company includes Cata, Apelson (integrated in the group in 1999), Nodor (in 2004) and Edesa (in 2014)*. In the CNA Group we work with a clear focus on improving the products we sell, providing solutions and creating new sensations for our customers in their use.
*CNA Group is a licensee of Edesa brand.

Faber – Condensation is no longer a problem

Posted on by

Faber dispatches two vertical models outfitted with obstruction thermometers to dispose of the irritating burden of stickiness that is delivered during cooking; indeed, simply press the catch with the drop image to vanish the drops at the exact second they are shaped.

The new reach comprises of the ” Glam Light Zero Drip Plus ” divider hood and the vertical ” Glam Fit Zero Drip Plus ” hood which advance the proposal of “hostile to buildup” hoods of the Marche-based organization.

The two hoods are both in class A – consequently ensuring diminished utilization – while two LED lights on the base of the hood permit full enlightenment of the floor underneath. The presence of the Nautilus motor in the Glam Fit Zero Drip Plus level vertical model gives this item a genuinely contained profundity without relinquishing pull execution.

These new hoods are stylishly recognized by the differentiation between the misty surface of the glass front board with “silk impact” treatment and the glossy subtleties of the touch controls: an answer that gives, along with the spotless and insignificant lines, specific polish to these items. The choice of three shading variations was directed by the most current shading patterns in the kitchen and living regions. The ageless dark and sand have been joined by the more in vogue powder blue.

Beurer presented at IFA its sea air simulator

Posted on by

At this year’s IFA Global Press Conference in Berlin, Beurer presented the maremed® sea air simulator, which creates a marine climate at home. The product cleans, mineralises, sterilises, ionises and humidifies the ambient air. The modern, coordinated system works through the addition of special natural sea salt that contains more than 65 trace elements. The device simulates the biodynamics of the seaside using a patented principle: sea salt solution (the maremed® special sea salt is blended with water to create a sea salt solution), air cleaning (the fan draws in the ambient air; a pre-filter removes dirt particles, pollen, fine/domestic dust and animal hair from the air), sterilisation (through the use of the UVC lamp, up to 99% of bacteria, viruses and micro-organisms are eliminated from the water), mineralisation (just like in nature, the air flowing through is enriched with minerals from the water by a water evaporator block), air ionisation and humidification (the ioniser part performs additional ionisation and cleaning, before the mineralised air is returned to the environment). The appliance can improve breathing intensity and general well-being. It humidifies the airways in a natural way, helps to relieve asthmatic symptoms and promotes restful sleep. The air is humidified without vapour or salt deposits forming. The device can be operated via the LCD display with a sensor touch button. User can also choose between three fan levels, a timer function (1-24h) and a night mode. The product is suitable for room sizes of up to 50 m² and is easy to clean.

LG plans to introduce battery-powered air purifying face mask to the market

Posted on by

LG Electronics (LG) plans to give a new meaning to clean, personal air with the introduction of its PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier at IFA 2020.

LG say the ergonomic design fits snugly on the user’s face to minimise air leakage around the nose and chin. The design also makes it possible to wear the unit comfortably for hours on end. The efficient and lightweight 820mAh battery offers up to eight hours of operation in low mode and two hours on high.

Replaceable filters enable the mask to supply fresh, clean air indoor and out. With its Dual Fans and patented Respiratory Sensor, LG’s wearable air purifier allows users to take in clean, filtered air while the Respiratory Sensor detects the cycle and volume of the wearer’s breath and adjusts the dual three-speed fans accordingly. The fans automatically speed up to assist air intake and slow down to reduce resistance when exhaling to make breathing effortless.

LG’s personal air solution comes with a case that helps maintain hygiene between uses. Equipped with UV-LED lights that kills harmful germs, the one-of-a-kind case can even charge the mask and sends a notification to the LG ThinQ mobile app (Android/iOS) when the filters need to be replaced for peak performance. And because every component of LG PuriCare Wearable – from the filters to the ear straps – is replaceable and recyclable, it is seen as an environmentally responsible solution as well.

The Wearable Air Purifier will be available starting in the fourth quarter in select markets.

​

​

Electrolux Takes Action to Reduce Emissions From Cooling Products

Posted on by

Electrolux have announced a plan to replace all high-impact greenhouse gases in all of its appliances by 2023 at the latest, as part of its commitments to the United Nations global Cool Coalition initiative. The plan, which helps Electrolux deliver on its objective to significantly reduce its climate footprint over the coming decades, is one of the actions taken under the company’s Better Living Program.

As global temperatures rise, the transformation of cooling technology will make a big contribution to the fight against climate change. The phase-out of powerful climate-warming gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) has the potential to avoid up to 0.4°C of global warming by 2100. HFCs are often used in refrigerators, air conditioners and other cooling devices, as well as tumble dryers and washer dryers with heat pumps.

Now Electrolux is accelerating the transition from these gases by submitting a phase out plan to the global UN initiative Cool Coalition. The commitment is a plan for replacing the high-impact greenhouse gases in all appliances with gases that have a lower climate impact, such as natural gases with very low global warming impact. By 2023 this plan will be complete.

“The appliance industry is one of the sectors with a vital behind-the-scenes role in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as refrigerators, washing machines or air conditioners are essential products in people’s lives. Although these are uncertain times for business, we believe addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gases remains one of the most urgent challenges for society. We are encouraging other companies in our industry to join us as we all share the same responsibility,” says Jonas Samuelson, CEO Electrolux.

Electrolux has far-reaching ambitions to reduce its climate impact, ranging from a science-based target to reduce CO2 emissions from products with 25% by 2025, to becoming fully climate neutral throughout the value chain by 2050.

Widening the scope of its sustainability strategy, Electrolux in 2019 also launched the Better Living Program, an initiative to enable better and more sustainable living for consumers around the world through 2030. Today’s announcement will contribute to the program, not least the target to make homes healthier and more sustainable through smart solutions for air, water and floors. (The target has been redefined subsequent to the launch, read more here).

The GWP (Global Warming Potential) reduction plan that Electrolux has presented to the UN outlines the switch to lower global warming potential gases in all product lines. For more details of the plan, please see: https://www.electroluxgroup.com/en/electrolux-and-the-uns-cool-coalition-30536/

The BEST® iQ Blower System™ provides the quietest, best performing cooker hood.

Posted on by

BEST’s iQ Blower System is the quietest in its class.

The iQ Blower is up to 2X quieter than competitive blowers – even when installed in a range hood! iQ technology makes BEST range hoods the quietest in their class – at any speed, and that makes family conversations possible.
The iQ Blower is up to 30% faster than the competition at removing smoke and odors, keeping your kitchen fresher, cleaner and more comfortable while you prepare the meal.
The iQ Blower is up to 22X more energy efficient than competitor’s high performance range hoods – using less energy, providing savings on your utility bill and giving you a longer lasting product.

FrostWash by Hitachi, the air conditioner without maintenance

Posted on by

Hitachi Cooling & Heating laboratories have succeeded in create an innovative technology that maintains the air conditioner clean, purifying the home air at the same time.
Premium FrostWash, the model equipped with this new technology, features the heat pump and is in A +++ energy class, ensuring a reduction of consumptions and a low environmental impact.
The most important innovation of this product is its ability in maintaining its parts and components very clean so that the emitted air is also very pure.
The FrostWash function, in fact, captures, freezes, washes and eliminates 91% of bacteria and 87% of mold present on the surface of the exchanger, to guarantee perfect hygiene of the air conditioner and a healthy environment. The function is automatically programmed but can also be activated by remote control. In this way, the air conditioning is always clean, also thanks to the internal components made of stainless steel, a material that reduces the percentage of bacteria by over 99% and dust by 62%. Moreover, the self-cleaning robot activates itself periodically, not requiring the opening of the air conditioner to clean the filters, so that classic maintenance is not necessary.
Premium FrostWash, that also received the Good Design Award by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, is available in two versions: matt white and silver.