Shanghai, March 19, 2024 – Haier Smart Home hosted its highly anticipated 2025 Ecosystem Conference at the Shanghai World Expo Center under the theme “AI for Home, AI for You.” This landmark event showcased breakthrough technologies and outlined the company’s strategic vision to redefine intelligent living enabled by artificial intelligence (AI).
In front of thousands of customers, business leaders and media representatives, Mr. Li Huagang, Senior Vice President of Haier Group and Chairman & President of Haier Smart Home, opened the conference with an insightful analysis of 2024’s market dynamics. He unveiled the company’s global innovation and digital transformation roadmap, emphasizing AI-powered solutions co-designed with the users to address the real needs. “There are millions of active users cocreating smart home experiences every day”
A key highlight of the conference was the debut of the AI Vision technology series, the result of Haier’s decade-long strategic investment in smart home ecosystems.
Mr. Shu Hai, Vice President of Haier Group and General Manager of Haier Smart Home R&D, emphasized the company’s accelerated development of home service robots, creating the “Unmanned Housework” era.
Globalization Through Localization
Haier Smart Home reinforced its commitment to a globalization strategy centered on localized innovation.
“Haier Smart Home is present everywhere there’s user demand.” the company emphasized.
In Europe, AI-driven consumer insights inform a fully integrated AI R&D process—spanning planning, research, and quality control—resulting in best-selling products like the very successful X11 washing machine.
In India, Haier has established world-class local manufacturing capabilities, superior online and offline user experiences and highly efficient service responses.
In Australia, the company has implemented the Agency Model, getting closer to their users and delivering historic results.
In the United States, with its SmartHQ platform, appliances become evolutionary AI machines, also creating a digital lifecycle twin, enabling the company to accelerate innovation, improve delivery, elevate usage, provide seamless service and delight users when they decide to replace their current appliances.
Mr. Li Pan, Vice President and Overseas Market General Manager of Haier Smart Home, emphasized: “In this new age, we continue to lead with innovation”. He added: “Join us to grow and win together in the AI era.”
Since pioneering the smart home strategy a decade ago, Haier Smart Home has consistently led the industry. With the launch of AI Vision, the company has transcended traditional smart appliances, advancing towards truly intelligent homes
Category Archives: Brand’s
Introducing Gaggenau Beijing.
Situated in Beijing’s prime city centre, Gaggenau has unveiled its latest showroom – a space where tradition and innovation converge.Visit Gaggenau Beijing at SL4001, 4F, China World Mall, Beijing and schedule an appointment via +86 10 8535 1058.
Miele continues to invest
Miele closed 2024 with revenues of €5.04 billion, up 1.7% from the previous year, thanks to the acquisition of the SteelcoBelimed joint venture , which specializes in medical technologies. Without the acquisition, sales would have fallen by 2.9% and the number of employees would have fallen by 4.2%.
According to Markus Miele , managing partner, the market presents itself as a “ mosaic ” with variable trends in the sectors of floor care, linen care and household appliances.Miele’s transformation program, with a total investment of 500 million euros , has so far been implemented at 50 percent . A significant point is that, according to Rebecca Steinhage , Head of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, the threat of forced layoffs no longer looms over regular employees. Instead, the company has opted for a socially sustainable reduction in staff , through early retirement and voluntary resignations.
Regarding the partial relocation of washing machine production to Poland, which will lead to the reduction of around 1,400 jobs in Germany in the coming years , Steinhage emphasizes that the other German plants are not at risk . Overall, the company is more optimistic about 2023/2024 and looks confidently into the new fiscal year.
500 million euros for growth and development
Despite the market challenges, Miele is focused on growth and maintains a positive attitude. The first half of 2024 was particularly difficult, with a recovery in the second half. The built-in appliance sector has yet to recover, while the free-standing appliance sector only recovered in the third and fourth quarters of 2024.
Hisense research centre
Hisense officially opens the new EU Home Appliances Research Center of HVAC in Milan! Hisense has opened its “EU Home Appliances Research Center of HVAC” (HARC), a center dedicated to the research, design and innovation of HVAC solutions for the European market. Located within Hisense’s offices in Milan, the center covers an area of 500 square meters and represents a key strategic step to strengthen Hisense’s global presence.
Samsung lags behind LG, Bosch in Consumer Reports
Samsung has fallen behind its competitors in Consumer Reports’ sixth annual appliance brand reliability rankings.
Consumer Reports (CR), the largest nonprofit consumer organization in the U.S. with six million members, is known for its independent product testing based on consumer feedback and expert assessment. Unlike institutions and influencers who receive free products for reviews, CR’s testing is highly trusted and credible.
According to a CR report released last month, Samsung Electronics was ranked 21st out of 26 appliance brands. Speed Queen, an American laundry machine manufacturer, claimed the top spot, followed by LG Electronics in second place. Other brands that outperformed Samsung include Whirlpool (12th), GE Appliances (13th), and Bosch (15th).
The rankings were based on survey data collected from CR members, covering 417,629 kitchen and laundry appliances purchased between 2013 and 2023. The ratings considered consumer satisfaction and predicted reliability, including the frequency of appliance breakdowns.
Samsung’s kitchen appliances, in particular, scored poorly. In a consumer satisfaction survey covering dishwashers, ranges, double-door refrigerators, French-door refrigerators, and cooktops, Samsung products received scores between 15 and 19 out of 100, placing them at the bottom. Even in other kitchen categories, Samsung’s highest score was just 46, significantly trailing its competitors.
Frequent breakdowns also hurt Samsung’s predicted reliability scores, with half of its kitchen appliances scoring below 50 in this category. Notably, Samsung’s dishwashers, which ranked last, had high rates of issues such as poor washing and drying performance, drainage failures, and defective dish racks. In contrast, Bosch and Miele’s dishwashers had the lowest rates of performance issues and breakdowns.
Samsung’s robot vacuum cleaners received a consumer satisfaction score of just 9 out of 100, while its washing machines scored in the low 20s to 40s, and dryers landed in the low 30s, placing Samsung well below many of its competitors.
APPLiA – Home Appliance Europe
In a recent statement, leaders from 25 top European home appliance brands have united to emphasise the crucial role the industry plays in Europe’s economy and society.
The industry contributes €79 billion to the EU GDP and supports over 1 million jobs. As Europe’s industrial future is shaping, now is the time to address key challenges.
The priorities are:
✅Mitigate rising cost pressures
✅Streamline the regulatory environment
✅Enhance the Single Market
✅Ensure a competitive global market
BSH@CES
At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, BSH Hausgeräte showcased its pioneering role by launching the first Matter-enabled appliance: the Bosch Series 100 French Door Bottom Mount refrigerator.
Darcy Clarkson, CEO of North America, highlighted the importance of the Matter standard during a panel discussion with representatives from Google and Amazon. He emphasized that consumers expect their high-end appliances to seamlessly integrate with any smart home platform, which Matter facilitates. The Bosch Series 100 refrigerator demonstrated these capabilities, alongside other smart appliances like the Bosch Series 500 dishwasher, Series 800 fully automatic espresso machine, and Series 8 oven with AI.
These appliances illustrate how intelligent functions can enhance home life, with the Series 8 oven offering optimal settings for up to 80 dishes, and the Series 800 espresso machine, launched in May 2024, delivering barista-quality coffee with customizable options.
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.
Beko Europe in Italy
Beko Europe’s Meeting with Italian Social Partners: A Disappointing Update
On November 7th, a long-awaited meeting took place at the Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy in Rome. The meeting, attended by Beko Europe CEO Ragip Balcioglu, was intended to address the company’s operational challenges in Italy. However, the outcome was far from positive.
During the meeting, Beko Europe outlined several significant issues impacting its Italian operations:
* Weakened Consumer Demand: A notable slowdown in consumer demand across Europe has negatively affected the company’s sales.
* Intensified Competition: Increased competition from Asian market players has further eroded Beko Europe’s market position.
* Negative Business Performance: Despite substantial historical investments, the company has experienced negative business performance.
* Structural Overcapacity: Italy’s manufacturing facilities are facing challenges due to structural overcapacity.
These factors have collectively created a challenging environment for Beko Europe’s Italian operations. The meeting with social partners aimed to discuss potential solutions and strategies to mitigate these issues. However, the specific details of the discussions and any proposed solutions have not been publicly disclosed.
As the company navigates these turbulent times, it remains to be seen how Beko Europe will adapt to the changing market dynamics and ensure the sustainability of its Italian operations.officially announced the closure of factories in Poland and the group’s only plant in the United Kingdom, the spotlight is now on Italy where Beko has 4,400 employees, exceeding 5,000 with temporary workers.the historic refrigeration line in Cassinetta di Briandronno (but not the line dedicated to built-in ovens and microwaves); the entire Siena plant (dedicated to the little-selling category of chest freezers) and the Comunanza site engaged in the production of washing machines and washer-dryers, also produced in Beko’s plants in Turkey and in what until the merger was Beko’s only industrial presence in Europe: the Ulmi plant.
In total, according to press sources that followed the event, at least 1,000 jobs are at risk among the 4,400 employees in Italy, excluding temporary workers.
How to Successfully Export and Sell Made in Italy Household Appliances in China
Exporting and selling Made inItaly household appliances in China, the world’s home appliance factory, is no small feat. Yet, Fulgor Milano has achieved this with 70 large showrooms in the most luxurious malls across China—a record for foreign brands. This success story is a testament to the unique craftsmanship of Italian cooking, combined with cutting-edge technologies like IoT, Industry 4.0, and AI.
Fulgor Milano, a brand with a rich tradition, was practically unknown until its relaunch in 2009 by Venetian entrepreneur Gianni Meneghetti. Known internationally, Meneghetti transformed the brand, leveraging his decades of experience as the top subcontractor for built-in cooking appliances. His company, based in Rosà, Vicenza, has been a key supplier of high-end hobs, ovens, and kitchens to luxury brands in North America.
Meneghetti prefers not to be associated with outsourcing, but his approach differs significantly from typical OEMs. He supplies premium products to exclusive brands like Viking and General Electric (o, driven by popular demand. The Fulgor Milano brand, rich with numerous patents, continues to expand globally, offering premium and medium-high range appliances. Whether gas or induction, Meneghetti remains a symbol of traditional cooking excellence.
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