Category Archives: Manufacturing

Hisense Europe special day

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5th April was special day for Hisense Europe. Not only that on that exact day Gorenje brand celebrated its birthday, but on same day They had special visit from Slovenian Nordic national team – top ski jumpers, cross-country skiers and nordic combined, at our European headquarters in Velenje (Slovenia). This year’s visit was a double celebration – the medals that our Nordics won in Planica, and on the very day of their visit, Gorenje brand also celebrated its 73rd birthday, which as the proud sponsor of the Slovenian Nordic national teams has been for more than 30 years.

Although they are “old acquaintances”, this year we were also able to show the Nordics something new – the Hisense R&D Center, where they were welcomed by Dr. Boštjan Pečnik, Hisense Europe Executive Vice-President, responsible for Research and Development who presented the R&D Center, and Alenka Potočnik Anžič, Hisense Europe Marketing Director. “I am happy that we have been a long-standing partner of the Nordic national team, for more than 30 years and we are proud of it. It is about a kind of sustainable responsibility towards the environment in which we operate in Slovenia. We proudly support you and sincerely wish you both sporting and personal success in the future,” said Alenka Potočnik Anžič.

The Nordics team also got to know our design team, which made design for a ski jumping helmet for this year, which symbolizes an eagle. “We couldn’t have chosen a better sponsorship,” said Matevž Popič, head of Product Design at Hisense Europe. “We are all already like a family and we are happy to follow your successes and we will continue to cheer you on your way.”

After visiting every corner of our huge company in Velenje, Slovenian Nordic team stopped to visit local Handball Club Gorenje Velenje, which Gorenje brand is sponsoring for over 30 years as well.

Miele subsidiary Agrilution ends business with automated greenhouses

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Daily freshly harvested salads and herbs from an automatically controlled greenhouse (‘Plantcube’) – with this concept, the Munich-based start-up Agrilution wanted to bring the idea of vertical farming into the home. Since the end of 2019, this has been happening under the umbrella of the Miele Group. Now, the Gütersloh-based household appliance company has announced that it will no longer be continuing the business with the Plantcubes due to a lack of economic prospects. This affects almost 40 salaried as well as additional student employees, who have been given notice of termination due to the closure of the business on June 30, 2023. The approximately 650 users, who also purchased their seeds (‘Seedbars’) through Agrilution, will soon receive an offer to buy back their equipment.

Experts understand ‘vertical farming’ as the space-saving supply of fresh food via large, multi-storey greenhouses. Agrilution itself was founded in 2013, but then had to file for insolvency proceedings in 2019 after a financing round could not be realised as planned. After the opening of insolvency proceedings, Miele took over the brand, the know-how and almost all employees in a so-called asset deal and transferred them to the newly founded 100% subsidiary Agrilution Systems GmbH.

Over the past few years, with intensive financial and technical support from Miele, work has been done to guide the business model, product portfolio and workforce into a sustainable marketable future. ‘Unfortunately, however, it has since become apparent that demand has fallen far short of expectations,’ says Gernot Trettenbrein, Senior Vice President New Growth Factory, amongst others responsible for new business areas at Miele. In addition, this product was marketed at over 3,000 euros due to its technical complexity.

In order to make the Plantcube attractive to broader target groups, an additional series was to be launched at a significantly lower entry price. However, this could no longer be realised due to the skyrocketing costs of materials, energy and logistics. As a result, after careful consideration of all available options, the decision was made not to pursue the plantcube business any further. In conjunction with this, Agrilution’s business operations will cease on June 30, 2023. Miele would like to thank the Agrilution team for their dedicated service and wishes all employees the success they deserve in their future careers.

The dealers who marketed Agrilution’s Plantcube as resellers have already been informed separately by Agrilution, as have all end customers and other users. Furthermore, the company has announced that it will buy back all Plantcubes that are in use or still in stock. Detailed offers will follow within the next few weeks

Greaidea OEM gas hob manufacturer

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Established in 2000, the past over 20 years witnessed great chances of our product, R&D, quality level, and service as well. From now on, Greaidea has its own two production bases with over 500 employees, covering 100,000㎡. In order to meet the growing marketing needs, we have equipped with 6 assembly lines for gas hob and rang Greaidea has over 20 year’s experience in manufacturing high quality gas hob and range hood. Our factory locates in Nantou town, Zhongshan city. In our R&D department, 16 engineers are employed to guarantee our R&D advantage and continuous improvement. Every year, 3% of revenue will be invested to R&D . With excellent manufacturing team & QC team, we can realize the annual output 800,000pcs gas hob and 300,000pcs range hood product with optimal quality.

Gas hob: 800,000 pcs / year
Range hood: 300,000 pcs

Collaboration agreement between Copreci and Ikerlan

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The Ikerlan technology centre and Copreci (design and manufacture of components and systems for household appliances) have signed a technological collaboration agreement for the next four years that will allow the development of innovations in electronics, providing robustness, efficiency and maintainability requirements to the basic functionality. In addition, the products developed will integrate cybersecurity and artificial intelligence technologies that will result in products with greater added value, which are more resilient and user-friendly. “The agreement – Copreci explains – will enable technological development in the household appliance sector and includes the development of technology in the areas of electromagnetism, electrical machines and power electronics, for the design and integral development of small electric drives, motor control strategies, contactless charging systems for household appliances (Inductive Coupling Power Transfer) or induction heating systems for household appliances, among others”. This new alliance between Copreci and Ikerlan strengthens the close relationship that both entities have maintained for more than 45 years. Ikerlan has extensive experience in the development of cutting-edge technologies in electromagnetism and power electronics. It has also participated in various European research projects such as: the UltimateGaN project (based on gallium nitride semiconductors), Reaction (based on silicon carbide semiconductors for energy technologies) or InductIce (application for de-icing aircraft wings by means of induction heating).

Electrolux invests 110 million in Susegana

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If the unions accept measures aimed at increasing productivity, the Treviso plant could become the European hub in the production of mid-range built-in refrigerators with an annual production of 1.1 million pieces Electrolux is considering investing 110 million euros in the period 2024-2026 to produce built-in refrigerators by expanding the Susegana plant. As reported by Il Sole 24 Ore on 29 November, the announcement of the Susegana option came after Electrolux last year, bet 102 million euros on the dishwasher factory in Solaro (Milan)

Electrolux had announced,,the closure of the Hungarian factory in Nyíregyháza, the largest in Europe dedicated to the production of refrigerators.

In return, however, the Swedish company has asked the unions to improve productivity. In a meeting with the union representatives (Fiom, Fim and Uilm), the company explained the project to make Susegana a reference point for the production of built-in refrigerators.

In the high-end range, products with retail prices above a thousand euros, the new products of the Genesi platform are producing results in line with the multinational’s expectations. Now Electrolux wants to reduce costs in productions aimed at the mid-market segment.110 million euros of investments will go to a new Genesi line, which would be the third, and then to redo and modernize the technological departments, optimizing logistics and supply flows.

Electrolux has explained to the unions that it will be necessary to reach by 2027 the production of 1.1 million pieces per year through a significant number of permanent hirings.

Miele continues to grow – and builds production plant in the USA

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Miele have announced an important step for future growth: With the new plant in the USA, we will manufacture the special range cookers and ovens for the USA, Canada and Mexico in close proximity to the market. This will not only save on shipping but will also free up new capacities at our existing production sites in Arnsberg, Bünde and Oelde. Start of production planned for end of 2024 / First expansion phase with
150 employees

The decision on the specific location will follow within the coming months

In order to continue and further strengthen its growth course, the Miele Group is expanding its production capacities. The next milestone is the Gütersloh-based family group’s first plant on the American continent, where ovens are to be manufactured for the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the world’s leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances and machines for commercial use, this is the eighth production site outside Germany, out of a total of 16 plants.

Thanks to its high-quality ovens, hobs, steam cookers, cooker hoods and other attractive products, the business unit Cooking has been one of the Miele Group’s most important growth drivers for many years – most recently generating more than € 1.1 bn in sales, representing an increase of almost 13%. “We are planning for further increases in unit sales in the coming years,” says Dr. Uwe Brunkhorst, Senior Vice President Business Unit Cooking, “and this means that our current production sites in Arnsberg, Bünde and Oelde are approaching the limits of their capacities”.

There are several good reasons behind our decision to produce in the USA in future. “Even today, the United States represent Miele’s biggest market outside Germany, with considerable growth rates recently but still plenty of potential”, says Dr. Axel Kniehl, Executive Director Marketing & Sales with the Miele Group. Manufacturing locally is therefore a logical step and sends out a strong signal to our customers there. This also dispenses with the need to ship appliances across the Atlantic: “This reduces delivery times from currently up to 10 weeks to only a few days, whilst at the same time protecting the environment”, says Dr. Stefan Breit, Executive Director Technology. In order to further reduce CO2 emissions, the majority of supplier parts will also come from the USA.

In a first step, at this new plant, Miele will manufacture 30-inch ovens and large, versatile range cookers, both designed specifically for North America. Large-format cooker hoods will be added later. Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2024; in a first step, the workforce will grow to 150 employees by the end of 2025. A decision on the precise location will be made and communicated over the coming months. What a second stage expansion might look like, with a view to further product groups and the personnel required for this, will be reviewed at a later date.

Today, production within the business unit Cooking is distributed as follows: Hobs and steam ovens as well as warmer drawers come from the Bünde plant (approx. 730 employees), cooker hoods are manufactured in Arnsberg (approx. 250 employees) and conventional ovens and dialogue ovens come from Oelde (approx. 670 employees), all situated in Germany. The particularly versatile steam ovens are produced in Bünde or Oelde, depending on the model. The Production of the large-format series to the new plant will not in any way weaken Arnsberg, Bünde or Oelde. On the contrary: “We will become more efficient through less complexity and at the same time free up the urgently needed capacities for future growth with the remaining model series”, says Uwe Brunkhorst.

Including the new plant, the Miele Group’s international production network will then comprise a total of 16 plants, eight of them in Germany and one each in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and the USA. In addition to this, there are also two plants belonging to the Italian medical technology subsidiary Steelco Group.

GE new induction manufacturing line

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GE USA announce their newest induction cooktop lineup is now rolling off the manufacturing line in Georgia.

These GeorgiaMade products – built by our team in LaFayette – deliver the latest in industry-leading induction innovation, which means faster, more efficient heating and an easier-to-clean surface.

Vorwerk celebrating 140 years

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Vorwerk is 140 years old – and that means 140 years of passion and innovation. Founded in the valley of the Wupper river as a carpet factory, Vorwerk also moved into the production of household appliances (Kobold vacuum cleaners) in 1929. The advantages of the first, powerful Kobold model could not be conveyed via retail sales – This gave way to direct sales at Vorwerk and certainly the most important milestone in Vorwerk’s history. Today Vorwerk is the number one direct sales company in Europe and a world leader in the direct sales of high-quality household appliances. In 2021, the Group generated sales totaling € 3.4 billion, a new company record.

The company owes its success to the people who are enthusiastic about the brand and its products and who actively support it. The Vorwerk community consists of 100,000 sales Advisors and some 9,000 employees, as well as many, many customers around the globe. It is precisely these people’s passion that has made Vorwerk so successful.

Vorwerk’s Company History
Back in 1883, Carl Vorwerk founded Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co., a small carpet factory and the cornerstone of today’s global brand. In doing so, he demonstrated entrepreneurial prowess because until then, high-quality carpets had only been manufactured in England. In 1907, Carl Vorwerk handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law, August Mittelsten Scheid, who was himself the scion of an industrial family in business in Barmen since 1764. By 1909, the Vorwerk name had already become a familiar one beyond the region and the company was growing rapidly. It stepped up its carpet production, erected new buildings and set up the company’s own machine workshop. By this time, the product spectrum was constantly expanding and at that time, ranged from car axles to gramophone motors.

The invention of the radio brought the market for gramophones to its knees. Although, a new idea would save the day: The gramophone motor became a motor for a vacuum cleaner. In 1929, the Kobold was something of a small revolution: a handy appliance – but nevertheless one that was very effective. However, the market was not yet ready for that innovation, and prospective customers could not appreciate the advantages of the Kobold model from merely seeing it on sale in a retail store. Once again, a revolutionary idea would save the day, namely the introduction of direct sales in Germany – certainly the most important milestone in the company’s history. Brought back from the USA by August Mittelsten Scheid’s son, Werner in 1930, this people-oriented sales concept would become Vorwerk’s trademark and the secret of its success.

In 1953, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid took on sole management of the company and initiated far-reaching changes, such as expanding the product range and opening up further to international markets. In 1968, akf bank became the first service brand to join the Group.

In 1969, Erich Mittelsten Scheid handed the Vorwerk reins over to his nephew, Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid, who from 1969 to 2005 played a crucial role in shaping the company, turning it into an internationally successful corporate group. Expansion of the product portfolio is among the achievements that fall within his time at the helm: Already in 1971, the Thermomix® became the first multifunctional food processor and cooking appliance to be launched onto the market. Pushing ahead with its consistent strategy of internationalisation, Vorwerk founded its first foreign subsidiary abroad in China, in 1990, and subsidiaries in Eastern Europe soon followed. At the end of 2005, Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid stepped down from the management of the company, but today continues to oversee the company as Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. With Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl, Hauke Paasch and Dr. Thomas Rodemann, a three-member Executive Board now manages the fortunes of the Group, whereas the owner family provides continuity in its fifth generation.

New 90cm cooker from Ferre

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Ferre announce their latest model F9S50GF-DIXWF.
Stylish Series 90×60 Full Gas Free Standing Cooker with Touch Digital Timer, Double Turbo Fans, Internal Cooling Fan System, Triple Glassed Oven Door System, Soft Close Oven Door, Thermal Reflection Inner Glass (Low-E), Decor Stainless Steel Finishing, Telescopic Shelf System, Turnspit (Chicken Rotisserie), Cathalitic Shelfs, Splash Back, Excellent Finishing

Electrolux climate neutral

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Electrolux will continue to reduce its environmental footprint by shifting to renewables, and optimizing the use of energy and other resources throughout its operations. We aim to have climate neutral operations by 2030.

2022 highlights
Almost 10% reduction of carbon emissions for scope 1 and 2 (2015 baseline), surpassing our 2025 science-based climate target.
55% of Electrolux plants were certified according to our Zero Waste to Landfill program by the end of 2022.
Sourced 98% of our electricity came from renewable sources.
Roadmap to 2030
Reduce our CO2 footprint by 85% by 2025 (2015 baseline) and achieve climate neutral operations by 2030.
Improve energy efficiency at our manufacturing sites and warehouses by an additional 12.5% by 2025 (2020 baseline).
Improve water efficiency at our manufacturing sites by 25% by 2025 (2020 baseline) in potential water risk areas, until the site has reached optimal levels of efficiency.
Increase the proportion of renewable energy for our operations to 65% by 2025.
Certify all plants to the Zero Waste to Landfill program by 2025