Category Archives: Manufacturing

Partnership between Henkel and ECOVACS ROBOTICS

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ECOVACS ROBOTICS and Henkel , one of the leading manufacturers of detergents and home cleaning solutions, announce a strategic partnership that has enabled them to develop a high quality liquid detergent designed exclusively for DEEBOT OZMO vacuum cleaner and floor cleaning robots.

Practicality and digitization are among the main trends that influence consumer behavior in the cleaning sector. Thanks to our partnership with ECOVACS, we want to use our experience to support and further develop the growing market for home robots -, says Nuria Ribe , Head of International Marketing for Henkel’s Home Care division. – The professional cleaning product we developed offers a specialized solution for ECOVACS domestic robots that will give customers exceptional results “.

We are pleased to have found at Henkel a partner with internal cleaning brands indispensable in the daily life of many of our customers. Together, we have created a practical product that improves the already excellent cleaning performance of our OZMOTM technology and brings a clean smell into the house , “explains Andreas Wahlich , General Manager Europe of ECOVACS ROBOTICS.

The innovative OZMOTM cleaning technology, available for the DEEBOT OZMO 930, PRO930, OZMO Slim10, OZMO 900, OZMO 920 and OZMO 950 models, allows single-stage suction and washing. A study has shown that this technology can remove 99% of the harmful bacteria present on the soil. The water tank ensures efficient cleaning of the floors and the amount of water that escapes can be manually controlled by the application depending on the degree of dirt and the surface to be cleaned.

LG vows to become game changer in home appliances

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LG Electronics will continue to bring innovation to the rapidly changing home appliance industry and maintain its premium brand image by introducing a range of trend-leading products, Song Dae-hyun, president of the tech giant’s home appliance and air systems division, said at the IFA tech fair, Saturday.

Stating that the tech company has launched a series of appliances that have inspired the industry to rake new approaches, Song vowed to keep performing its trendsetting role in the business.


“When we first launched the Styler, we were not sure whether the steam closet would do well. But an increasing number of consumers are recognizing the value of the device and now our competitors are rushing to roll out similar products,” Song told reporters during a press conference.

At the IFA trade fair, the company introduced its state-of-the-art products such as the Styler steam closet, the artificial intelligence (AI) powered AI DD Washing Machine, 8K OLED TV, beer brewing machine HomeBrew, and its premium appliance lineup SIGNATURE.

LG also has been a fast mover in releasing appliances that connect with each other through internet of things (IoT) technology. Though he has witnessed that many late starters are trying to catch up, Song said such moves were welcome because they helped expand the industry scope.

“As seen in a race, the frontrunner can have broader horizons. We came up with the concept that our appliances get connected with others faster than other companies and could establish brand awareness as an industry leader,” he said.

“There has been growing uncertainties over our business due to external factors such as the U.S.-China trade feud. To cope with such difficulties, we will continue to offer differentiated premium products and technologies. I think this is the way we can win over consumers’ hearts and minds,” he added.

Song said the IFA could provide a glimpse at how its competitors are doing and pointed to Haier, a Chinese home appliance maker, saying it has achieved impressive growth in recent years.

“Chinese makers such as Haier have attained impressive growth in recent years. They are rushing to release products that have features similar to Korean makers. But I think there is still a long way to go for their hardware capabilities to catch up to ours,” he said.

In reaction to the rapid growth of the Chinese makers, Song emphasized LG has to work on retaining its premium position by focusing on offering more valuable products to customers.

“It is not significant to talk about how many appliances we sell. The important thing is we have to establish brand awareness with our premium products so that we can be in the hearts of our customers,” he said.

Speaking of the European market, known as one of the world’s most lucrative, Song said LG has the potential to attract more customers there with its competitiveness in AI and IoT technologies.

“There are many home appliance powerhouses in Europe. For a long time, European electronics makers have been focusing on producing appliances while LG has been making various products in other categories.

“Though European makers are trying to pursue IoT and AI technologies, we have a comparative advantage in these emerging technologies. Based on the competitiveness, I think we will be able to make a success in Europe,” he said.

World’s first washing machine with microplastics filter

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Turkish manufacturer Arcelik, the parent company of Beko and Grundig, has announced plans to launch the world’s first washing machine fitted with a built-in microplastics filter.

Arcelik CEO Hakan Bulgurlu announced the new washing machine in a keynote address at the IFA 2019 technology trade show in Berlin and said it would be rolled out to customers in 2020.

Bulgurlu called for closer industry partnerships and said the company was ready to share its new technology for the greater good. It’s claimed in some studies that more than one million fibres are flushed down the drain and end up in rivers and oceans after every single washing load. Although this number does depend heavily on the type of fibres used in textiles – along with the type of fabric construction.

Electrolux

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Following a strategic overview started earlier this year, Electrolux announced the beginning of a plan to improve efficiency throughout the Group. Among the main operations that the company will undertaken, there is the outsource parts of its current manufacturing in Hungary and investments in its Nyíregyháza refrigerator plant. The efficiency measures and redundancies related to the outsourcing will lead to restructuring charges in the third quarter 2019 of approximately SEK 1.6 billion. Moreover, Electrolux on January 31 announced an intention to spin off its Professional Products business area as a separate company and communicated a plan to sharpen the consumer organization and accelerate profitable growth by creating four regionally focused business areas and reorganizing key global functions. As the strategic overview related to these activities has progressed, Electrolux has now identified opportunities to improve efficiency in both the consumer and professional organizations. As previously communicated, Electrolux is also currently carrying out a manufacturing investment program, totaling SEK 8 billion during 4-5 years as from 2018, to strengthen competitiveness and drive profitable growth. As part of this, the company has decided to invest approx. EUR 100 million in automation, digitalization and innovation capabilities in its production of high-end refrigerators in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. Furthermore, in the review of the overall competitiveness of the manufacturing operations in Hungary, Electrolux has decided to outsource production of vacuum cleaners from its Jászberény facility, and a significant part of the freestanding refrigerators currently produced there. This is anticipated to impact approximately 800 production employees, and relevant union consultations will take place.
The measures announced today are anticipated to generate additional annual savings of about SEK 500 million, with full effect as from 2022.

Mass Layoff Affecting 800 Workers in Electrolux Jászberény Plant

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Electrolux will downsize the production of vacuum cleaners and refrigerators in Jászberény, Hungary. The decision will impact about 800 employees. At the same time, the company has announced it will invest EUR 100 million for automation and digitalization in its Nyíregyháza plant, also in Hungary. In reaction to the announcement, the Finance Ministry has said that it keeps a close eye on the fate of the employees.

Electrolux announced in January that it would significantly reorganize its production to improve efficiency. As a result of the overview, the company has decided the closure of the Jászberény plant.

Electrolux Group aims to boost competitiveness by outsourcing current vacuum cleaner production in Jászberény to external partners during 2020, the company announced. Outsourcing the production of vacuum cleaners, chest freezers, and combi-top refrigeration products currently produced in the plant, will impact approximately 800 Electrolux employees.

In the announcement, Managing Director Electrolux Lehel Hungary Sándor Gönczy, said they recognized the restructuring of their operations in Jászberény would be challenging for many of their people.

“We are proud of their expertise and achievements, and our main concern now is to support our impacted colleagues.”

“We are going to approach the local works council, and we trust that we’ll be able to reach socially mindful and fair solutions for our employees,” added Gönczy.

There has been no mass layoff of similar amplitude yet this year in Hungary, and in fact, according to the National Public Employment Services data for July, the number of people affected by collective layoffs did not exceed 800 in any given month, mfor.hu reports. The unemployment rate could increase by up to 10% in the county due to the decision.

After the company announced the downsizing, the Finance Ministry has said that it is closely monitoring the fate of employees of the Electrolux plant in Jászbereny as well as examining the immediate relocation of workers affected by the layoff.

The Electrolux Group also announced on Tuesday a planned investment of approximately EUR 100 million in its Nyíregyháza refrigeration production plant between 2020 and 2023. This is the largest Electrolux manufacturing investment in Hungary since the company started its operations in Hungary in 1991.

The Electrolux Group’s refrigeration manufacturing operations will focus on high-end categories, such as built-in and combi-bottom appliances that are in increasing demand by consumers across Europe.

Return of Fagor

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Fagor Sociedad Cooperativa has reached an agreement with the Polish group Amica, manufacturer of household appliances with a presence in more than 60 countries , which licenses the use of the name Fagor for the sale of white goods, which means the return of this brand to Spanish market.

With this agreement, Fagor – which will continue to belong to Fagor S.Coop – is incorporated into the Amica brand catalog , which considers that this agreement will be a key step in its process of growth in the European market.

Amica is confident that the first units of this “complete range, modern and innovative” of Fagor appliances will be on sale before the end of the year, Amica managing director for the Spanish market, Vicente Sánchez, said in a note.

The product director of the Spanish market, Pedro Rodríguez, explained that Amica has prepared a portfolio of appliances “dedicated to the Spanish market” that include “two completely new lines” with innovations and innovative functions to “meet the real needs of users” .

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Amica is a leading European manufacturer of household appliances with more than 70 years of experience, which has among the pillars of its strategy investing in recognizable local brands. The group’s portfolio includes the brands Amica (Central and Western Europe), Hansa (Eastern Europe), Gram (Scandinavia), CDA (United Kingdom) and Fagor (Spain).

The group employs more than 3,000 people and manufactures more than 5 million appliances per year in more than 60 countries. In 2018, the consolidated turnover of the group touched 700 million euros, according to data distributed by the company.

The license agreement between Fagor Sociedad Cooperativa and Amica is in addition to the one that the Gipuzkoan group signed in February with the Cantabrian company Cantra SL to allow the use of the Fagor brand to manufacture and distribute kitchenware products.

Hisense, Gorenje and ASKO

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IFA 2019 officially kicked off in Berlin. Hisense Group, the world’s leading home appliance enterprise, presented in an unprecedented scale with three major brands: Hisense, Gorenje and ASKO, and they became the focus of the exhibition.

The technology-leading Hisense Laser TV, well designed Gorenje refrigerator with high-tech applications, and high-end ASKO kitchen appliances are on display at the exhibition. The innovative products of the three brands make Hisense one of the home appliance providers with the most complete categories.

Hisense, Gorenje and ASKO present at IFA 2019
Hisense, Gorenje and ASKO present at IFA 2019

Hisense’s outstanding performance in the European markets has always attracted much attention. Since 2006, Hisense has put forward the strategy of “brand globalization” and maintained a rapid development trend, with a compound annual growth rate of over 20%. The European market is a key area for Hisense’s strategic internationalization layout. After more than ten years of development, Hisense has formed a sales network centered on the German market and expanding to Spain, Italy, the UK, France and other markets. Hisense has also built its Europe R&D center and production base in order to localize products. From January to July 2019, the sales volume of Hisense brand in the European market increased by 19.4% YoY, and the growth in key markets such as Germany and the United Kingdom exceeded 20%.

Meanwhile, Hisense also accelerated its entry into the European market through mergers and acquisitions. In August 2018, Hisense officially completed the acquisition of European appliance giant Gorenje. With a high brand awareness, Gorenje is one of the leading manufacturers of high quality home appliances in Europe. Gorenje owns high-end brands such as ATAG and ASKO, and it has a production base in Europe. With Gorenje, Hisense has established full-scale products and a complete system containing research, production and sales, which accelerated its market development process.

Hisense’s brand awareness has increased significantly in Europe by sponsoring UEFA EURO 2016™ and 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Once again, Hisense is the official partner of UEFA EURO 2020™. As the competition approaches, Hisense is expected to show even stronger growth in Europe.

Samsung Brings a Breath of Fresh Air to the Home Appliances Market with Three Dynamic Products at IFA 2019

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Samsung Electronics will unveil three new advanced home appliances in Europe — the POWERstick Jet™ vacuum cleaner, AirDresser, and the Cube air purifier. Together, these three home appliances, which are being introduced at IFA 2019 ahead of launches elsewhere, will take Europe consumers’ breath away.

Each device offers a unique and practical solution to the many challenges of modern urban lifestyles, like clothing contamination, air pollution and dust.

“We are excited to introduce the POWERstick Jet™, AirDresser and Cube to consumers in Europe, equipped with outstanding functionality and unmatched design to enhance consumers’ daily experience,” said Taehwan Hwang, Corporate VP of Europe & CIS Product Management Group at Samsung Electronics. “Consumers have high expectations, seeking dynamic performance even from basic home appliances and our mission is to meet those expectations directly.”

The POWERstick Jet™ vacuum cleaner is a game-changer in terms of powerful suction capabilities. AirDresser represents a new category of clothing care appliances. It refreshes and sanitizes clothing using powerful blasts of air and steam, enabling consumers to re-wear clothes without having to run a full load of laundry and helping them lengthen the lifespan of delicate garments. Meanwhile, the Cube air purifier couples sleek, modular design with advanced air purification technology to help consumers enjoy clean air quality at home.

Strong Suction Power Paired with Impressive Filtration
The POWERstick Jet™ targets consumer demand for suction power from their cordless vacuum cleaners to match that of corded units. POWERstick Jet™ delivers, using Samsung’s Digital Inverter Motor and Jet Cyclone System to generate up to 200W1 of industry-leading suction power. This results in stronger cleaning and offers consumers maximized convenience.

Samsung also developed the best-in-class 5-layer HEPA filtration system for the POWERstick Jet™. The impressive filter captures 99.999%2 of dust particles and allergens, keeping them from escaping back into the air through the vacuum exhaust, which underlines Samsung’s commitment to caring for the health and safety of consumers.

In the first stage of the filtration process, the main cyclone separates large dust particles, which are then trapped in another metal mesh grille filter. The Jet Cyclone serves as a second cyclone and works together with a washable micro filter to capture finer dust particles. And finally, an ultra-fine dust filter captures 0.3~10µm3 sized dust particles. All parts and filters are washable, so the unit can be maintained hygienically.

POWERstick Jet™ comes with a removable high-capacity battery, meaning you can replace it with a spare4 to clean for twice as longer.

A New Way to Refresh Clothes for Consumers
AirDresser introduces a new standard of clothing care that addresses unmet consumer needs for a more efficient method of refreshing and revitalizing their clothes on a daily basis. Consumers want to be able to take better care of their clothes, especially if they are made of delicate materials. Consumers can now quickly and conveniently freshen up their outfit at home to always look their best, while saving time and money; trips to the dry cleaners are no longer needed.

AirDresser freshens clothes with its Jet Air system and Air Hangers, using powerful jets of air to loosen and remove engrained dust, even from deep within the fabric. The Jet Steam feature sanitizes garments gently to get rid of bacteria while Heatpump Drying also provides delicate care for clothes by drying them at a low temperature to reduce shrinkage and heat damage. AirDresser also features a Deodorizing Filter to capture and remove odors while preventing them from building up inside the unit. It even has a Dust Filter that keeps the inside of the compartment clean by capturing the dust left floating in the air.

Available in a Crystal Mirror color, AirDresser blends advanced technologies with unique styling, doubling as a state-of-the-art wardrobe that fits in beautifully with contemporary living spaces.

Clean Air for Indoor Living
European consumers are becoming more interested in how the environment impacts their health and are curious to learn the benefits of having an air purifier at home. Samsung Cube AX9500 is Samsung’s first air purifier model to launch in the European market, and features the world’s first Wind-Free™ air purification system. Unlike other air purifiers, the Samsung Cube AX9500 does not have an air draft or makes loud noises. Also, powerful air purification is provided with a 3-layered purification system that purifies and deodorizes air. First, the Washable Pre Filter extracts larger dust particles, such as pollen and pet dander. Then, an Activated Carbon Deodorization Filter reduces the presence of various potentially dangerous gases, such as formaldehyde, toluene, ethylbenzene and styrene5. Finally, an ultra-fine dust filter captures up to 99.97% of 0.3µm sized dust particles.6

The unit features a cube-shaped, modular design with contemporary aesthetics to match its powerful, customized performance. Because they are modular, two Cubes can be easily stacked — each comes with its own docking component — so that each unit can release air in different directions depending on how they are set up.

The Cube units can also be paired in one room for extra power or separated to purify two rooms simultaneously. When paired, a seamless Bluetooth connection lets users control both units as one.

Beko announced its recent product innovations in the new edition of the IFA in Berlin,

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Beko announced its recent product innovations at IFA in Berlin, the largest consumer electronics fair in the world. Its latest product innovations have been designed to help improve the well-being of consumers and include everything from small appliances to large household items, such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and ovens, all equipped with the latest technologies.

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Beko works every day with the aim of promoting a healthier lifestyle and does so by developing, on the one hand, new technologies for the conservation of food in its optimal nutritional state for longer, and on the other, appliances that contribute to reduce the consumption of water, electricity and waste, betting on sustainability and environmental care.

Beko AutoDose and AquaTech® technologies

Beko dishwashers and washing machines with AutoDose technology automatically dose the optimum amount of detergent to always obtain an excellent wash. Thanks to this new technology, the user will only have to fill the tank with his usual detergent once a month since the AutoDose system is responsible for managing the appropriate dose in each wash and incorporates an indicator that informs when it is time to refill it. new. In this way, it allows consumers to save time, detergent, water and effort, giving them the free time they deserve.

For its part, Beko’s new AquaTech® washers harness the power of water to maximize clothing care. The mixture of water and detergent penetrates more strongly into the fabric at the same time that a bubble effect is generated, thus saving up to 50% in time and 50% more care of clothes compared to conventional programs, according to affirms the brand.

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Combi Steam oven

Beko incorporates in its multifunction oven the exclusive Combi Steam technology, which allows you to prepare fast and healthy meals. This new product combines multifunction cooking and steam cooking in a single device, which allows great flexibility when selecting the most appropriate method according to the dish to be prepared.

In addition, thanks to the power of steam, Beko’s Combi Steam oven offers a healthier way of cooking, enhancing the aromas and flavors of the ingredients and preserving the essential nutrients in food.

Always fresh fruits and vegetables

With EverFresh +, Beko’s latest refrigeration technology, fruit and vegetables are kept fresh for up to 30 days. Thanks to the air channels, humidity is controlled precisely, reducing condensation and minimizing temperature variations. Thus, in the EverFresh + compartment, Beko ensures that the optimal environment is created for the best preservation of fresh foods without the need for chemicals, helping users lead a healthier life.

Prepare healthy meals while maintaining the nutritional value of the ingredients

Loss of nutrients from food due to oxidation during the smoothie is one of the biggest challenges that Beko faces. For this, the brand presents the new blender that eliminates the oxidation of food thanks to its vacuum technology, conserving nutrients, color and flavor of milkshakes and juices for longer. In this way, the new product allows its consumers to prepare their favorite beverage and enjoy it the next day as freshly made, with all its nutritional value.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will introduce high-priced home appliances to woo European consumers at the IFA tech trade show

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Samsung will showcase three home appliances ― Air Dresser steam closet, Jet cordless vacuum and “windless” air purifier Cube ― while LG will introduce a washing machine equipped with artificial intelligence (AI).

Samsung expects the three home appliances will become a hit, given the products have gained popularity in Korea with their innovative features.

“With these three items that have been received well among Korean consumers, Samsung is aiming to expand its market share after showcasing them at the IFA fair,” an official said.

The steam closet will be released in the U.K. first during the October-December period and will hit other European markets in the fourth quarter of 2019.Samsung expects its Air Dresser will become a perfect fit for European consumers because dry cleaning there is quite expensive.

“According to our own survey, European consumers just dry out their garments outside or use fabric deodorizers when they try to deodorize their clothes,” a company spokesperson said. “As they have to pay quite a price for dry cleaning, we expect the Air Dresser will offer them convenience in garment care.”

The Jet cordless vacuum cleaner will be released in the U.K., Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“While the cordless vacuums account for about 80 percent of the entire vacuum cleaner market in Korea, the figure remains at about 40 percent in Europe. We see there will be a huge demand for cordless cleaners,” the spokesperson said.

LG said its front-loading washing machine would be displayed at the IFA exhibition. Featuring AI technology, the product can sense the type of fabrics and offer the optimal washing setting.

“The AI-powered washer can detect the weight of clothes and sense the softness of fabric. After analyzing the information, it offers an optimal washing setting,” an LG official said.

The washer is powered by a direct drive motor directly connected to the drum, reducing energy consumption and noise.

The company says the washing machine can reduce fabric damage by 18 percent compared with other washers.

“According to a recent test conducted by the U.K.-based quality assurance company Intertek, the latest product was found to reduce fabric damage by 18 percent compared to a conventional LG washing machine,” the official said.

The washing machines are sold in eight European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland, and LG plans to expand this to 30 nations by the end of 2019.