AO World PLC, the online domestic appliance retailer that listed in London at the end of February, Thursday said it is planning a big expansion into Europe, starting in Germany and then into neighbouring countries like the Netherlands and Belgium
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Ao.com
Ao.com Operating profit before exceptional items was down from £8.4m to £8.2m, however, it incurred costs of £15.4m for its flotation earlier this year bringing it to a £7.2m operating loss.
Ao.com sales surged 40% to £384.9m in the year to March 31, driven by increased order volumes at “slightly higher” average order values to the previous year.
Ao.com added that the 2015 financial year has “started well with trading in line with our expectations in all respects”.
Ao.com chief executive John Roberts said: “I am delighted by the achievements the Ao team has delivered over the course of the last year and the progress we have made in positioning our business structurally and financially to realise the very exciting opportunity we have ahead of us.
“Our UK business continues to build strongly aided by a successful rebranding, introduction of same day delivery and entering the small domestic appliance and television markets.
“We are making great strides in preparing for our launch into Germany as the first step to becoming a leading European online electrical retailer.”
Ao.com’s capital expenditure for the year was £7.5m, up from £3.3m last year, as it invested in a new head office and its supply chain.
Gross margin increased to 19.3% from 18.5%.
The etailer said it benefited from introducing same-day delivery, extending the cut-off times for next-day delivery from 10pm to midnight, and the extension of services for cooking appliances to include gas and electrical installation.
Little Swan
GE Appliances and China-based washing machine maker Little Swan have been working cooperatively to “promote development and sale of large-capacity front-loading” washers in the United States.
Little Swan, which is the Laundry Division of appliance maker Midea and goes by the acronym WET, has long served as a contract manufacturer of GE Appliances front-load washing machines sold in the United States. However, GE has opened its own United States plants to make front-load washers; it is not clear to what extent WET will continue to supply GE with front load washers.
Panasonic
Panasonic is planning to shift production of some “white goods” appliances for domestic consumption back to Japan due to higher import costs stemming from the weakened yen, company sources said Thursday.
The company is considering starting production of induction heating cookers at a plant in Kobe and washing machines and air conditioners at a plant in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, this summer, they said.
Panasonic has been importing these products from China and other countries where manufacturing costs are relatively low.
Bosch Siemens appliances posts record sales
Bosch Siemens appliances posts record sales
German white goods maker BSH reported Monday income growth for all regions, but profits have been hit by a global recall for dishwashers.
Germany’s Bosch Siemens Haushaltgeräte (BSH) logged on Monday a 25 percent dip in profits on the year due to a major recall for dishwashers, but noted its sales were up.
BSH said its profits before tax and interest had dropped by a quarter to 509 million euros ($694 million) in the wake of a worldwide recall for some 5 million dishwashers produced between 1999 and 2005 due to a potential fire threat.
BSH is market leader for household appliances in Europe and in third place globally behind Whirlpool and Electrolux.
Record growth
Sales jumped 7.2 percent to a record level of 10.5 billion euros year-on-year, the company said.
“We want to expand our position on the world market, and while remaining profitable, grow faster than the market,” BSH CEO Karsten Ottenberg said in a statement, underscoring that the company is on target for further growth.
Higher income was mirrored by rising sales in all of BSH’s regions. Sales were up 25 percent in China and 18 percent in North America. A boost in the company’s income in Europe was attributed to the acquisition of Polish appliance maker Zelmer S.A.
BSH manufactures white goods under a number of brands, including Neff, Gaggenau, Constructa and Thermador.
The recall began last August and the company has been offering owners free repairs or discounts on new machines.
Japan Electrical manufacturers’ Association
Japan Electrical manufacturers’ Association said.
Shipments of air conditioners and other white goods rose 5.3 percent from the year before to ¥153.3 billion in April, up for the 11th straight month.
Stoves Fridge Freezer
Stoves, has extended its collection of cooling products with the addition of two A+ energy rated side-by-side and French-door fridge freezers.
The Stoves FD90 and SXS90 are 90cm wide models that offer the latest in convenience and efficiency and are available in sleek black and modish stainless steel.
The Stoves FD90, which features a French-door refrigerator and two wide freezer drawers underneath, has a substantial 542 litre net capacity [422 net litre capacity for the fridge and 120 net litre capacity for the freezer], providing ample storage space. The fridge features five glass shelves, two salad drawers and a long drawer. The internal twist ice cube maker located in the top freezer drawer is a great time and space saving addition.
Features include an audible door alarm and a temperature warning light to help ensure internal temperatures are maintained. The product also includes LED lighting and frost-free technology.
The SXS90 features a plumbed water-through-door dispenser and automatic ice maker, along with external digital dual control thermostat, and a ‘fast freezer’ function which speeds up the freezing process of fresh foods helping retain flavour, quality and nutrients.
This 515 litre net capacity [340 net litre capacity for the fridge and 175 net litre capacity for the freezer], 1.76 metre high side-by-side product also offers a separate dairy compartment, stylish chrome wine rack, two salad drawers and five safety glass shelves.
Electrolux refrigerator plant
Electrolux has already announced plans to close its refrigerator plant in Orange, Australia, in 2016. Even so, it needs to come to terms with workers at the plant in order to keep the doors open until then. Australian news outlet ABC reported that plant employees will have the chance to vote for a second time on a new work agreement. The new agreement includes a phased-in, 11% pay increase for workers.
ABC quoted Australian Workers Union Alan Haynes from the Australian Workers Union who had met with Orange plant management. Haynes said Electrolux was also offering back-pay, to March 31, as an incentive to approving the deal.
Second-round vote results were not yet known.
High Ace Industries Sdn Bhd,
PENANG-BASED High Ace Industries Sdn Bhd, an original equipment manufacturer of kitchen appliances, will release a new range of hobs and hoods under the brand name Livinox in July for the domestic and overseas market.
High Ace Industries managing director Lim Aun Ghee said that the company is targeting to sell 2,000 units of hobs and hoods a month with an estimated value of RM6mil.
“Half of the products will be marketed in the Asean region, while the remainder will be sold in Malaysia.
“We are targeting the new kitchen appliances for the medium- and upper-income households,” Lim said.
He said that the hobs were designed jointly with a German-based company, E.G.O.Geratebau GmbH which specialises in designing and manufacturing kitchen appliances.
“We use components made by E.G.O to assemble the hobs here.
“These hobs have safety features such as electronic controls that can cut off the supply of gas should there be any gas leaks.
“We are introducing three types of hobs into the market — gas hobs, electric hobs, and the hybrid hobs,” Lim said.
He said the company has lined up a series new generation of hobs to be launched before 2017.
He added that the company will be signing an agreement with E.G.O on June 4 to formalise the working arrangement.
Established in 1994, High Ace operates in two assembly facilities with a total built-up area of 80,000sq ft in Bukit Minyak Industrial Park, employing about 250 workers.
Amica’s AWDS914DJ washer dryer
Amica, one of Europe’s fastest growing freestanding and built-in appliance manufacturers, has launched a new washer dryer. Designed to make life easier for families, 
wash a hefty 9Kg load and dry 6Kg. The machine has a top spin speed of 1400 rpm (variable) and a choice of wash temperatures starting at just 20°C, which is perfect for the new low temperature detergents.
The Amica AWDS914DJ provides a choice of 15 programmes including settings for cotton, delicate and synthetic items and a number of thoughtful special features such as an anti-allergic rinse which removes all traces of detergent to protect people with skin problems. Easy iron minimises creasing and there is a pre-wash setting for heavily soiled clothes.
The 29 min. /60 min. Wash & Dry programme, thought to be the shortest on the market, will be appreciated by any Mum or Dad who has faced grubby sports kit or school clothes needed in a hurry. One of the problems of low temperature washing is that the inside of the machine can develop unpleasant odours – making Amica’s drum-cleaner setting especially useful. The dryer has a choice of settings including iron dry and cupboard dry.
The machine is eco-friendly too with an A energy rating, an A wash rating and B for spin. Water use to wash a full 9kg load is 112 litres. The blue touch sensor LCD display makes it easy to follow the progress of the wash and the controls are easy to use. A child lock and overflow protection add to its family appeal. Operating noise when washing is 58dB(A) with 77dB(A) in the spin cycle.
All Amica products carry a two year guarantee including in the price. The new AWDS914DJ washer dryer is available from independent electrical retailers nationwide.
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