Fredrik Tønnessen is from today the new CEO of Elkjøp Nordic. – He is looking forward to getting on the offensive, growing and making the business more profitable.Elkjøp Nordic AS is part of Currys, a leading multinational consumer electrical and mobile retailer and services company, employing over 42,000 people in nine countries. Together we are the market leader in the UK & Ireland, throughout the Nordics and in Greece.
SMEG APPOINTS ROD GOWER GENERAL MANAGER FOR U.S. OPERATIONS
APPLIANCE INDUSTRY VETERAN BRINGS OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Leading appliance manufacturer SMEG known for its Italian heritage, classic style, and advanced technology, announced today the appointment of Rod Gower to General Manager of its U.S. operations. An appliance industry veteran, Gower brings more than two decades of experience to the role and will be responsible for building and growing the major and small domestic appliance categories in the United States.
Gower joins SMEG from LG Electronics, where he held a variety of leadership roles and oversaw major initiatives, including the building of the Luxury Signature Kitchen Suite brand and establishment of the LG Builder Channel. During his tenure at LG, Gower managed all aspects of product and brand development, dealer relationships, sales, and profitability. He also held key management, sales and service roles at Samsung and Westar (now part of Ferguson),and has been involved in his family’s architectural millwork company throughout his career.
Teka manufactures all its products with 100% renewable energy in Spain
Since 2020, the entire manufacturing process of Teka products at the Zaragoza and Santander plants is carried out with 100% renewable energy. Likewise, Teka’s offices and warehouses in Spain also use green energy. Thanks to this initiative, the supply consumed avoids the emission of CO 2 (TCO 2 eq) into the atmosphere due to power generation.
Teka’s environmental commitment focuses on the correct management of all processes, from the manufacture of its products to the optimization of resources and waste. In this way, a more sustainable product is offered without losing its quality and essence.
Teka and the planet
Teka has been working for years on the transformation of the sector, introducing sustainability criteria in the design and production of its electrical appliances. For this reason, the ISO 14001 certification endorses and recognizes Teka’s responsibility with the planet.
This is demonstrated by the company’s CSR policy, which follows three clear lines of action. On the one hand, the use of recycled materials when manufacturing its electrical appliances, while introducing recycled glass in its production process. The second pillar is the reuse of plastic: Teka washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators are made with reused plastic waste that has been transformed to partially incorporate the plastic-based components of these products, consequently reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. during the manufacturing process. Finally, it is worth noting the German brand’s commitment to durability. Teka has had products with the LifeTime Warranty seal for years,
Alessandro Perucchetti, former vice president of Whirlpool in Europe, has been appointed President of US Operations
Alessandro Perucchetti, Bocconi graduate, master at the Kellogg School of Management, has been appointed President of US Operations of Whirlpool and joined the Executive Committee of Whirlpool.
Perrucchetti began his career in 2002 in the trade marketing of Whirlpool Italy and held senior positions first in Whirlpool EMEA and then in North America. His last role was from January 2022 to February 2023 as vice president of market operations, product marketing and consumer service in Europe.
Faber, digital factory
What are the challenges for Faber , Franke ‘s air specialist , on the production side? In the short term, the company with its plant in Sassoferrato aims to adopt new production technologies , integrating them with the most tested ones. In the medium-long term, on the other hand, the number one objective is digitalisation , implementing new business models, to respond more effectively to a constantly evolving demand, including through the latest generation of production plants. The last great goal is particularly felt: to remain competitive by maintaining a 100% Italian production .
Human capital, safe
Since its inception in 1989, Sassoferrato has always been a site (over an area of more than 60,000 square meters ) capable of standing out for its policies towards employees. To date, the factory has the support of over 350 highly specialized technicians, with a figure of 35% of women’s shares and an average age of 39 years . It holds important records, including the longest accident-free plant in Italy and in Europe: it is no coincidence that the best prevention plant technologies are used , increasingly accurate procedural bodies are adopted and, at the same time, integrated HSE management systems(Health, Safety & Environment) certificates. Personnel training is also a fundamental aspect: in 2022 alone, more than 1,500 hours of training were provided for employees at the Sassoferrato plant.
Green innovation and commitment
For Faber, constant technological innovation is essential : at the Sassoferrato site, for example, numerous processes have been digitalised, production has been verticalised and the skills of the employees are continuously updated. Two practical examples? A new latest generation laser and a system that uses artificial intelligence have recently been introduced to speed up processes and make them safer. Innovation, for Faber, also passes through sustainability: the green steps taken in recent years are important and include the new photovoltaic systemmade up of 2600 panels, which already today ensures the factory 30% of the available energy and allows for savings of up to 305 tons of CO2 per year and the change of all halogen lamps to LEDs, for further savings on emissions.
Artisan expertise and efficiency
“ Our factory is unique in the world because Faber’s know-how is enclosed here. Which are the technologies, of course, but also and above all the expertise of our craftsmen. We constantly invest in the most innovative technologies on the market and work tirelessly on people’s skills, motivating them and involving them in our business project with a ‘people first’ perspective, seeking continuous improvement – comments Giorgio Rossi, Operation Director of Faber ‘s Sassoferrato factory -.We work flexibly, focusing on quality and service to create value for both our company and our customers, pursuing sustainability in terms of being close to the external environment and making production costs more efficient
Gorenje Hisense new washing machines
first production of Gorenje connected washing machines at the Velenje laundry appliances factory. This new generation of washing machines and tumble dryers will be available in Advanced, Advanced+, and Superior lines, which we will launch on the European markets in the coming months. With these appliances, the Gorenje brand is entering a new market in the segment of connectable appliances.
Connected appliances have become a staple in recent years, and laundry care is no exception. According to forecasts, by 2026, every second washing machine available in white goods stores will already have the option of connecting to the internet.
Appliances under the Gorenje brand are designed to make everyday tasks easier for the consumer. All connected appliances can be managed via the ConnectLife application, which, in addition to washing machines and tumble dryers, also allows the management of other Gorenje brand products (refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, etc.) to create a smart(er), easier manageable home and allow for more free time and less fuss for the user.
AMEDA call for water usage
AMDEA CEO Paul Hide has backed possible plans for more appliances to have water usage information in a bid to help householders reduce consumption and bills.
He voiced AMDEA’s support for such additional information in a podcast with UK supplier Affinity Water.
The changes to labelling requirements may come about as part of a Defra review which is yet to publish its findings. Water consumption information per cycle is already mandatory for washing machines, washer dryers and dishwashers but the Government may extend the requirement to a wider range of appliances.
Mr Hide said: “The labelling of white goods is a good thing primarily for helping people to understand the water consumption – alongside the energy consumption – of their appliances, and equally how to minimise that consumption both from an environmental impact and a cost perspective. We certainly support that provision of useful information.”
He stressed the importance of having one label only providing water and energy usage, rather than separate labels, and for any labelling to be easily understood so it could help people make well-informed decisions.
“We are very focused as an industry on improving people’s understanding of sustainability and how to use appliances the most economically – both for water and energy,” Mr Hide said, referencing AMDEA’s award-winning Know Watt’s What campaign.
He also emphasised AMDEA’s work with housebuilders and regulators in the drive towards net zero homes, whether for new builds or for improvements to existing homes.
Asked what he would like to see in homes to improve water consumption, he answered smarter water meters that could show users how much water individual appliances were using.
Electrolux: over half of Group’s factories certified “Zero Waste to Landfill”
As reported by Electrolux Group, almost 98% of the total waste produced at its manufacturing sites was either recycled or recovered in 2022 and 55% of the factories are now “Zero Waste to Landfill” certified, moving the Group toward the target of certifying all manufacturing sites by 2025. When an Electrolux Group factory is third-party certified to the Zero Waste to Landfill program, it means that it sends less than 1% of its total waste to landfill and less than 3% for waste to energy. “We reduced the percentage of waste sent to landfill by 20% in 2022 compared with the previous year, which is an amazing result – says Claudia Mazzon, Electrolux Group Operations Sustainability Specialist and global coordinator of the Zero Waste to Landfill program –. I am so proud of the great job done by our colleagues around the world who are proactively working to reduce waste and find recycling opportunities”. During 2022, seven additional Electrolux Group factories were certified to the Zero Waste to Landfill program (Santiago, Chile; Zarow, Poland; Forlì, Italy; Cairo Delta, Egypt; Juarez Fabric Care and Stamping, Mexico; Kinston, United States; Swidnica, Poland). The countries that now have at least one Electrolux Group factory certified are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Poland and the United States.
De’Longhi results
“I am very satisfied with how the Group was able to react in the face of the extraordinarily challenging and complex scenario that arose in 2022 and that affected our entire industrial sector.
The Group has maintained a turnover well in excess of 3 billion Euros, also thanks to the strategic decision to give continuity to investments in communication, in particular with regards to the global campaign on coffee featuring Brad Pitt as De’ Longhi’s brand ambassador for coffee.
Year 2023 begins in a context not very dissimilar from the last part of 2022, which allows us to forecast a progressive improvement in the economic and consumptions’ climate in the second half of the year.” commented CEO Fabio de’ Longhi.
In the 12 months:
• revenues of € 3,158.4 million, slightly down by -2% (-5.9% at constant exchange rates);
• adjusted
Ebitda at € 362 million, equal to 11.5% of revenues (compared to 16% in 2021);
• net profit3 of € 177.4 million, equal to 5.6% of revenues (compared to 9.7% in 2021);
• positive net financial position of € 298.8 million, down by € 126 million compared to the end of 2021,
but strongly recovering in the fourth quarter with a positive cash flow of €270 million.
In the fourth quarter:
• revenues down by 3.9% to € 1,029.8 million (-7% at constant exchange rates);
• adjusted Ebitda at € 150 million and equal to 14.6% of revenues (compared to 14.7% in 2021);
• net profit of € 78 million, equal to 7.6% of revenues (compared to 7.3% in 2021).
The Board of Directors has proposed the distribution of a dividend of € 0.48 per share, equal to a pay out ratio of 41% in line with the Group’s dividend policy.
Renting large home appliances becomes popular among young Koreans
South Korea’s home appliance rental market is expanding as younger generations, who prioritize experience over ownership, prefer to rent instead of buying.
Renting large appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioner and washing machines, which cost a lot to purchase, has become an affordable alternative for people who move frequently or cannot afford the upfront costs.
According to data from the country’s top three electronics rental businesses ? Coway Co., LG Electronics Inc. and SK Magic Co. – their cumulative number of rental accounts is estimated at around 11.81 million at the end of last year. The local rental market has been steadily growing each year, with 11.04 million accounts in 2020 and 11.46 million in 2021.
As the market grows, the range of appliances available for rent is also diversifying. Large home appliances, also known as white goods, are becoming more popular, with LG Electronics starting to offer rental services for air conditioners and washing machines last year in addition to refrigerators in 2020.
LG Electronics reported that its rental business revenue in the third quarter of last year reached 551.9 billion won, a 20 percent increase from 459.7 billion won during the same period in the previous year. Samsung Electronics Co. is also offering rental services for its washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners in collaboration with SK Magic. The total number of products rented by these companies reached 23,000 units last year.
The main driving force behind the expansion of the home appliance rental market is millennials and young working professionals who are familiar with the sharing culture. Among the new LG Electronics rental subscribers last year, the proportion of those in their 20s and 30s was as high as 30 percent. Including those in their 40s, customers aged 20 to 40 account for 65 percent of the total.
