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
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.
BSH end of year brief
Today’s Annual Press Briefing closes the fiscal year 2022. BSH look back on a successful year in a volatile and turbulent global environment.BSH did it again!
Miele continues to grow – and builds production plant in the USA
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
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.
RørosHetta smart cooker hood
Family-owned Norwegian company RørosHetta continues its journey in breaking boundaries when it comes to cooker hoods, with launching integrated smart technology with life-saving features. RørosHetta has captured the market in the last decade by offering bespoke designer hoods that are customisable, both through colour-matching hoods to kitchens as well as the ability to customise dimensions. Following the success in the Nordics, the company has now set their focus on the UK with the launch of the world’s smartest cooker hood. Apart from being one of the world’s most quiet hoods, it boasts a range of smart features, such as switching your electrical hob off in case of fire risk and regulating the home’s indoor air quality.With SENSE indoor air quality control, the hood won’t just ventilate the pollutants from cooking, but can automatically regulate and ventilate the home, whenever there is an issue with air quality. The user is notified via smart alert and email whenever air quality drops to hazardous, and when it returns to normal.
Brand New: Montpellier Integrated Refrigeration
Montpellier have launched a brand new range of integrated refrigeration with:
great new features including Maxi-Fresh Preserver, Humidity Control and Turbo Air Fan Cooling
improved energy efficiency
This range can help preserve food for longer and save money on food and energy bills.
There are 9 new models in the range, including
– three undercounter models
– two Low Frost fridge freezers
– two Frost Free fridge freezers
– a tall larder fridge and tall freezer
Bradshaw Luxury Appliances has been placed into administration
The company, which distributed premium indoor and outdoor kitchen appliance brands such as Steel Cucine, Gaggenau, Kuppersbusch, Lynx, Fisher and Paykel, Kalamazoo, Deli Vita and Sub-Zero and Wolf, entered administration on March 8.
DOMESTIC APPLIANCE FIRM BOUGHT BY PACIFICA GROUP
Kent-based domestic appliance repairs, sales and servicing firm has been bought by industry giant Pacifica Group.
From its premises in Sittingbourne, Autowash has a team of 11 engineers who provide appliance repair cover the to the Kent area, working with a number of high-profile manufacturers.
It supports insurance companies with policy-covered repairs and has contracts with councils, letting agents, housing associations and schools, as well as supporting local charities.
Autowash has been in business since 1985 and employs a total team of 20.
The acquisition is part of Pacifica’s local strategy; creating a network of regional repairers offering consumers and businesses access to directly employed engineers.
It partners with brands such as such as AEG, Zanussi, Electrolux, Sony, Hisense, Hoover Candy, Haier, Servis, Electra and LG, among others.
Autowash is the latest business to join Pacifica Group following its acquisition of Service 87 in Guildford, Highland Appliance Services in Inverness and JK Domestics in Liverpool all taking place in 2022
Midea Launches M9 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, A Smart Mop for Stress-free Floor Cleaning across All Surfaces
Midea Launches M9 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, A Smart Mop for Stress-free Floor Cleaning across All Surfaces
Today’s lifestyle requires as simple a cleaning solution as possible when it comes to the home. Knowing this, Midea, a household electronics company focused on developing cutting-edge devices to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers, is launching the M9 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner (“the M9”) on March 28 in France, Spain, and Russia. The dual-purpose cleaner, with both vacuuming and mopping functions, represents a breakthrough in set-it-and-forget-it household cleaning. Featuring modern robotic cleaner functions, the M9 enables efficient cleaning regardless of household layout or surface changes. 3D Obstacle Avoidance Keeps the M9 Moving No Matter What’s in the Way
Fitted with dual-line lasers that quickly detect the distance between and height of objects in its path, the M9 can easily navigate around slippers, cords, and other small objects on the floor. The M9 builds a 3D environment of the household so that it can avoid getting stuck or malfunctioning while in the process of cleaning. Having learned the layout of the house, the M9 allows users to come and go as they please while the robotic cleaner does all the work.
Pressurized Mopping Mimics the Movements of a Human Cleaner
There are some situations where a spill or stain require a little bit of elbow grease. With a traditional mop, the human doing the cleaning must apply pressure while scrubbing and moving the mop around the surface to successfully remove the stain. Designers of the M9 had this in mind when developing the mop pad so that it can clean tough stains effectively. Combined with the M9’s three water flow levels, the Pressurized Mopping function copies the pressure that a human cleaner would apply on a standard mop to scrub out any dried stains, bringing the floor back to its original texture.
Auto Mop Raising Allows the M9 to Glide Across Different SurfacesAware of the various surfaces and surface levels in a house, designers of the M9 equipped it with Auto Mop Raising, allowing the robotic cleaner to detect rugs and carpets and raise its mop height accordingly. The Auto Mop Raising function lifts the mop pad up to 10mm and boosts suction for deeper carpet cleaning. Moreover, the raising function prevents the M9 from dragging secondary dirt and debris across already cleaned surfaces.
