LG has increased the parts-and-labour warranties on all of its TrueSteam 9kg and above washing machines and washer dryers from two to five years.

The warranty extension applies to models purchased between November 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.

It is in addition to the existing 10-year motor and parts warranty offered with all Direct Drive motors across LG’s laundry range.

Whirlpool Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary Whirlpool Italia Holdings S.r.l., acquired a 56% stake in Indesit Company S.p.A. The stake represents 61.9% of the voting stock of Indesit. Indesit is an Italian-based appliance maker.

Whirlpool acquired the shares under two share purchase agreements signed July 10, 2014, with Fineldo S.p.A. and Merloni family members. These acquisitions bring Whirlpool’s total stake in Indesit to 60.4%, representing 66.8% of the voting stock.

Indesit Ukraine LLC, whose operations were about 3% of Indesit’s 2013 revenues, is being held separately pending antitrust clearance by the Ukrainian antitrust authority. This is expected by the end of the year.

“The appliance market in Europe is competitive and increasingly global. This transaction will build our market position and enable sustainable growth in the region,” said Whirlpool Corp. Chairman and CEO Jeff M. Fettig.

Whirlpool Italia Holdings S.r.l. will now take steps to launch a mandatory tender offer for the remainder of Indesit’s outstanding shares, with the intention to delist the company.

Swedish appliance giant Electrolux reported net sales of SEK 28,784 million (approx. US $4,003 million) in the third quarter of 2014, from SEK 27,258 million in the third quarter of 2013.

Sales increased by 5.6%, with 1.6% attributed to organic growth and 4.0% attributed to beneficial exchange rates.

Operating income was SEK 1,392 million in 3Q 2014, up 29% from SEK 1,075 million in 3Q 2013.

Electrolux President and CEO Keith McLoughlin said the main factor behind 3Q strong results is a strong operational recovery in Europe.

“The Latin American and Asia/Pacific operations performed well in challenging macro-economic conditions,” McLoughlin added. “Our sales and earnings in North America remain at a good level and continue to strongly contribute to the Group’s overall result.”

Major Appliances North America reported 3Q 2014 operating income of SEK 518 million (approx. US $78 million), down 8% from SEK 563 million in 3Q 2013.

Electrolux said sales were up in North America but earnings were negatively impacted by transition costs for new energy requirements and lower sales of air-conditioners.

“Major Appliances North America continues to deliver results with a good contribution to the Group’s earnings,” McLoughlin said. “Sales growth in the region remains healthy. Earnings were impacted by major transitions required to meet new energy standards from the Department of Energy as well as a continued weak market for air-conditioners. The transition has been slower and more complex than anticipated.”

Whirlpool has announced the launch of its new UK website.

Whirlpool says that the redesigned site aims to better support both consumers and retailers through ‘clear, in-depth information

Electrolux agreed to acquire Australian-based, international barbecue OEM BeefEater, with plans to boost its presence in the market.

BeefEater Barbecues, founded in 1984, in Australian business with export markets in the United States, the Middle East and Europe, Asia, and New Zealand. The business has annual sales of AUD 17 million (approx. USD$14.9 million)

Electrolux has been active for about a decade in the domestic barbecue products market in Australia and New Zealand. BeefEater has a significant presence in portable compact barbecue products, complementing Electrolux’s integrated and high-end freestanding models.

Home appliance manufacturer LG Electronics expanded the application of its EasyClean technology to four new models of over-the-range microwave ovens. The technology was previously offered only in the company’s single- and double-oven gas and electric ranges.

The technology is designed to make clean-up simple, using just a damp cloth, with no use of chemicals or need for scrubbing. Key to the capability is a unique porcelain enamel coating on the interior of the appliance, which is designed to resist most stains, and to allow spills and splatters to come clean with a wipe.

Two of the microwaves (Models LMH2235 and LMHM2237) incorporate the company’s ExtendaVent 2.0, providing more powerful ventilation and extending to cover more of cooktop.

Turkish company #Vestel has received a license to use the Japanese electronics maker #Sharp’s brand to make and sell appliances in Europe.

Sharp announced on Sept. 26 that it has signed binding agreements with Vestel Ticaret, a sales company of Vestel Elektronik, and Slovakian company Universal Media Corporation (UMC), “to begin alliances respectively on Sharp’s audio visual and appliance businesses in Europe.”

As part of the agreement, Sharp’s appliance business in Europe will be transferred to Vestel.
Vestel’s distribution networks will enable Sharp to improve the profitability of its consumer electronics business, the Japanese company sai

First published Wednesday 1 October 2014 in Business News
Last updated 16:04 Wednesday 1 October 2014
by Steven Hugill

A DOMESTIC appliance repair firm hopes to create more than 40 North-East jobs in a £2m expansion.

Pacifica Group, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has opened a new site in Washington, Wearside.

Bosses say it will deliver about 45 posts.

Founded in 2003, the group is made up of six companies, with its 0800 Repair brand installing, servicing and repairing central heating systems and gas appliances.

Kevin Brown, Pacifica director, said the move will allow the firm to continue targeting more work across Europe.

Home
Waterless washing machine saves 2.5m litres of water in just 6 months

by ClickGreen staff, Published Tue 30 Sep 2014 11:41

A pioneering washing machine that uses polymer beads instead of much of the water, has saved its customers 2.5 million litres of water in just six months – enough to meet the daily drinking needs of more than one million people, equivalent to the combined population of the cities of Sheffield, Manchester and Oxford.

By replacing much of the water with polymer beads, the Xeros machines are saving customers up to 75% of the water, up to 50% of the energy (used to heat water in the washing machine) and up to 50% of the detergent compared to standard, aqueous washing machines.

Xeros’ revolutionary bead cleaning system is currently being used by customers in the commercial laundry sector, including Sterling Linen Services and White Rose Laundries, and has reached the 2.5 million litres milestone for the water saved in its installed machines from March 2014 to September 2014.

The Xeros machines work in a similar way to a standard washing machine but replace much of the water with polymer beads which are reusable hundreds of times. Xeros’ team of scientists and engineers has worked with partner BASF to develop the beads, which gently agitate clothing, lifting dirt and stains off the fabric where they are absorbed into the body of the polymer. This approach to fabric cleaning gives a more sustainable and efficient method of cleaning compared to traditional washing systems.

The beads are captured in the machine at the end of each wash cycle and reused hundreds of times. At the end of their usable life span they are recycled by Xeros and used as raw materials in the manufacture of products such as car fascias.

Xeros CEO Bill Westwater commented: “To save 2.5 million litres of water across our customer base in just six months is a significant achievement, and we expect the water and energy savings to increase as customers use the machines more intensively and new contracts are initiated.

“We believe there is significant market opportunity for the bead cleaning system as commercial laundries and other industrial washing operations (such as textile manufacturing and leather processing) look to save precious water.

“Worldwide water prices are rising and water saving is at the frontier of a new technology revolution, with the Xeros bead cleaning system driving the biggest change in clothes washing for 60 years.

Analysis conducted by Xeros has shown that washing clothes in the UK uses approximately 340 billion litres of water a year, equivalent to draining Lake Windermere 20 times, and costs UK households over £2 billion in electricity.

Sharp might sell Polish manufacturing

Sharp has signed binding agreements with Slovakian company, Universal Media Corporation (UMC) and Turkish company, Vestel Tİcaret A.Ş. (Vestel), to begin alliances respectively on Sharp’s audio visual and white goods businesses in Europe.

Since the global financial crisis in 2008, Sharp’s consumer electronics business in Europe, centred on LCD TV suffered severe losses. Sharp has undertaken a number of measures to effect a turn-around, increasing the efficiency of its sales organisation and reducing expenses.

However, with profitability under continuing pressure, due to increasingly severe price competition in a maturing market. As a result Sharp is entering into a brand licensing agreement with UMC for its LCD TV business, forming part of the audio visual business in Europe, and will transfer control of the Sales and Marketing for its white goods business in Europe to Vestel.

In addition, Sharp agreed to discuss towards the possible sale of SMPL (Sharp Manufacturing Poland Sp. zo.o.), Sharp’s manufacturing base in Poland for LCD TVs, to UMC.