V-Zug appointed Christoph Kilian as new chief executive officer to succeed Spirig at the start of April. The Board of Directors of the V-ZUG Group would like to thank Peter Spirig for his achievements and outstanding commitment. Under his leadership, the V-ZUG Group has made significant progress, including the successful spin-off from the Metall Zug Group and the establishment of V-ZUG Holding AG as an independent, publicly listed company. The comprehensive, successful site transformation in Zug and the international positioning of the V-ZUG brand in all markets were further milestones in recent years
Miele New Guard
Miele celebrate its 125th anniversary, Miele is presenting its new generation of cylinder vacuum cleaners. Called Guard, it provides precise, elegant cleaning solutions that are tailored to each user. The “Always Better” philosophy is now available from entry-level to high-end. We were able to discover it at the Miele Experience Center in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
“We have been manufacturing vacuum cleaners since 1929. Major milestones have marked its development, including the arrival of an English brand on the market, that of upright vacuum cleaners, robots and wet & dry. Today, we are talking about a product that remains a must-have for floor care ,” announced Thomas Bourgeois , Marketing Director, during his introductory speech.
In recent years, vacuum cleaner sales have indeed evolved towards greater practicality. While the cylinder vacuum cleaner represents 34% of the vacuum cleaner market weight in volume, Miele has a 26% market share in the cylinder vacuum cleaner with bag. In a declining market, the premium brand has achieved growth of 4%. “Our objective is to remain the preferred brand of the French in the premium segment, through satisfactory, qualitative and fast cleaning experiences” , specifies Karen Lemonnier , head of the PEM category. It is now arriving with a new generation of cylinder vacuum cleaners with bags.
An upgrade in functionality and design
The Guard S1 , the most compact and accessible in the range, is aimed at consumers looking for a lightweight and affordable vacuum cleaner. Available from €199.99 excluding VAT, it weighs only 4.1 kg and offers a range of 10 meters with 4 suction modes. Available in 6 attractive colors, it includes an SBB 355 brush and an AirClean filtration system.
An intermediate model with a monochrome design, the Guard M1 is positioned as the versatile option offering more capacity. Sold between €299.99 and €399.99 excluding VAT, it stands out for its robustness and completeness. Weighing 5.2 kg, it offers a range of 11 meters with three intuitive control buttons. An SBB 365 or FlexTeQ brush accompanies this model, which also includes three integrated accessories.
The Guard L1 crowns the range with its three high-end versions. Sold at €599.99 excluding VAT, the Comfort model (the highest range) benefits from five suction modes, a HEPA filter that eliminates 99.999% of viruses and intelligent Miele@home connectivity. Its brush offers a more ergonomic, comfortable and pleasant cleaning experience. Added to this is an automatic mode with an all-terrain brush that adapts to each type of floor. “Some vacuum cleaners are aimed at more specific needs and integrate brushes dedicated to parquet for fragile floors. In this case, the price positioning is higher. To meet demand, each of our ranges integrates these versions” , underlines Karen Lemonnier.
These vacuum cleaners share common features: a neat design, optimal performance with hygiene at the heart of its concerns and an environmental commitment through the use of recycled plastics in the bags. All these devices also offer three accessories: a crevice tool, a cushion nozzle and an upholstery brush. Through sustainable and innovative solutions, Miele confirms its position as a major player in premium household appliances.
Beko EspritCuisine
For Beko, the EspritCuisine show was an opportunity to unveil its latest historical performances and its design and technological innovations for kitchen designers. Its Midnight range and its new products in the refrigeration and washing segments are the perfect illustration of this. Not forgetting the environment, which remains a major priority for the Group.
In 2024, Beko reached a strategic milestone in the kitchen fitters market. After being number 1 in sales volume since 2022, the manufacturer recently won first place in value, recording a 2.7-point increase in market share over the last period Jan-Sept 2024. In the built-in market, the brand is also performing well. “The built-in market remains a strategic focus. Beko has adapted to the needs of kitchen fitters, in terms of services and logistics. Its offering and positioning meet the current demand of professionals and consumers alike, looking for an attractive quality-price ratio ,” says Valérie Rousseau , Communications Director. With its new signature “En confiance avec Beko”, the manufacturer is focusing on four pillars: reliability, eco-responsibility, healthy living and technological leadership. An ambitious positioning, illustrated at EspritCuisine.
Cooking: a segment driving innovation
At the show, Beko unveiled some particularly promising technological innovations. Already presented at IFA 2023 and EuroCucina 2024, the Midnight capsule collection , awarded the iF Design Award 2024, embodies its new ambitions. It is made up of built-in appliances with a matt graphite finish and an intuitive user interface. Among the flagship products, the Split&Cook oven, which allows two dishes to be cooked simultaneously at different temperatures without mixing flavors, thanks to a double independent cavity. The ovens also offer innovative technologies such as VapeurDirect – with a steam generator allowing two levels (40% and 80%) – and AirFry, which guarantees crispy preparations with little fat. In addition to these two ovens, the range is completed by a 60 cm induction hob and a 60 cm inclined hood. “Its design fits perfectly with the trend for dark but also contrasting kitchens since white kitchens are still the ones that sell the most ,” recalls Valérie Rousseau.
Technologies and environment, at the heart of washing and refrigeration
In the washing segment, Beko presented its new integrated and freestanding dishwashers equipped with a heat pump. By passing through the entire heat pump system, the heat carrier fluid heats the water instead of the heating element. This allows for less energy consumption and a class A-20%. Other models are also innovative, with a SaveWater system that saves up to 758 liters of water per year.
Finally, refrigerators are not left out, with technologies such as AeroFlow which preserves the nutritional value of food, and multi-door models or even fully integrated 70 cm models incorporating HarvestFresh technology.
Increased concern for the environment
More generally, Beko’s environmental commitment is reflected in concrete initiatives. The company recycled 10 tons of used fishing nets in the manufacture of its ovens in 2023, 753 million plastic bottles in its appliances, and is developing technologies such as SaveWater and HarvestFresh. The latter even reproduces solar cycles to preserve the vitamins in fruits and vegetables.
China’s trade-in policy boosts home appliance sales of over 200 billion yuan
China’s home appliance trade-in policy has boosted consumer spending, generating over 200 billion yuan (about 27.8 billion U.S. dollars) in sales and facilitating the purchase of over 45 million products by Friday.
The Ministry of Commerce’s home appliance trade-in platform reveals that around 30 million consumers have purchased subsidized products from eight designated categories, including refrigerators, televisions and computers, since the policy took effect.
Hisense job cut rumours
According to Chinese media outlet Lanjinger News, several individuals claiming to be Hisense employees have taken to social media to allege that Hisense Group is undergoing significant layoffs. Reports suggest that the company’s workforce is being reduced from 110,000 to 80,000, with an estimated layoff rate of 20 to 30 percent. One verified employee of Hisense Home Appliances mentioned that the layoffs would occur in two phases, before and after the Lunar New Year, with an overall reduction of 30 percent.
Lanjinger News contacted multiple Hisense employees, who confirmed awareness of the rumors but were unclear about the specific plans or scale. An employee from Qingdao Hisense Network Technology Co. noted that many employees had already been informed. Another employee suggested that online reports might be exaggerated and that the actual number of layoffs could be lower, although demand and orders this year were significantly weaker compared to previous years.
When Lanjinger News reached out to Hisense Home Appliances Group and Hisense Visual Technology as investors, a representative from Hisense Home Appliances indicated that large-scale layoffs were unlikely but not yet confirmed, advising investors to make their own judgments while noting that the circulating information was inaccurate. A representative from Hisense Visual Technology stated that no related notices had been received.
Attempts to verify the information with Hisense Group’s public relations department went unanswered at the time of publication.
The report also recalled similar rumors from early 2020, when Hisense faced allegations of a large-scale layoff involving 10,000 employees. At that time, the company acknowledged workforce reductions as part of a performance optimization strategy but denied the scale of the layoffs being as high as reported.
Indian unit of LG Electronic launches new rental business for its appliances and
LG Electronics India has started a new business of rental of appliances in India which it intends to take to all sales channels as per it’s just filed draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), even when it fears that its South Korean parent in future could separately start other businesses in India which could compete with them since there is no exclusivity arrangement between them.In the DRPH filed on Friday ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), LG India said its subscription services such as long term appliance rental programme will help to get additional revenue. The company last month test launched the subscription services at select LG exclusive stores targeting premium consumers, it said.
“We plan to roll this out across our distribution network, which we believe will enable us to offer differentiated services, enhance consumer satisfaction and drive sales to consumers,” the company said. LG is India’s largest home appliance manufacturer with market leadership in refrigerators, washing machines and microwave ovens
New Global Head of Communications for Miele
Martin Wielgus is the new Senior Vice President Communications for the Miele Group. He replaces Carsten Prudent (64), who has held this role for 15 years. Wielgus, a graduate in political science, comes from the German subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems and previously headed communications at Jungheinrich
Miele Anniversary book
Discover the Essence of Miele Anniversary Book “Creators of Quality. Since 1899”
125 years of quality, innovation, and a relentless drive to be “Immer Besser” – these are the hallmarks of Miele, and now they’re brought to life in a remarkable new book.
What began in 1899 with a milk centrifuge has evolved into a global brand synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship, durability, and forward-thinking solutions. Our anniversary book captures this journey across 244 pages of rich storytelling and insight.
Through chronologically structured chapters and captivating thematic sections – “Masterpieces,” “Generations,” “Zeitgeist,” and “Lives” – the book explores Miele’s history and its impact through diverse lenses. From groundbreaking innovations and pivotal challenges to inspiring people and bold decisions, it celebrates the values that have shaped our company for over a century.
Packed with reports, interviews, and contributions from renowned authors, this book offers a unique perspective on the moments and milestones that define Miele.
Curious about our story? Stay tuned – in the coming weeks, we’ll share some of the highlights from “Creators of Quality. Since 1899”.
You can already order your own copy at the moment only in Germany).
BlueStar introduces New colour
Introducing the 2025 BlueStar Colour of the Year
Signal Brown brings a sense of richness
BlueStar® is proud to introduce its 2025 Colour of the Year, Signal Brown. The redness of this hue adds a caramel tone that brings a richness that appeals to our senses. The warmness of Signal Brown works well as a foundation and complements a broad spectrum of colours, like deep dark blues, softer beige tones, and neutrals.
Handpicked by the creative and visionary San Francisco interior designer Tineke Triggs, a seasoned expert with six San Francisco Decorator Showcases to her name. Her award-winning designs have graced the pages of renowned publications such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Veranda, Dwell, Luxe, California Home & Design, Modern Luxury Interiors, California Homes, and Sunset Magazine
Setting new standards in appliance diagnostics
Introducing V-ZUG Diagnostics, their innovative platform for improving diagnostic precision and repair efficiency for V-ZUG service partners in Switzerland.
By leveraging real-time appliance data and insights from thousands of service cases, V-ZUG Diagnostics enables precise analysis and targeted spare parts recommendations – reducing complexity, minimising returns and increasing operational efficiency.
“V-ZUG Diagnostics reflects our commitment to innovation, quality and long-term partnerships. We are constantly improving and expanding the platform with a user-centred approach. At the end of the day, everything contributes to higher customer satisfaction.” Philipp Matzinger, Digital Product Manager V-ZUG Diagnostics
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