He Xiangjian didn’t launch his empire with money, influence, or a master plan.
He started with a few villagers, borrowed cash, and a workshop barely big enough to matter.
In 1968, in a small Chinese town, He and a small team began making whatever they could — bottle caps, simple components, low‑margin products that kept the lights on.
It wasn’t impressive.
It wasn’t scalable.
But it was a foothold.
As China modernized, He spotted a shift.
Homes were changing.
Demand for white goods — the refrigerators, fans, washing machines, and appliances that define modern living — was about to surge.
So he pivoted.
From tiny parts
to electric fans
to full-scale home appliances.
That slow, deliberate evolution became the foundation of Midea Group.
What set Midea apart wasn’t just manufacturing.
It was the company’s obsession with scaling, adapting, and entering every corner of the white‑goods market.
Air conditioners.
Refrigerators.
Washing machines.
Smart home systems.
If it lived in a home, Midea wanted to build it — and build it better.
Then came the bold leap: automation and robotics.
Midea invested heavily in advanced manufacturing and even acquired Germany’s robotics leader KUKA, pushing the company far beyond traditional appliances and into high‑tech industrial innovation.
From a rural workshop to a global powerhouse, Midea now operates in more than 150 countries.
He Xiangjian eventually stepped back, but the momentum he created hasn’t slowed.
His story is a reminder of something simple and powerful:
You don’t need to start big.
You just need to start — and keep evolving.
Because even the world’s largest appliance empires often begin as the smallest workshops.
Franke Coffee Systems’ New A Line Wins Red Dot Award 2026
Franke Coffee Systems has added another major design accolade to its portfolio, with the New A Line receiving the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026. The recognition follows closely on the heels of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, marking a strong double win for the brand’s latest generation of professional coffee machines.
BSH Pushes AI‑Driven Innovation with New Recipe Converter for Bosch Cookit
At BSH, innovation is no longer defined solely by engineering, design, or durability. The next wave of progress is being shaped by AI‑powered experiences, and the latest update to the Bosch Cookit marks a clear step toward that future.
AI turns the Cookit into a true kitchen companion
With the new AI Recipe Converter, Cookit users can now transform any online or written recipe into a fully guided cooking programme. The system removes guesswork, adjusts steps automatically, and helps users achieve consistent results with ease.
Since launch, more than 20,000 recipes have already been converted — a volume that continuously strengthens and refines the AI model behind the scenes.
A preview of BSH’s broader ambition
For BSH, this update is only the beginning. The company’s strategy is centred on shaping markets through meaningful innovation and redefining how people interact with their homes. As appliances evolve from silent helpers to intelligent companions, AI will play an increasingly central role in everyday living.
Bosch and ECOVACS Reveal the World’s First Integrated Robot Vacuum System
Bosch and ECOVACS Reveal the World’s First Integrated Robot Vacuum System
For years, ECOVACS has been at the forefront of robot vacuum innovation — from the powerful bagless DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone to groundbreaking advances in smart navigation, object avoidance, and self-washing mopping systems. Meanwhile, Bosch has spent decades perfecting built-in home appliances, mastering the art of making dishwashers, ovens, and refrigerators vanish seamlessly into cabinetry without sacrificing performance.
Now, these two pioneers have joined forces to create something entirely new: the world’s first robot vacuum and mopping system designed from the ground up as permanent home infrastructure rather than a portable gadget.
ECOVACS brought its cutting-edge robotics expertise to the table — including patented navigation technologies, an impressive 20,000 Pa suction system, and advanced mopping mechanics that wash the pads with 75°C hot water and dry them efficiently with hot air. Bosch, on the other hand, contributed its deep knowledge of integrated appliances: custom plumbing connections that link the service station directly to your home’s water supply and drainage lines, plus a sleek cabinet design that tucks the entire system neatly into a standard sink base while still leaving space for your garbage disposal.
The result is a truly invisible cleaning solution. The robot and its full-service docking station disappear behind kitchen cabinetry, eliminating the clutter of traditional base stations and redefining where a cleaning robot actually “belongs” in the modern home.
The system is set to debut in European stores in spring 2026 and will be controlled via the intuitive Bosch Home Connect app. We caught our first glimpse of the hardware at Milan Design Week, where it stole the show as a bold reimagining of household robotics — elegant, integrated, and effortlessly smart.
This collaboration doesn’t just combine two strong product lines; it creates a new category in white goods. For the first time, floor cleaning becomes a seamless, built-in part of your kitchen design — powerful, hygienic, and completely out of sight
Beko Europe Delivers Standout Presence at EuroCucina 2026
Beko Europe made a confident statement at EuroCucina 2026 with a striking pavilion that brought together its four European brands — Beko, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, and Bauknecht — under one unified concept.
The group introduced its design philosophy, “Legacy. Design. Purpose.”, a framework that connects its European heritage with a forward‑looking vision for the future kitchen.
Working in partnership with Mario Cucinella Architects, Beko created an immersive, architecturally cohesive space that offered visitors a calm, curated experience amid the intensity of the show floor.
Across the week, the pavilion welcomed thousands of visitors, partners, and industry colleagues. Feedback from the trade was consistent: a differentiated, design‑led presence that stood out and signalled Beko Europe’s growing ambition in the premium kitchen space.
Fisher & Paykel Showcases Architectural Appliances at Milan Design Week 2026
Fisher & Paykel returned to Milan Design Week with a series of sculptural, material‑driven installations that position the kitchen and laundry space as fully integrated architectural environments. Across three experiences — The Kitchen as Monolith, Wine Experience and Fabric Care Experience — the brand demonstrated how appliances can disappear into, and elevate, contemporary interior design.
The Kitchen as Monolith
Presented as a single, unified architectural presence, the kitchen installation combined carved tōtara surfaces with basalt forms to frame seamlessly integrated food care and wine care solutions. A modular induction cooktop sat flush within the basalt surface, while DishDrawer dishwashers fitted with 20mm stone fronts reinforced the idea of the kitchen as a cohesive composition rather than a collection of appliances.
Product highlight: Series 11 60cm Minimal Style oven, winner of the Red Dot Award: Best of the Best, displayed within carved tōtara surrounds.
Additional debut: Series 11 30-inch Minimal Style oven with steam assist, shown for the first time in Milan.
Wine Experience
Shaped by curved and carved tōtara forms, the Wine Experience explored the idea of architectural cellaring and in‑home tasting. Integrated Column Wine Cabinets offered precise temperature control and dedicated tasting modes, elevating both preservation and presentation.
Product highlight: 61cm Series 11 Integrated Column Wine Cabinet — the core module for creating a fully architectural wine cellar.
Fabric Care Experience
Fisher & Paykel also introduced its new minimalist fabric care ecosystem, designed as an extension of the luxury wardrobe. Fibre‑specific treatments, steam care and intelligent sensing technologies aim to preserve the condition of cherished garments. A bespoke garment commission by fashion designer Claudia Li completed the installation.
Product highlight: Series 11 Minimal Style Fabric Care Cabinet, featuring flush glass and refined surfaces that allow the elevated architectural aesthetic to flow seamlessly into fabric care spaces.
Midea Targets UK Growth as Market Opens New Space
Midea’s European leadership says the UK is now firmly in its sights — but only because the timing is finally right.
“We identified the UK and Italy as important markets,” says Larry Yuen. “But timing matters. We wanted the right organisation, products, and service structure before entering. Now we feel ready.”
That readiness comes with selectivity.
“We are not going to work with everyone,” Yuen adds. “It has to be a two‑way decision. Retailers choose us, and we choose them. We want partners who believe in the brand and want to grow with us. It’s about total margin — balancing volume and profitability so retailers can build a sustainable business.”
Mauro Correia sees a market undergoing rapid change — and opportunity.
“Some traditional suppliers have had very tough moments in recent years,” he says. “That creates space for companies that can bring innovation and competitiveness at the same time.”
Given Midea’s scale, investment power and long‑term European ambitions, few in the trade would bet against the group converting this momentum into meaningful UK market share. And with a revitalised Teka brand now back under the same roof, the combined offer is broad enough to make many kitchen specialists take a fresh look.
Groupe SEB growth
Groupe SEB reported +2.7% organic growth in Q1 2026, reaching €1,885m in revenue despite challenging market conditions. Growth was supported by strong innovation and an upgraded digital activation strategy.
Result from operations jumped 42% to €72m, helped by organic sales momentum, lower operating costs and a favourable base effect.
The company’s Rebound plan — focused on innovation, digital transformation, SKU reduction, industrial efficiency and overhead optimisation — continues to roll out on schedule.Groupe SEB is one of the world’s largest small domestic appliance manufacturers, owning a broad portfolio of global brands including Tefal, Rowenta, Krups, Moulinex and WMF.
Gaggenau Presents Presence at Milan Design Week 2026
Gaggenau returned to Milan Design Week with Presence, an immersive architectural installation staged within the iconic Villa Necchi Campiglio. The showcase marks the third chapter in the brand’s ongoing Milan series, following acclaimed editions in 2024 and 2022.
Blending architecture, culture and culinary craft, Presence continues Gaggenau’s exploration of how design can shape sensory experience. Culinary excellence remains central to the brand’s identity, and this year’s edition features a standout collaboration with three‑Michelin‑star chef Tohru Nakamura, whose creations were conceived to complement and elevate the installation’s spatial narrative.
Below is a curated selection of images from the Presence installation at Villa Necchi Campiglio during Milan Design Week 2026.
Miele creates an intelligent cooking system where cooktop and cookware work
With the new KM 8000 hobs and M Sense cookware, Miele creates an intelligent cooking system where cooktop and cookware work as one:
✔️ Smart cookware and cooktop working together – automatically adjusting power so nothing burns and nothing boils over
✔️ Full-surface induction for maximum flexibility – place your pots and pans wherever you want
✔️ Intuitive controls and clean design that keep the focus on what really matters: the cooking experience
The result? Less monitoring, less stress – and more time for the moments that happen around cooking.
Now we’d love to hear your take:
👉 Would you trust your cooktop to take over the perfect heat control
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