Some Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and JennAir brand glass cooktops could be a fire hazard.A recall notice posted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission said certain models can turn on by themselves.
The recall applies to about 26,300 stoves sold in the United States, along with 1,928 sold in Canada and Mexico.
The recalled stoves were manufactured between December 2016 and July 2019.
Beko Europe has announced the closure of some European operations, relocating production elsewhere. This decision aligns with the Turkish manufacturer’s long-standing aggressive pricing strategy. A quick online search reveals washing machines priced as low as €270. Given that raw material costs are consistent globally, and Italy faces some of the highest energy costs in the world, it’s no surprise that Beko would choose to produce in Turkey, where labor costs are a fifth of those in Italy.
Beko’s move is a logical step in maintaining its competitive edge. The real oversight lies with those who now invoke goldenpower to keep unprofitable factories running. Political leaders should have steered the sale of Whirlpool’s assets towards companies with different market strategies. Instead, they are now attempting to rectify a situation that has been deteriorating for years.
In the Fabriano area, some are calling for drastic measures, but such actions are futile. What is truly needed are rational and forward-thinking industrial policies.
Girbau , the world leader in industrial laundry equipment, plans to open a new plant in North America to strengthen its ability to respond to the US protectionism expected under Donald Trump’s presidency. This strategic move seeks to optimise logistics efficiency and consolidate its position in the United States, its largest regional market. At the same time, the company is boosting its expansion in Asia with a subsidiary in Malaysia, designed as an operational centre for Southeast Asia. In 2023, Girbau achieved revenues of 194 million euros, 7% more than in 2022, with growth based on increased real sales. Net attributable profit grew by a remarkable 63%, reaching 13.95 million euros. By 2024, the company plans to consolidate these results and exceed 200 million euros in revenue, underpinning its global leadership. Girbau, based in Vic, operates with 17 subsidiaries and sells in 150 countries, employing 800 people. It allocates 4.4% of its sales to R&D, focusing its efforts on digitalization, automation and sustainability. Its international strategy reflects a commitment to innovation and adaptation to global dynamics to strengthen its position in key mark
For several years, the EverEver company has been developing its project for a dishwasher built to last 20 years, eco-designed, easily repairable and manufactured in France. Today, this funding from Bpifrance will help EverEver launch its first production site in France in 2025 in the Vannes metropolitan area, in Morbihan. ” This investment is crucial to meet the growing demand for sustainable household appliances,” emphasizes Martin Hacpille, founder of EverEver. It will allow us to produce in large series while remaining faithful to our commitments in terms of sustainability, repairability and minimal environmental impact .”
A production manager has been hired and is already working on the project to create this factory. In addition to creating direct jobs, this project will also strengthen the local economy and industry. It should be remembered that the manufacture of Albert, the sustainable dishwasher, will be based on collaboration with a network of local subcontractors with whom partnerships have already been established. ” Today, after a long period of work and testing, 100% of the parts of the device are known and ready to be launched ,” says Martin Hacpille
Elica closes the third quarter with a contraction of ‘only’ 1.1% thanks to the excellent performance of the Engine Division (+9%) which gained market share in Europe. The bet on Cooking is slow to pay off: in the January-September period, despite the award-winning models of the Nikolatesla and Lhov lines, sales fell by 4% (very weak demand in Europe, improvements in the USA).
The balance of the very difficult first nine months of 2024 sees a drop of almost 5% in turnover, down to 342 million euros and margins in line with expectations. The Fabriano group does not give up and finances an intense promotional activity and investments in its own brand lines with careful cost control. The margin on revenues in the first nine months was 7.2% against 10.4% in 2023.
Sabaf Group announced its partnership with UGT , a company known for the Unionaire and Premium brands. The positive moment continues for Sabaf Group. After having presented positive half-yearly data, it begins a new phase of expansion with the signing of an important long-term agreement with the Egyptian company.
UGT is one of the leading Middle Eastern manufacturers of household appliances with headquarters in Egypt and production sites throughout the North Africa and Middle East area. In recent years it has recorded significant growth with the Unionaire and Premium brands,The agreement formalizes the supply of components from Sabaf Group to UGT. It ensures that UGT’s appliances continue to feature high-quality, reliable, and innovative elements with a clear roadmap of continuous development for the benefit of UGT’s most loyal consumers. This partnership opens the door to advance in all areas of UGT appliances such as refrigeration, heating, induction cooking developments and small appliances, ensuring UGT gets the best world-class technologies (mechanical/electronic/induction) and an ecological footprint.
Haier Group laid the foundation stone for the second phase of its Haier Eco-Friendly Complex located in 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt.
Spanning an additional 50,000 square metres, the second phase comes with a $40 million investment and a planned production capacity of 300,000 units comprising refrigerators and freezers, Ahmed El-Gendy, Haier’s Director in Egypt said.
The new expansion builds on the first phase, inaugurated in May 2023, which was established with an investment of $100 million and encompasses three factories and ancillary plants. The first phase currently produces over 1.5 million units and has created 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. The second phase is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs in the supply chain.
Beko has placed industrial localisation at the forefront of its strategy with its first manufacturing plant in the 10th of Ramadan industrial city.
The facility, covering 114,000 square metres, will heavily rely on local suppliers, with the local content expected to reach 50-60 percent, said Umit Günel, General Manager of Beko Egypt.
“Beko Egypt’s local manufacturing drive aims to make Egypt a central hub for exporting home appliances to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with 60 percent of production allocated for export,” he told Zawya Projects, adding that the plant is projected to generate $250 million annually in export revenues.
The plant was officially inaugurated last week.
He emphasised the company’s commitment to boosting cooperation with local manufacturers of plastics, cables, and metals to deepen localisation, adding that within the first six months of operations, Beko Egypt increased its production capacity from 1 million to 1.5 million units of ovens and refrigerators annually and expanded its supplier network.
The plant, built with an investment exceeding $110 million, will focus on producing eco-friendly home appliances designed to save water and energy in line with Egypt’s green economy goals. It is also expected to provide over 2,000 jobs for Egyptian youth, bolstering the national economy.
Günel said the facility will run on renewable energy, supporting Beko’s ‘Zero Waste’ policy. Any production waste will be recycled, with metals and other components re-evaluated for quality.
“Beko’s dishwashers, for example, will incorporate plastic parts made from recycled materials, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability,” he said.
The Beko Egypt official noted that, despite tough market competition, the company is ready to expand further, continuously assessing new possibilities to introduce additional products. The dishwashing segment has received fast-track approval from Egyptian authorities.
Beko, which ranks as the second-largest household appliance brands in the region and among the top ten worldwide, currently produces 65 million units annually across the globe. The company’s global operations span 58 countries with 46 production facilities in 14 countries
To mark the 10th anniversary of Home Connect, BSH presents new functions and appliances at IFA Berlin 2024 that promote sustainability and comfortable use. The Smart Start function automates the operation of home appliances based on the highest proportion of renewable energy in the power grid. For consumers who use dynamic electricity tariffs, Smart Start can also determine the program start of appliances based on current electricity prices. The Care Dashboard allows you to monitor the status of your appliances, identify maintenance requirements at an early stage and fix problems directly in the Home Connect app. The XXL built-in fridge-freezers from #Bosch and #Siemens are the world’s first Matter-enabled home appliances to set new standards in cross-brand #connectivity at home. With its integration into the Matter standard, BSH is actively positioning itself for the smart home of the future.
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) announced today it has approved a 13.5 billion baht (USD 400 million) investment promotion application by Haier Appliance Manufacture (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a unit of China’s Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd., to set a factory that will produce annually six million smart air conditioners and bring extensive economic benefits.
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