Samsung Electronics celebrates its 50th anniversary

This is a very significant year for Samsung Electronics that arrives to its 50th anniversary since it was founded. The occasion was celebrated with an event at Samsung Digital City, the Company’s headquarters in Suwon. More than 400 employees were present to commemorate the milestone, together with the Company’s executive team including Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman & CEO of Device Solutions (DS) Division, Hyunsuk Kim, President & CEO of Consumer Electronics (CE) Division, Dongjin Koh, President & CEO of IT & Mobile Communications (IM) Division.
Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, through a video message, extended his gratitude to all Samsung employees for their dedication over the past 50 years and emphasized the Company’s commitment to build upon its legacy and become a Centennial company.

«The past 50 years were only possible – said Vice Chairman Lee – thanks to the dedication and hard work of each and every one of you. Looking to the next 50 years, let’s free our imaginations and dream of an extraordinary future. Applying our new technologies, let’s build a healthier and happier future. By sharing and growing together we will become the very best in the world.»
Kinam Kim, Vice Chairman & CEO of DS Division, shared three key goals towards Samsung’s continued growth in the next chapter of the Company’s life.
«Unpredictable change, driven by material shifts in demographics and consumer behavior, – he noted – will be a hallmark of the next era of the technology industry. So to ensure our survival in the new era, we must pursue relentless self-innovation. We must never cease to learn, be bold and fearless in our pursuits and execute thoroughly when undertaking all our tasks.
By staying ahead of their needs and expectations and by finding ways to thrive in evolving markets, we can continue to ensure that customers are at the center of our business. Finally, Let us all work together to help Samsung continue to evolve into a company that contributes to a better world and stay a respected and beloved company for future generations. I ask that all of us not forget our responsibilities as good corporate citizens in the journey.»

Samsung Brings a Breath of Fresh Air to the Home Appliances Market with Three Dynamic Products at IFA 2019

Samsung Electronics will unveil three new advanced home appliances in Europe — the POWERstick Jet™ vacuum cleaner, AirDresser, and the Cube air purifier. Together, these three home appliances, which are being introduced at IFA 2019 ahead of launches elsewhere, will take Europe consumers’ breath away.

Each device offers a unique and practical solution to the many challenges of modern urban lifestyles, like clothing contamination, air pollution and dust.

“We are excited to introduce the POWERstick Jet™, AirDresser and Cube to consumers in Europe, equipped with outstanding functionality and unmatched design to enhance consumers’ daily experience,” said Taehwan Hwang, Corporate VP of Europe & CIS Product Management Group at Samsung Electronics. “Consumers have high expectations, seeking dynamic performance even from basic home appliances and our mission is to meet those expectations directly.”

The POWERstick Jet™ vacuum cleaner is a game-changer in terms of powerful suction capabilities. AirDresser represents a new category of clothing care appliances. It refreshes and sanitizes clothing using powerful blasts of air and steam, enabling consumers to re-wear clothes without having to run a full load of laundry and helping them lengthen the lifespan of delicate garments. Meanwhile, the Cube air purifier couples sleek, modular design with advanced air purification technology to help consumers enjoy clean air quality at home.

Strong Suction Power Paired with Impressive Filtration
The POWERstick Jet™ targets consumer demand for suction power from their cordless vacuum cleaners to match that of corded units. POWERstick Jet™ delivers, using Samsung’s Digital Inverter Motor and Jet Cyclone System to generate up to 200W1 of industry-leading suction power. This results in stronger cleaning and offers consumers maximized convenience.

Samsung also developed the best-in-class 5-layer HEPA filtration system for the POWERstick Jet™. The impressive filter captures 99.999%2 of dust particles and allergens, keeping them from escaping back into the air through the vacuum exhaust, which underlines Samsung’s commitment to caring for the health and safety of consumers.

In the first stage of the filtration process, the main cyclone separates large dust particles, which are then trapped in another metal mesh grille filter. The Jet Cyclone serves as a second cyclone and works together with a washable micro filter to capture finer dust particles. And finally, an ultra-fine dust filter captures 0.3~10µm3 sized dust particles. All parts and filters are washable, so the unit can be maintained hygienically.

POWERstick Jet™ comes with a removable high-capacity battery, meaning you can replace it with a spare4 to clean for twice as longer.

A New Way to Refresh Clothes for Consumers
AirDresser introduces a new standard of clothing care that addresses unmet consumer needs for a more efficient method of refreshing and revitalizing their clothes on a daily basis. Consumers want to be able to take better care of their clothes, especially if they are made of delicate materials. Consumers can now quickly and conveniently freshen up their outfit at home to always look their best, while saving time and money; trips to the dry cleaners are no longer needed.

AirDresser freshens clothes with its Jet Air system and Air Hangers, using powerful jets of air to loosen and remove engrained dust, even from deep within the fabric. The Jet Steam feature sanitizes garments gently to get rid of bacteria while Heatpump Drying also provides delicate care for clothes by drying them at a low temperature to reduce shrinkage and heat damage. AirDresser also features a Deodorizing Filter to capture and remove odors while preventing them from building up inside the unit. It even has a Dust Filter that keeps the inside of the compartment clean by capturing the dust left floating in the air.

Available in a Crystal Mirror color, AirDresser blends advanced technologies with unique styling, doubling as a state-of-the-art wardrobe that fits in beautifully with contemporary living spaces.

Clean Air for Indoor Living
European consumers are becoming more interested in how the environment impacts their health and are curious to learn the benefits of having an air purifier at home. Samsung Cube AX9500 is Samsung’s first air purifier model to launch in the European market, and features the world’s first Wind-Free™ air purification system. Unlike other air purifiers, the Samsung Cube AX9500 does not have an air draft or makes loud noises. Also, powerful air purification is provided with a 3-layered purification system that purifies and deodorizes air. First, the Washable Pre Filter extracts larger dust particles, such as pollen and pet dander. Then, an Activated Carbon Deodorization Filter reduces the presence of various potentially dangerous gases, such as formaldehyde, toluene, ethylbenzene and styrene5. Finally, an ultra-fine dust filter captures up to 99.97% of 0.3µm sized dust particles.6

The unit features a cube-shaped, modular design with contemporary aesthetics to match its powerful, customized performance. Because they are modular, two Cubes can be easily stacked — each comes with its own docking component — so that each unit can release air in different directions depending on how they are set up.

The Cube units can also be paired in one room for extra power or separated to purify two rooms simultaneously. When paired, a seamless Bluetooth connection lets users control both units as one.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will introduce high-priced home appliances to woo European consumers at the IFA tech trade show

Samsung will showcase three home appliances ― Air Dresser steam closet, Jet cordless vacuum and “windless” air purifier Cube ― while LG will introduce a washing machine equipped with artificial intelligence (AI).

Samsung expects the three home appliances will become a hit, given the products have gained popularity in Korea with their innovative features.

“With these three items that have been received well among Korean consumers, Samsung is aiming to expand its market share after showcasing them at the IFA fair,” an official said.

The steam closet will be released in the U.K. first during the October-December period and will hit other European markets in the fourth quarter of 2019.Samsung expects its Air Dresser will become a perfect fit for European consumers because dry cleaning there is quite expensive.

“According to our own survey, European consumers just dry out their garments outside or use fabric deodorizers when they try to deodorize their clothes,” a company spokesperson said. “As they have to pay quite a price for dry cleaning, we expect the Air Dresser will offer them convenience in garment care.”

The Jet cordless vacuum cleaner will be released in the U.K., Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“While the cordless vacuums account for about 80 percent of the entire vacuum cleaner market in Korea, the figure remains at about 40 percent in Europe. We see there will be a huge demand for cordless cleaners,” the spokesperson said.

LG said its front-loading washing machine would be displayed at the IFA exhibition. Featuring AI technology, the product can sense the type of fabrics and offer the optimal washing setting.

“The AI-powered washer can detect the weight of clothes and sense the softness of fabric. After analyzing the information, it offers an optimal washing setting,” an LG official said.

The washer is powered by a direct drive motor directly connected to the drum, reducing energy consumption and noise.

The company says the washing machine can reduce fabric damage by 18 percent compared with other washers.

“According to a recent test conducted by the U.K.-based quality assurance company Intertek, the latest product was found to reduce fabric damage by 18 percent compared to a conventional LG washing machine,” the official said.

The washing machines are sold in eight European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland, and LG plans to expand this to 30 nations by the end of 2019.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. is proud to announce the rankings and results of J.D. Power’s 2019 Kitchen and Laundry Appliance Satisfaction studies.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. is proud to announce the rankings and results of J.D. Power’s 2019 Kitchen and Laundry Appliance Satisfaction studies. As the number one selling brand of major appliances1,Samsung has achieved number one rankings in both Laundry and Kitchen, ranking the highest in five out of nine categories.

Consumer satisfaction was measured on a 1000-point scale and was based on six factors: ease of use, features, performance and reliability, price, styling and appearance, and warranty. Highlights of this year’s study include:

In Front-Load Washers, Samsung ranked number one for the second year in a row out of 5 brands and performed highest in ease of use, performance and reliability, price, styling and appearance and features.

In Top-Load Washers, Samsung ranked number one out of 5 brands and performed highest in performance and reliability, price, ease of use, features, styling and appearance and warranty.

In Clothes Dryers, Samsung ranked number one out of 5 brands and performed highest in performance and reliability, price, ease of use, features, styling and appearance and warranty.

In Freestanding Ranges, Samsung ranked number one out of 6 brands and performed highest in performance and reliability, ease of use, styling and appearance, features and warranty.
In Over-the-Range Microwaves, Samsung ranked number one out of 6 brands and performed highest inperformance and reliability, ease of use, price, styling and appearance and features.
“At Samsung, we are proud to be recognized by J.D. Power’s Appliance Satisfaction studies on such a broad scale,” said John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics America.“The J.D. Power results are invigorating and reinforce our commitment to unique design and innovation. As we focus on our 2019 and 2020 line-ups, we are excited to bring more cutting-edge products to the market that inspire consumers and achieve the level of performance our consumers have come to expect.”

About J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power has offices serving North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

1 TraQline, Number 1 market share of large U.S. home appliance from 2016 to current (Q1 2019)

Samsung to Outsource Manufacture of Low-End Appliances

Samsung will outsource the manufacture of low-cost home appliances to other companies amid dwindling profits from the business.

Industry insiders said Samsung is looking for factories to outsource the production of low-end refrigerators, air purifiers and other home appliances. Samsung will handle research and development, product design and marketing, but the actual products sold under its brand will be manufactured elsewhere.

Samsung will outsource the manufacture of low-cost home appliances to other companies amid dwindling profits from the business.

The move signals a sea change for Korean conglomerates, which have long insisted on making even less profitable appliances in their own factories, first in Korea and then, as labor costs rose, in China and Vietnam.

Samsung is mainly eyeing Chinese manufacturers, according to an industry insider, starting with refrigerators and small washing machines.

A Samsung staffer said, “We will keep producing high-value-added products such as semiconductors, TVs and smartphones.”

Last year, Samsung suffered losses from two low-priced refrigerator models due to high manufacturing overheads. Profit-loss simulations showed that outsourcing their manufacture would save costs and produce W250 billion in additional profits. (US$1=W1,189).

The company also lost money from modifying production lines and purchasing vast amounts of parts for its bewildering range of products amid intensifying competition from low-priced Chinese rivals.

“We will pursue a two-track approach by continuing to manufacture premium home appliances at our factory in Gwangju while outsourcing low-priced products,” the staffer said.

Samsung has been looking to cut costs for decades. It set up factories in Malaysia in 1991 and expanded to Suzhou, China, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Poland and Mexico to make affordable products for sale there.

Outsourcing production entirely is the logical next step. Home appliances are not Samsung’s mainstay and only account for some nine percent of its sales in an oversaturated market.

Song Jae-yong at Seoul National University said, “There are concerns that Korea could lose production knowhow if the manufacture of an entire line of products is outsourced, but transferring production of low-value-added products can cut costs, boost efficiency and help corporate management.”

Samsung Electronics’ BESPOKE Refrigerator

The BESPOKE refrigerator, a customizable refrigerator recently launched by Samsung Electronics, is getting favorable reviews from overseas media outlets. With the new refrigerator, customers can customize their own configurations of material, color, sizing and other feature choices. It comes in eight sizes and nine color panels, allowing the customer to build a refrigerator depending on their taste, residential space and family size.

Samsung Electronics said on July 4 that Fast Company, a U.S. economic media outlet, recently reviewed BESPOKE in an article entitled “This just might be the world’s most beautiful refrigerator. The article says, “Built from any combination of colors and door configurations, Bespoke’s modular color blocks assemble to look like anything from a stylish locker to an armoire designed by Piet Mondrian.”

“Samsung Electronics has proved that fridges can be as fashionable as they are functional with the release of its new line of BESPOKE refrigerators,” said a reviewer at Reviewed.com, a U.S. website that reviews and recommends products to help readers buy the stuff they need. “The refrigerators look more like abstract artwork than a family fridge.”

Samsung Electronics said that the BESPOKE refrigerator attracted a lot of attention from visitors to the Project Prism showroom, which was launched on July 4 at the Main Gangnam Branch of the Samsung Digital Plaza in Seoul. Project Prism features home appliances that can fit into any lifestyle by allowing customers to personalize the materials, colors, shapes and designs of the products. The number of visitors surpassed 10,000 in four weeks since the refrigerator was launched. The visitors included journalists from Latin America.

“The characteristics of millennial consumers factored in BESPOKE are not limited to Korea, but are global trends,” said Yang Hye-soon, managing director of the Household Appliance Business Division at Samsung.