Electrolux Major Appliances - Home Appliances for Domestic and Professional Use

The Electrolux Group is a global leader in home appliances for domestic and professional use, selling more than 40 million products every year to customers in 150 countries. The company focuses upon 'thoughtful design innovation.' Using extensive consumer insight, we aim to meet the real needs of consumers worldwide.

The Electrolux Group's products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cookers. They are sold under esteemed brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux and Zanussi-Electrolux. In 2005, The Electrolux Group had sales of SEK100 billion and 57,000 employees.

'INTEGRATED' OR 'BUILT-IN' HOME APPLIANCES

The Electrolux Group supplies nearly 25% of the market share of 'integrated' or 'built-in' appliances in the UK.. These products range from the premium Germanic performance of the AEG-Electrolux range to the style and innovation of Zanussi-Electrolux. All possess the established reputation and reliability of the Electrolux 'trust' mark.

INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOME APPLIANCES

Underpinning this position is a commitment to product innovation and ongoing development. Some of our recent innovative products are:

• The 'world's quietest dishwasher'
• The first internet or screenfridge
• Weight sensor washing machines
• Pyrolytic or 'self-cleaning' cookers
• Highly specified compact 'built-in' products
• The AEG-Electrolux 'quiet kitchen'
• The latest technology in induction hobs

AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL REPUTATION

The Electrolux Group has an enviable reputation on environmental and energy issues. We received no less than four out of the five Energy+ Awards presented by the European Commission in 2004.

Electrolux products also feature in leading eco-architect Professor Sue Roaf’s book Eco House. This is currently the top selling international book on the subject and the course book for architect students studying eco-themed educational courses. The latest Electrolux products will feature in her next book, Eco House Three, which is due out in 2007.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HOME APPLIANCE DESIGN

Electrolux currently employs around 110 designers in seven countries stretched over four continents. The Electrolux organisation is committed to design based on real consumer insight and securing a worldwide position as the leading innovator of 'thoughtful design' for home appliances.

Electrolux boasts a long list of famous designers, including Raymond Loewy, Sixten Sason and leading Italian designer Roberto Pezzetta, who led the Zanussi industrial design centre for many years.

As an example, AEG, through Peter Behrens, was one of the first companies to take a holistic approach to design management. Peter Behrens later became a founding member of the Bauhaus movement.

The company was also one of the first establishers of internal company design management, setting up an organization as early as 1964. It was run by Hugo Lindström, a pioneer of Swedish industrial design.

From 1985 to 2004 the corporate design team was led by Christian Klingspor. In 2004 Henrik Otto moved from Volvo to become the new head of global design for the Electrolux Group.

AWARD WINNING DESIGNS FOR HOME APPLIANCES

With a strong history and team, Electrolux boasts an extensive array of prestigious awards for its excellence in product design.

These include several International Forum Design (IF) awards (Germany), red dot awards (Germany), Compasso d'oro (Italy), Janus de l'industrie (France), the ID Magazine Award (USA), and the prominent Chicago Good Design Award. These awards have been presented to numerous Electrolux products in recent years.

For the 2006 edition of the 'red dot,' a quality label granted only to products of the highest quality design, 2,068 entries from 41 countries competed for the award. This year, Electrolux won 'red dots' for ten of its products, among which were our built-in oven and cooker range, induction hobs, hoods and a wine cooler, as well as a number of other innovative designs.