Appliances

Whirlpool Sells Amana Microwave Unit

Whirlpool Sells Amana Microwave Unit

Whirlpool Corp. has sold a commercial microwave unit for U.S. $49 million to Aga Foodservice Group Plc, according to a Bloomberg News report.

Whirlpool said in May it planned to sell the Amana commercial microwave unit, along with its Hoover vacuum, Dixie- Narco vending machine and Jade commercial appliance divisions, after its $1.68-billion purchase of rival Maytag Corp.

Amana microwaves are used at fast-food restaurants. The products are manufactured in Whirlpool’s factory in Amana, IA, U.S., where Whirlpool is expanding production of refrigerators with freezers on the bottom.

Solihull, England-based Aga said it will move production to a new site within 2 years.

Hoover’s fate is still being considered as Whirlpool gauges interest in the product line.

Uncategorized
According to Business Standard, Videocon Electrolux will set up a greenfield facility in Uttaranchal to manufacture air-conditioners at an investment of Rs 150 crore.
Anirudh Dhoot, managing director, Videocon Industries-Electrolux, said the plant was expected to be ready by April 2007 so as to make available the product during the the summer.
He added the capacity would be upgraded later to include refrigerators and washing machines. The plant will come up under the Videocon Industries banner.
The company has launched a new range of washing machines in line with the upcoming festival season with special holeless drums to help save water up to 40 per cent.
At present, we have 3.5 per cent market share, but after rolling out this range we expect it to go up to 8 per cent, said Dhoot.
He added the company expected a sales turnover of Rs 600 crore by December 2006 and was aiming for a turnover of Rs 750 crore by December 2007.
In the past year we have grown at 30 per cent compared with the industry which has seen 18-20 per cent growth, noted Dhoot.
The projected sales for washing machines for 2006 is 1.10 lakh units compared with 64,408 units in 2005, said Madhav Nene, deputy general manager-marketing, Videocon Industries-Electrolux.
In terms of advertising and marketing spend, Dhoot said the company had kept aside Rs 6 crore for next two months.
The company will spend Rs 25 crore on Electrolux, the appliances brand, and Rs 10 crore on Kelvinator, the kitchen appliances brand, this year, said Dhoot.
The company will also be introducing additional units in the microwave range and expect sales to grow from 58,000 units last year to over 1 lakh units.
Installation, Products

Stainless Steel v. White Appliances

Most of us in the appliance business figured it was a fad a couple of years back. But now, homeowners are realizing that white appliances (or other colors for that matter) make their kitchen more unique than if they were to uses stainless steel appliances.

Emiril and Wolfgang popularized big, bulky, professional-style stainless-steel. Viewers want what the pros have.

Now, according to Domino Magazine, the new stainless steel is… well… white.