NEWS
New developments in the Home Electronics & HVAC industry
Gorenje plans new factories in Serbia & Slovenia P lans for the construction of two new production plants have been announced by Slovenian household appliance manufacturer Gorenje. The company, owned by China’s Hisense Group, intends to construct two plants; one is Velenje, Slovenia, the other in Valjevo, Serbia. The factory in Velenje is scheduled to be opened by the end of 2020 and will make approximately one million TV appliances each year. A statement from the company said: “We are planning to increase the output capacity to 4 million TV sets annually (by 2023). Thus, between 300 and 400 new jobs will be created in the first stage; in the second stage, the factory is expected to employ one thousand people. The investment is valued at several dozen million euros. TV appliances from our factory will be mostly intended for the European market.”
Expansion is also planned at Gorenje Valjevo. The existing refrigeration appliance factory currently employs 1,500 people and had an output in 2018 of 672,000 units. Following the relocation of the remaining refrigeration production line from Velenje to Valjevo, which is scheduled for completion in April, the output capacity will be increased by 150,000 appliances each year. The Gorenje press release added: “In the future, we intend to build an additional cold appliance factory that will employ up to 1,000 more employees
and increase the output capacity by extra 750,000 units per year already in the first stage. This will include combined fridge freezers and side-by-side appliances. With the expansion, Gorenje Valjevo will become Hisense Group’s centre for refrigeration technology in Europe.” Chairman of the Committee of Directors Franjo Bobinac added: “Hisense Group is the leading electronics and home appliance manufacturer in the Asian market, and their last year’s entry as the new strategic owner laid the foundations for even stronger development. This will grant us access to new markets and allow the production of a new set of products, while keeping and boosting the presence of Gorenje Group’s strategically important products and brands both in its current markets and in the future, new markets.” Visit: www.gorenjegroup.com
Corkbrick completes second round of crowdfunding
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ortuguese sustainable dynamic structures and furniture startup Corkbrick Europe has announced that it has completed its latest investment round by raising €271,394 on investment platform Seedrs, attracting 252 investors - taking its total number of Seedrs investors to 500. The target for Corkbrick’s second Seedrs funding round was set at €250,033 but following a surge of interest it raised a total of €271,394 bringing onboard 252 investors, taking its total number of retail investors across its two Seedrs rounds to 500. Funds raised will go towards increasing production 10 times to 4,000 pieces a day. Corkbrick is on its way to building the first “Fan Owned Company” to create “Sustainable Dynamic Structures and Furniture”. In a statement online, Corkbrick said: “It is thanks to our fans that we will be able to dream bigger and bring Corkbrick to every household in the world!”
Inspired by Lego and Nature, Corkbrick Europe has developed a modular construction system of blocks made of cork, which can create any type of structure or furniture without the use of tools, screws or glue. The business founded by a father and daughter team is on a mission to improve people’s lives by simplifying the way people create and recreate the spaces they live and work in, with clever, natural and sustainable solutions. It offers a solution to a universal problem – configuration of houses, offices or any space without compromising other future uses. The company also recently announced that despite ongoing Brexit uncertainty it will open up a UK branch in 2020. Whilst the location is still to be decided, the objective of the branch will be to source and produce their materials and product locally and be closer to the UK market.
Founder and CEO Miguel Reynolds Brandão said: “We are delighted yet again by the support and interest we’ve experienced throughout both of our investment rounds, and believe it demonstrates the clear demand for a sustainable product that can bring smart solutions for smart living. We look forward to welcoming both new and old investors on our journey into our next exciting phase of growth.” Visit: www.corkbrick.com
Bitzer Wins Best Application Compressor Award For CSVH Series
The award was presented in Hyderabad in southern India’s Telangana state on 18 January 2019. Harvider Bhatia, Bitzer India’s Managing Director said: “Our CSVH series of compact screw compressors truly is an innovation – and we’re very happy that an independent jury agrees with this view. But it comes as no surprise: the
intelligent, speed-controlled CSVH series has an integrated frequency inverter and is the most efficient compressor in its class today.” The CSVH is already in use in a range of data centres and chiller manufacturers across India.
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he Indian division of German refrigeration and air conditioning technology manufacturer Bitzer has won the Best Application Compressor Award at the Global Logistics Excellence Awards for its CSVH compact screw compressor series.
14 Industry Europe
Visit: www.bitzer.de
