Arçelik obtained, for the fifth consecutive year, the highest score in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), in the sector of household durable goods companies, with the result of 86/100 in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.  This is the main global reference point on the sustainability front: based on the results obtained, companies are selected to appear in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which evaluates and rewards best performing companies in terms of sustainable attitude, based on economic, environmental and social criteria.

«In a difficult year like 2023 – commented Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik – our intent was to remain faithful to our vision of sustainability, despite the headwinds. Our dedication to building a more aware and responsible world is the underlying theme of all our activities. This prestigious recognition is a new confirmation of our leadership in sustainability and rewards our commitment».

Looking at the future Bulgurlu also added: «We continuously innovate, experimenting with environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products that have a substantial impact on reducing carbon emissions around the world. Not only that: we are committed to creating a sustainable and responsible supply chain. Let’s keep going, I’m confident we will reach new heights on our journey towards a net-zero future».

Following the Arçelik’s “positive domino effect” philosophy which drives the Group’s product strategy and technology innovation, Beko and Grundig recently launched two new technologies: EnergySpin by Beko and AI-Sense by Grundig.

Beko’s EnergySpin technology helps to reduce the household’s energy consumption. Rather than relying heavily on heat to dissolve detergent and eliminate stains, this new technology releases the detergent upfront. It harnesses the power of faster-than-usual drum speeds to elevate the pace at which the detergent dissolves. These innovative drum movements eliminate the need for excessive heat generation during the wash, resulting in up to 35% less energy consumption than conventional machines while maintaining high-quality cleaning performance.

AI powers Grundig’s new AI-Sense washing machine technology, instead,  automatically and intelligently identifies the fabric type, soil level, load weight, and rinse requirements to optimise detergent, energy, and water use. AI-Sense washing machines have approximately 28% of the product’s weight consisting of recycled materials, providing approximately a 32% reduction in the embedded carbon footprint of the product compared to a model that doesn’t use recycled materials.

As Akın Garzanlı, chief marketing officer at Arçelik, Beko plc’s parent company, explained, «the latest products for both Beko and Grundig are utilising cutting-edge innovation and the most popular technology of the moment, AI. Beko’s EnergySpin is a gamechanger technology that stands out in the industry, while Grundig’s AI-Sense brings new dimensions to the concept of efficient washing. This new AI technology allows consumers to make small yet impactful choices using the most advanced and intelligent technology available. Our company’s mission is to promote sustainable lives in every household and we aim to ensure that our products last for an extended period before requiring replacement. Through our technology, innovation, and business model, we strive to empower our customers to make meaningful and positive choices that ultimately result in a better state of mind.»

Arçelik’s wholly owned subsidiary Ardutch B.V and Whirlpool Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary Whirlpool EMEA Holdings LLC have signed a definitive Contribution Agreement for the creation of a new standalone business in the European home appliances sector. The agreement will see both Ardutch and Whirlpool transfer their European subsidiaries to the new company. After these transfers, it is expected that 75 per cent of the newly formed company will be allocated to Ardutch B.V. and 25 per cent to Whirlpool. The final post-closing ownership ratio will be determined after taking into account respective 2022 EBITDA, net asset values, net indebtedness and net working capital of the parties.

The agreement includes Whirlpool’s 38 European subsidiaries and 9 production sites located in Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and the UK, as well as Arçelik’s 2 production facilities in Romania and 25 European subsidiaries. Together, this will result in a production capacity of approximately 24 million white good products per year. The new company will manufacture, sell, and provide after-sales services for branded home appliances (including refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc.) offering broad choice to consumers through a range of Arçelik’s brands, including Grundig, Arctic, Elektrabregenz, Flavel, and Leisure, alongside Whirlpool’s existing brands of Indesit, Hotpoint, Ignis, Privileg, and Bauknecht. The company will have regional brand rights for the Beko, Blomberg and Altus brands of Arçelik and for the Whirlpool brand of Whirlpool Corporation for a period of 40 years.

«This is a unique opportunity for two exceptional companies to come together with a focus on synergies, combined innovation, retail distribution, and sustainability and is consistent with our stated strategy – commented Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik-. With today’s agreement, we are creating a strong foundation to drive value creation for employees, shareholders, and European consumers of white goods, extending Arçelik’s footprint with new growth opportunities in an important region.»

Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik, has been elected new president of APPLiA – Home Appliance Europe, the trade association based in Brussels representing the household appliance industry in Europe and carries on the mission of the producers in the sector that operate promoting European lifestyles.

For the next two-year term, the new president has announced that he will focus on promoting the sustainability plans, giving impetus to the fight against climate change and decarbonisation, involving industry, the business community and giving APPLiA a stronger and more relevant global voice from the sustainability point of view.

«Commitment and dedication were the key factors behind the tenure of my predecessor, Dr. Göetz – Bulgurlu commented – and now the stage is set for a successful collaboration. In the midst of a post-pandemic era and consequent phase of economic recovery for Europe, industry is called upon to address the cross-cutting effects of impending geopolitical challenges, affecting millions of lives and sectors in Europe and in the rest of the world. This certainly represents a challenge, but also a great opportunity, for the home appliance sector to capitalize on the successes achieved so far and continue to actively shape the energy transition»

Arçelik, owner of Grundig and Bako brands, has been awarded with the TCG Awards for sustainability, as innovative company in the EMEA area. The TCG Awards are assigned in the technical consumer good (TCG) industry. Winners are selected by a Jury made up of top managers from leading EMEA technology resellers and a representative of the global research company GfK.

The awards do not aim to allow the winning brands to be able to say that they are the “best of the best”, but they want to be a source of inspiration and continuous improvement for the entire sector. The aim of the award is to search for brands from various sectors to be awarded as brand of the year, the most impactful specialist in the category, the most relevant technological innovation, the brand that also works with sustainability in mind.

Beko and Grundig are two of the international brands of household appliances of Arçelik, a multinational of Turkish origin that owns 12 brands including Blomberg and which in turn is part of the Koç Group.

The Consortium on microplastics release during household washing processes brings together fourteen signatory parties ranging from washing machines, detergent and filter manufacturers, to test institutes and test material facilities. These include: APPLiA, Arcelik, BSH, AB Electrolux, Haier, Hengst SE, Henkel, LG Electronics, Miele, Samsung, Sefar, Swissatest, VDE and Whirlpool. The Consortium also collaborates with FTT Switzerland and the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (aise) as observers and advisors to the discussion. Representing the main voice for home appliance manufacturers in Europe, APPLiA coordinates the project as a neutral intermediary and moderator.

«To date, there is neither a concept nor a standard available to measure the behaviour of washing machines and the release of microplastics during a normal household washing cycle – stated Paolo Falcioni, APPLiA Director General -. To help closing this gap, the Consortium brings together knowledgeable experts in the field to jointly develop a feasibility study aimed at laying the foundations of a standardised testing methodology that is reliable, repeatable, and reproducible to ultimately assess the release of microplastics during a household washing cycle. As the Consortium kicks off work to score this target the industry renews its commitment to contribute to tackle the issue of microplastics and ultimately provide the tools to allow assessing the most cost-effective solution».

To join the Consortium or discover more information on the initiative, visit the dedicated webpage and/or contact Giulia Zilla, APPLiA Environment & Energy Policy Manager, at giulia.zilla@applia-europe.eu.

Steve Carron has been named Beko Home Appliances as general manager of builder sales. Carron will lead Beko’s builder channel as part of the brand’s U.S. expansion and will also be responsible and lead the Blomberg brand expansion within the builder channel. Carron will report to the vice president of sales, Peter Blackwell.

«We are thrilled – said Peter Blackwell, vice president of Sales at Beko Home Appliances – to have Steve join during an exciting time for Beko as the brand continues to make a name for itself among dealers, designers and especially builders. With Steve’s expertise, industry relationships, and achievements in strategically growing market share within the builder community, I have no doubt about his contributions to the Beko family.»

Carron brings to Veko its 30 years of experience in the industry. According to the company, he will bring his leadership strengths to support both brands’ growth externally and internally. With a tenured career in the appliance industry, he spent 26-years with Whirlpool in various sales executive roles managing numerous teams that saw improvements to business processes and operational improvement.

«I am excited to start the next chapter of my career with Arçelik‘s family of brands in Beko and Blomberg – said Carron. I look forward to directly leveraging my sales and distribution expertise in a way that is effective and realizes the big picture for Beko. Working closely with Peter, I know we will continue to see Beko’s high-quality products on builders’ short lists and in more homes across the U.S.»

Arçelik and Hitachi Global Life Solutions has created a new joint venture company, Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances B.V. The new joint venture, established by transferring 11 subsidiaries outside Japan (two manufacturing and nine sales companies) of Hitachi GLS, is operationally based in Bangkok, Thailand. Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances provides manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service for Hitachi branded home appliances (refrigerators, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, etc.) outside Japan. Arçelik has consistently expanded its home appliance business to 150 countries around the world. The company has grown significantly in Europe and achieved strong growth in South Asia over the last decade. Hitachi GLS has been operating its home appliance business mainly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where it enjoys a high-end brand image.

The Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances CEO will be Zafer Üstüner, the former Regional Head of APAC and General Manager of Thailand at Beko. Under his leadership, the new joint venture will combine the sales networks of both companies to expand the sales regions of Hitachi brand products to Europe, North Africa and other regions, as well as to integrate business bases such as production systems and procurement to strengthen competitiveness. In the field of R&D, Arçelik and Hitachi GLS will also integrate the knowledge of both parties to create new value such as connected home appliances.

«We are delighted – Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO, Arçelik said – to launch our new joint venture with Hitachi GLS, Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances. This is a major step for us in achieving our global expansion ambitions and goals to become one of the world’s top home appliances companies. The venture will have the chance to utilize complementary product portfolio and operational footprints of Arçelik. In the next few years, we will see Hitachi brand products covering full major domestic appliance need of customers and growing both in existing markets and new ones (geographies) by the support of Arçelik companies.»

«We are pleased to introduce Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances – explained Jun Taniguchi, President of Hitachi Global Life Solutions – our new joint venture company with Arçelik. I am confident that by strengthening the complementary sales networks and product strategies of both companies, Arçelik Hitachi Home Appliances will gain a competitive edge and become a market leader in the global home appliances market. In addition, by combining the distinctive technologies of both companies, such as environmental resistance and digital technology, we will contribute to improving the QoL of consumers and develop products and services that will realize a sustainable society».

Arçelik, owner of Beko and Grundig brands, has been recognized as one of the most virtuous companies in terms of sustainability worldwide. The company reached the13th place in the “Real Leaders Impact Awards 2021” ranking established by Real Leaders, sustainable business and leadership magazine, which has included Arcelik in the ranking of the “Top Impact Companies”. These are 150 companies able to make a positive difference on the world with their work and acting for the common good, with priority attention to issues of social and environmental responsibility. An important award for the company which follows the “Respecting the World, Respected Worldwide” vision, working to minimize the environmental impact of its products during the life cycle and, with sensitivity towards the problem of air pollution related to climate change.

«We are honored – Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arçelik, commented – to receive this award and to be recognized worldwide for our mission which is aimed at creating a positive impact on the environment, through the production of technologies capable of generating value and improving people’s futures. Prior to this milestone, we were named “industry leader” in the Durable Goods category for home use for the second consecutive year in the Dow Jones sustainability index 2020 and, with our carbon credits, we have become zero impact in global production in 2019 and 2020, in compliance with PAS 2060. These are important results that demonstrate how much we strive to ensure that sustainability is not only a targeted business model but become a shared lifestyle, focused on the future, on the planet and on people’s needs. We renew our commitment to build a more responsible future, in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for UN Sustainable Development.»

An interesting training initiatives for the employees is that started last year by Arctic, one of the main Romanian home appliance manufacturers, which created the TechPro Academy. Developed in collaboration with Koç University in Turkey and Valahia University in Targoviste, it proposes a calendar of technical on-line courses for the Arctic workers, using a methodology based on a specific learning and development experience, similar to an academy. The trainers are professors who teach in the two partner universities, and the courses are held exclusively on-line. This educational project, launched last September, allows partecipants to follow courses on current technical topics.
Owning the largest home appliance factory in continental Europe, with the Gaesti unit producing up to 36 million refrigerators to date, Arctic also owns an Industry 4.0 factory in Romania in Ulmi, Dambovita, with a production capacity of 2.2 millions units per year.
With a history of almost half a century, Arctic has been part of the Arçelik group since 2002.
The first beneficiaries of the academy’s courses were approximately 140 Arctic employees, having a technical profile: managers, specialists and experts from the two factories and supply chain. The TechPro Academy curriculum is adapted to the needs of Arctic employees, and the addressed topics focus on the latest technological innovations and automation processes, which underlie the principles of Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution.
«The launch of TechPro Academy is another proof of the concern we have for the professional development of employees, education being, in fact, one of the priorities of our company. I support such initiatives dedicated to the specialization of people, which offers them a real learning experience and, at the same time, ensures their contribution to the development of Romania’s competitive sectors in the current economic context. I want to thank for the involvement of the two higher education institutions, Koç University and Valahia University» – stated Murat Büyükerk, Chief Executive Officer Arctic.
TechPro Academy is a long-term initiative through which Arctic invests in the training of its employees. In 2021, the number of courses will increase, so that all employees with a technical profile can benefit from development opportunities. The academy was born as an extension of the partnership that Arçelik group has with Koc University in Turkey, and for Arctic this project is part of the long-term strategy of collaboration and mutual support with Valahia University – Targoviste.