Defy Appliances is a South African manufacturing company and is the largest manufacturer and distributor of major domestic appliances in Southern Africa.[1] The company manufactures and develops a range of large appliances from gas stoves, refrigerators, washing machines and tumble dryers to continuous clean ovens and convection ovens.
History
It currently operates two factories:
Defy Appliances was founded in 1905[2] in Wentworth, KwaZulu-Natal by John Skinner and Sir Benjamin Greenacre. The company manufactured its first product, electric stoves, in 1932.[1] The Durban Falkirk Iron Company (DFI, now DEFY) moved the foundry from Jacobs to Newcastle around 1987.[3] In July 2011, the company was acquired by Turkish based Arçelik for US$324-million as part of its plan to expand into emerging markets in Africa.[4][5]
- Jacobs (Durban) — manufactures freestanding stoves, built-in ovens, hobs, and tumble dryers.
- Ezakheni (Ladysmith) — manufactures electric chest freezers and electric refrigerators.
References
- About Defy Defy Appliances, retrieved January 6, 2012^
- About - Defy Defy, retrieved 2018-07-23^
- Falkirk retrieved 2021-01-20^
- Turkey's Arçelik buys Defy Appliances SAinfo, 25 July 2011, retrieved January 6, 2012^
- Tuesday, 16 March 2021 מייבשי כביסה^