Miele

Miele is a German manufacturer of high-end domestic appliances and commercial equipment, headquartered in Gütersloh, Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The company was founded in 1899 by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann, and has always been a family-owned and family-run company.[2] The Miele family holds 51.1% and the Zinkann family owns 48.9% of the company.

History

Miele's first products were a cream separator, butter churn, and tub washing machine, under the Meteor brand. Carl Miele supervised manufacturing personally, and Reinhard Zinkann apprenticed and handled finances and sales.

Miele began producing vacuum cleaners in 1927. Two years later, in 1929, it introduced Europe’s first electric dishwasher. From 1930 onward the company also manufactured motorcycles and by 1932 it had become the largest centrifuge manufacturer in Europe.[3]

During World War II, Miele produced torpedoes, mines, and grenades for the German war effort using slave labor. It is estimated that by 1944, 95% of the company's revenue was derived from producing and selling armaments.[4]

Milestones

Source:[2]

1899 Foundation of Miele & Cie.; production of cream separators

1900 Production of butter churns and washing machines

1912–1914 Production of motorcars (125 vehicles)

1914 First washing machine with an electric motor; Branches set up in Brussels, Buenos Aires, Paris, Warsaw and Vienna

1924–1960 Production of bicycles and motorcycles in Bielefeld

1927 Production of first vacuum cleaners

1929 Production of Europe's first electric dishwasher[7]

1955 Dutch slogan "Miele. Er is geen betere" introduced

1956 First fully automatic washing machine

1958 First domestic tumble dryer

1963 Miele launches in the UK

1966 First humidity sensing dryer, the T 460

1976 First top-loading washer-dryer, the WT 489.

1978 First microprocessor-controlled washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers

1982 Launch of "The New Miele-class" with innovations like a 1,200 RPM spin speed, service friendly construction (hinged front)

1986 Introduction of the Hydromatic washing drum with perforated paddles which increases washing performance

1987 Introduction of the world's first dishwasher with a cutlery tray, the G 595 SC

1988 First front-loading washer-dryer by Miele, the WT 745. Also in that year, Miele acquired the professional appliance manufacturer Cordes

1989 700-series washing machines refreshed with Novotronic electronic control

1990 Kitchen appliance manufacturer Imperial taken over

1991 900-series washing machines launched with Novotronic surface-mount devices technology. Also introduced in that year and with the 900-series: 1,600 RPM spin speed

1991 Developed and created the wet cleaning process in partnership with Kreussler Textile Chemistry

Miele store amsterdam.jpg First washing machine with a program for hand-washable woolens, and Miele InfoControl: the first mobile receiver to process data transmitted by Miele domestic appliances. WT 745 discontinued and succeeded by the WT 945

1998 First fully automatic built-in coffee maker by Miele, the CVA 620. Also in that year, Miele introduced a gas-fueled dryer for domestic use, the T 478 G

1999 First washing machine with a 1,800 RPM spin speed and brushless FU motor, the W397. Also that year, Miele celebrated their 100th anniversary

2001 Launch of the patented "SoftCare" honeycomb pattern drum

2003 Navitronic washing machines and tumble dryers with an "Automatic" program

2004 New G 1000/G 2000 dishwasher series using a patented production process

2005 TouchControl operation for dishwashers, cookers, steam cookers and microwaves, 37th Miele subsidiary set up in Korea. Kitchen production halted.

2006 New washing machine/tumble dryer series with innovative design

2013 New washing machine and dryer series called W1 and T1

2014 New slogan for The Netherlands, "Miele. Er is geen betere" has been changed to the international slogan, "Immer Besser"

2017 Miele launches Dialog Oven with M-Chef Technology and automatic menu cooking

type	Kommanditgesellschaft
industry	Manufacturing
foundation	July 1, 1899 in Herzebrock, Germany
founders	Carl Miele Reinhard Zinkann
location	Gütersloh, Germany
key people	Markus Miele (Co-Proprietor, MD) Reinhard Zinkann Jr. (Co-Proprietor, MD) Olaf Bartsch (Finances, Administration) Axel Kniehl (Marketing, Sales) Stefan Breit (Technology) ‡R1R‡
products	Domestic appliances and commercial equipment
revenue	€5.4 billion (2022)‡R1R‡
owners	Miele family (51.1%) Zinkann family (48.9%)
num employees	23,322 (December 31, 2022)‡R1R‡

History

Milestones

Products

Slogans

See also

External links

References