Gorenje

Gorenje, d.d.

Type	Public
Traded as	LJSE: GRVG
Industry	Home appliances
Founded	1950
Headquarters	Velenje, Slovenia
Key people	Franjo Bobinac, President and CEO of Management Board
Revenue	€ 1.26 bn (2012)
Operating income	€ 44.9m (2012)
Net income	€ 0.3m (2012)
Number of employees	10,700 (2012)
Website	www.gorenjegroup.com

Gorenje (Slovene pronunciation: [ɡɔˈrɛ̀ːnjɛ])^[1] is the largest Slovenian manufacturer of white goods (larger home appliances). With a continent-wide market share of 4%, it is one of the eight largest manufacturers of home appliances in Europe.^[2] Appliances are sold under company's own brands Gorenje, Mora, Atag, Pelgrim, Etna, Körting and Sidex, and are produced in the main production facility in Velenje as well as at the cooking appliances plant Mora Moravia in Mariánské Údolí (Czech Republic) and at the fridge-freezer plant in Valjevo (Serbia).

Since the company’s beginnings in 1950, Gorenje has expanded into a multinational corporation and the Gorenje Group currently includes 83 companies, 59 of which are located outside Slovenia. In addition to household appliances, Gorenje manufactures ceramics, kitchen and bathroom furniture, and provides services in the fields of energy, ecology and trade. Its products for home, services and companies are present in over 70 countries, mostly in Europe. It cooperates with Swarovski, Pininfarina, Karim Rashid, and Ora-Ïto.

History

1950 - 1960

• Gorenje is established by Ivan Atelšek in a village Gorenje. Initially the company manufactures agricultural machinery.
• In 1958, Gorenje starts producing solid-fuel cookers.
• In 1960, the company is relocated to the nearby town of Velenje.

1961 - 1970

• In 1961, Gorenje exports the first 200 cookers to Germany.
• In 1964, Gorenje starts producing washing machines under the license from Zanussi. The first washing machines were PS 270 and PS 275. 10,886 units were produced until the end of 1966. These two models were only assembled in Yugoslavia, as all parts and components came from Italy. Other well-known models include PS 603, PS 652, PS 653, PS 653 Bio (launched in 1967), and PS 653 R (with water tank, launched in 1968).
• In 1969, production of refrigerators is launched.

1971 - 1980

• The product range is expanded to kitchen units, ceramics, medical equipment, telecommunications devices, TV sets and other electrical goods.
• Gorenje continues its expansion and employs over 20,000 people.
• The company begins establishing a distribution and sales network in Western Europe (Germany, Austria, France, Denmark and Italy) and Australia.

1981 - 1990

• Gorenje narrows its focus on production of domestic appliances.
• UK and the USA are added to the export market network.

1991 - 1996

• Gorenje continues to expand its distribution and sales network in Eastern Europe.

1997

• Gorenje becomes a publicly traded joint stock company

2000

• The first appliances collection designed by the Italian design studio Pininfarina is launched.

2005

• Gorenje takes over the Czech manufacturer of kitchen ranges Mora Moravia.

2006

• A new refrigerator and freezer plant is opened in Valjevo (Serbia).
• A water heater and radiator plant is opened in Stara Pazova (Serbia).
• A second collection of household appliances Gorenje Pininfarina, designed by the Italian designer studio Pininfarina, is launched.
• The fridge freezer made with CRYSTALLIZEDTM - Swarovski Elements is launched.
• Cooperation with the French star designer Ora-Ïto is announced.

2007

• The Gorenje Ora-Ïto Collection is launched in Istanbul.
• The first Gorenje Pink Oldtimer is sold at the charity auction for raising money in a campaign cancer.

2008

• Gorenje continues its cooperation with Pininfarina and launches the Gorenje Pininfarina Black collection.
• Top-level Dutch provider of white goods ATAG is acquired.
• Gorenje takes part at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin fair in Berlin, unveiling its innovative fridge-freezer Gorenje "Made for iPod."
• The Gorenje Ora-Ïto White collection of appliances is launched.

2009

• Gorenje participates at the Milan Design Week presenting Mini hot plate Mrs. Dalloway, Gorenje designed by Nika Zupanc.

2010

• Gorenje takes over Swedish appliance manufacturer Asko.

2013

• Gorenje sold a 13% stake in the firm to Japanese powerhouse Panasonic for around €10 million.^[3]

2015

• Revenue continuing to increase to EUR 1,225 billion. "Generated the majority of revenue in Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Central and Southeast Europe, USA and Australia" ^[4]

Awards

Gorenje has won numerous awards for design, ease-of-use and environmental sensitivity. Recently, these have included the Red Dot Design Award 2005, Plus X Design Award 2006 and ICSID Design Award 2006.

Sponsorship

Gorenje is the general sponsor of Slovenian Nordic Ski Teams, the Gorenje Handball Club, the French football championship Coupe de la Ligue, and the institution Sport & Media.

Logos

From 1954, for this company, there have been four different logos. The first logo of company is used from 1954 to 1963, the second logo is used from 1963 to 1971, the third logo is used from 1971 to 1977, and the fourth and current logo is in use from 1977.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gorenje.

• Official website