Gorenje Opens New Fridge Plant

Gorenje has started production at its new refrigeration appliance plant in Valjevo in Serbia. It is Gorenje's second fridge freezer plant in Valjevo.

The new plant, along with the plant that Gorenje opened in 2006, are expected to have combined 2013 output of nearly 800,000 cold appliances. Investment into the new plant is approximately to €21 million.

Gorenje moved most refrigeration appliance production to the two new factories in Valjevo.

Production of built-in refrigerators and freezers, as well as premium freestanding appliances, remains in Velenje.

In 2012 Gorenje began restructuring its manufacturing operations, aiming to boost profitability and improve competitiveness.

Among the steps Gorenje required the closing of plants in both Sweden and Finland that came under the control of Gorenje when it acquired of Asko. Gorenje bought Asko in 2010 from the now-defunct Italian appliance company Antonio Merloni.

Gorenje announced the closing of the cooking appliances plant that made built in ovens, hobs and so on, in Lahti, Finland in March 2012 and the plant ceased operations during 2012, with production (53,000 units in 2011) absorbed by Gorenje's existing plant in Mora Moravia in the Czech Republic

Gorenje is now moving washing machine and dryer production from the Asko plant in Vara, Sweden to Gorenje's central production site in Velenje after almost a year of consultation in Sweden.

Dishwasher production currently in Sweden will also move to Velenje when Gorenje relocates dishwasher production in September of this year.

However, Gorenje's restructuring plan calls for Asko research and development, brand management, and marketing operations to remain situated in Vara, Sweden.

When all restructuring activities are complete, Gorenje will be producing home appliances in only three locations: Slovenia, Serbia, and the Czech Republic.