Zanussi is a leading brand for domestic kitchen appliances in Europe. Exported from Italy since 1946, Zanussi is widely recognized for its innovative products and distinctive modern design.

The Zanussi Company began as the small workshop of Antonio Zanussi in 1916. The enterprising 26-year-old son of a blacksmith in Pordenone in Northeastern Italy began the business by making home stoves and wood-burning ovens.

In the early 1970’s Zanussi sold in the UK (and for some time after) under the “Zoppas” brand name which had been acquired as well as Zanussi making it the second largest Italian appliance maker. They also produced washing machines for Hotpoint at this time which were very reliable and highly rated by users and engineers.

In the late 1970’s and into the early 1980’s the company had a range of washing machines which used an induction motor with a clutch pulley system. Again this range proved extremely popular and very reliable.

During this period Zanussi Professional, the catering range of appliances for commercial use, became a separate division in its own right.

In the early 1980’s Zanussi launched the Jetsystem washing machine range to great acclaim whilst at the same time running the “Appliance Of Science” advertising campaign which is acknowledged as one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time, in fact still remembered by many today. This gave the brand the impression of being forward thinking and innovative.

In 1984 Zanussi was bought by Electrolux and has recently been rebranded as Zanussi-Electrolux in line with many other Electrolux brand names. Since that time many Zanussi appliances share common components and parts with the rest of the Electrolux range, primarily Electrolux, Tricity Bendix and AEG although it is worth noting that the “John Lewis” branded machines sold by the John Lewis Partnership in the UK are effectively rebranded Zanussi appliances.

In the late 1980’s Zanussi launched the split tank design known as the “Nexus Tub” design which endures till this day with little changed. The tub, base and certain other parts are made from a plastic material known as “Carboran” which can be re-used several times if recycled. To this day neither Zanussi or Electrolux has provided any way to return this material for recycling purposes.

Retail Prices

Zanussi was started in the UK being very competitively priced with prices rising in line with the appliances rising as the marketing took hold and the popularity grew. Generally the Zanussi brand is regarded by most as a “mid-market” brand on a par with Hotpoint, Hoover and Bosch in the UK.

However in recent times there has been a noticeable increase in lower priced products bearing the Zanussi name.

Zanussi never really cracked the built in or integrated market with the mainstay of its products being washing machines, washer dryers, tumble dryers and dishwashers although there is a substantial range of cookers, ovens, hobs and hoods available from the brand as well. There is nothing wrong with the other products, it just would seem that the company was only ever famous for the freestanding range.

Spares Pricing

Zanussi spare parts can be prohibitively expensive, especially electronic components and larger electrical ones, such as washing machine motors. There are a good deal of spares usually available at special prices though and these generally tend to be the more common spares. There is also, due to crossovers with other Electrolux owned brands, a wide range of “pattern” or “patten” spares available at far lower prices that from Zanussi themselves.

UK Whitegoods carries many genuine and pattern spares for Zanussi appliances and has access to any availabls spares.

Aftersales Service

For Zanussi this deserves a section all on its own since there’s quite a tale to tell.

Up until the end of the 1980’s Zanussi service was run from Slough and was a network of independent repairers who gave an unparalleled service level. It is generally acknowledged within the industry that this service network was the best that there has ever been in the UK.

Until Electrolux decided to change the ball game.

In the early 1990’s Electrolux instigated amalgamating all its UK brands under one service entity which led to the demise of quite a few of the original Zanussi network ,thereby making a u-turn impossible. This entity was split, dependent on region, between the Zanussi service agents and the local Electrolux Service Centre. In general those in a high population density area where given to the Electrolux employed centres. Tricity Bendix, Electrolux and AEG as well as Zanussi were all to be serviced by the one network.

In time the error of this was seen by Electrolux who sold or gave away the regional service centres, generally to the existing management or to area managers to run as independent businesses as the poor service had adversely affected sales whilst service was under Electrolux’s control.

This was rebranded and became Service Force which still exists today but is, once again, all operated by independent service companies who repair and supply spare parts for all the brands.

The UK Whitegoods repairs@ service offers many repairers across the UK who can offer repairs, in fact many of the official Service Force engineers are registered with the service.

Fix Ability

Zanussi washing machines and washer dryers are not the easiest for a DIY fix, many modules must be programmed or configured upon fitting now. Since the early 1990’s the machines have been largely electronically controlled with semi-electronic timers and the likes as well as control modules (PCB’s). The outer casing also splits to allow access.

Bearings are also not easy to change as the entire tank has to be removed and stripped down.

Refrigeration, fridge freezers etc. are no more complex than most these days. Cooking products are the same really with little worth noting.

In general engineers have little issue with Zanussi products as they produce the TDS Online disc which offers a lot of spare parts and technical information for repairers.

Manuals (instruction books) for many appliances are also available for free download from the Zanussi UK website and we like that.

Cookers & Ovens	Washing Machine	Tumble Dryer
Fridges & Freezers	Dishwasher Spares	Cooker Hoods
Floorcare	Fridge Water Filters	Cleaning Products

The Zanussi UK website is www.zanussi-electrolux.co.uk



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Published on: 2006-08-20 (12746 reads)