Largest Australian Made domestic oven range launches

Extra shifts are being rostered at the Electrolux Cooking Products plant as demand for the new Australian Made Westinghouse 90cm oven range exceeds company expectations. The ovens are the biggest and most sophisticated ever built and designed at the plant.

The news comes as Dr John Brown, Managing Director of Electrolux Home Products – Australia’s sole remaining volume whitegoods manufacturer – announced the national rollout of the company’s Australian Made program.

Cooking products bearing the Westinghouse and Chef brands manufactured in the Electrolux Cooking Products plant at Dudley Park in Adelaide, and fridges and freezers bearing the Westinghouse and Kelvinator brands manufactured in the Electrolux Refrigeration Plant in Orange, are now certified to carry the Australian Made logo.

“We are proud to welcome an iconic brand like Electrolux onboard the campaign,” Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, said.

Dr Brown said that recognition of modern Australian manufacturing competitiveness - rather than patriotism - was the reason why iconic local whitegoods brands Westinghouse, Chef and Kelvinator continue to maintain their leading market share in the Australian household appliances market.

“To survive, let alone prosper, in the modern marketplace, you have to be competitive on quality, features and price. So the fact that these brands have done this against an increasing number of cheap imports is a tribute to the skills of the people who design, develop and produce them here in our factories,” Dr Brown said.    

More than 1000 Australians are employed across the Electrolux manufacturing plants and adjoining research and development centres in NSW and SA. 

Sheila Walthoe, Electrolux Home Products Senior Brand and Trade Marketing Manager, said that best estimates had three out of four Australian homes operating at least a stove, oven, fridge or freezer bearing the Westinghouse, Chef, or Kelvinator brand names.

“Generations of Australians have grown up with these brands.”

Ms Walthoe added that the brands’ success was also due to their reliability and after sales and service support.

“In the event that they need to, Australians know they can get spare parts and have their Westinghouse, Kelvinator and Chef appliances repaired quickly and with the minimum of fuss.”