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Defy Appliances

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Defy Appliances
IndustryManufacturing and service
Founded1905
HeadquartersDurban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Key people
Ross Heron (CEO Retired) Current CEO: Mustafa Soylu
ProductsHome and major appliances
R2.5 billion (2010)
Number of employees
2,600
ParentArçelik Group
Websitewww.defy.co.za

Defy Appliances is a South African manufacturing company and is the largest manufacturer and distributor of major domestic appliances in Southern Africa.[1] The company manufactures and develops a range of large appliances from gas stoves, refrigerators, washing machines and tumble dryers to continuous clean ovens and convection ovens.

History

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It currently operates three factories:

  • Jacobs (Durban) — manufactures freestanding stoves, built-in ovens and hobs, tumble dryers.
  • Ezakheni (Ladysmith) — manufactures electric chest freezers and electric refrigerators.
  • eMonti (East London) — manufactures electric refrigerators.

Defy Appliances was founded in the 1905[2] in Wentworth, KwaZulu-Natal by John Skinner and Sir Benjamin Greenacre. The company manufactured its first product, electric stoves, in 1932.[1] The Durban Falkirk Iron Company (DFI, now DEFY) moved the foundry from Jacobs to Newcastle, around 1987.[3] In July 2011, the company was acquired by Turkish based Arçelik for US$324-million as part of its plan to expand into emerging markets in Africa.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About Defy". Defy Appliances. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. ^ "About - Defy". Defy. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Falkirk". Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Turkey's Arçelik buys Defy Appliances". SAinfo. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  5. ^ "מייבשי כביסה". Tuesday, 16 March 2021