Miele - A Snapshot of their 100 Years
It’s always the case that we tend to largely ignore the aspects of life which give us the fewest problems. Anyone who regularly uses a Miele commercial washing machine is unlikely to give it a second thought, mainly because the efficiency and ease of use end up being taken for granted. But have you ever wondered about the evolution of the company that manufactured this little engineering miracle?
Miele began life in 19th century Germany, as a result of a partnership between farmer Carl Miele and salesman Reinhard Zinkann. They originally came together to manufacture cream separators for the dairy industry, but it’s their branching out into the field of commercial and domestic appliances which led to their worldwide success.
A Miele commercial washing machine is known for its reliability, its quality of workmanship and its ability to produce excellent results. The company also produces vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, tumble dryers, cooker hobs and many other items in manufacturing plants in various countries around the world. After many decades of international growth, however, the firm remains quintessentially German in its approach to producing quality.
The constant search for improvement
The company’s slogan, Immer Besser (Always Better), sums up their commitment as well as their products. In this modern, throwaway world it’s reassuring to note that a Miele vacuum cleaner, for example, is expected to have an efficient working life of up to 20 years. A Miele commercial washing machine is also expected to out-last its rivals by some considerable distance.
In 1916, the company was so confident of the quality of their products that they offered customers a ten-year warranty, a most unusual development at a time when appliances were so unpredictable. In the 1950s, Miele were as well-known for producing bicycles and mopeds as they were for creating domestic appliances. A sign of the modern domestic appliance era, the company’s first microwave oven, appeared in 1977.
Wealthier customers were offered the chance to purchase appliances which offered a little more bling in 2009. The FIRE and ICE series featured titanium and aluminium surfaces and even gold-plated fittings. Who knows what the Miele commercial washing machine will look like in another 100 years? One thing is certain, however; the company is aiming for worldwide sustainable growth, so they will always be on the lookout for improvements.