Fisher & Paykel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fisher & Paykel Appliances is a major appliance manufacturer located in Auckland, New Zealand.
In November 2001 Fisher & Paykel Industries Limited was separated into two independent publicly listed companies, Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Limited and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited.
Fisher & Paykel was originally founded by Maurice Paykel and Woolf Fisher as an importer of domestic refrigerators. After the government imposed tariffs making it unprofitable to import appliances, Fisher & Paykel began production. At first, the company manufactured appliances under license from other manufacturers. But they later began producing their own innovative designs.
After several years of improving their designs, the team of engineers began incorporating sophisticated electronics from the emerging computer industry. Using technology such as new generation permanent magnet electric motors, Fisher & Paykel has been able to build appliances that performed better while using fewer resources.
Fisher & Paykel holds over 400 patents and has introduced several technological advances in major appliances. Some of the company's trademarked features include Smart Drive autowashers, Active Smart refrigerators, AeroTech ovens and DishDrawer dishwashers. The Fisher & Paykel brand is available in over forty countries worldwide.
Fisher & Paykel appliances are manufactured in Auckland and Dunedin in New Zealand and in Cleveland, Queensland, Australia. It was one of the first companies to use flexible manufacturing and to use pre-painted steel for product cabinets. Because of their manufacturing expertise, Fisher & Paykel constructs manufacturing plants and machinery for other appliance manufactures throughout the world.
In October 2004 the company acquired Dynamic Cooking Systems (DCS), Inc. DCS, a leading US manufacturer and distributor of premium cooking appliances, was acquired for USD 33 million (NZD 49.3 million) in a debt free state. This acquisition allows Fisher & Paykel the ability to leverage market presence while maintaining its higher quality of engineering. The DCS product line was stated to compliment the existing Fisher & Paykel product line.
In June of 2006 Fisher & Paykel acquired Elba, the Italian cookware business from De Longhi. The purchase price for the acquisition of Elba was €78 million (NZD 158 million). Elba, based near Treviso, Italy, manufactures and distributes cookware products including freestanding stoves, built in ovens and cooktops. Elba exports to over 54 countries with a UK focus.
The list of products made by Fisher & Paykel Appliances is as follows:
- Built-in wall ovens
- DishDrawers
- Electric & gas cooktops
- Rangehoods
- Refrigerators
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare is the world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of heated humidification devices used in respiratory care and in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
