Swedish appliance manufacturer
Asko Appliances AB was a Swedish company producing household appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines. It was based in Jung in Vara Municipality in Västergötland. Asko Appliances is now owned by Gorenje Group which is a part of Chinese major appliances manufacturer Hisense. The products continue to be sold in Sweden under the brand Cylinda and Asko. In North America, Asko imports only dishwashers and laundry appliances. Asko is upscale and competes against Bosch, Miele, SMEG, Viking Range, Fulgor, Kitchen Aid and Electrolux.
History
The company was established in 1950 by Karl-Erik Andersson, whose first invention was a washing machine. The company started producing a fully automatic front-loading washing machine and a compact dishwasher in 1965, and started exporting their products in 1967. The original name was Junga Verkstäder, but after having been acquired by Asea in 1978, the name was changed to Asea Cylinda, later becoming ABB Cylinda after the merger of Asea with the Swiss Brown Boveri Corporation to form ABB. In 1984, they introduced the washing machines as we know of today: no springs, four shock absorbers and a door that directly connects to the outer drum, the latter being a unique design for domestic front loaders. The top loaders (only sold in Europe) also have four shock absorbers and no springs. The company was acquired by Finnish furniture manufacturer Asko (founded by Aukusti Heikki Asko-Avonius) in 1988. The name was also changed to Asko ASEA. Somewhere around 1992, ASEA was dropped from the name and it became Asko. Asko Appliances was acquired by the Italian Antonio Merloni Group in 2000.[1]
With the acquisition of Asko Appliances the ownership of the Cylinda brand was kept within the corporate group of Asea, but in 1999 the name was changed from Asea Skandia to Elektroskandia. In 2008, Elektroskandia was acquired by the international company Sonepar. In July 2010 Asko Appliances was acquired by Slovenian Gorenje Group.[2][3] Gorenje transferred production of all Asko appliances from Sweden to Slovenia in 2013.[4] In June 2018, Chinese company Hisense acquired 95% majority in Gorenje Group.[5][6] In February 2013, the washing machine and dryer production was moved to Velenje, Slovenia, and in July 2013 the dishwasher production was also moved. The development part was moved to Lidköping. In November 2022, Cylinda washing machines made in Turkey are sold.
Cylinda is still owned by Elektroskandia Sverige AB.[7]
