History

Innovation is, and will always be, the driving force at Electrolux. The company’s founder, Axel Wenner-Gren, was a visionary who developed products for the future. He underlined Passion for Innovation, Customer Obsession, and Drive for Results, and these comprise the core values of Electrolux operations still today.

Importance of Design — The atmosphere in the showroom was different. The crowd was still and gathered around the latest addition to the Electrolux collection: the Model XXX vacuum cleaner. The model designed by the internationally renowned industrial designer Lurelle Guild, was one of the first vacuum cleaners to be created with aesthetic appeal. As cars and trains had become streamlined, Wenner-Gren saw the value in bringing a similar sleek elegance to household appliances. In fact, he had personally tracked down the foremost industrial designers, so that life for Electrolux customers would not only be cleaner and easier, but also more attractive. Looking at the Modell XXX vacuum cleaner, Wenner-Gren said to Guild: “You have given Electrolux products attractive design and perfect form.”

Passion for Innovation — “This task is not an easy one, but one that will transform homes around the world.” Next to Wenner-Gren and his team was a basic prototype of an absorption refrigerator created by two young engineers, Baltzar von Platen and Carl Munters. Wenner-Gren believed that absorption refrigeration technology, creating cold through heat using water, had immense potential but needed to be developed further. “But the problem with this technology is that not all households have running water and every home from China to America will need a refrigeration machine.” Wenner-Gren paused, and looked at each member of the team. “That is why we are going to cool with air, because we all have access to that.” In 2016, Electrolux launched new refrigerators featuring the very best professional technology to create optimal air humidity and preserve fresh food for longer.