Since June 2020, Hisense Gorenje has been establishing in Velenje, Slovenia, a global research and development (R&D) center for cooking appliances and dishwashers for the entire Hisense Group. At the end of June, we also started the production of Hisense brand dishwashers for the American market, which is the first order for Slovenian production under this brand for the American market. Both achievements are the result of Gorenje's top development competencies, which were also recognized by the global corporation Hisense.
Already at the takeover of Gorenje in 2018, one of the key
motives of the new owner of Hisense was access to technology in the field of
cooking and dishwashers. Proof of Hisense's trust in the top competencies of
Gorenje's research and development team is the corporation's recent decision for
Gorenje to take over the role of the global R&D center for cooking
appliances and dishwashers in June 2020. This means that the entire development
of technology and appliances is entrusted to the local development team,
regardless of where the production of individual cooking or dishwashers takes
place and for which market. This is an important step forward, as until last
year we at Gorenje only developed products that we manufacture in our factories
in Europe.
Dr. Boštjan Pečnik, Executive Vice President for R&D at
Gorenje, d. o. o., points out: “At Gorenje, we are extremely proud of our own
development team of experts and competencies, which are also respected by the
owner. Supporting and connecting with other Hisense development centers on our
new global mission brings many opportunities and challenges for which we will
be looking for new young technical talents in the future. We believe that the
achieved positioning of our development efforts within Hisense is also a
recognition for our profession. We are focused on the development of new
product platforms that bring many innovations, also because Gorenje gained
access to advanced technology in the field of smart devices by joining the
Hisense Group. "
One of Gorenje's key R&D activities is the development
of new product platforms for the US market. These are cooking appliances that
will be produced in the new factory that Hisense is building in Mexico, as well
as dishwashers. The entire development of appliances and production technology
was entrusted to Gorenje's development team.
With a clear goal and excellent cooperation with the
American Hisense team and a dedicated project team, they completed the concept
phase in less than four months, by January 2020. At the end of June, the first
production of Hisense brand dishwashers for the american market started in Gorenje
factory in Velenje. The team that develops cooking appliances has completed the
detailing phase, so we have already started ordering tools and equipment with
longer delivery times.
In the field of research and development, Gorenje has
ambitious plans. By the end of 2020, we will introduce eight new products on
the market, otherwise our efforts are focused on three major development
projects: a new generation of built-in ovens (products will be on the market
from March 2021 onwards), a new generation of dishwashers (2021) and a new
generation of products for the US market (cooking appliances on the market in
the second half of 2021, and dishwashers as early as 2020).
Within the Hisense Europe Group, we have established R&D
departments for the development of finished products for cooking appliances,
dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers. Other important development
departments are: electronics development, product cost optimization department,
joint development units and pre-development department. In total, Hisense
Europe employs around 360 professionals in all R&D departments, with the
main task of developing new, innovative and competitive high-quality products
within the agreed deadlines. Of this, approximately 290 development experts are
employed in Slovenia. According to current projects and ambitious development
plans of Hisense Corporation, Gorenje plans to strengthen the development team with
talents and competencies in the field of electronics, Internet of Things (IoT),
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics and related technical
disciplines.
With a series of breakthrough innovations, Hisense
demonstrates its commitment to the development of new technologies and
reaffirms its role as a technology giant. Their latest achievements include
innovations in the field of televisions (laser TVs), the constant updating of
the global content platform VIDAA for smart TVs and the smart home platform
ConnectLife, which makes the TV a control center for all devices in the smart
home. Hisense is particularly strong in the electronics and smart city
development program. All new products are basically smart, meaning they enable
connectivity, remote control and other advanced functionalities.