LG has partnered with Google, rolling out Google Home compatibility on its portfolio of connected smart appliances, including a washing machine and dryer, refrigerator, oven range, air purifier, air conditioner and robotic vacuum.
GE Appliances’ entire connected suite of products, including its line of connected air conditioners, is now integrated with the Google Assistant enabled Google Home program.
Avalon Products has launched a new home environment appliance assortment, manufacturing heaters, fans, humidifiers and water coolers.
Emerson Quiet Kool has reentered the U.S. market with a new assortment of home comfort appliances.
Bluewater has appointed Mattias Westerberg as its new CEO, effective immediately, as the water filtration company looks to accelerate growth in key international markets such as China and the United States.
Helen of Troy reported mixed results for its fourth quarter ended February 28, 2017, posting a strong increase in net income although net sales declined. The company said its housewares business showed positive growth momentum, while its health and beauty segments showed declines.
Midea is expanding its footprint in Silicon Valley with the opening of an Emerging Technology Center (ETC) in San Jose, CA.
The Companion Group will feature a virtual reality experience in its booth at the National Hardware Show, held in Las Vegas next month, to help promote its new line of all-natural insect repellents, Not In My Backyard.
Oscar Lasko, former chairman of home comfort appliance manufacturer and marketer Lasko Products, died on April 2. He was 96.
Philips has entered the home environment category with the launch of an app-connected line of air purifiers and humidifiers at the recent International Home + Housewares Show.
At the recent International Home + Housewares Show, Winix showcased a new joint venture with JBL, a leader in audio/visual product development, featuring a new air purifier with a built-in Bluetooth speaker.
Aquasana’s drinking water filters, both countertop and under the sink, are said to be the first filtration appliances to earn certification to a new protocol developed by NSF International. The protocol is said to verify a water treatment device’s ability to reduce PFOA and PFOS to below the health advisory levels set by the EPA. In the past, PFOA had been used in the manufacturing process of some non-stick cookware.
In December, Blueair, an air purification manufacturer, was officially acquired by Unilever, one of the world’s leading suppliers of food, refreshment, home and personal care products, and showcased some of the initial fruits of the merger at the International Home + Housewares Show.
Brita has introduced the Brita Stream water filtration pitcher and new Longlast Filters.
In an effort to support its continued U.S. growth, Bluewater USA Inc. has named Trent Virden as technical officer and David Philmlee as head of marketing for its North American team.
In response to the planned acquisition of two divisions of Icontrol Networks by Alarm.com, Honeywell International has filed an antitrust suit claiming the combined entity of two of its competitors would result in 70% share of the market for software that allows remote operation of connected products and devices, according to a report by the New Jersey Law Journal.
The Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), an Internet of Things (IoT) standards foundation, has concluded a survey taken at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, which surveyed 250 respondents at the show to gauge the growth and challenges surrounding connected devices.
In an effort to raise air quality awareness, Blueair has launched Air View, a free digital service that shows outdoor air hazards based on address.
LG Electronics broke ground on its North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The start of construction for the 350,000-square-foot sustainably designed building marks a major milestone for the $300 million project, which has been in the works since 2009.
A.O. Smith Corporation, a manufacturer of residential and commercial water heating equipment, water treatment and air purification products that acquired Aquasana in 2016, reported record sales of $2.69 billion in 2016. This was a 6% increase from 2015 and 8% when adjusted for the stronger U.S. dollar against the Chinese currency.