First 'made in Britain' washing machines for a decade start production

[Nelly]

http://www.ebac.com/washing-machines

When the first washing machine rolls off the production line at the Ebac factory in County Durham, it will be the first made in Britain since Hotpoint and Hoover – both under foreign ownership – closed plants at the height of the recession in 2009.

The new washing machines will be assembled in the North East, using British-made components, and most of the metal bashing will take place in the Ebac factory, creating 200 jobs.

UK washing machine making returns with County Durham factory

The return of domestic washing machine manufacturing to Britain has moved a step closer with the Duke of Kent opening a new production facility in County Durham.

The Newton Aycliffe-based dehumidifier company Ebac has spent five years designing a production line capable of delivering up to 300,000 new washing machines a year for the UK market.

The last British maker of washing machines for the home - Hotpoint - pulled out 10 years ago.

Ebac says full-scale manufacture will not start until early 2016, but MD Pamela Petty has high hopes for their "British" product.

Link >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-34736047

 

[Trying]

Pity it doesn't look like the drums will be made out of steel.
Could have created more of a market for the UK steel industry.
Just saying

 

[Midlife Crisis]

Lets hope its reliable and they sell well

 

[Scuzi]

Lets hope its reliable and they sell well

When buying a washing machine, I wonder how far up the list of priority "being British" is. I can understand it being a requisite for luxury goods but for a washing machine where the main priority for most will be faultless reliability for at least a decade, I fail to see the attraction of being British made.

 

[Yaayuh!]

When buying a washing machine, I wonder how far up the list of priority "being British" is. I can understand it being a requisite for luxury goods but for a washing machine where the main priority for most will be faultless reliability for at least a decade, I fail to see the attraction of being British made.

Indeed.

 

[Gilly]

It's odd that the drum isn't steel, if they are able to be steel. You'd think the manufacturers would get a kick-back for using British products.

 

[Cosimo]

Pity it doesn't look like the drums will be made out of steel.
Could have created more of a market for the UK steel industry.
Just saying

It's a plasma welded drum so looks like stainless steel from where I'm sitting and:

https://www.facebook.com/EbacUK/videos/428838367272954/

 

[robj20]

How do these compare to the likes of LG and Samsung?

 

[dholdi]

As they are not off the production line yet I doubt there are any reviews.

 

[Mark A]

When buying a washing machine, I wonder how far up the list of priority "being British" is. I can understand it being a requisite for luxury goods but for a washing machine where the main priority for most will be faultless reliability for at least a decade, I fail to see the attraction of being British made.

Considering brands like Hotpoint used to be good when made in the UK and then went downhill when they moved production abroad, being made in the UK would be very near the top of the list for me.

Made the mistake of assuming Hotpoint was a good make due to their reputation from before moving production and have ended up with a kitchen full of junk.

 

[Maccapacca]

In the lottery that is the kitchen appliance world I just look for a balance of customer service and length of warranty now, I couldn't care about manufacturer (to a degree) or where it come from.

If it lasts 2+ years it'll go one forever

 

[MichaelAwkward]

Considering brands like Hotpoint used to be good when made in the UK and then went downhill when they moved production abroad, being made in the UK would be very near the top of the list for me.

Made the mistake of assuming Hotpoint was a good make due to their reputation from before moving production and have ended up with a kitchen full of junk.

I don't think you should make the association that production being moved abroad = less reliable.

It's almost certainly the case that moving the production abroad coincided with cost cutting everywhere else, resulting in a cheaper product that's less reliable.

For instance, Samsung appliances get rave reviews and they were always produced in countries with cheap labour.

 

[Werewolf]

I don't think you should make the association that production being moved abroad = less reliable.

It's almost certainly the case that moving the production abroad coincided with cost cutting everywhere else, resulting in a cheaper product that's less reliable.

For instance, Samsung appliances get rave reviews and they were always produced in countries with cheap labour.

Pretty much it.

If they've moved production from say the UK to China it'll likely be because they're saving money and one of the easiest ways to save money with things like appliances is t swap from metal parts to plastic.

 

[Grimley]

Ebac have been around for a fair few years. The DIY store I worked at used to stock their dehumidifiers.

I hope for their sake the Washers will get the same reputation that White Knight have with their Tumble Dryers.

 

[Nelly]

Well, it's been a year. Looks like they have 5 washer models now available, they offer a 10 year warranty on their top two models, 5 year warranty on another two, and 3 years on their basic model. Not bad at all.

 

[iraiguana]

I guess the real question is if someone has actually bought one yet?

 

[SPG]

In the lottery that is the kitchen appliance world I just look for a balance of customer service and length of warranty now, I couldn't care about manufacturer (to a degree) or where it come from.

If it lasts 2+ years it'll go one forever

This in a nutshell,

If its priced OK (within reason) I would get one.

 

[nutcase]

In the lottery that is the kitchen appliance world I just look for a balance of customer service and length of warranty now, I couldn't care about manufacturer (to a degree) or where it come from.

If it lasts 2+ years it'll go one forever

My 3 year old £650 AEG washer dryer has just died with £400 of electronics failure. I too believed if it lasted the 2 years of its warranty it would live forever.

AEG couldn't have given less of a ****. Won't be spending any money with that group for the forseeable.

 

[CapitalOne]

No smart home version??

 

[theone8181]

My 3 year old £650 AEG washer dryer has just died with £400 of electronics failure. I too believed if it lasted the 2 years of its warranty it would live forever.

AEG couldn't have given less of a ****. Won't be spending any money with that group for the forseeable.

But yet my £300 Hotpoint washing machine and tumbler have worked well for 6 years, I've only had to change the door seal on the washer and clean the filter so paying more doesn't necessarily mean better.