Haier Plans New Laundry Line

By TWICE staff -- TWICE, 5/10/1999

Haier America will broaden its U.S. line later this year with the addition of a front-loading washer in June. The company also plans to begin selling TV sets under the Haier brand by the end of this year, according to president/CEO Michael Jemal.

"Haier will offer a full line of laundry and refrigeration," Jemal said. On May 1 the company broke ground for a factory in South Carolina that will produce 14- and 18-cubic-foot refrigerators. Haier’s laundry appliances include a washer/dryer combo and a portable, top-loading washer and are currently made in China using Italian technology, "but that might change in the future," Jemal said.

Haier recently added two key executives. Art Meltz, now director of products, came from the NECO Alliance buying group. Shariff Kan, newly named merchandising VP, was formerly with The Wiz.