Major Appliance Briefs

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — LG Electronics has been named No. 1 in global manufacturing capabilities of microwave ovens by the Fuji Research Institute. The vendor, which maintains plants in South Korea, China, the United Kingdom and Brazil, has a total production capacity of some 75 million units. This year, LG sold more than 12 million microwave ovens, giving it a 23 percent share of the market worldwide, the company said. "We are excited to have achieved our goal of becoming the world's top producer of microwave ovens," said Y.S. Koo, executive VP/microwave oven export division. Koo attributed LG's success to breakthrough technology and its ability to tailor products to regional markets.

WILKSBORO, N.C. — Electrolux Home Products, maker of Frigidaire branded appliances, celebrated the 7 millionth dishwasher to come off the production line at its Kinston, N.C., plant. The unit, which was presented to Lowe's at a ceremony here last month, also marked an all-time annual production record for the factory. Lowe's represents a "major portion" of Frigidaire's dishwasher factory production, said Electrolux field sales director Tom Anderson, "and we have grown our mutual business in terms of volume and product mix over the last five years." Lowe's majap merchandising VP Bruce Ballard added, "Frigidaire's production record in Kinston is proof that the American worker is still the most productive." Maytag recently announced plans to move much of its refrigeration capacity to Mexico this year, although Electrolux said that it would shut its U.S. room air facilities this summer.

WESTBOROUGH, MASS. — The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), a consortium of utilities and corporate sponsors, is developing a comprehensive marketing plan to promote the benefits of Energy Star labeled appliances throughout the Northeast this year. The program, which is being developed by the non-profit Conservation Services Group, based here, will encompass advertising, point-of-purchase material, public relations efforts and a Web site to educate consumers, retailers, manufacturers, builders and home improvement contractors about Energy Star. Energy Star was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program to identify and promote energy efficient products, and is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy.