Leslie Massey
Electrolux is a leading global appliance company that designs and manufactures refrigerators, among other household appliances. Electrolux refrigerators were once manufactured in Australia, with the last refrigerator rolling off the production line at the Electrolux factory in Orange, New South Wales, in 2016. This marked the end of an era, as the factory had been producing refrigerators and other white goods for more than 70 years. Today, Electrolux refrigerators are no longer made in Australia, as the company has moved its production overseas to countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite the closure of the Australian factory, Electrolux continues to innovate and design refrigerators with sustainability and Swedish values in mind, offering a range of refrigerators with cutting-edge features and energy efficiency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of Electrolux factory | Orange, NSW, Australia |
| Year of factory closure | 2016 |
| Year factory was established | 1942 |
| Number of fridges produced | Approximately 12 million |
| Number of employees at the time of closure | 300 |
| Number of employees at peak | More than 2000 |
| Annual contribution to local economy | $70 million |
| Brands produced | Westinghouse, Kelvinator, and Email |
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What You'll Learn
Electrolux closed its last Australian fridge factory in 2016
In 2016, Electrolux closed its last Australian fridge factory, marking the end of over 70 years of white goods manufacturing in the regional city of Orange, New South Wales. The factory's closure meant the end of an era for Australian manufacturing, with the plant having pumped an estimated $70 million annually into the local economy.
The factory's history began in 1942 as a World War II munitions plant. In 1946, it transitioned into producing household goods, including fans, stoves, washing machines, and freezers. More recently, the plant had focused solely on manufacturing refrigerators. At its peak, the factory employed over 2,000 people and was visited by the Queen during her 1970 tour.
The decision to close the factory was announced in 2013, with Electrolux citing cost efficiency as the primary factor. The company stated that it could manufacture refrigerators more cost-effectively in other factories in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. This move reflected the challenges faced by Australian manufacturers in competing globally, particularly against countries with lower labour rates and government support.
The closure had a significant impact on the factory's employees, many of whom had spent decades working there. The remaining 300 staff members were invited to symbolically sign the back of the last refrigerator produced, marking an emotional farewell to the plant and their colleagues. The factory's longest-serving employee, Steve Brakenridge, who had worked at the plant for 46 years, described the closure as "exceptional."
The last Australian-made Electrolux fridge was more than just a refrigerator to the people of Orange; it represented a piece of history, signalling the end of local refrigerator manufacturing and the beginning of a new chapter for Electrolux's global production.
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The factory was located in Orange, NSW
The factory was a significant contributor to the local economy, pumping an estimated $70 million annually into the community. However, in 2013, Electrolux announced it would be closing the factory and moving production overseas to south-east Asia and eastern Europe, citing cost-effectiveness as the primary reason. The closure resulted in a loss of jobs for the remaining 300 employees, with 210 finishing their last shift immediately and the remaining 90 staying on for up to eight months to decommission the plant.
The final refrigerator to roll off the production line was an ice water model, the flagship of Electrolux. The workers at the factory signed the back of this final fridge, commemorating the end of refrigerator manufacturing in Australia. Among the workers present during this symbolic farewell was Steve Brakenridge, the longest-serving employee with 46 years of service, who described the moment as emotional. Another long-serving employee, Phil Johnston, reflected on the changes in fridge manufacturing over his 44-year career, highlighting the once-extensive in-house production processes.
The closure of the Electrolux factory in Orange, NSW, marked a significant moment in Australian manufacturing, with concerns raised about the ability of local manufacturers to compete globally, particularly against countries with lower labour rates and government support. The factory's long history, dating back to its origins as a munitions plant during World War Two, and its contribution to the local community and the country's manufacturing sector, made its closure an emotional and symbolic end of an era.
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$449.99 $546.31
It produced fridges for over 70 years
Electrolux has been doing business since 1919, with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The company produces a wide range of household appliances, including refrigerators, and has been a prominent manufacturer of fridges in Australia for several decades.
The Electrolux factory in Orange, New South Wales, was once a thriving hub of fridge production in Australia. With a history spanning over 70 years, the factory played a significant role in the country's manufacturing industry. It began as a World War Two munitions plant in 1942, and in 1946, it transitioned into manufacturing household goods, including fans, stoves, washing machines, and freezers. Over time, the factory's focus narrowed to solely producing fridges.
The Orange factory was a significant contributor to the local economy, pumping an estimated $70 million annually into the community. It employed a substantial number of people, with a workforce that once exceeded 2,000 employees. The factory was a source of pride and emotional connection for many families, with some, like the Jones family, chalking up more than 70 years of combined service at Electrolux.
In late 2013, Electrolux announced the closure of the Orange factory, marking the end of an era. The final refrigerator rolled off the production line in April 2016, with the remaining staff symbolically signing its stainless steel back. The closure signified the end of more than 70 years of whitegoods production in Orange and represented a broader challenge for Australian manufacturers seeking to compete globally with regions offering lower labour rates.
While Electrolux no longer produces fridges in Australia, the company continues to design its appliances with Swedish principles and values, emphasising sustainability and seamless integration into modern kitchens.
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Production moved overseas to Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe
In 2016, Electrolux closed its factory in Orange, New South Wales, marking the end of refrigerator production in Australia. The factory produced around 12 million fridges during its more than 70 years of operation. The closure of the factory resulted in the loss of 300 jobs, with 210 employees ending their work on the day of closure and 90 staying on for up to eight months to decommission the plant.
The decision to move production overseas was announced by Electrolux in 2013, citing cost efficiency as the main reason. The company stated that it would be more cost-effective to manufacture fridges in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. General manager Mark O'Kane expressed concern for the impact of the closure on the town of Orange and Australian manufacturers' global competitiveness.
The Electrolux factory in Orange initially started as a World War Two munitions plant in 1942. It transitioned into a white goods factory in 1946, producing household items such as fans, stoves, washing machines, and freezers. Over the years, the plant had a significant economic impact on the region, contributing an estimated $70 million annually to the local economy.
The final refrigerator produced at the Orange factory was a side-by-side ice water model, which was farewelled by the remaining staff who signed its stainless steel back. This marked the end of an era for Australian manufacturing and left a symbolic piece of history in the homes of Australians who owned refrigerators bearing one of the three brands produced at the factory.
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The factory's closure impacted the local economy and Australian manufacturing
The Electrolux factory in Orange, New South Wales, was more than just a place of employment for its 300-strong workforce. With a history spanning over 70 years, it was an integral part of the city's people, culture, architecture, and economy. The factory's closure in 2016 not only impacted the lives of its employees but also sent ripples through the local community and the Australian manufacturing industry.
The Orange factory contributed more than $70 million annually to the local economy. Its closure meant a significant loss of revenue for the region and a blow to the local businesses that relied on the factory's presence. The factory's long history began in 1941 when it was constructed as a small arms factory to support Australia's war effort during World War II. After the war, the factory shifted to producing household goods, eventually specializing in fridges and freezers, producing about 1,300 fridges daily under the Kelvinator and Westinghouse brands.
The decision to close the factory was driven by the competitive pressures of the global market, particularly the lower labor costs in countries like Thailand, as noted by the factory's general manager, Mark O'Kane. This trend of offshoring manufacturing to lower-cost regions had been observed in Electrolux's previous factory closures, such as the Spennymoor factory in the UK, where production was moved to Poland due to lower labor costs.
The loss of the Electrolux factory in Orange represented a broader decline in Australia's manufacturing industry. It marked the end of an era, as it was the country's last refrigeration factory. This shift away from local manufacturing not only impacted the availability of skilled jobs but also raised concerns about the nation's capacity for self-sufficiency and the potential loss of innovation and technical expertise.
The closure of the Electrolux factory in Orange, while emblematic of broader economic trends, had a profound impact on the local community and the Australian manufacturing landscape. It served as a reminder of the complex interplay between global economic forces, local communities, and the evolving nature of industry and employment.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Electrolux fridges are no longer made in Australia. The last Electrolux fridge to be manufactured in Australia was produced in 2016 at the Electrolux factory in Orange, New South Wales.
Electrolux announced in 2013 that it would be more cost-effective to make fridges in southeast Asia and eastern Europe.
In its 70 years of production, the Electrolux factory in Orange produced around 12 million fridges.
Following the closure of the Australian factory, Electrolux began manufacturing fridges in southeast Asia and eastern Europe.
