New refrigerator factory opens in Mexico

Hans Stråberg, president and CEO of Electrolux, opened the Group’s new world-class refrigerator factory in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

The new Electrolux factory is one of Mexico’s largest industrial projects, representing an investment of more than USD 100 million. The new factory has a manufacturing capacity of more than 1,000,000 refrigerators annually. Approximately 60% of factory purchases are expected to be from local businesses.

The factory will produce large capacity side-by-side refrigerators under company brands Electrolux and Frigidaire. The refrigerators will mainly be exported to the US and Canada, but will also be sold to selected retailers in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Employment at start up is about 800, ramping up to full employment of about 3,000 expected in 2006. More than 100 managers, supervisors and operators have spent up to 54 weeks of training at another Electrolux factory in the US.

The Ciudad Juárez factory is an environmentally advanced refrigerator factory, designed to produce no harmful emissions to the air or to the water supply.

For more information, call the Electrolux press hot line +46 8 657 65 07

The Electrolux Group is the world’s largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, vacuum cleaners, chainsaws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. Every year, customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux Group products for both consumer and professional use sold under famous brands such as AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka and Husqvarna. In 2004, Electrolux had sales of SEK 121 billion and 72,000 employees.