Defy Appliances
Defy Appliances is a South African manufacturing company and is the largest manufacturer and distributor of major domestic appliances in southern Africa.[1] The company manufactures and develops a range of large appliances from gas stoves, refrigerators, washing machines and tumble dryers to continuous clean ovens and convection ovens.
![]() | |
Industry | Manufacturing and service |
---|---|
Founded | 1905 |
Headquarters | , South Africa |
Key people | Ross Heron (CEO Retired) Current CEO: Evren Albaş |
Products | Home and major appliances |
R2,5 billion (2010) | |
Number of employees | 2,600 |
Parent | Arçelik Group |
Website | www.defy.co.za |
It currently operates three factories:
- Jacobs (Durban) - manufactures free-standing stoves, built-in ovens and hobs, tumble dryers .
- Ezakheni (Ladysmith) - manufactures electric chest freezers and electric refrigerators.
- East London - manufactures electric refrigerators.
Defy Appliances was founded in the 1905[2] in Wentworth, KwaZulu-Natal by John Skinner and Sir Benjamin Greenacre. The company manufactured its first product, electric stoves, in 1932.[1] The Durban Falkirk Iron Company (DFI, now DEFY) moved the foundry from Jacobs to Newcastle around 1987[3] In July 2011 the company was bought by Turkish based Arçelik for US$324-million as part of its plan to expand into emerging markets in Africa.[4]
References
- "About Defy". Defy Appliances. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- "About - Defy". Defy. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- "Falkirk". Retrieved 2021-01-20.
- "Turkey's Arçelik buys Defy Appliances". SAinfo. 25 July 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2012.