Zanussi Domestic Appliances

Zanussi are all about making chores easy. Their products take care of the mess, giving you more free time.

Appliance Manufacturer & Brand Information

Zanussi is a leading brand for domestic kitchen appliances in Europe. Exported from Italy since 1946, Zanussi is widely recognized for its innovative products and distinctive modern design.

The Zanussi Company began as the small workshop of Antonio Zanussi in 1916. The enterprising 26-year-old son of a blacksmith in Pordenone in Northeastern Italy began the business by making home stoves and wood-burning ovens.

In the early 1970's Zanussi sold in the UK (and for some time after) under the "Zoppas" brand name which had been acquired as well as Zanussi making it the second largest Italian appliance maker. They also produced washing machines for Hotpoint at this time which were very reliable and highly rated by users and engineers.

In the late 1970's and into the early 1980's the company had a range of washing machines which used an induction motor with a clutch pulley system. Again this range proved extremely popular and very reliable.

During this period Zanussi Professional, the catering range of appliances for commercial use, became a separate division in its own right.

In the early 1980's Zanussi launched the Jetsystem washing machine range to great acclaim whilst at the same time running the "Appliance Of Science" advertising campaign (logo from that period used) which is acknowledged as one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time, in fact still remembered by many today. This gave the brand the impression of being forward thinking and innovative.

In 1984 Zanussi was bought by Electrolux and has recently been re-branded as Zanussi-Electrolux in line with many other Electrolux brand names. Since that time many Zanussi appliances share common components and parts with the rest of the Electrolux range, primarily Electrolux, Tricity Bendix and AEG although it is worth noting that the "John Lewis" branded machines sold by the John Lewis Partnership in the UK are effectively re-branded Zanussi appliances.

In the late 1980's Zanussi launched the split tank design known as the "Nexus Tub" design which endures till this day with little changed. The tub, base and certain other parts are made from a plastic material known as "Carboran"which can be re-used several times if recycled. To this day neither Zanussi or Electrolux has provided any way to return this material for recycling purposes.

Zanussi was started in the UK being very competitively priced with prices rising in line with the appliances rising as the marketing took hold and the popularity grew. Generally the Zanussi brand is regarded by most as a "mid-market" brand on a par with Hotpoint, Hoover and Bosch in the UK.

However in recent year there has been a noticeable increase in lower priced products bearing the Zanussi name and it now seems to be being used as more of a budget brand for Electrolux in the UK despite sharing components with many more expensive brands from the same stable such as AEG or even some John Lewis models that Electrolux produce for the retailer. So if you were thinking on an AEG model etc. then you can save by buying one of the lesser brands such as Zanussi for, in many cases, what is pretty much the same thing.

Zanussi never really cracked the built in or integrated market with the mainstay of its products being washing machines, washer dryers, tumble dryers and dishwashers although there is a substantial range of cookers, ovens, hobs and hoods available from the brand as well. There is nothing wrong with the other products, it just would seem that the company was only ever famous for the freestanding range.