Headquarters Sweden Website asko.com Founded Vara (1950) | Area served Worldwide Motto Inspired by Scandinavia Parent organization Gorenje | |
Industry Domestic appliances, commercial appliances Products Dishwashers
Ovens
Cooktops
Refrigerators
Washing machines
Dryers Profiles | ||
Asko Appliances AB is a Swedish company producing household appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines. It is based in Jung in Vara Municipality in Västergötland. The products continue to be sold in Sweden under the brand ASKO, and are exported under the same name. In North America Asko only imports dishwashers and laundry. Asko is upscale and competes against Bosch, Miele, SMEG, Viking Range, Fulgor and Kitchen Aid.
History
The company was established in 1950 by Karl-Erik Andersson, whose first invention was a washing machine. The company started producing a fully automatic front-loading washing machine and a compact dishwasher in 1965, and started exporting their products in 1967. The original name was Junga Verkstäder, but after having been acquired by Asea in 1978, the name was changed to Asea Cylinda, later becoming ABB Cylinda after the merger of Asea with the Swiss Brown Boveri Corporation to form ABB. The company was acquired by Finnish furniture manufacturer ASKO in 1988. The name was also changed to Asko ASEA. Asko Appliances was acquired by the Italian Antonio Merloni Group in 2000. With the acquisition of Asko Appliances the ownership of the Cylinda brand was kept within the corporate group of Asea, but in 1999 the name was changed from Asea Skandia to Elektroskandia. In 2008 Elektroskandia was acquired by the international company Sonepar. In July 2010 Asko Appliances was acquired by Slovenian Gorenje Group.
Cylinda is still owned by Elektroskandia Sverige AB.