Defy, the country’s largest manufacturer of appliances which this year celebrates 115 years of its foundation, has joined the Proudly South African buy local movement.
Defy appliances are a proud part of everyday life in many South African homes and represent innovation, quality, consistency and excellence of both function and design.
During these uncertain and difficult times for manufacturers and retailers, Defy Appliances has put their expertise relating to the design improvement, industrialisation and localisation into the manufacture of mechanical ventilators which will be mass produced in Defy’s KZN Jacobs factory, supported by 17 local suppliers, each responsible for various device components. The ventilators, named Impilo, meaning ‘life’ in isiZulu and isiXhosa, will be provided locally on a not-for-profit basis to assist the country at this time of crisis.
In addition, Defy announced a donation package of R1.9m of relevant appliances to hospitals who are in the forefront of the fight against Covid19 in order to aid and support critical healthcare workers during their extended working hours.
Eustace Mashimbye, CEO of Proudly SA said, “Defy’s membership endorses the importance that a proud, local company places on formalising their status and becoming part of the country’s official buy local movement. By placing our logo on all their appliances, Defy is adding positively to their reputation as an excellent manufacturer and declaring openly that they support the Proudly South African campaign and everything it stands for. We are more than proud to welcome Defy Appliances into the Proudly SA family, especially given the amazing contribution they are making in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their work on ventilators and their donations to front line facilities is truly in the spirt of nation building.”
Said Evren Albas, CEO of Defy Appliances, “Defy Appliances is proud to operate in South Africa with a workforce of over 2500 people that cover the whole county to drive our manufacturing, distribution sales and after sales operations. Our business volume of 2 million appliances per year supplies nearly 1800 stores around the country and we are the principal customer of 150 domestic suppliers of materials and services to our three manufacturing plants. Defy is more than a company, it is a large ecosystem that creates significant economic value for its many business partners”
ENDS
For more information on Proudly South African visit www.proudlysa.co.za
For more information on Proudly South African visit www.proudlysa.co.za
Visit Proudly South Africa’s dedicated online shopping platform on www.rsamade.co.za
For media enquiries please contact:
PR Manager: Deryn Graham
Office: 011 327 7778 Cell: 083 289 0997
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PR Officer: Tshiamo Ndlovu
Office: 011 327 7778 Cell: 082 844 6316
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About Defy:
Defy Appliances (Pty) Ltd is Southern Africa’s largest manufacturer and distributor of major domestic appliances. The company markets its products under the Defy brand and offers the consumer a full range of kitchen, laundry and small domestic appliances. Established in 1905, Defy made its debut by manufacturing the first electric stove in South Africa. In the last 115 years, the brand has further entrenched its footprint in South African households through manufacturing durable goods such as gas and electric ovens, washing machines and dryers, making Defy the biggest white goods manufacturer with the largest product range in the country. In 2011 Defy was acquired by leading Turkish home appliance group, Arcelik. Having operations in the durable consumer goods industry with production, marketing and after-sales services, Arcelik offers products and services around the world with over 30,000 employees, and 23 different production facilities in 9 countries.
