Ebac

Last updated
Ebac Ltd.
Company type Private
Founded1973;51 years ago (1973) [1]
FounderJohn Elliott
Headquarters Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, England
Key people
Pamela Petty (managing director) [2]
John Elliott (chairman) [2]
ProductsDehumidifiers, water coolers, air source heat pumps, freezers, washing machines
RevenueIncrease2.svg £17,775,135 (2019) [3]
Decrease2.svg £1,284,747 (2019) [3]
Increase2.svg £632,892 (2019) [3]
Number of employees
Increase2.svg 226 (2019) [3]
Parent Ebac Group Ltd
Website http://www.ebac.com

Ebac Ltd. is a family-owned British company which designs and manufactures dehumidifiers, water coolers, air source heat pumps, freezers and washing machines.

Contents

Company history

In 1972, John Elliott took an order from Bovis Homes to build industrial dehumidifiers suited to the UK climate. [4] That order led to Ebac's foundation in 1973, with Elliott as the sole member of staff. The company grew and seven years later it reached its first million pound turnover. [5] In 1980, Ebac developed the UK's first mass-produced domestic dehumidifier. [6] Ebac moved into the water cooler market in 1993. [6]

In 2005, Ebac moved into the leisure industry by opening its first city centre luxury day spa for ladies. The spa was situated in Brewery Wharf, Leeds, and its aim was to combine luxury, pampering, beauty and indulgence in a convenient city centre location. Waterfall Spa also developed its own range of spa retail products. The spa could accommodate up to 30 guests per day and the facilities included six treatment rooms, relaxation boudoir, hydrotherapy pool, tropicarium, aromatherapy steam room, rasul mud chamber, manicure and pedicure area and café. In 2008, a local newspaper (The Yorkshire Post) reported that a number of celebrities often frequented the spa. However in 2010 it ceased trading. [7]

A range of refrigerators and freezers was introduced in 2008, but were discontinued a few years later due to being imported and merely badged as Ebac. [8]

In 2011, Ebac began to develop a range of air source heat pumps, but again were discontinued some years later. However, in 2023 Ebac revived its heat pump technology due to heat pumps becoming more popular. In 2011 ownership of Ebac was transferred to a trust which restricts the sale or breakup of the company and requires the reinvestment of all profits. [9]

In 2013, Ebac purchased the assets of the collapsed Scotland-based company Icetech Freezers, including its Norfrost brand. In 2014 it began production of Norfrost branded freezers at its own factory, but by early 2016 Ebac once again ceased production of the chest freezers. This was believed to be due to poor management and inferior packaging of the product and shipment method. [10]

Ebac started production of washing machines in 2016. [11] It became the first manufacturer of washing machines in the UK since the closure of the Hotpoint/Indesit factory in Denbighshire in 2009. [12] [11] The project was assisted by a government grant received in 2013 and was expected to create 200 jobs, but to date Ebac has never achieved its 200 job promise. Ebac washing machines are sold in the UK only.

John Elliott

John Elliott was born in Bishop Auckland and trained as an engineer. [4] His father was a baker who died when Elliott was six months old. [4] Elliot grew up in High Lands, a Durham pit village near Cockfield. [4]

In 2004,Elliott became Chairman of the 'North East Says No' campaign which was set up to stop Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plans for a regional assembly. [13] The campaign was a huge success with 78% of voters saying No. John has since made a number of TV appearances including Channel 4's Secret Millionaire [Series 1:Episode 2] and the very first episode of the BBC comedy documentary 'Bring Your Husband To Heel'.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dehumidifier</span> Device which reduces humidity

A dehumidifier is an air conditioning device which reduces and maintains the level of humidity in the air. This is done usually for health or thermal comfort reasons, or to eliminate musty odor and to prevent the growth of mildew by extracting water from the air. It can be used for household, commercial, or industrial applications. Large dehumidifiers are used in commercial buildings such as indoor ice rinks and swimming pools, as well as manufacturing plants or storage warehouses. Typical air conditioning systems combine dehumidification with cooling, by operating cooling coils below the dewpoint and draining away the water that condenses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrogate</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Harrogate is a spa town in the district and county of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. 13 miles (21 km) away from the town centre is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothes dryer</span> Appliance used for drying wet clothes

A clothes dryer, also known as tumble dryer, is a powered household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing, bedding and other textiles, usually after they are washed in a washing machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaham</span> Seaside town in County Durham, England

Seaham is a seaside town in County Durham, England. Located on the Durham Coast, Seaham is situated 6 miles south of Sunderland and 13 miles (21 km) east of Durham. The town grew from the late 19th century onwards as a result of investments in its harbour and coal mines. The town is twinned with the German town of Gerlingen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refrigerator</span> Appliance for cold food storage

A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so that its inside is cooled to a temperature below the room temperature. Refrigeration is an essential food storage technique around the world. The low temperature lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage. A refrigerator maintains a temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water. The optimal temperature range for perishable food storage is 3 to 5 °C. A similar device that maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water is called a freezer. The refrigerator replaced the icebox, which had been a common household appliance for almost a century and a half. The United States Food and Drug Administration recommends that the refrigerator be kept at or below 4 °C (40 °F) and that the freezer be regulated at −18 °C (0 °F).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whirlpool Corporation</span> American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances

Whirlpool Corporation is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, United States. The Fortune 500 company, in 2023 had an annual revenue of approximately $19 billion in sales, around 59,000 employees, and more than 55 manufacturing and technology research centers globally.

Hotpoint is a brand of domestic appliances. Ownership of the brand is split between American company Whirlpool, which has the rights in Europe, Chinese company Haier, which has the rights in the Americas and Turkish company Arcelik which has rights in Russia and the CIS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castletown, Highland</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Castletown is a village on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland, situated near Dunnet Bay. It is within the civil parish of Olrig, where it is the main settlement, and within the historic county of Caithness. The A836 links the village with Thurso and Tongue in the west and with John o' Groats in the east. The B876-A99 links the village with Wick in the southeast. Contrary to the common misconception, the name Castletown is a misnomer as there is no castle within the village limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indesit Company</span> Italian appliance company

Indesit Company is an Italian company based in Fabriano, Ancona. It is one of the leading European manufacturers and distributors of major domestic appliances. It claims to be the undisputed leader in major markets such as Italy, the UK and Russia. Founded in 1975 and listed on the Milan stock exchange since 1987, the group posted sales of €2.7 billion in 2013. It has eight industrial areas in Italy, Poland, the UK, Russia and Turkey, and 16,000 employees. Since 2014 the majority of the company is owned by the American company Whirlpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washer-dryer</span> Single machine for washing and drying clothes

A combo washer dryer is a combination in a single cabinet of a washing machine and a clothes dryer. It should not be confused with a "stackable" combination of a separate washing machine and a separate clothes dryer.

Olympic Group is an Egyptian group of companies operating mainly in the field of domestic appliances. The main products it manufactures are washing machines, refrigerators, electric water heaters and gas cookers. It also operates in the fields of IT and real estate. It owns the licensing rights for Sony products in Egypt. Olympic Group has acquired "IDEAL", a formerly state-owned appliances giant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heat pump and refrigeration cycle</span> Mathematical models of heat pumps and refrigeration

Thermodynamic heat pump cycles or refrigeration cycles are the conceptual and mathematical models for heat pump, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. A heat pump is a mechanical system that allows for the transmission of heat from one location at a lower temperature to another location at a higher temperature. Thus a heat pump may be thought of as a "heater" if the objective is to warm the heat sink, or a "refrigerator" or “cooler” if the objective is to cool the heat source. In either case, the operating principles are similar. Heat is moved from a cold place to a warm place.

Colston was a British electrical appliance manufacturer, founded by ex-Hoover director Sir Charles Colston in 1955, that made compact dishwashers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy Saving Trust Recommended</span>

The Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo was a UK-based labelling and certification scheme for energy efficient products. A product that displays the logo shows that it met strict criteria on energy saving. The scheme was run by the Energy Saving Trust and was launched in 2000. The logo is registered with the UK Patent Office and could be used by manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to signpost consumers to best-in-class energy efficient products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Applications of the Stirling engine</span> Practical uses for Sterling engine technology

Applications of the Stirling engine range from mechanical propulsion to heating and cooling to electrical generation systems. A Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the "working fluid", at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat to mechanical work. The Stirling cycle heat engine can also be driven in reverse, using a mechanical energy input to drive heat transfer in a reversed direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midea Group</span> Chinese home appliance manufacturer and air conditioner OEM

Midea Group is a Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer, headquartered in Beijiao town, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong and listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange. As of 2021, the firm employs approximately 150,000 people in China and overseas with 200 subsidiaries and over 60 overseas branches. Midea Group is listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2013. It has been listed on the Fortune Global 500 since July 2016. Midea produces lighting, water appliances, floor care, small kitchen appliances, laundry, large cooking appliances, and refrigeration appliances. It is the largest microwave oven manufacturer, and acts an OEM for many brands. It also has a long history in producing home and commercial products in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). It is the world's largest producer of industrial robots and appliances.

The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles is a regulatory program that enforces minimum energy conservation standards for appliances and equipment in the United States. The program was established under Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 and gives the Department of Energy (DOE) the authority to develop and implement test procedures and minimum standards for more than 60 products covering residential, commercial and industrial, lighting, and plumbing applications. The Department of Energy is required to set standards that are "technologically feasible and economically justified."

Danby is the brand name of a line of appliances marketed by Danby Appliances Inc. and Danby Appliances Ltd., led by President and CEO Jim Estill. Danby specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing small appliances through national and independent retailers in Canada, the US, UK, and Mexico. It is a privately held Canadian and US company headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, and Findlay, Ohio. While the company is well-established in Canada, more than half of its sales are outside the country. The company has additional locations in Tolleson, Arizona; Saraland, Alabama; and Foxboro, Massachusetts, as well as a location in Guangzhou, China. It is affiliated with manufacturers in China, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, India and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OASIS International</span>

OASIS International is an American company that manufactures drinking water coolers, non-refrigerated water fountains, bottled water dispensers, and dehumidifiers in 80 countries in North America, Asia, and the EMEA regions. Its head office is in Columbus, Ohio and it has production facilities in Mexico and Poland. It also has its European headquarters in Ireland and a permanent office in Shenzhen, China.

The Significant New Alternatives Policy is a program of the EPA to determine acceptable chemical substitutes, and establish which are prohibited or regulated by the EPA. It also establishes a program by which new alternatives may be accepted, and promulgates timelines to the industry regarding phase-outs of substitutes.

References

  1. "Ebac Limited in County Durham, Company House Webcheck". Duedil.com. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  2. 1 2 Hopkins, Kathryn (10 February 2014). "Going for growth: Ebac aims to clean up at home". The Times. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ebac Financial statements" (PDF). Companies House. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Andrew Lynch (2013-03-10). "How I Made It: John Elliot, founder of Ebac". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  5. How I Made It: John Elliott, founder of Ebac, "The Times Online", July 2003.
  6. 1 2 Harris, Stephen. "Ebac founder John Elliott | In-depth". The Engineer. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  7. Spa treatment in special league, Yorkshire Post, May 2008.
  8. "Ebac History - Before Fridges and Freezers... - Ebac Refrigeration". Ebacfridges.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  9. Jennifer Rankin (2015-03-15). "'March of the makers' sees return of the British washing machine". The Guardian.
  10. Steven Hugill (2014-07-17). "Family firm starts freezer venture". The Northern Echo.
  11. 1 2 "Ebac returns washing machine manufacture to UK". BBC News. 2016-09-27.
  12. "Indesit job losses 'major blow'". BBC News. 2009-03-04.
  13. North East votes 'no' to assembly, "BBC News", Nov 2004.