Arctic reaches the production of 4 million washing machines at its factory in Ulmi

Arctic, the leader in Romania’s home appliance market, has reached a significant milestone by producing its four millionth washing machine at the Ulmi factory.

Romania’s first Industry 4.0 unit and one of the few in Europe certified by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Sustainability Lighthouse, acknowledging its outstanding sustainability performance.

Inaugurated in 2019, the factory stands as a benchmark facility for energy efficiency, optimal use of materials and resources, equipped with cutting-edge automation and machine learning technologies. Thanks to these innovative systems, the factory’s two production lines have the capability to produce 407 models of washing machines, equipped with various technologies, destined to both domestic and international markets.

Currently, 82 percent of Ulmi’s production is destined towards exports. Appliances reach consumers in 42 countries, including distant ones like Senegal, Paraguay, Tunisia, Mauritania, or Guinea, yet over 94 percent of total exports are destined for European markets.

”The inauguration of our Ulmi facility in 2019 marked a significant leap into the next generation of manufacturing, aligning with the principles of Industry 4.0 positioning us as a benchmark in terms of energy efficiency, intelligent resource management, and innovation. The production of the four-millionth washing machine is the result of a collective effort of the entire team. We focused all our energy on finding the best solutions, so that each product that goes out of the factory leaves the smallest possible carbon footprint. Thus, Arctic is not just a company that manufactures appliances, but also one that focuses on a greener future for us and the generations to come. Finding a balance between sustainability and efficiency is a proof that excellence in production can be achieved, keeping in our hearts the care for the environment. We aim to provide a leading example, and we intend to surpass the milestone of 5 million units produced at Ulmi by the end of the year.”, said Murat Büyükerk, Chief Executive Officer of Arctic.

Benefitting from advanced technologies based on Industry 4.0 concepts, over 80 percent of the factory’s logistic processes are automated. Furthermore, due to the high level of technological integration at the production points, the facility records significant improvements in traceability capacity, ensuring a high standardization of quality. Over 200 robots, working alongside humans, are involved in the production of washing machines, leading to a 30 percent increase in productivity.

Moreover, resource consumption within the appliance manufacturing process at the Ulmi facility has witnessed a significant decline since its opening, with a 56 percent reduction in energy usage, a 60 percent decrease in water consumption, and a 26 percent decrease in production waste.

The facility utilizes energy from renewable sources, with 20 percent being generated through the owned photovoltaic park. Moreover, at least half of the total energy used in the production of the 4 million washing machines originated from suppliers with certified origin, exclusively providing green energy.

Additionally, between 2019 and 2022, in the manufacturing process of these appliances, over 400 tons of recycled plastic, 60 tons of industrial fiber, and nearly 5 tons of fishing net threads were utilized. Metal and plastic materials are the primary elements required in appliance production, which is why Arçelik, the group to which Arctic belongs, has set out to increase the proportion of recycled plastic to 40 percent and the content of biomass-based materials to 5 percent by 2030.