A diverse production plant which has seen steady growth / A role in writing bicycle history / Birthplace of the dishwasher / Three product groups under one roof

In 1916, the founding fathers of the Miele company, Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann, took the historic decision to set up a second production plant in the neighbouring town of Bielefeld. The first products to be manufactured there supported production in Gütersloh. From 1924 onwards, the plant was characterised by the production of bicycles, followed by vacuum cleaners in 1927. It was in Bielefeld that Europe's first electrically powered dishwasher was built in 1929. Now, 100 years on, Miele in Bielefeld can look back over an eventful and extremely successful history. With a workforce of around 1800 and covering an area of approx. 134,000 m², it is now the second-largest production plant within the Miele Group, resting on three pillars: domestic dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and Miele's Professional division.

In the early years, Miele in Bielefeld was tasked with the production of cream separators and electric motors. But as early as 1924, the first bicycles left the factory gates, quickly gaining a legendary reputation for their high quality. 'You'll reach your destination fast and simply by buying a bicycle from Miele' was the gist of an advertising slogan from the era. The production range comprised delivery bikes, touring bikes, sports bicycles and racing bikes. Motorised bicycles and later motorbikes witnessed a similar development - and even today, many still wax lyrical about their old Miele 98.

By the time bicycle production was discontinued in 1960 to make way for domestic dishwashers, Miele had built around 1.2 m bicycles and almost half a million motorised bicycles and motorbikes. Miele products still enjoy the best of reputations among old-timer enthusiasts. More than 55 years after the last bicycle was produced, Miele veterans which today are prize collectors' items are still to be seen in many places.

Company focuses on domestic appliances

Miele devoted itself to cleaning at a very early juncture. Washing machines have been guaranteeing clean laundry since 1901 and were joined by vacuum cleaners from Bielefeld in 1927. Modifications were quickly made to the first bucket-type vacuum cleaners which were soon followed by cylinder vacuum cleaners mounted on castors or skids and later by stick vacuum cleaners. Over the decades, development continued apace, with products from Bielefeld today boasting high suction power and highly effective filtration systems. Each year, over 1.5 m vacuum cleaners are produced by employees in Bielefeld.

Cleanliness is also the preserve of a further product from Bielefeld: the dishwasher. This product was first introduced in 1929 as Europe's first electrically powered dishwasher. Dr. Markus Miele, Executive Director, Co-Proprietor and great-grandson of the company founder Carl Miele is convinced that this was a decision that demonstrated the 'entrepreneurial farsightedness' of the founding fathers. This initial product found its way into larger households and even smaller restaurants and cafés. Another milestone in the development of the plant was marked by the first fully automatic dishwasher launched in 1960. 82 units were built in the first year in Bielefeld, with unit output soon set to rise rapidly. Currently, annual production is in the order of upwards of 500,000 units. In total, around 16 m Miele dishwashers have been produced between 1960 and the present day.

Washers for specialised commercial applications

The experience gained in the development and production of domestic dishwashers in Bielefeld was applied to commercial washers in the Sixties. Alongside domestic dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, Miele Bielefeld is also home to Miele Professional. Here, from conceptualisation through to product engineering and production, commercial dishwashers are produced for use in the catering business. These are further complemented by washer-disinfectors for medical applications (surgeries and hospitals) and washers used in research and industrial laboratories. It is above all the medical field which places ever increasing demands on machine technology, calling for specific solutions to meet the needs of individual target audiences.

Expansion to cope with new products and growing unit sales

The Bielefeld plant is a production facility which has grown organically over the decades. New production buildings were added as the years passed to cope with increases in production and new product groups. This was accompanied by on-going investments in new plant and equipment.

One focus of investments over recent years has been the construction of an innovation centre for professional cleaning systems. This brings together research, development and production. This move represents a key milestone towards making Professional an independent business unit. This independence was further clearly underlined three years ago with the installation of an inner cabinet production line exclusively servicing the needs of commercial washers.

(786 words, 5,152 characters, incl. spaces)

Company profile: Miele is the world's leading manufacturer of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floor care products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washer-disinfectors and sterilisers for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). The Miele company, founded in 1899, has 8 production plants in Germany as well as one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. 2014/15 turnover amounted to approx. EUR 3.5 bn with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele is represented with its own sales subsidiaries and via importers in almost 100 countries. Throughout the world, the company, now in fourth-generation ownership, employs a workforce of 17,740, thereof 10,350 in Germany. The company headquarters are located in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.