Antonio Merloni S.p.A. is a world leading manufacturer and distributor of major household appliances. The company, founded in 1974 by Antonio Merloni, was named after its founder and focused its core business on the production of white goods, in particular washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and dryers. Thanks to Antonio Merloni’s entrepreneurial vision, the Group grew stronger and solid. A series of strategic takeovers in Spain, Netherlands and United kingdom, carried on during the 80’s, permitted the company to expand abroad and quickly becoming a competitive player in the global market. The brands portfolio owned by Antonio Merloni S.p.A. was completed with important takeovers. Among them Tecnogas, a leading Italian manufacturer of free-standing cookers in 1995 and Asko, a renowned Scandinavian manufacturer of white good appliances in 2000. In 2005 Antonio Merloni S.p.A. relaunched a historic brand of the Group: ARDO. A brand that is gaining momentum in Europe and abroad thanks to its innovative design, high selected components and state of the art technology. Antonio Merloni Group, with more than 10 factories located primarily in Italy, 6.500 employees, 13 branches in Europe, United States, Russia, Australia and Far East, 20 exclusive distribution agencies in over 30 countries, is now one of the largest and most important manufacturer of white good appliances in the world.