Scottish R&D team behind the next generation of Hoover vacuum cleaners
Hoover Candy Group’s new range of appliances has been created as a result of a successful research and development (R&D) project carried out by the business’s R&D team based in Cambuslang.
The company, which specialises in domestic electrical appliances, invested in the 18 month project to develop a new range of bagless vacuum cleaners. The launch of the new products aims to reposition Hoover as the European brand leader of good-value, high performance vacuum cleaners.
The research and development project has been supported by Scottish Enterprise with £150,000 funding through its Research and Development Grant.
The investment created four research and development jobs to supplement the dedicated team in Hoover Candy’s Cambuslang facility. The team tested, designed and developed new patent applied for technologies based on a high performance cluster system that provides exceptional cleaning power through an advanced separation system. The range of products will all feature this unique high efficiency separation system under the trade name “Airvolution™”.
Liz Connolly, regional operations director, Scottish Enterprise, said: “This is a significant project for Hoover Candy and the future of its Scottish operations. Once a manufacturing and design centre, Hoover Candy has established its Cambuslang operations as an R&D focused facility employing a highly skilled workforce. We work with our customers to share the risk of investment and we are very pleased to have played a role in the success of this project. This investment helped to accelerate and retain the project in Scotland.
“Competition in Hoover Candy’s market is fierce and staying ahead of competitors in terms of product development, innovation and ongoing research is vital. This is a real success story for Scotland’s R&D capabilities and I am delighted that Hoover Candy has recognised that it is able to access the skills and knowledge that it needs from its R&D base in the West of Scotland."
Scott Crichton, Operations Director, Hoover Candy Group (SDA Division) commented: “This is a particularly exciting time for our Company as we celebrate the Hoover brand’s centenary in 2008. It is therefore highly appropriate that we should introduce this range of high performance, stylish and yet fundamentally easy to use Vacuum Cleaners into the market at this time.
“We have conducted not just extensive technical R&D, but also consumer research to ensure we create the right products for consumers' needs across Europe. We have developed two distinct upright vacuum cleaner designs and one canister (cylinder) cleaner, with each design available in a step-up Allergy Care Plus added benefits model to help reduce allergens in consumer’s homes. By looking after both the home environment and our future generations this product range demonstrates our commitment to the Hoover brand ethos of 'Generation Future'."
The R&D grant, administered by Scottish Enterprise, provides support for innovative projects across Scotland. The grants are aimed at encouraging enterprises to undertake innovative research and technological development with worldwide commercial potential in order to stimulate growth and strengthen competitiveness and sustainability in Scotland.