Russian-made washing machines: 4 best models

A Russian-made washing machine does not inspire confidence in the buyer, bulky boxes with yellowed plastic come to mind. It would have been so, but in the early 2000s, foreign manufacturers of household appliances quickly assessed the potential of the Russian market. Investments flowed into the country, well-known brands began to build factories throughout Russia, to develop logistics. Whether this affected the quality of washing machines, we will try to find out in this article.

Russian manufacturers of washing machines

It must be clearly understood that production and assembly are not the same thing. Production begins with an idea, development of innovation and design, engineering. In this sense, there are practically no SMA manufacturers in Russia. The exception will be Zavod Okean LLC, located in the city of Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai. The plant produces both front-loading and vertical-loading machines, there are all the necessary programs, buyers recommend and praise the machine for its reliability and ease of operation. The remaining domestic manufacturers remain in the segment of inexpensive semi-automatic devices, such as Feya, Slavda, Raduga.

But what about the well-known “Vyatka”? The dream of several generations of Soviet housewives has never been Russian. The washing machine was assembled under a license purchased from Merloni Progetti, using the same Italian equipment. History repeated itself many years later, the Italian Candy Group bought out the bankrupt Vesta plant in 2005 and launched the production of Vyatka-Katyusha and Vyatka-Maria machines. Judging by the reviews, after 7–8 years of service, Vyatka works flawlessly, but costs an order of magnitude less.

Russian assembly of famous CMA brands

Since 2003, the world leaders in the production of household appliances, one by one, began to open factories throughout Russia, which made the prices of products lower. People met Russian automatic washing machines with distrust, but few people know that some of the products are exported to European countries.

• 2003 – a large Turkish manufacturer of household appliances Vestel opened its factory in Alexandrov, Vladimir region. In 2016, it was closed, and the equipment was removed due to the crisis.
• 2004 – a plant was built in Lipetsk Indesit и Hotpoint-ariston. The company also owns the former Stinol, renamed Indesit since 2005.
• 2005 – group of companies Candy The Group bought out the Vesta plant in the city of Kirov and launched the production of both its own brand line and the improved Vyatka.
• 2006 – firm Beko opened production in the city of Kirzhach, Vladimir Region.
• 2006 – plant LG began work in the Ruza district of the Moscow region, its total area is 50 hectares.
• year 2008 – Samsung Electronics located production in Kaluga.
• 2013 – a German brand built a plant and a logistics center near St. Petersburg in Strelna Bosch.

These firms have environmental protection programs and use up to 30% of components manufactured in the domestic market of the country.

Advantages and disadvantages of domestic assembly

Advantages:

• Reduced product prices due to favorable logistics.
• Most of the components, all developments and innovations belong to foreign companies, this guarantees the high quality of the goods.
• Adaptation to the needs of the buyer. Special lines for small spaces have been released.

Disadvantages:

• Reduced service life. The service center masters were faced with the fact that the SMA break down in the third year of service. Some details have been changed. So, in Indesit, the tank began to be manufactured from 202 and 203 bearings, and LG has nickel-plated the hub, which has completely changed the lifespan. Among the same repairmen, there is an opinion that since 2005 any equipment has served not much longer than the warranty period, but at the same time they note that washing machines Korean or German assemblies fall into their hands quite rarely.

Features of domestic washing machines

After researching the market, manufacturers came to the conclusion that the Russian buyer has little need for expensive and bulky washing machines with drying and ironing, and began to produce separate lines that meet the needs of an ordinary resident of the Khrushchev.

Main Features:

• Depth less than standard. The most important selection criterion is dictated by small-sized apartments, for example, Indesit produces a super-narrow model, 33 cm deep (with a standard of 60 cm) only for the domestic market. Other brands are not far behind: Whirlpool and Beko stopped at 35 cm, LG – 36 cm. This does not mean that full-size models are no longer made, they continue to be produced by Candy, Hotpoint-Ariston, LG.
• Front loading. This is rather a matter of taste, but in the post-Soviet space it was the frontal SMAs that fell in love. Only “Ariston” and “Ocean” make several models with vertical loading.
• Profitability. With utility prices, it’s no surprise that the energy efficiency class matters. People are looking for a washing machine with a water consumption of no more than 45 liters per cycle, but with the ability to load at least 6 kg of laundry.

Overview of Russian automatic machines

If you look at any online store, it becomes clear that it is extremely difficult to find a European-assembled car. For those who miss “real Germans” or are looking for at least “Slovaks”, there is a separate segment of expensive and very expensive household appliances, and for everyone else we have compiled this review.

Candy GVF4137LWHC/2-07 – 7 kg load at 40 cm depth!

• Capacity: 7 kg.
• Spin speed: up to 1300 rpm.
• Number of programs: 15, including delicate, manual, quick, intensive wash, hygienic 60 degrees, Perfect 20 ° C – Mix&Wash, Perfect Rapid 59 min, Wi-Fi, NFC.
• Protection: against leaks, locking the hatch and keyboard, imbalance control, auto-weighing.
• Energy efficiency class: A+++.
• Washing / spinning classes: A / B.
• Delayed start: yes, up to 9 hours.
• Washing / spinning noise: 51/76 dB.
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 85x60x40 cm.
• Features: hatch with a diameter of 35 cm opens 180 degrees, steam function, easy ironing, selection of the level of soiling of linen. Water consumption per cycle 52 liters.

Pros:

• Compact, narrow, beautiful design.
• Good capacity with small dimensions.
• Many programs can be controlled from a smartphone.
• Very economical.
• Large, easy-to-lock sunroof.
• Wrings clothes well.

Cons:

• Noisy at high speeds.
• Warranty only 1 year.

Indesit IWUD 4105 – saves budget and space (depth 33 cm)

• Capacity: 4 kg.
• Spin speed: up to 1000 rpm.
• Number of programs: 16, including cotton, delicate fabrics, sportswear, jeans, economical wash.
• Protection: against leaks and overflow, control of unbalance and foaming, self-diagnosis of malfunctions.
• Energy efficiency class: A.
• Washing / spinning classes: A / C.
• Delayed start: yes, up to 12 hours.
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 85×59,5×33 cm.
• Features: water consumption per cycle 44 liters.

Pros:

• Кcompact, you can even move during cleaning.
• Simple operation, there is a countdown display.
• It is inexpensive.
• Washes clothes well.

Cons:

• Works noisy, jumps.
• It is better not to install in a house with old wiring, it can shock.
• Difficult to get the detergent drawer out.

BEKO ELE 67512 ZSW – the choice of customers in the segment up to 20 rubles

• Capacity: 6 kg.
• Spin speed: up to 1000 rpm.
• Number of programs: 16, including cotton, delicate fabrics, sportswear, refresh, dark fabrics, super fast wash.
• Protection: against leaks and overflow, imbalance and foam control, lint filter, child protection, sunroof lock.
• Energy efficiency class: A.
• Washing / spinning classes: A / C.
• Delayed start: yes, up to 19 hours.
• Washing / spinning noise: 60/78 dB.
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 84x60x40 cm.
• Features: water consumption per cycle 45 liters.

Pros:

• Many programs cope with pollution.
• Доступная цена.
• Minimum wash time 15 minutes.
• Beautiful design, simple operation.

Cons:

• Noisily pours water.
• At the first cycles of work there is a slight smell of burning.

On a note! The smell of burning may be due to the fact that new graphite brushes are still lapping in the brush motor. Usually the smell disappears after 1-2 washes.

LG F14U2TDN0 – full size machine with a large hatch

• Capacity: 8 kg.
• Spin speed: up to 1400 rpm.
• Number of programs: 11, including cotton, delicate fabrics, duvet, stain, super fast, dark fabrics.
• Protection: overfill, unbalance control, fluff filter, child protection, sunroof lock, fault self-diagnosis.
• Energy efficiency class: A.
• Washing / spinning classes: A / B.
• Delayed start: yes, up to 19 hours.
• Washing / spinning noise: 58/72 dB.
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 85x60x56 cm.
• Features: water consumption per cycle 58 l, inverter motor, bubble drum, laundry reload, half load, cooling.

Pros:

• Capacious, allows not only to wash large blankets, but also to load half the drum.
• Works silently, does not jump.
• Excellent washes things, squeezes.
• Modern design.
• Doesn’t wrinkle clothes.

Cons:

• Buyers did not find any flaws.

To summarize

• Russian cars are understood as well-known branded SMAs assembled in Russia.
• The production of washing machines in Russia was established by the brands Indesit and Hotpoint-Ariston, Candy, Beko, LG, Samsung, Bosch.
• The quality of the Russian assembly is inferior to Korean or European. This may be due to savings on components or with the general trend of the market to make equipment for 3-5 years, because the owners of expensive models did not note poor quality.
• Domestic models, as a rule, are frontal, narrow and economical.
• The price of washing machines has become affordable for most of the population.