Hotpoint
Hotpoint is a brand of household appliances originating from the United States, founded in 1911 by inventor Earl Richardson, who developed an electric iron with a heated tip that inspired the brand's name.[1][2] The company initially focused on electric heating products and expanded into a wide range of kitchen and laundry appliances, including early innovations like one of the first commercial electric toasters in 1908 and the first all-white, fully enameled electric range in 1924.[3][4] In 1918, Hotpoint merged with the General Electric Company, which propelled its growth and integration into broader appliance manufacturing, leading to milestones such as the introduction of the first electric "moistureless" clothes dryer in 1950 and the first refrigerator on wheels in 1953.[3] Ownership of the Hotpoint brand has since fragmented regionally: in North America, it falls under GE Appliances, acquired by the Chinese conglomerate Haier in 2016, while in Europe, rights are held by Whirlpool Corporation following its 2018 purchase of the Indesit Company, which had controlled the brand there.[5][6] Hotpoint appliances have been recognized for affordability and reliability in entry-level markets, but the brand has faced significant safety controversies, including multiple recalls for fire hazards; for instance, in 2017, Whirlpool advised owners of certain Hotpoint tumble dryers to unplug them due to a lint fire risk affecting over 1.3 million units in the UK, and in 2019, half a million Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines were recalled over potential electrical faults that could ignite fires.[7][8] These incidents prompted regulatory scrutiny and compensation schemes, highlighting ongoing challenges in appliance safety under successive ownerships.[8][9]