Washing machine manufacturer Ardo

When buying a washing machine, you need to know its origins in advance: the manufacturer, the country of assembly, the location of the factory, and any subsidiaries. All this allows you to evaluate the brand for quality and reliability, anticipate risks, and make a purchasing decision. Otherwise, you're highly likely to buy a pig in a poke. We suggest you find out who makes Ardo washing machines, where they're assembled, and how long they've been in production. Customer reviews will also help you get to know the brand better.

The origin of Ardo cars

The Ardo brand is currently owned by the Italian corporation JP Industries S.p.A., which produces large household appliances. Its origins date back to the 1960s, when the brand was owned by Antonio Merloni. The company, originally called Antonio Merloni S.p.A., manufactured gas cylinders. After some time, the corporation expanded into the production of freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines.

Not only the product range expanded, but also the number of brands—in addition to Ardo, other brands were also produced. The next stage of development was the acquisition of Tecnogas S.p.A. by Antonio Merloni S.p.A. Then, in 1995, electric and gas stoves were added to the product line.

The Ardo brand belongs to JP Industries S.p.A., and the machines are assembled in South Korea, Italy, and Russia.

In the 2000s, Antonio Merloni S.p.A. was hit by a crisis: equipment, factories, and brands began to be sold to competitors. Thus, by 2011, the Ardo and SEPPELFRICKE brands, along with two factories in Italy, were acquired by the Italian company JP Industries S.p.A. Since then, the quality of washing machines has not declined, nor has their popularity and demand.

Ardo brand appliances have proven themselves to be reliable and offer long, trouble-free service. While their quality is slightly inferior to German-made washers and dryers, they remain popular in the Russian market. Their high demand stems from their excellent build quality and superior cleaning performance, especially when it comes to machines assembled in Italian factories.

The country of assembly of an Ardo matters. If you compare identical washing machines from Italy and Korea, the former will be significantly higher quality, despite the same price. Some machines are assembled in a Russian factory, although in everyday use, such appliances are unpredictable. Determining where a washing machine was assembled is easy – just look at the factory markings. These are usually affixed to the back of the appliance. The claim that you can guess the country of assembly by the barcode is incorrect: the barcode only encodes the brand's "homeland," not the model's assembly location.

Overall, all of the brand's machines are attractive due to their budget-friendly price and easy repairability, with genuine replacement parts being inexpensive and readily available. Customers will also appreciate the strict quality monitoring at every stage of production, as well as the final "wash" test. The caphoresis treatment of the units before painting also adds to their durability, increasing the corrosion resistance of internal and external components. Regarding the tanks, Ardo offers two types:

• made of stainless steel (high strength);
• made of enameled steel (they undergo high-temperature firing, which increases the moisture resistance and shelf life of the material).

The quality of Ardo brand washing machines is confirmed by relevant international certificates, including ISO 9001. The equipment is fully certified in Russia and deservedly bears the RST conformity mark. This company has been successfully operating in the Russian market for over 10 years, and its service centers are available throughout the country.

User reviews

Andrey, Moscow

I bought an Ardo TL 107 LW top-loading washing machine with a 7 kg drum capacity and dimensions of 40 x 60 x 90 cm. I paid about $360 for it, which is a bit steep, but I didn't regret it – it's a purebred Italian machine with high-quality construction. The machine is very easy to use. The display shows the temperature, spin speed, and remaining cycle time, and when you select a program, it also shows the total wash duration.

The noise level is low, and there's virtually no vibration during the spin cycle. I haven't used it for long, but I can already identify a clear drawback: the protruding connection for the water inlet hose. This protruding "bump" on the back panel makes it impossible to push the machine flush against the wall, which looks unsightly. It's a shame, because it's easy to move this element to the side or adjust its design—it would be better.

Anberlin1613, Shumerlya

We bought the Ardo TL 80 E washing machine back in 2017, and it still works flawlessly. We've only noticed one annoying issue: constantly having to empty the drum of detergent. White stains also remain on clothes even after a delicate wash and double rinse. We still haven't figured out why. The advantages include a large capacity, many modes and excellent washing quality. I'm glad that the machine washes in less than an hour on the fast program, but despite the speed, it removes tough stains from clothes very well. The price was good at the time, commensurate with the features and power. I don't know what it's like now; it's probably much more expensive.

Alexa88, Zaporizhzhia

I'm sharing my impressions of the Ardo TL 80 E washing machine. We've had it for 15 years; my mother bought it. I'm not sure what criteria we used, but time has shown that we chose the right brand and model. I don't know where it was made or assembled; the label has faded. In 15 years, the Ardo has only let us down once. This year, the electric motor failed. We called a technician and replaced it with a new one. Nine months have passed since the replacement, and it's still working perfectly. I think after fifteen years of trouble-free operation, such a breakdown isn't a big deal.

The machine looks ordinary, top-loading. Its dimensions are standard—it fits easily in the kitchen. Our Ardo doesn't have as many modes as modern models, but they're sufficient; we only use two at most. The controls are clear and easy to use: select a mode, adjust the water volume for savings, set the temperature, and that's it—you can forget about washing for an hour and a half. I always start the machine halfway full, as I don't see the point in washing full and wasting money. The machine is silent; vibration is only noticeable during the spin cycle, which isn't a big deal. It turns off automatically, and I take the laundry out three minutes after the cycle ends. The clothes are semi-dry, and in the summer, they dry completely in two hours.

The Ardo is easy to clean. After each wash, I leave the lid open to allow the drum and gasket to dry freely. I periodically perform a preventative cleaning every six months. Sometimes, I even do a "cleaning" once a year—the machine still works perfectly.

   

1 reader comment

1. November 21, 2023 at 1:43 AM

   Alexey:

   The Ardo TL107SW has been in operation for a year and a half and is now sitting idle. There are no spare parts. No service center will repair it.

   Answer