Primus in the rebadge industry
Primus is originally a Belgian company that started it's production around 1911, building washers with wooden tubs and laundry equipment for larger washing needs. By the 1930 they build washers and spindryers for both domestic and industrial use. In 1955 they started building fully automatic washers and washer-extractors for the domestic market, the laundromats that where comming-up and larger needs. In 1970 they dropped the domestic market and started focusing on the commercial market. In the beginning of 2000 they moved the whole production unit to Czech Republic, and started branding washers under the 'maytag industrial' logo.
The 'asko' washers and dryers (badged Maytag in the UK) where added to the productline to enter the nichemarket where only the Miele Little Giants offered semi industrial equipment for smaller laundry needs.
Around Heule, Kortrijk, many people still have a primus washer at home.
Also 40% of the market for coin-operated laundromats in Belgium belongs to Primus. The other 40% belongs to IPSO, who is still building there washers in Belgium (Wevelgem). The other 10% is Miele or now more and more Electrolux.
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