Why Choose Hisense?
Hisense is one of the world’s largest and most successful manufacturers. The company’s portfolio of brand names includes Toshiba, Sharp, Ronshen, and Kelon, and it also produces goods for other electronics and appliance makers. Originally established to make inexpensive transistor radios in 1969, Hisense has grown into a global company that employs more than 80,000 people and operates 14 manufacturing parks around the world.
This incredible growth has been fueled by innovation and a commitment to quality. Hisense invests heavily in research and development, which has yielded hundreds of patents and dozens of industry firsts. The company then offers its groundbreaking technology in appliances that most people can afford. If you are looking for a new refrigerator and want maximum bang for the buck, you should take a look at Hisense.
History
The company that went on to become Hisense was established in 1969 to make basic transistor radios for the Chinese domestic market. It now makes televisions, cellphones, laptop computers, and some of the most advanced refrigerators on the market in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Let’s take a look at the company’s remarkable rise and the challenges it faced along the way.
Founding and Milestones
In the late 1960s, tiny manufacturing companies sprung up all over China to make cheap electronic products for the country’s rapidly growing middle class. One of these fledgling manufacturers was the Qingdao No.2 Radio factory. The company’s first product was an inexpensive transistor radio that was marketed under the “Red Lantern” brand name, but consumers were more interested in entertainment that they could see as well as hear. Executives quickly determined that making televisions would be more profitable, so they sent three technicians to participate in a television manufacturing program being run by the Shandong National Defense Office.
The company spent most of its first-decade refining and broadening its television manufacturing capabilities. It started producing televisions in 1971 and introduced its first commercial model in 1978. The following year, the Chinese government reorganized the electronics manufacturing sector to prioritize consumer products. The Qingdao No.2 Radio Factory was merged with several nearby electronics companies to make TV sets for Chinese consumers, and the Qingdao General Television Factory was born.
The most notable moment in the Hisense story came when the Qingdao General Television Factory hired a recent university graduate named Zhou Houjian. The young man was originally put to work as a technician, but he was quickly promoted to supervisor. He climbed the ladder by focusing on product quality and rewarding employees who took pride in their work, and he learned about the importance of research and development. Zhou was appointed factory director at the age of 35, and he founded the Hisense Group in 1994.
Chinese electronics manufacturers became embroiled in a fierce price war in the 1990s, but Zhou’s fledgling company thrived because it offered better quality for the same price. When smaller companies folded under the pressure, Zhou would often swoop in to acquire them. In just his first four years in business, Zhou obtained 10 companies in this way.
When he acquired a new company, Zhou improved efficiency, eliminated waste, and encouraged research and development. With the support of senior management behind them, scientists and engineers working under the Hisense umbrella began to make breakthroughs. A research and development team created in 2000 to develop mobile communications technology is a great example of this philosophy in action. In just two decades, the team has invented 64 devices and obtained 116 software copyrights and 233 patents.
Hisense has also grown by entering into strategic partnerships with industry giants. When the company decided to enter the residential appliance market, it worked with Whirlpool to build and run a washing machine and refrigerator factory. The factory covers more than 800,000-square-feet and makes French-door and bottom-freezer refrigerators for Hisense and several Whirlpool brands.
Hisense is now a global company with more than 80,000 employees. It operates research and development facilities in the United States, Germany, and Israel that developed the first transparent 3D television and the first 8K HDR television, and now those scientists are working on ways to make refrigerators better.
Production and Manufacturing
Hisense makes a huge range of consumer products for its own brands and other manufacturers. These products include televisions, set-top boxes, laptop computers, and cellphones, as well as refrigerators, beverage coolers, and dishwashers. Hisense refrigerators are built in factories that have been designed to improve efficiency while maintaining the highest possible quality standards, and some of them were designed in the company’s American research and development facility.
Products
The Hisense refrigerator line includes 16 full-size models, 14 compact models, five freezers, three wine and beverage coolers, and an ice maker. These refrigerators are extremely affordable, but that does not mean they are basic. Features that you can expect to find in a Hisense refrigerator include LED lights, flexible cooling options, quiet motors, and sleek counter-depth designs. The model range includes:
- Bottom-freezer refrigerators: There are six bottom-freezer models in the Hisense refrigerator line with capacities ranging from 17.1-cubic-feet to 20.9-cubic-feet. Many of these refrigerators are only available in stainless steel, but some are also offered in attractive black or white finishes.
- Top-freezer refrigerators: If you prefer a refrigerator that has a freezer on top, Hisense has three models for you to choose from. They all provide 18-cubic-feet of cooling space and have crispers with humidity controls.
- French-door refrigerators: These stylish models have a side-by-side refrigerator on the top and a freezer drawer on the bottom. Water and ice dispensers in the doors of these full-size refrigerators have stainless steel LED control panels that are operated by touch, and sliding shelves maximize interior space.
- Counter-depth refrigerators: Several Hisense refrigerators have counter-depth designs and hidden handles to match the décor of any kitchen. Some of these models even have a fourth compartment that can be used as either a refrigerator or freezer.
- Compact refrigerators: Hisense has more than a dozen compact refrigerators with can caddies, glass shelves, and small freezer compartments. Some of them have reversible doors, which makes fitting them into tight spaces much easier.
- Wine and beverage coolers: Hisense wine and beverage coolers have frost-free engineering, which means their glass doors never fog up. These models can be freestanding or installed alongside cabinets, and they can hold up to 140 beverage cans.
- Freezers: Hisense offers four chest freezers with up to 8.7-cubic-feet of cooling space and an upright freezer with 21.2-cubic-feet of interior space. These freezers offer no-frost convenience, soft LED lighting, and fast-freeze technology.
You can be confident that any Hisense refrigerator you choose will be full of little touches that were added to make your life just a bit easier. Bright LED lights make it much easier to find small objects at the back of a Hisense refrigerator, and sliding glass shelves make retrieving items a snap. Here are a few other features that you may find in a Hisense refrigerator:
- Humidity controls: Leafy greens thrive in a humid environment, but fruits like apples and melons prefer things to be dry. Hisense crispers have humidity controls to keep any kind of produce fresh.
- Super cool and super freeze: Food unpacked from grocery bags should be cooled as quickly as possible to lock in flavor and maintain freshness. Hisense refrigerators make this easy with super-cool and super-freeze features that are operated by touching a button.
- Pantry drawers: Slide-out pantry trays take up very little interior space and are a great place to store deli trays and juice boxes.
- Inverter technology: Hisense inverter technology keeps operating noise to a minimum and has been engineered to provide years of trouble-free service. Inverters also manage interior temperatures more effectively and use far less energy.
If you want to know more about the features that make Hisense refrigerators stand out, you can visit our main refrigerators page for product reviews and roundups. This is also the place to go for the latest industry news.
Manufacturing
Hisense operates 14 industrial parks around the world that include research and development and distribution facilities as well as manufacturing plants. The company has also opened dedicated research establishments in the United States, China, Germany, and Israel. Hisense first entered the refrigerator market in 1998 when a deal involving a Chinese manufacturer and the appliance giant Whirlpool fell through. This gave Hisense the opportunity to purchase a brand-new refrigerator factory packed with the latest manufacturing equipment. That facility is now the company’s main refrigerator research and marketing hub.
The failed deal that allowed Hisense to buy a refrigerator factory also left Whirlpool in need of an Asian appliance manufacturing partner. In 2008, the two companies entered into an agreement to build and operate a state-of-the-art washing machine and refrigerator plant in Huzhou, China. Hisense brought innovation and electronics excellence to the table, and Whirlpool brought decades of appliance manufacturing know-how. The machines inside the vast facility can identify and overcome manufacturing problems without human intervention, and they make some of the most advanced refrigerators on the market.
Key Facts
Hisense has built its brand image and shaped consumer perceptions by supporting sports and sponsoring major teams and events. The company was one of the major sponsors of UEFA’s 2016 European Championships and FIFA’s 2018 World Cup, and it has also invested heavily in athletics, rugby, and motor racing. Since 2016, the company has:
- Entered into a strategic partnership with the English Premier League team Aston Villa.
- Agreed to sponsor the German Bundesliga team Schalke 04 permanently.
- Entered into a long-term sponsorship deal with French Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain.
- Become a Red Bull Formula 1 racing team official supplier.
- Agreed to sponsor the 2020 UEFA European Championship and 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Australia’s National Rugby League.
- Agreed to fund the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
Warranty Information
Hisense refrigerators are backed by a limited warranty that covers most components for two years and sealed system parts like compressors, evaporators, and condensers for five years. Consumers who purchase Hisense new refrigerators from authorized retailers do not have to register their appliances to obtain this coverage, but they will be asked to provide a receipt or other proof of purchase if they submit a claim.
To start the Hisense refrigerator warranty process, consumers can call (877) 465-3566 or send an email to service@hisense-usa.com. When on-site service is required, a technician is dispatched to make repairs using genuine factory parts. If on-site service is not possible, the faulty refrigerator is either replaced or a refund is issued. The Hisense warranty protects consumers against problems caused by defective materials or manufacturing issues, but it does not cover the cost of repairing accident damage.
Hisense Refrigerator and Freezer Parts
The link to the Hisense parts portal can be found by clicking the “Support” tab on the company’s main site. You can find the parts you need by entering a model number in the search box provided or clicking on “Refrigerators” and then scrolling through the available options.
Each component listed has a part number, description, and price, and a green check mark lets you know that it is in stock and ready to be shipped. Clicking on an item opens up a page with a larger image and a more detailed description, and there is also a list of all of the model numbers the part is compatible with. If you have any problems finding the part you need, you can click on a live chat icon to get in touch with a company representative.
Check Out More Hisense Content From RefrigeratorHQ
If you want to know how to choose the right refrigerator without breaking the bank, RefrigeratorHQ has the content you need. Our Hisense refrigerator reviews and roundups could help you to find the model that best fits your needs, and our recall and press release pages are the places to go for the latest industry news. We even have affiliate links that could save you money on a new refrigerator or freezer.
Hisense Refrigerator and Freezer Reviews
Our reviews dig deep to find out whether or not new refrigerators are worth their price tags. We put manufacturer claims to the test by comparing popular refrigerators with competing models and evaluating their technology, and we also let you know what consumers have said about them on the major product review sites. Our reviews tell you how difficult refrigerators are to install and how much they cost to run, and they mention disadvantages as well as selling points.
Hisense Refrigerator and Freezer Roundups
RefrigeratorHQ product roundups are great for people who are not sure what kind of appliance they want. We select five or so representative models from a manufacturer’s lineup, and then we tell you what bottom-freezer, side-by-side, and French-door refrigerators have in common and what makes them different. Comparison and specification tables make important information easy to find, and all important features are covered.
Hisense Refrigerator and Freezer Press Releases
Things can change quickly in the appliance industry, and consumers who make decisions based on out-of-date information often spend more than they need to or wind up buying refrigerators that are no longer in production. Our press release pages tell you about new refrigerator launches and model line revisions, and they also contain information about sales, clearance events, rebates, and customer loyalty bonuses. If you want to avoid an expensive mistake, check our press release pages before you spend any cash.
Hisense Recalls
RefrigeratorHQ recall pages make sure our visitors know about important safety issues. We let you know about the problem that prompted the recall and whether or not any injuries have been linked to it, and we also tell you what steps the manufacturer has agreed to take to solve the problem. Recalled refrigerators are usually repaired in the home, but replacements or refunds could also be offered.
Where To Buy
Choosing a manufacturer and model is sometimes the least confusing part of the refrigerator buying process. Every retailer claims to offer attractive prices backed up by excellent customer service, but not many actually do. RefrigeratorHQ keeps track of prices by monitoring major brick-and-mortar appliance stores and large online retailers. We also check their inventory levels and look at how they respond to customer complaints. If you are looking for a great deal on a Hisense refrigerator, here are some links you should check out:
Deals
Special offers, rebates, and affiliate programs can all make appliances more affordable, but not everybody finds out about these deals. This is where you can learn about special offers on Hisense refrigerators and retailers that offer extra discounts to RefrigeratorHQ visitors.
Similar Brands
Hisense refrigerators are packed with innovative technology and are built to last, but there are many other choices. If nothing in the Hisense line meets your needs, RefrigeratorHQ can help you to find another refrigerator range that has exactly what you want. Check our product roundups to find a manufacturer you like, and then read our reviews to refine your search. The brands we cover include:
Online Presence
Hisense is a major global company with manufacturing facilities all over the world, so it is easy to find online. The company has an attractive and responsive website with links to its consumer and commercial products, and it posts regularly on the most popular social media platforms. Here are some links:
Contact Information
If you have a question that only Hisense can answer, the company’s website provides two methods of contact. There is no live chat option, but support is available by phone or email. If you want to speak to a customer service representative on the phone, agents are available to answer calls between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends.
- Customer Service Number: (877) 465-3566
- Customer Support Page