Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen a / s ( B & O ) is a Danish manufacturer of consumer electronics ( TV, hi-fi equipment ) and phones in high price segment. B & O lays claims to the products great emphasis on ease of use, exceptional design and good service.

History

Bang & Olufsen was founded in 1925 by Peter Bang ( 1900-1957 ) and Svend Olufsen ( 1897-1949 ). First Product of the newly formed company was the Eliminator, which made it possible to operate the previously battery-powered radios to the local power grid. 1927 B & O built a new factory building in Struer, which was designed so that it could also serve as a school in the event of insolvency of the company. A milestone in the development of radio was designed by Peter Bang Beolit ​​39, who came to Christmas 1938 on the market. It was one of the first radio sets, which was completely squeezed out of bakelite, and the first time that the product name " Beo ... " was used.

1941, the company expanded its factory. During the night from 14th to 15th January 1945, a bomb attack Danish Nazi collaborators destroyed the manufacturing building. In September of the same year Peter Bang laid the foundation stone for the new building. In 1947, the new factory was completed and the production back in full swing. Thanks to the Marshall Plan, Bang & Olufsen was able to install new machines.

Design

Prior to 1950, the design of the B & O products was not particularly startling, except for the hyperbolic 5 RG Steel from 1934, which can be considered as a futuristic design study more, and the Beolit ​​39, which went into production in 1938.

Mid-1950s, the company was aware design and tries to argue with such success in the increasingly fierce competition from the consumer electronics industry. During the Beolit ​​39 nor the CEO himself had designed, the company hired more steadily internationally renowned industrial designer. Shapes according to the motto "less is more" ( less is more ) is clearly inspired by the Bauhaus style.

The designers of the 1950s and 1960s were the Danes Ib Fabiansen and Acton Bjørn and the Swede Sigvard Bernadotte. From 1967, the Dane Jacob Jensen Chief Designer at B & O and from 1981 until his death in 2011, the Briton David Lewis was responsible for the design of the products.

Currently, some devices in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, including the Beomaster 1200 and 3000 ( 1972), the Beolit ​​400 ( 1972), the Beosystem 6000 (1975 ) and the Beolab 6000 (1993).

Distribution

B & O devices are offered in special B & O stores and specialized hi-fi dealers, franchisees often, holding B & O to an appealing product presentation. This product presentation must adhere strictly to the requirements of B & O. Devices from other manufacturers are not usually found in the B & O stores.

For some time, Bang & Olufsen also cooperates with several major car manufacturers. Since 2006 is the top model of Audi, the Audi A8, available with an optional sound system from Bang & Olufsen, the " Advanced Sound System." 2007 was followed by other Audi models. Since 2008, B & O also cooperates with Aston Martin and Mercedes -Benz ( for its AMG models). Since 2011 there is also a cooperation with BMW. For 5, 6, 7 Series and X5 models have a B & O hi-fi system is available.

The world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones, Samsung used in the former top models of its mobile phones ( such as the SGH- E950 or SGH -U900 Soul ) for the MP3 music player mini speaker from B & O with the product name " ICEpower ".

Special

A special feature at B & O is to all parts of the plant, even older, be able to control with a single universal remote control. It is even possible to control products from other manufacturers at a B & O remote control. With additional devices can be used to control lighting, heating, motorized screens or even shutters with this remote control.

With B & O devices can be home by a so- Link system ( BeoLink ) " networked " completely. BeoLink offers the possibility of all existing in a main room audio and video sources (radio receiver, TV, CD and Blu -ray player, hard disk recorder, etc. ) of up to 16 additional rooms from to use and operate.

B & O sold for many years, matching furniture to its products where the wiring is easy to hide.

In 1932, Svend Olufsen bought the company logo is still valid today by a painter apprentice for 10 Danish crowns.