Miele is a privately owned German manufacturer of premium domestic and commercial appliances, founded in 1899. The company's product portfolio encompasses a wide range of kitchen appliances (ovens, refrigerators, coffee machines, dishwashers), laundry appliances (washing machines, dryers), and vacuum cleaners. Miele also produces commercial dishwashers, washer-extractors, and dryers, as well as medical-grade washer-disinfectors and sterilisers. Currently employing approximately 20,950 people, Miele operates eight production facilities in Germany, and one each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China, and Romania. The company distributes its products through its own sales subsidiaries and importers in nearly 100 countries. In 2020, Miele reported sales of €4.5 billion.