By Chris Nicholls
MELBOURNE: Castel Electronics has signed up to distribute Chinese brand Midea’s air conditioners in this country.
The range will cover inverter and fixed speed air conditioners, with window, portable and commercial models also available.
Power outputs range from 2.6 kW to 8 kW in the inverter range and 2.6 kW to 8.4 kW in the fixed speed models.
Prices for the inverter models start at RRP $979 and rise to close to $2,000 for the 8 kW mode [estimate based on next model down – official price TBA].
Fixed speed units start at RRP $579 for the cooling-only 2.6 kW model, rising to RRP $1,649 for the top 8.4 kW reverse cycle model.
All Midea (pronounced My-Dea) units come with active carbon filters, with the split system units using a golden coating [it remains unconfirmed whether the coating is actual gold] to prevent corrosion on the condenser.
The base inverter models, the Crown series, use a ‘Bio Filter’, which uses enzymes and a small particle collection filter to keep air clean, while the higher-end X Series models use a Plasma Dust Collection Filter to attract and trap smoke, dust and pollen.
According to Castel Electronics general manager Air Conditioning, Trevor Francis, Midea is the world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer, but have now decided to establish their own brand in Australia.
Midea also manufactures a large range of other whitegoods.
Castel said it would accompany the brand’s launch with an outdoor advertising campaign running through September, October, November and December this year for Queensland, and October, November and December for the other states (Tasmania and ACT excluded).