The History of Dyson Limited

The story of Dyson Limited is one of grit and determination. It’s also a story relatable to that of David and Goliath, as you will see.

Dyson Limited began with one man and his idea. Today, the company has over 12,000 employees and sells its products in more than 100 countries.

Dyson’s product catalog includes household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, hand dryers, heaters, lights, and bladeless fans. The company’s current headquarters are in St. James Power Station in Singapore.

The History of Dyson Limited

Dyson Limited was founded in 1991 by James Dyson to sell the cyclonic vacuum cleaner, a bagless vacuum cleaner that he invented. Surprisingly, James Dyson invented this vacuum cleaner almost a decade earlier.

He struggled to get licensing since big manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom and the United States found his invention a threat and sabotaged his plans.

The Founding of Dyson Limited

In 1978, James Dyson was vacuuming his Ballbarrow paint room when his Hoover vacuum cleaner broke down due to the disposable paper bag clogging with dirt.

The clogging caused the machine to lose suction and thus become non-functional. The vacuum cleaner kept malfunctioning after a period of use. It frustrated James and led him to find an alternative.

Using the product engineering skills he got from Rotork Controls, James thought of how he would design a better vacuum cleaner that wouldn’t lose suction after dirt accumulation.

He visited a local sawmill where he learned how industrial cyclones helped eliminate sawdust from the air.

James thought of applying the cyclone principle to his vacuum cleaner.

He removed the disposable paper bag and replaced it with a cyclone he’d made out of cardboard. Surprisingly, James realized his vacuum cleaner worked better and didn’t lose suction as quickly as the former.

He set out to create the cyclone vacuum cleaner from 1979 to 1984. After more than 5,000 prototypes, he eventually got it right.

James passed his first hurdle: product development. However, there was another one he would need to cross to begin commercial production, licensing.

Unfortunately, most big vacuum cleaner manufacturing companies, including Hoovers, considered Dyson’s new invention a threat and denied him a license.

It wasn’t until 1993 that a Japanese company called Apex took a chance on him.

Apex licensed Dyson’s design and used it to manufacture a vacuum cleaner called G-Force. They priced the G-Force at $2,000 per piece.

Dyson used the income he accumulated from the licensing and sale to establish the Dyson Company and officially started manufacturing his cyclone vacuum cleaner.

Going Into Business

Dyson Limited developed its first cyclone vacuum cleaner model in 1993 and called it the Dyson Cyclone. This product became an immediate success in the British market thanks to television advertising and word of mouth.

The company advertised its vacuum cleaner as unique and better than others since it was bagless and didn’t lose suction. Customers wouldn’t have to replace the disposable paper bag due to clogging and loss of suction. Dyson used the slogan “Say goodbye to the bag.”

In just two years, the Dyson Cyclone became the best-selling vacuum cleaner in the UK. 60% of the product’s sales came from word of mouth.

Other renowned and more powerful manufacturers tried to join the bandwagon by inventing their own bagless vacuum cleaners, but none were better than Dyson’s. James Dyson had also patented his invention, so anyone who copied would infringe on his patent.

Dyson Limited opened its first plant in 1993 with only three scientists. Over the next 12 years, the company had 350 scientists and engineers.

James Dyson focused more on product engineering and innovation than marketing and advertising. He reinvested all profits into product development, which enabled the company to invent and improve its home appliances.

In 2000, Dyson Limited invented the ContraRotator washing machine.

This product contained two drums that rotated in opposite directions to mimic the manual process of washing clothes. The appliance, however, didn’t impress customers. The company discontinued its production a year later.

Dyson Limited also invented the Dyson Airblade, a hand dryer that removed water using heat to evaporate. Later in 2013, the company developed the bladeless fan.

Dyson also produced new and better models of the cyclone vacuum cleaner, such as the Dyson cordless vacuum, and expanded its product catalog to include air purifiers, heaters, lights, and hand dryers.

In 2002, Dyson limited moved its manufacturing plant to Malaysia for expansion purposes and economic reasons.

The company also moved its headquarters from Malmesbury to Singapore but opened a research and development facility in the United Kingdom.

Dyson Limited later relocated its headquarters to St. James Power Station in Singapore in 2019.

Dyson Limited Company Timeline

1978

James Dyson gets frustrated by the constant breaking down of his Hoover vacuum cleaner and sets out to produce another one.

1979

James Dyson begins creating prototypes for the cyclone vacuum cleaner.

1984

James Dyson succeeds at creating and designing the cyclone vacuum cleaner.

1991

James Dyson incorporates the company after achieving minimal success with his cyclone vacuum cleaner.

1993

Dyson Limited opens its new plant to manufacture cyclone vacuum cleaners.

2000

Dyson Limited sues Hoover UK for patent infringement and wins the case.

2002

Dyson Limited moves its plant from Malmesbury in England to Malaysia. The company also officially begins selling its products to the United States without relying on a licensee.

2006

Dyson Limited invents the Dyson Airblade.

2013

Dyson Limited invents the bladeless fan.

2017

Dyson Limited announces venturing into the EV car manufacturing industry.

2019

Dyson Limited discontinues its EV program. The company relocates its headquarters to St. James Power Station in Singapore.