You really think it would make it very difficult to localize "time" and "temperature"? -- because these the only two labels that are actually needed for a washing machine. I would even take icons for both. Something that looks like a clock face and something that looks like a thermometer would work just fine.
The problem is that it's not even close...
Also, I worked in printing, specifically flexo / silk / tampo, i.e. the stuff that gets printed on all sorts of curved surfaces, stickers, souvenirs, mugs etc. Yeah, it adds a bit of complexity... but compared to the price of equipment, at least the printing part is nothing. It might have to do with packaging and managing inventory for different languages... but then again they also need other localized stuff... so who knows.
> It might have to do with packaging and managing inventory for different languages
Yeah -- it's not a localization problem, it's a supply chain problem. By removing the need to localize, they can manufacture and deliver a single SKU to any location. It's the same reason manuals are printed in 12 languages.
The problem is that it's not even close...
Also, I worked in printing, specifically flexo / silk / tampo, i.e. the stuff that gets printed on all sorts of curved surfaces, stickers, souvenirs, mugs etc. Yeah, it adds a bit of complexity... but compared to the price of equipment, at least the printing part is nothing. It might have to do with packaging and managing inventory for different languages... but then again they also need other localized stuff... so who knows.