Whirlpool Corporation Adds Ottawa, Ohio as Official Production Site; Further Strengthens Company's U.S. Manufacturing Base

News provided by

Mar 25, 2010, 11:00 ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today announced that the former W.C. Wood manufacturing site in Ottawa, Ohio will become an official Whirlpool Corporation manufacturing site, effective May 3, 2010, with 190 full-time employees. This decision follows a strategic internal study that evaluated location sites for the company's production of freezers.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040202/DETU004LOGO )

"We have determined that the Ottawa facility has the potential to produce freezers under our leading portfolio of brands at globally competitive cost and quality levels," said Alan Holaday, vice president, manufacturing operations, North America Region, Whirlpool Corporation.

"Once fully operational, the Ottawa facility will be an integral part of our U.S. operations team which includes employees in production, research and development, warehousing and operations. Our employees design and build the most innovative appliances in the world," said Holaday.

State officials provided preliminary financial assistance commitments to Whirlpool Corporation that supported the decision to add Ottawa as an official production site. Whirlpool Corporation anticipates the state financial assistance, which supports job creation, investments and employee training, will be approved by the state of Ohio on April 26, 2010.

"The state of Ohio has been an important partner to Whirlpool Corporation in supporting the company's strong and growing manufacturing presence in the state," added Holaday. We also appreciate the instrumental support of local officials. We very much look forward to being a member of the Ottawa community."

Whirlpool Corporation appliances are sold worldwide and the United States continues to be the company's largest market. About 30 percent of the company's 67,000 employees worldwide live and work in the United States, with approximately 17,000 employees working in manufacturing positions.

Whirlpool Corporation has a presence in 22 communities in the United States. Whirlpool Corporation also partners with thousands of suppliers in the United States that maintain more than 10,000 jobs across the U.S. economy. In addition, approximately 100 warehouse distribution centers are operated by logistics partners, employing more than 5,000 people in support of the Whirlpool Corporation business.

With the addition of 190 jobs in Ottawa, Whirlpool Corporation's total employment in the State of Ohio is now about 10,000 making it that largest manufacturing center for appliances in the United States.

In 2009, following bankruptcy of W.C. Wood, Whirlpool Corporation was the successful bidder on the various assets for freezers, including the equipment, tooling and property located at Ottawa, Ohio.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation