Whirlpool Corporation Showcases Culture of Innovation at PCBC

Global Innovation Director, Industrial Designer to Give Builders Insights into Consumer-Centric Innovation at Top Appliance Manufacturer

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Whirlpool Corporation

Jun 21, 2016, 08:00 ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer-focused innovation that helps builders connect with homeowners' needs and sell more homes is the focus of the Whirlpool Corporation booth at the PCBC conference June 22-23 in San Francisco.

Colette Matthews, PhD, the Director of Global Innovation for Whirlpool Corp., will lead a group of expert speakers at the booth each day. Matthews, who is responsible for identifying customer-centric disruptive innovation opportunities at the world's leading manufacturer of major home appliances, will speak about "Consumer-Focused Innovation" at 2:30 p.m. June 22 and 23 at the Whirlpool Booth (#1123).

"Innovation is a core competency at Whirlpool Corporation," Matthews said. "We are constantly evolving our products around what consumers will want and need next. It's part of the fabric of how we function and allows us to provide enduring value for our builder partners."

Matthews, who previously served as the Global Marketing Director of Connectivity and the SMART Home at Whirlpool Corporation, has more than a decade of experience in the consumer products and durable goods industries.

Joining her at the Whirlpool Corporation booth will be Daniel Chow, an industrial designer in the Global Consumer Design Center who will discuss the innovation and design process for the groundbreaking Whirlpool® Smart French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator.

"Our innovation and design leaders embrace the entrepreneurial mentality of a start-up, collecting insights throughout the globe, collaborating on a consistent basis and focusing on purposeful innovation that resonates with people every day," said Bob Bergeth, general manager of Contract Builder Sales at Whirlpool Corporation. "In our booth, our builder partners can learn more about appliances that solve problems for consumers with exceptional design and purposeful technology."

Featured products include:

The Whirlpool® Smart French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator, which won top honors with two 2016 Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Awards in the Smart Home and Home Appliances categories. It features 32 cubic feet of total storage space and is the industry's easiest refrigerator to organize¹ with its revolutionary, pantry-inspired layout and unique shelving system, helping users find and fit it all. Featuring special storage spots, this refrigerator cuts down on clutter and can efficiently store 30% more.¹

The Whirlpool® Smart Top Load Washer, which allows consumers to remotely start cycles and options and download specialty cycles with a mobile laundry app. If connected with the Nest Learning Thermostat, consumers can take advantage of the Rush Hour Rewards program to avoid running the washer during peak energy usage hours.² In addition, the app can connect with the Amazon Dash Replenishment Service to let users know when they're running low on detergent and help them order more.

The KitchenAid® Window Dishwasher, which features a tinted exterior window and lighted interior that illuminates dishes upon completion of the washing cycle. It is ENERGY STAR® qualified and includes sound-dampening components that contribute to a quiet home environment.

The KitchenAid® Counter-Depth French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator, which has the largest capacity, most tall item storage with the slide-away shelf, and most shelf space among leading premium 3-door counter-depth French door bottom mount brands.

The latest Jenn-Air 30" Connected Wall Ovens feature wireless connectivity and a fully functioning application for IOS and Android devices. The app gives users control of the oven's functions and performance from their smartphones and tablets, including cooking innovations unique to Jenn-Air. Further enhancing this connectivity is the Jenn-Air brand's integration with Nest that will come as an update in the Jenn-Air Wi-Fi app at the end of the month. The update will allow the Jenn-Air connected wall oven to work with Nest to provide benefits focused on peace of mind and comfort.

In addition, Whirlpool Corporation recently partnered with Innit®, a leading food tech innovator, to bring a new layer of food intelligence to help people eat and live better. Jenn-Air® brand WiFi connected ovens will be the first to offer the Innit platform to enable advanced automated cooking and dynamic digital recipes to help people cook more at home.

The Whirlpool Corporation booth will feature a Kitchen of the Future Virtual Reality (VR) station, another example of how the company is helping housing industry customers sell product and homes for years to come. Whirlpool Corporation also will be the exclusive sponsor of the PCBC Hub for Social (booth #2119).

For more information on all Whirlpool Corporation products, please visit InsideAdvantage.com.

ABOUT WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 97,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2015. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.

¹ Among leading french door mount refrigerator brands
² Rush Hour Rewards not available in all locations

Contact: Bob Musinski, 312-661-1050, [email protected]

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SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation