It's a week for celebratory silver shovels and golden scissors for Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool Corporation as they mark significant investments in manufacturing operations at two separate sites in Ohio. One major multi-million dollar expansion project will break ground today and the other will celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking completion tomorrow.
Whirlpool Corporation is celebrating those significant investments at two of the company's manufacturing facilities in Ohio. The number one major home appliance manufacturer in the world is breaking ground today on a $40 million expansion project at its Findlay operations and will hold a ribbon cutting tomorrow to mark completion of another $40 million project to expand operations at its Greenville, Ohio, facility.
Whirlpool Corporation announced the $40.6 million investment in operations at its Findlay dishwasher-manufacturing facility located in Findlay in February. The plant will add 86,400 square feet to the existing facility and anticipates adding approximately 50 new jobs. The expansion will provide additional assembly capacity and material space. The project is intended to support strong consumer demand for Whirlpool-built products and enhance efficiencies of operations.
A project to invest in, and double the size of, Whirlpool Corporation's Greenville operations was announced two years ago in 2014. Whirlpool produces KitchenAid brand stand mixers and attachments, hand mixers and blenders at the Greenville facility, which has been in operation since 1942. The facility employs more than an estimated 1,200 men and women. Production of the stand mixer doubled at the Greenville facility 2009-2014.
James Keppler is Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain & Quality for Whirlpool Corporation. He says, "These investments in our manufacturing facilities are examples of our ongoing commitment to American manufacturing and reinforce our belief that the state of Ohio serves as a manufacturing center of excellence for appliances." He adds, "As we celebrate the completion of our Greenville expansion, we're proud to break ground at our Findlay facility today and continue to invest in U.S. manufacturing and jobs."
Whirlpool Corporation continues to work to create jobs and invest in U.S. manufacturing. Since 2010, it has invested more than $1 billion in new facilities and plant upgrades. The company currently employs approximately 23,000 U.S. manufacturing workers, more than any other U.S.-based appliance manufacturer.
The company, with world headquarters in Benton Harbor, 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. 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.
