Whirlpool touts ‘Made in U.S.A.’ and new jobs
One day after Walmart announced a deeper commitment to domestic sourcing, Whirlpool said it planned to spend $40 million on U.S. manufacturing plant that will result in the creation of 400 jobs by 2018.
The investment will double the size of Whirlpool’s plant in Greenville, Ohio, where KitchenAid brand small appliances are made, and bring the total workforce at the facility to about 1,400 employees. The plant has been in operation since 1942, and Whirlpool said it will launch the expansion project following final approval of state and local assistance.
"This expansion project recognizes the outstanding skills of our Greenville employees, as well as strong partnership and support from the state of Ohio, the city of Greenville and Darke County," said Jeff Fettig, Whirlpool chairman and CEO. "With several global options for this project, our decision to expand our Greenville, Ohio, facility is another way Whirlpool continues to demonstrate our commitment to American manufacturing. As the KitchenAid brand continues to expand its small appliance portfolio globally, this major expansion will ensure Greenville remains the manufacturing hub of our small appliance business."
Whirlpool employs roughly 69,000 people and said it has 15,000 employees in the U.S. involved in manufacturing. The company contends that figure is more than all of its major competitors combined. Of the products Whirlpool makes, the company said 80% of the products Whirlpool sells in the U.S. are made in the U.S.
The investment will double the size of Whirlpool’s plant in Greenville, Ohio, where KitchenAid brand small appliances are made, and bring the total workforce at the facility to about 1,400 employees. The plant has been in operation since 1942, and Whirlpool said it will launch the expansion project following final approval of state and local assistance.
"This expansion project recognizes the outstanding skills of our Greenville employees, as well as strong partnership and support from the state of Ohio, the city of Greenville and Darke County," said Jeff Fettig, Whirlpool chairman and CEO. "With several global options for this project, our decision to expand our Greenville, Ohio, facility is another way Whirlpool continues to demonstrate our commitment to American manufacturing. As the KitchenAid brand continues to expand its small appliance portfolio globally, this major expansion will ensure Greenville remains the manufacturing hub of our small appliance business."
Whirlpool employs roughly 69,000 people and said it has 15,000 employees in the U.S. involved in manufacturing. The company contends that figure is more than all of its major competitors combined. Of the products Whirlpool makes, the company said 80% of the products Whirlpool sells in the U.S. are made in the U.S.