Whirlpool Corporation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliance,with annual sales of approximately $18 billion, more than 73,000 employees, and more than 70 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, 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.
After acquiring the Maytag Corporation on March 31, 2006, Whirlpool Corporation became the largest home appliance maker in the world.
Whirlpool Corporation's global and North American headquarters are in Benton Harbor, Michigan. In the U.S., Whirlpool has manufacturing facilities in the states of Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Tennessee.
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[edit] Chronology
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1911 | Louis, Frederick and Emory Upton founded the Upton Machine Company and began to produce electric, motor-driven wringer washers. Federal Electric ordered 100 machines, but a gear failed in the transmission of them. Louis Upton immediately replaced them at no cost to Federal Electric, who was so impressed with Upton's ethics, they immediately doubled their order. |
| 1916 | Sears, Roebuck & Co. began selling Upton manufactured machines under the "Allen" brand, one for $54.75 and a deluxe model for $95. Whirlpool continues even today to manufacture washings machines for Sears to sell under the "Kenmore" brand. |
| 1929 | Upton merged with Nineteen Hundred Washer Company from Binghamton, NY, taking the name Nineteen Hundred Corporation. |
| 1942 | Nineteen Hundred Corporation began converting all of its factories for war production. |
| 1949 | First top-loading automatic washer sold manufactured for sale under Sears' brand. |
| 1950 | The Nineteen Hundred Corporation was renamed as the Whirlpool Corporation, and sold its first top-loading automatic washer sold under the Whirlpool brand. |
| 1951 | Establishment of the Whirlpool Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Whirlpool Corporation. |
| 1956 | Opened a 100 acre administrative center in Benton Harbor, MI. |
| 1957 | The Whirlpool Miracle Kitchen was introduced and quickly became a hit with television audiences everywhere, with an estimated 15 million viewers. |
| 1962 | Won NASA's contract for the development of the feeding and waste systems for Project Gemini. |
| 1967 | Introduced a 24-hour helpline. |
| 1968 | Surpassed $1 billion in annual revenues. |
| 1978 | Surpassed $2 billion in annual revenues. |
| 1986 | Acquired KitchenAid, a division of the Hobart Corporation. |
| 1987 | Began selling compact washers in India. |
| 1989 | Acquired the Roper brand and Bauknecht of Germany.
Surpassed $6 billion in annual revenue. |
| 2003 | Surpassed $12 billion in annual revenues. |
| 2004 | Surpassed $13 billion in annual revenues. |
| 2005 | Surpassed $14 billion in annual revenues. |
| 2006 | Acquired the Maytag Corporation, including the Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Jade, Magic Chef, Admiral, Hoover, and Dixie-Narco brands. |
| 2006 | Sold Hoover to Techtronic Industries.[1] |
[edit] Diversity
Whirlpool Corporation has seven employee run diversity networks that are involved with business, employee, and community projects to address the needs of the groups they represent. These diversity networks are The Women's Network (TWN), the Native American Network (NAN), the Whirlpool African American Network (WAAN), The Pride Network (PRIDE), the Whirlpool Asian Community (WAC), the Whirlpool Hispanic Network (WHN), and the Young Professionals Network (YP).
Whirlpool received a 100% rating on the Corporate Equality Index released by the Human Rights Campaign starting in 2004, the third year of the report.
[edit] Community Involvement
Whirlpool Corporation is a principal supporter of Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization dedicated to building low-cost, affordable housing. The company's commitment to Habitat for Humanity has exceeded $34 million and it has donated more than 73,000 appliances for Habitat homes. The company plans to support every Habitat home built globally by 2011, either through product donations, cash, or home sponsorship.
In November 2006, Whirlpool started the annual Building Blocks program, designed to raise awareness and help eliminate substandard housing in the United States. Each year the program recognizes an outstanding U.S. Habitat for Humanity affiliate and its relationship with its local community by holding a week-long build in the affiliate’s community. The program kicked off in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2006 when Whirlpool united 100 local residents with 100 Whirlpool employees and volunteers from 100 Habitat affiliates. These 300 volunteers built 10 homes on one block from Nov. 5-10, 2006. Whirlpool will build nine homes near Phoenix, Arizona, in May 2007. For more information, visit www.whirlpool.com/habitat
In 2006, more than 20 Whirlpool India employees participated in the week-long Jimmy Carter Work Project in India, which resulted in the completion of 100 homes in a village near Mumbai. In 2005, Whirlpool India began a partnership with Habitat for Humanity India. Volunteers from Whirlpool participated in the build organized by Habitat for Tsunami victims in the southern part of India.
In June 2005, Habitat for Humanity held its annual Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP) in Benton Harbor, Michigan. This week-long effort cumulated in the completion of more than 230 houses in Michigan. Whirlpool was the lead sponsor for the build and 270 Whirlpool employees from 19 nations worked together to build 10 houses during the week.
To facilitate Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Whirlpool worked with Habitat to support “Operation Home Delivery.” Whirlpool employees helped construct approximately 50 pre-built homes in New York’s Rockefeller Center that were boxed and shipped to Louisiana and Mississippi and later erected with the help of Whirlpool employees in St. Tamany Parrish, Louisiana. In January 2007, Whirlpool chose to hold its annual sales meeting in New Orleans. As part of that meeting, more than 1,000 Whirlpool employees spent one day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in an effort to continue rebuilding New Orleans’ residential areas.
Since 2004, Whirlpool has sponsored entertainment icon Reba McEntire’s music tours to raise awareness and more than $500,000 for Habitat for Humanity.
Cook for the Cure: Cook for the Cure® presented by KitchenAid, was created in 2001 to give passionate cooks a way to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Cook for the Cure® has raised more than $4 million through donation-with-purchase programs, special fundraising events, auctions and grass roots initiatives. KitchenAid also supports breast cancer foundations in other countries including Canada, France, Germany, South Africa, Greece and Israel. For more information, visit www.cookforthecure.com
[edit] Major Brands
- Whirlpool (www.whirlpool.com)
- Maytag (www.maytag.com)
- KitchenAid (www.kitchenaid.com)
- Jenn-Air (www.jennair.com)
- Amana (www.amana.com)
- Bauknecht (www.bauknecht.com)
- Brastemp (www.brastemp.com)
- Gladiator GarageWorks (www.gladiatorgw.com)
Whirlpool also manufactures under the Kenmore label, (manufactured for Sears, Roebuck and Company).
Whirlpool also manufactures IKEA brand appliances for low-cost home products retailer IKEA.
