Whirlpool history

In 1911, Lou along with his uncle Emory, patented an electric motor-driven wringer washer.

The loss of Federal Electric forced Upton to diversify until, in 1916, they landed Sears, Roebuck & Co. as a customer.

Sales of Upton's washers through the Sears catalog grew rapidly during and after World War I. In order to avoid total dependence on the Sears account, however, Upton also launched a washer under its own brand name in the early 1920s.

Sales grew quickly and in 1921, Sears appointed Upton as their sole supplier of washers.

The firm's good fortune continued through the first World War, and in 1925, it launched its own brand name of washers.

In the summer of 1945, Whirlpool began producing washers again.

In 1947, it introduced an automatic, spinner-type washer sold by Sears under the "Kenmore" brand.

1948: Sale of Whirlpool brand washers begins.

In 1949, The Nineteen Hundred Corporation was renamed as the Whirlpool Corporation.

In 1950 the company changed its name to Whirlpool Corporation.

In 1951, Whirlpool purchased Clyde Porcelain Steel of Ohio, gaining access to one of the largest washing machines plants in the world.

The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Benton Harbor, MI.“

In 1956, a 100-acre (0.40 km) administrative center was opened in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

A subsidiary called Appliance Buyers Credit Corporation was formed in 1957 to provide financing to these distributors and to help strengthen Whirlpool's position as an industry leader.

1958: In its first move outside the United States, Whirlpool buys a stake in Brasmotor S.A., a major Brazilian appliance maker.

In 1966, Whirlpool purchased Warwick Electronics, a major television producer for Sears.

To close out the decade, the company penetrated the Canadian market for the first time with its 1969 purchase of a 33 percent stake in John Inglis Co.

In 1976, the firm acquired Consul S.A. and Embraco S.A.

A move toward vertical integration was also initiated in 1977, when the company started producing its own appliance motors to reduce its dependence on outside suppliers.

By 1978, annual revenues exceeded $2 billion.

In 1980 Whirlpool was found guilty of discrimination in a suit brought by the Department of Labor, alleging that Whirlpool had taken inappropriate disciplinary action against two employees who had refused to perform what they considered to be hazardous work in the company’s Marion, Ohio, plant.

Upon Platts's retirement in November 1982, vice chairman Jack D. Sparks became chairman and CEO, and set about broadening the company's focus.

In 1985 Whirlpool entered the lucrative kitchen–cabinet market by acquiring Mastercraft Industries Corporation, followed by the purchase of another cabinet manufacturer, St Charles Manufacturing Company, the next year.

But this subsidiary was sold to Inter-City Gas Corporation of Canada in 1986 as Whirlpool refocused its attention on home appliances.

Also in 1987 Whirlpool and Sundaram-Clayton Limited of Madras, India, formed a joint venture called TVS Whirlpool Limited to make compact washing machines for the Indian market.

In 1988 Whirlpool reorganized its activities into seven units in order to maximize efficiency and market responsiveness.

The cabinet business did not produce the hoped for results— Whirlpool was unable to capture a satisfactory share of the residential–construction market—and the cabinet operation was sold in 1989.

1991: Whirlpool buys out its European partner, taking full control of Whirlpool Europe.

Reid, T. R., “Whirlpool Enters China with Joint Ventures in Microwave Ovens and Refrigerators,” Business Wire, December 7, 1994.

During the same year, though, Whirlpool’s total revenues jumped more than eight percent and profits were growing at record levels in 1995.

That same year, the company acquired major shares in TVS joint venture, and in 1996, the Kelvinator and TVS acquisitions were merged to create Whirlpool of India Limited.

Late in 1997, as part of a global restructuring effort, Whirlpool announced that it was pulling out of two money-losing joint ventures in China.

In 1998, to get ahead of a market trending toward sustainability, Whirlpool brand designed the first washer to exceed expectations in performance and resource savings.

Leading the effort as head of Whirlpool Europe was Jeff M. Fettig, who was rewarded for his efforts by being named president and chief operating officer of Whirlpool Corporation in June 1999.

Certain dishwasher models were recalled in 2000 because some had been catching fire.

Then in October 2001 Whirlpool issued the largest recall in its history.

Whirlpool gained full ownership of the Mexican venture Vitromatic in a July 2002 transaction involving $151 million in cash and the assumption of $143 million in debt.

In August 2003 Whirlpool entered into a global strategic alliance with Fisher & Paykel Appliances, a major New Zealand-based home appliance maker.

By 2004, annual revenues exceeded $13 billion.

In 2005, Maytag Corporation shareholders voted to accept Whirlpool Corporation's stock purchase.

After the US Justice Department approved the merger in 2006, the company acquired Maytag, including the Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Jade, Magic Chef, Admiral, Hoover, and Dixie-Narco brands.

In the year 2007, it sold Hoover to Techtronic Industries and Jade Appliances to Middleby Corporation.

In 2008, Whirlpool announced the closure of plants in La Vergne, Tennessee, Reynosa, Mexico, Oxford, Mississippi, and Jackson, Tennessee.

In 2009, Whirlpool acquired WC Woods from bankruptcy and closed the company's Evansville, Indiana plant.

Whirlpool Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion in 2011, 68,000 employees, and 66 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.

In 2014 Whirlpool Corporation acquired Indesit, the italian major domestic-appliances manufacturer.

In October 2017, Whirlpool and retailer Sears Holding Corp. reportedly ended their 101-year old association that allowed Whirlpool branded appliances to be sold at Sears stores, and later at Kmart.

In March 2020, Whirlpool Corporation announced the official opening of a new Factory Distribution Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.