Blue Bag Media
$40 Million Investment and 400 Jobs for Whirlpool in Greenville
By Ryan Berry
3/14/2014

GREENVILLE – “This announcement is going to affect one of the world’s greatest manufacturing teams,” said Ken Hossler, plant leader for Whirlpool’s Greenville plant. “It couldn’t happen without you.” He then handed the mic via video conference to Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool North America and Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa, who joined the celebration from Chicago, IL.

Bitzer informed employees and invited guests of Whirlpool’s plans to expand its Greenville facility. The $40 million investment will create positions for 400 new employees over a four-year period. “This is fantastic news for Greenville,” said Bitzer. The plant will increase in size from 260,000 square feet to 460,000 feet. The investment will include $19.6 million for building, $1.4 million for racking, $6 million for paint booth, $8.4 million for machinery and $4.6 million for assembly.

Employees in Greenville reached a milestone of two million stand mixers in one year in 2012 and reached 2.5 million last year. KitchenAid’s small appliances have consistently out sold Whirlpool’s large appliances over the past few years with growth reaching 10-15% each year. Whirlpool has been reaching into markets outside North America, putting the plant at full capacity. A report a year ago showed 40% of the company’s stand mixer sales were attributed to exports.

Whirlpool had choices when looking to expand production of the company’s most iconic product. “We looked at a number of sites in the U.S. and we looked at sites outside the U.S.,” said Bitzer. However, it came down a committed highly skilled workforce that stands behind its product and it came down to the quality and workmanship the Greenville employees give the company. “You just can’t replicate it anywhere else,” he said. The decision also had a lot to do with the factory being in Ohio. Including Greenville, five of the nine factories operated by Whirlpool are in Ohio. “We have 10,000 people in Ohio. Almost double than in our home state of Michigan. Ohio is the place for us to be,” he said.

Jeff Noel, corporate vice president, Communications and Public Affairs, shared Greenville employees follow the pattern he learned for success while growing up in Kentucky – learning, earning and yearning. “The great people of the Whirlpool Corporation use their hands, their minds and their hearts to learn every day better ways we can earn the trust of our customers and along the way we all collectively have a yearning to make the communities in which we operate better and help to make society better.” In addition to recognizing the employees, Noel also praised Governor John Kasich for his role in helping Whirlpool to expand in Greenville. Noel and Whirlpool Chairman Jeff Fettig met with the governor and within 30 seconds the conversation turned to “how do we continue to grow jobs and strengthen opportunities for Ohio residents.” According to Noel, that conversation led to the chairman leaving and saying, “’what a great leader, a leader who cares, a leader who believes in getting things done’ and as a result as we were evaluating options and opportunities for a $40 million investment Jeff Fettig, our chairman, said ‘What about Greenville? What do we need to do? The governor really is committed to making things happen the right way.”

Noel said he has been all over the world and working with local and state officials and “this result was the best. The process was the fastest, the strongest, cleanest and, if you will, the most personally committed process, which we needed to make a decision.”

Governor Kasich praised the employees for their commitment to Whirlpool. “You do realize if you were not the excellent worker that you are they would not be here. There is no way that they would come here if you weren’t doing the things you were doing. You’ve not only supported your family, your children, but you created a space for other people.” He continued, “400 more people will be able to come to work here because of what you are doing.”

Darke County Economic Development Director Marc Saluk addressed the issue of finding a job ready workforce to fill the positions. “The graduated way of which the hiring process will take place will help,” he said. Whirlpool will also be given an opportunity to take part in the workforce development programs that are in place. They will be able to customize the programs to produce the type of worker they will need. “We’ve got pieces in place and we’ve got time. So we will be able to do whatever is necessary to support their growth,” Saluk said.

Mayor Michael Bowers noted Whirlpool was great to work with, “But the bottom line is it’s about the workforce they have here in Greenville, the talent that they’ve got, and the focus and commitment and dedication they have in the workforce in Greenville, Ohio is the reason we are here today to mark this occasion.”

Congressman John Boehner Congratulates Whirlpool

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today congratulated Whirlpool Corporation for its decision to invest and create 400 jobs in Greenville, Ohio, increasing its work force by one-third.

“As one of Ohio's largest manufacturers, I'm pleased that Whirlpool is further strengthening its commitment to U.S. manufacturing in Greenville,” Boehner said.

“Today's announcement is a testament to the area’s skilled and talented workforce – something I’ve witnessed firsthand while touring the Whirlpool plant there. Not only that, but Whirlpool’s decision to invest in Greenville is also proof that economic solutions such as low taxes, balanced budgets, and revamped workforce development are working in states like Ohio. This is despite the challenges being thrown at them by the president and his allies in Washington.”

Whirlpool’s Greenville plant currently produces KitchenAid stand mixers, hand mixers, and blenders, and manages global distribution of all KitchenAid small appliances, gadgets, cookware and bakeware. It is the largest small appliance manufacturing plant in the United States.

“Whirlpool’s KitchenAid mixers have been a huge success around the world. I’m proud of its local roots, and I’m even prouder of the hardworking men and women of Greenville who have proven they can win in a very competitive global marketplace.”

Whirlpool’s Greenville plant expansion is expected to create 400 new jobs by 2018. Construction on the Greenville plant is slated for 2014, with a predicted completion date in late-summer of 2015.

See the video posted on Boehner’s Congressional website here

http://boehner.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=372989

Published courtesy of Blue Bag Media