Whirlpool's Benton Harbor Plant to Close, Cutting 216 Jobs

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Researched by Industrial Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) (Benton Harbor, Michigan), the world's leading appliance maker, will no longer manufacturer appliances at its plant in Benton Harbor. A plan to close the hometown factory by mid-2011 is imminent.

Closing the Benton Harbor plant will result in the elimination of 216 jobs. Whirlpool will work closely with employment agencies to assist the affected workers in job placement programs. The company believes closing Benton Harbor will reduce excess capacity and improve overall cost.

Whirlpool markets major brand names such as Maytag, Kitchen Aid, and Jenn-Air to consumers in nearly every country worldwide. In the late 1980s, Whirlpool closed all nearby surrounding facilities in Michigan and spent several years establishing economic redevelopment programs. Benton Harbor was one of the last remaining factories in the area. Since then, Whirlpool has evolved with the latest technology in laundry machines. The company is now producing more energy and water efficient products than ever before. The new, streamlined components have primarily eliminated many of the traditional components produced at the Benton Harbor facility, which resulted in consolidating production and operations to the Clyde, Ohio, plant that manufactures the newest and most energy-efficient laundry products.

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