Whirlpool Company History

In 1911, the Upton Brothers (Louis, Frederick, and Emory) created the Upton Machine Company in St. Joseph, MI to produce electric, motor-driven wringer washers. Joined with Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 1916, the Upton-manufactured washers sold faster than the brothers could manufacture them, thus creating the mutually beneficial relationship between Sears and Whirlpool.Since the 1970s, Whirlpool has been a pioneer of energy and water efficiency measures in its research and development practices. Whirlpool continues its long history of being involved with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® program and has been named ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year seven times.

“Whirlpool is delighted to once again be named an Energy Star partner. We succeed as a company by being able to offer our customers a broad range of appliances under a number of brands, many of which are Energy Star qualified. These appliances save money for our customers by lowering their utility bills and help protect the environment,” says David L. Swift, Whirlpool’s Executive Vice President for North America.

Today the Whirlpool Corporation remains the largest North American supplier of major appliances to Sears under the Kenmore brand. Internationally, Whirlpool is also recognized for energy efficient appliances, as well as for their commitment to environmental packaging, production, and design. Whirlpool is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, becoming a trusted household name all over the world.

Located in Benton Harbor, MI, Whirlpool’s Corporate Headquarters focuses on the social responsibilities to their community and to the environment. “At Whirlpool Corporation we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously. Just as we have taken a global approach to our home appliance business, we believe our world’s environmental issues must be addressed in a similarly comprehensive way,” says Jeff M. Fettig, President, Chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation.

Whirlpool also donated a $1 million in cash, products, and services to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in 2005, and the Whirlpool foundation continues to match generous employee contributions. These contributions include refrigerators, air purifiers, clothes, washers, and dryers. “A tragedy of this magnitude calls for the assistance of able individuals and organizations,” says Fettig. “As a company, we are grateful to help relief efforts in the most fitting way possible.”

With more than 80,000 employees and over 60 manufacturing and technology research centers worldwide, Whirlpool transformed itself from a regional manufacturing and trade-focused business into a global enterprise. The success of Whirlpool’s global business is driven by its ability to truly understand and fulfill customer needs, develop highly innovative solutions, and continuously improve productivity and quality.

“Creating unmatched customer loyalty for our brands is the cornerstone of our strategy. This simple idea is based on an in-depth understanding of our customers’ needs, wants, and expectations, so that we can consistently deliver unique, innovative solutions to meet or exceed these expectations,” adds Fettig.

Customer loyalty lead Whirlpool to years of success with annual sales of more than $19 billion, marketing brands like Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, and Amana, to name a few. Based on the continuing success of Whirlpool’s global innovation process, which began in 1999, Whirlpool has introduced unique product innovations to consumers worldwide.

Whirlpool Company History – The Introduction of Air Purifiers

 
One such innovative product that Whirlpool now offers are the Whirlpool HEPA filter air purifiers. Whirlpool’s Energy Star Qualified air purifiers feature charcoal pre-filters to trap odors, True HEPA filters to remove 99.97% of particulate matter, and quiet operation.

Using a HEPA filter that only needs to be replaced once a year, the Whirlpool air purifier contains an indicator light which alerts you when it’s time to replace your HEPA air filter. Small and discretely designed, the Whirlpool Quiet Partner® system, included in every air purifier, is the quietest high-efficiency air purifier technology available. Whirlpool air purifiers offer a three-speed fan, allowing you to control the noise level. All of these features have played a role in Whirlpool air purifiers sitting at the very top of various consumer product ratings agencies best buy lists, year after year.

For more than five decades, Whirlpool has steadily expanded its product line, revenues, and global footprint using innovation and customer commitment. “We are constantly seeking out new and unique ways to improve the function, performance, and sustainability of our products. We want our brands to be the brands customers trust in every home… everywhere,” says Fettig. Trust the Whirlpool name and find a Whirlpool air purifier that fits your needs.

Return to see all Whirlpool Air Purifiers.