Whirlpool Refrigerators

Whirlpool has a number of refrigerator plants. In addition to operations in Mexico, they have a plant in Amana Iowa (I think acquired via Maytag) which makes much of their U.S. sales - French door models, bottom freezer units, and built-ins. Apparently French door units form a large percentage of sales in the U.S. today.

I had thought that the only refrigerators being made in Mexico now are the top-freezer models, which until 2010 or 2011 had been made in the U.S. in Evansville, Indiana. But it appears that traditional side by sides are made in Mexico as well. These had been made in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I have heard that Evansville was inefficient, old, in need of re-tooling, and had significant labor problems. It was a long-time WP plant. I don't know much about the Fort Smith plant, other than it was originally a Norge plant, and bought by WP in 1966.

Since aquiring Maytag, which had at least one or two Mexican refrig. plants, at least one of those have been closed with production transferred back to the U.S. The decision to move top mount refrigerators to MX was difficult, but they are a very mature business and not very profitable, so the cost savings of Mexican manufacture was mandatory to stay in the market.

Whirlpool also has a freezer plant in Ohio. This plant was acquired from Woods Manufacturing several years back and has seen significant investment from the company.

Gordon

This post was last edited 12/12/2012 at 19:24


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Post# 645583 12/11/2012 at 05:44 (4,153 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)
Checkrate/Likes Does anyone know where Whirlpool manufactures their refrigs? I understand that they and other brands of washers are made in the U.S. but are the refrigerators made in this country or overseas? The reason I am asking this is that I had to order a special model to fit into a space that Lowes had listed on their website. It has been over 2 months now and no notice when I am recieving it. They said first it would be around the end of november and now they are saying the end of december. I would like to contact them to find out what is taking so long. Thanks for any info. Jon

Post# 645587 , Reply# 1 12/11/2012 at 06:21 (4,153 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes I believe they were made in Ft. Smith, AR until earlier this year. Now they are being made in Mexico. Some models of Maytag refrigerators are still being made in Amana, IA. CLICK HERE TO GO TO whirlcool's LINK

Post# 645910 , Reply# 2 12/12/2012 at 05:41 (4,152 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks for the info whirlcool. So after reading this it appears it is coming out of mexico. Its probably the reason it is taking so long, not only to manufacture but also the transport to this part of the U.S. Jon

Post# 646026 , Reply# 3 12/12/2012 at 16:38 (4,152 days old) by Kenmoreguy64 (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes Whirlpool has a number of refrigerator plants. In addition to operations in Mexico, they have a plant in Amana Iowa (I think acquired via Maytag) which makes much of their U.S. sales - French door models, bottom freezer units, and built-ins. Apparently French door units form a large percentage of sales in the U.S. today. I had thought that the only refrigerators being made in Mexico now are the top-freezer models, which until 2010 or 2011 had been made in the U.S. in Evansville, Indiana. But it appears that traditional side by sides are made in Mexico as well. These had been made in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I have heard that Evansville was inefficient, old, in need of re-tooling, and had significant labor problems. It was a long-time WP plant. I don't know much about the Fort Smith plant, other than it was originally a Norge plant, and bought by WP in 1966. Since aquiring Maytag, which had at least one or two Mexican refrig. plants, at least one of those have been closed with production transferred back to the U.S. The decision to move top mount refrigerators to MX was difficult, but they are a very mature business and not very profitable, so the cost savings of Mexican manufacture was mandatory to stay in the market. Whirlpool also has a freezer plant in Ohio. This plant was acquired from Woods Manufacturing several years back and has seen significant investment from the company. Gordon This post was last edited 12/12/2012 at 19:24

Post# 646135 , Reply# 4 12/13/2012 at 05:40 (4,151 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks gordon for the info. This is a top freezer unit that i have ordered. You may wonder why is he waiting for this there are thousands of units like this. Ok the dementions need to be no wider than 21 inches. Here is the kicker. This unit has water in the door and a regular ice maker in the freezer, but both are run through a built in filter. This is the only model available with a water filter for the ice maker. You say to yourself just add an outside filter for the water. Low and behold the contractor will not install and warranty an outside filter against leaks. This is the reason for this unit. I guess we will have to wait till the end of the year for this which looking at the calendar is only a few weeks away. Jon

Post# 646150 , Reply# 5 12/13/2012 at 07:31 (4,151 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *New WP Ref* Every refrigerator that I have ever seen that has a BI water filter for drinking water also filters the water for the IM, is 21" wide a typo as I have never seen a WP ref that is only 21" wide.

Post# 646444 , Reply# 6 12/14/2012 at 15:26 (4,150 days old) by applianceguy47 ()
Checkrate/Likes probably 31" wide. , or more.

Post# 646595 , Reply# 7 12/15/2012 at 05:45 (4,149 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma)
Checkrate/Likes Sorry typo error it is supposed to be 32.5 inches. I had a crown done and a tooth pulled this week and the dentist put me on some antibiotics that i am allergic too and have had a hell of a week trying to even exist. Stopped all pills two days ago and still trying to come out of it. Jon