
Whirlpool is the number one household appliance brand in Europe and has
been selected as a Superbrand in the UK
This is a success born out of relentless inquiry and innovation, consistently producing
industry leading design and technological solutions to better meet all your needs. New
design tendencies, advances in technology, evolutions in society and domestic behaviour
have all informed the need for change.
1911 - Upton Machine Corporation is founded in St. Joseph, Michigan, to produce electric
motor-driven wringer washers. Subsequently merges with the Nineteen Hundred Washer Co.
in 1929.
1919 - Gottlob Bauknecht starts small electric workshop in Taillfingen, Germany,
eventually establishing his first factory in 1933. Philips acquires Bauknecht business
in 1982.
1943 - Guido Borghi and his three sons found the Ignis company and brand in Comerio,
Italy, later to be acquired by Philips in 1972 and then by Whirlpool Corporation in
1989.
1950 - Nineteen Hundred Corporation changes name to the Whirlpool Corporation.
1957 - Whirlpool Corporation invests in Brasmotor S.A., for an equity stake in the
Brazilian appliance market.
1986 - Whirlpool Corporation purchases KitchenAid.
1989 - Whirlpool Corporation and Philips
form European joint venture. Whirlpool Corporation becomes sole owner in 1991. Between
1991 and the present, Whirlpool Europe has consolidated 32 separate markets into a
unified business entity.
2000 - 2002 - 2004 - Whirlpool launches a series of design innovation concept
projects: 2000, Macrowave new frontiers for the modern microwave features at the Milan
Triennale and the Louvre, Paris; 2002, Project F, a concept design project looking at
the future of laundry; 2004, in.kitchen, a visionary design project on the future of
kitchen space and appliances.
2001 - Habitat for Humanity International, a global, non-profit organization dedicated
to eliminating poverty housing worldwide, recognizes Whirlpool Corporation for its
commitment as the largest corporate donor to the project More than houses: Rebuilding
our Communities.
2002 - Whirlpool completes acquisition of Polar, S.A., Poland's leading home appliances
manufacturer and top Polish brand.
2004 - Whirlpool Europe becomes Premier Sponsor of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA)
European tour. The company also announces the extension of its collaboration with
Habitat for Humanity in Europe, and creates a milestone three-way partnership, whereby
Am?e Mauresmo represents the WTA as official ambassador for Habitat for Humanity in
Europe.
2005 - Whirlpool Europe opens new cooking factory on its Wroclaw, Poland, manufacturing
site, producing built-in hobs and ovens under the company's entire portfolio of
European brands, to be distributed across all markets in Europe. The site is also home
to a dishwasher factory and a refrigeration factory, a centre of technological
excellence and rapid prototyping, and a chemical waste-water treatment plant.
2006 - In 2006, Whirlpool Corporation acquired Maytag Corporation, thus extending its
existing position as the world?s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home
appliances to a company with annual sales of more than $19 billion, more than
80,000 employees, and over 60 manufacturing and technology research centres around
the world.
Repair Service: 020 8689 2265

