From Humble Roots to GLOBAL PRODUCTION POWER

摘要

During the past 100 years, Whirlpool Corp. has withstood labor unrest, mergers and acquisitions, product design changes, new technology, new materials, changing consumer tastes, globalization and restructurings. But, through it all, one thing has remained steady—its manufacturing plants and production prowess. Whirlpool traces its roots to the Upton Machine Co., which was started by Lou and Emory Upton in 1911. While working as an insurance salesman in Chicago, Lou acquired a patent for a small, manually operated washing machine. He asked his uncle, Emory, who ran a machine shop in Benton Harbor, MI, if he could attach an electric motor to it.