Whirlpool Poland S.A. and Indesit Company Poland Sp. z o.o. have presented to trade unions and institutions their joint industrial plan for Poland, which is the result of the last year's purchase of the Indesit Company by Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR). The plan envisages modernisation of the industrial areas by introducing new product platforms, specialisation of the plants, and strengthening R&D activity. Over the next four years, more than 235 million euro will be invested in Poland in product innovation and process improvement.
'Approximately half of the total investment will go to our production zone in Wroclaw. Wroclaw will be able to boast not only the largest free-standing refrigerator factory in this area of the world, but also the important decisions in the field of R&D. It will be Wroclaw that will operate the Centre of Excellence for Dishwashers and the Implementation Centre for 60 cm free-standing refrigerators. Whirlpool will stop the production of dishwashers in Wroclaw for the increase in the production of the equipment for built-in ovens, says Fabio Scaltritti, Director of Operations of Whirlpool Poland in Wroclaw.
The company's representatives stress that the investments will not affect the level of employment at Whirlpool. Approximately 25 per cent of all employees of the Whirlpool Group from Europe, the Middle East and Africa are employed in Poland.
'The implementation process begins even today. The year 2016 will be crucial for our organization, but we will also focus on the years 2017 and 2018 to make sure that the industrial plan is fully and successfully executed, adds Fabio Scaltritti.
Information on Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): Whirlpool EMEA is a company owned by the Whirlpool Corporation, with approximately 24 000 employees, sales in more than 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and factories in eight countries. Whirlpool Corporation is the world's number one manufacturer of home appliances, with annual sales of 20 billion USD, 100 000 employees, and 70 manufacturing and R&D centres all over the world (2014). The company specializes in selling products by Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other famous brands in more than 170 countries.
