Whirlpool redesigns their ISE disposals

[reactor]

New video from ISE. Whirlpool is taking an active role in their new acquisition.

Pro Models - InSinkerator

kitchenbetter.insinkerator.com

 

[jamiel]

Looks like they're doing some dishwasher technology (spinning out fragments into cutter blades)...interesting. ISE under Emerson definitely seemed to be the leader in technology...glad they're continuing with some hydraulic expertise at Whirlpool.

 

[askolover]

And it says they are assembled in USA...I'm sure of Chinesium underneath though.  I didn't know WP had acquired ISE.

 

[reactor]

acquisition

Greg, Whirlpool's acquisition of In-Sink-Erator from Emerson Electric was relatively recent, being completed last November. It sold for 3.0 billion, even.

ISE/Emerson made their disposals virtually from scratch, even winding their own motors on site.
It would be interesting to learn if Whirlpool is still doing this or is purchasing their motors from a supplier now.

It scared me when I saw their TOL disposal was 1.25 HP, as this is the same as Annaheim Manufacturing's China-built disposals permanent magnet motor. I thought Whirlpool copped out and starting badging Anaheim units with the Whirlpool name.

BUT in checking their new specs, it shows they are still using 1725 rpm induction motors. The 1.25 hp units have a 12 amp current draw.[this post was last edited: 9/10/2023-11:44]

 

[circlew]

Of course ISE made their own motors, as they were a division of Emerson Electric Co. for many years. Emerson has had a relationship with Whirlpool (and therefore Sears) as a supplier for decades, probably closer to a century. Emerson, in conjunction with Whirlpool, took over the KitchenAid dishwasher factory in the 80's, resulting in the ISE brand dishwashers available at that time.

 

[reactor]

ISE

Actually, Tom, ISE produced their own motors long before Emerson acquired the company in 1968.

Initially, ISE purchased their motors from outside vendors through the end of the 1930's. During the early and mid 1940's, they had a difficult time obtaining electric motors because of the ongoing War. At this time they decided to build their own.

Their motors had such a reputation for quality they even became a vendor of electric motors, on a limited basis, in the 1950's.

By the time Emerson came into the picture, ISE was already a very well-established on-site manufacturer of electric motors.[this post was last edited: 9/10/2023-15:01]

 

[jerrod_six]

I am really sorry that Whirlpool has taken over the Insinkerator brand. I fear it will eventually go the way of Whirlpool washers.

 

[qsd-dan]

I fear it will eventually go the way of Whirlpool washers.

That's my concern as well. Look at Consumer Reports on the reliability of Whirlpool products the past few years, it's really sad. Their washers are ranking below Samsung reliability and performance now, which I didn't think could get any worse. Through the 90's they built some of the best refrigerators....now they're junk like everything else out there. Same goes for dishwashers.

 

https://reprints.theygsgroup.com/cr/reprints/LG_FrontLoad_Ratings.pdf

 

[circlew]

Thanks for the extra info, Barry. I wasn't aware that they had manufactured their own motors that long. Sounds like ISE was a good fit for Emerson at the time.

 

[combo52]

Whirlpool buys ISE disposers

I was very excited to see this whirlpool has a strong commitment to the appliance business, they are not only build most of their appliances in the US. They are union built as well.

ISE and other disposer makers in the US invented this product and have sold them all over the world, in the last decade, we have finally gotten some serious competition from the Chinese junk, and I see simply no reason at all to buy a Chinese disposer when we still make the best disposers.

This is a very clear choice for anybody that wants to buy a disposer the ISE disposers is an easy choice they come at all different price levels The premium models will definitely last longer and grind things more finally and run much more quietly if any of these items are important to you.

 

[reactor]

undercutter

The most exciting feature of the TOL ISE's is the undercutter. This will help to eliminate many stopages, especially for those who install their disposal with a disposal installation kit, from the big box home improvement stores.

These kits allow a disposal to be turned sideways with the discharge pipe heading directly into the the downpipe of the adjacent sink basin.
Inside the "T" connector is a baffle that directs disposal waste down in an instant 90 degree turn using only half the diameter of the pipe. Not good. Fibrous material can get lodged here and create a totally impermeable plug.

Whirlpool could never make a decent disposer. Their "Bone Crusher" of the seventies received a VERY low rating in Consumer Reports magazine.

The worst disposal I ever had was in an apartment, built in 1980, that had a unique long and skinny Whirlpool "drop in" disposal. Designed for lazy builders it actually dropped down into the sink from the top drain opening and was lowered until the flange met the sink.

It was metal to metal, with no rubber/polymer to cushion and reduce vibrations. It had a cheap high speed motor that transmitted virtually every vibration to the stainless sink, which of course acted as a very nice sounding board. As you can imagine, it was a nightmare to use and a poor ginder. Was only there a matter of days before pulling it and replacing with a builder's grade ISE,which was light-years superior.

Since Whirlpool is known for lousy disposals, it is nice to see they purchased a company that has the engineering expertise and the infrastructure to build quality units, since they couldn't.

Whirlpool built their own Bone-Crusher unit. The silly drop through-the-sink model may have been produced by them or they may have contracted it out, I never researched it. It didn't matter their name was on it and they were responsible for it. It was one of the most laughable pieces of engineering and poor design I have ever seen. It didn't seem to be on the market anytime at all.

Whirlpool wisely decided to get out of the disposer business altogether, since they didn't have a clue how to engineer them. They contracted ISE to stick their name on some select units. Of course Whirlpool's Kitchen-Aid units became nothing more than KA branded ISE after the Hobart design sold to the Viking Range company.

Funny, Viking eventually quit making the Hobart design and then contracted ISE to make it for them as somewhat of a ISE/Hobart hybrid.

Everything always seemed to go back to Emerson's ISE division.

ISE was left standing alone as the only U.S. manufacturer of food-waste disposers after Viking got out of manufacturing. Annaheim Manufacturing sold out to using China manufacturing, which was sad as the ultra-high quality Waste King became just another of the many name badges stuck on their China built permanent magnet motor units.

I am glad Whirlpool snatched up ISE. Now Whirlpool can finally able to produce a decent disposal, and they have saved a quality and historic name in the disposal industry, ISE.