Who was the largest and most advanced technologically in your opinion?

[wireman]

Whirlpool fan

Not sure when the mid-90's Whirlpool washer and dryers were designed we've had for 25+ were designed; branded Kenmore. The washer esp. is a workhorse. Great turnover even with FULL loads. Clothes really get clean. When the dryer needed repair, the serviceman said, buy a new dryer; their design hasn't changed much. Keep and repair that washer; nothing made today is as dependable or cleans as well. So we likely will!

 

[wireman]

Whirlpool fan

Not sure when the mid-90's Whirlpool washer and dryers were designed that we've had for 25+ were designed; branded Kenmore. The washer esp. is a workhorse. Great turnover even with FULL loads. Clothes really get clean. When the dryer needed repair, the serviceman said, buy a new dryer; their design hasn't changed much. Keep and repair that washer; nothing made today is as dependable or cleans as well. So we likely will!

 

[vacman1961]

I have to say Whirlpool would be the largest manufacturing factory in Clyde, Ohio. You have to remember not only did they produce Whirlpool brand washers and dryers but they manufactured Kenmore, Kitchen Aid, Roper, Estate, Crosley and other unpopular name brands. At one time when they were at the top of sales with the direct drive washer, they had a slogan, Whirlpool, World leader in laundry products.

 

[circlew]

For clarification, Whirlpool manufactures dryers at their Marion, OH plant. Clyde is washing machines only. The dishwasher factory is in Findlay. My sister and her husband reside between Findlay and Toledo, and know plenty of people who work in either the Findlay or Clyde facilities.

 

[goatfarmer]

WP I believe did some manufacturing in Arkansas. Cooking?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whirlpool laundry leader in the world

So when did whirlpool become the #1 laundry leader in the world? When did they start using computer systems to make it happen?

 

[combo52]

Reply # 24

1952, many great things happened in 1952.

 

John L.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

clyde 1952

So you're saying that whirlpool used computer technology in 1952? I thought they started using it in the 1980s when they came out with the direct drives.

 

[akronman]

John

lol, 1959 had many great things happen too!

 

[gelaundry4ever]

1959

I thought whirlpool moved to computer technology in 1983, not 1959.

 

[reactor]

largest manufacturing plant

General Electric claims they had the largest appliance manufacting plant in the world, under one roof, with their "Appliance Park" facility in Louisville, KY. They also were one of the earliest manufacturing plants to employ a mainframe computer which GE installed in 1954.

Sadly, the Appliance Park facility is now under Chinese ownership since being sold to Haier

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE manufacturer

That's interesting to know that GE was the largest manufacturer in the world. When did Whirlpool surpass GE?

 

[reactor]

largest plant

Jerome, GE said they had the largest appliance manufacturing plant in the world, under one roof. They didn't say they were the largest maker of appliances by volume. They may or may not have been. They were just boasting about their facility itself.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

GE largest manufacturer

If GE was the largest manufacturer, why did they copy whirlpool's agitation in 1995? They could've innovated like Whirlpool did. I bet Whirlpool outgrew GE by far since they were huge innovators.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whirlpool technology

I've always thought whirlpool had the most technology considering they were the first to use neutral drain since the beginning. I could've sworn they were the first to use perforated tubs exclusively. Surely they had all the technology and computers for research and develop laundry products.

 

[rinso]

Whirlpool/KM machines were always ahead of their time. I think the fact that Whirlpool made laundry appliances for Sears for many years, probably made them one of the top sellers. The Kenmore top loaders were, IMHO, ahead of their time in development of their higher end WP made machines. They were one of the first to offer a "dual-action" agitator which greatly improved turnover, especially for bedding and stiff jeans. I'll always remember their Lady Kenmore piano key machines that were made in the mid-1960's. They would have been my favorite at the time, save for their anemic spin speed. Towels often took 90 minutes to dry.

 

[norgeway]

Frigidaire and Westinghouse

Were premium brands but not the largest, GE had the largest facility to build appliances, GE and Hotpoint sold more because they were generally aimed at a less affluent market, Usually small mom and pop stores as well as big dept stores sold GE or Hotpoint, for instance Hotpoint was Lowes hardwares main brand from the time they were in a small downtown store in North Wilkesboro on up until they had hundreds of stores around the country, As a rule GE was, at least in my hometown, aimed at the working man, generally cheaper, Frigidaire and Westinghouse were sold to the bankers and lawyers.All that being said Whirlpool i believe sold more laundry equipment simply because of Sears.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

In my view, whirlpool basically made the same machine from the late 1940s to circa 1986.  They were good machines, but I wouldn't associate them with "advanced technology". 

 

By all means Whirlpool deserves credit for the dual-action agiatator, but let's not foget that Maytag was first with an agitator circa 1920.

 

[vacman1961]

Whirlpool has always been the world leader in laundry. More American built washers and dryers come out of their Clyde, Ohio plant. At one point they actually produced more Kenmore washers than Whirlpool. models.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Whirlpool Vs. GE

It's amazing that GE was the largest appliance manufacturer under 1 roof. What about overall? I wonder how big the Clyde factory was when they switched to the design 2000 platform.
When did they expand when Maytag got involved? I suspect the ones on my old dorm came out of that Clyde factory.