As the manufacturing industry continues to evolve, companies are under increasing pressure to modernize operations and strengthen domestic supply chains to remain competitive. Automation, advanced production technologies, and shifting consumer demand are rapidly changing the global economy.
For Whirlpool Corporation, maintaining its leadership position in home appliance manufacturing required continued investment in U.S.-based operations capable of supporting next-generation production while increasing efficiency, flexibility, and innovation.
The company also recognized the need to reinforce domestic manufacturing capacity and position its facilities to better support long-term growth across refrigeration, laundry, and appliance component production. For leading manufacturers, long-term success increasingly depends on the ability to build modern facilities, scale domestic production, and employ a workforce capable of supporting next-generation manufacturing.
The Solution
Working alongside JobsOhio, regional economic development partners, and state and local officials, Whirlpool has invested more than $425 million across multiple Ohio operations. The investments span facilities in Ottawa, Clyde, Marion, and Perrysburg and represent one of the company’s largest recent commitments to domestic manufacturing expansion.
In 2021, Whirlpool announced more than $65 million in investments at its Ottawa operations to expand premium refrigeration production capacity, including Built-In Refrigerator manufacturing. The project included facility expansion, advanced production technologies, and the addition of more than 100 new jobs.
Building on that momentum, Whirlpool announced a $300 million investment in 2025 across its Clyde and Marion manufacturing facilities. The expansion is expected to create between 448 and 600 new jobs while increasing production capacity for Whirlpool’s next generation of washers and dryers.
Later that same year, Whirlpool announced an additional $60 million investment in a new Perrysburg production facility focused on appliance components and subassembly work supporting nearby Ohio operations. The project includes advanced manufacturing technologies and automation and is expected to create up to 150 new jobs.
Key factors in Whirlpool’s continued decision to expand in Ohio included:
Access to one of the nation’s largest and most experienced manufacturing workforces
Ohio’s integrated supply chain and central location supporting domestic distribution and logistics
Strong partnerships with JobsOhio, regional organizations, and state and local leaders committed to advanced manufacturing growth
Ohio’s leadership in industrial innovation, automation, and research and development
The ability to modernize and scale existing operations while strengthening Whirlpool’s long-term U.S. manufacturing footprint
Economic Impact
Whirlpool’s investments reinforce Ohio’s position as one of the country’s leading advanced manufacturing states while supporting long-term economic growth across Northwest and Central Ohio. Collectively, the projects represent more than $425 million in capital investment and are expected to create more than 800 new jobs across Whirlpool’s Ohio operations.
Whirlpool currently operates six factories across the state (including four in Northwest Ohio), accounting for more than half of the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint. The sites are major anchors of Ohio’s manufacturing economy; Clyde is home to the world’s largest washing machine plant, while Marion recently celebrated 70 years of dryer production. Whirlpool employs thousands of Ohio workers and continues to invest in advanced technologies designed to strengthen domestic production capabilities.
The investments also support Ohio’s broader manufacturing ecosystem, which includes thousands of suppliers, logistics providers, technology companies, and research institutions that contribute to the state’s competitive advantage in industrial production.
Strategic Advantage
Ohio continues to distinguish itself as one of the nation’s premier destinations for advanced manufacturing investment by combining industrial scale with innovation-driven growth.
The state offers manufacturers access to a highly skilled workforce, modern transportation and logistics infrastructure, and a collaborative network of economic development, industry, and government partners focused on long-term business success.
Whirlpool’s continued expansion demonstrates how Ohio’s manufacturing strengths extend across multiple sectors and technologies. The company’s investments reinforce Ohio’s long-term strategy to support companies that are modernizing domestic production and shaping the future of American manufacturing.
Whirlpool Corporation is leaning into our commitment to U.S. manufacturing. When there is a level playing field, our American workers can out-compete anyone in the world. These investments are proof of our confidence in that workforce and our determination to win by producing high-quality, innovative products in the U.S.
Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Corporation chairman and CEO
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