Whirlpool Corp. in Benton Harbor today announced the opening of a new headquarters for the company’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) offices in Milan, Italy. Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni dedicated the new facility in a ceremony attended by several Whirlpool executives and Italian government officials.
The building chosen to house Whirlpool’s EMEA headquarters is in the Pereso Expo District, which will accommodate more than 600 employees from 28 countries in a modern and collaborative working environment. The facility was built to meet current technology and sustainability standards, including a rooftop solar power system that is expected to save 16 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
“The Prime Minister’s visit is a great honor for us at a very important time for Whirlpool EMEA in Italy. In addition to the new headquarters, in the last few years we have invested $500 million into product innovation, state of the art industrial processes, and ongoing training for our employees,” says Esther Berrozpe, Whirlpool EMEA president and Whirlpool Corp. executive vice president.
Whirlpool EMEA also opened The World of Whirlpool, a new flagship showroom in Milan, to showcase the company’s advanced home appliance technologies and designs. The 5,400-square foot facility displays products from four of Whirlpool’s leading European brands: KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, and Indesit, and is designed to give customers an opportunity to explore and experiment with products via interactive content, demonstration cooking stations, and educational and recreational activities.
Whirlpool Corp. employs more than 6,000 people in eight locations in Italy. The company plans to invest $350 million into research and development in the EMEA region by the end of 2018, with the majority of funds allocated to its two advanced research centers in Italy.
