Whirlpool Corporation today announced changes for its North American cooking product manufacturing facilities. The changes are part of an ongoing comprehensive worldwide effort to optimize the company's regional manufacturing facilities, supply base, product platforms and technology resources to better support its leading global brands with innovative products.

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The changes include shifting production of select freestanding cooking products currently manufactured at the Whirlpool facility in Cleveland, Tenn., to Whirlpool manufacturing facilities in Tulsa, Okla., and a yet-to-be determined location in Mexico.

The changes will result in the elimination of approximately 370 positions at the Cleveland, Tenn., facility. Whirlpool expects that the majority of the eliminated positions will be absorbed through normal attrition and the reduction of temporary positions. The specific number of new positions at the Tulsa facility is not yet final. Once the Mexican location is finalized, those headcount numbers will also be determined. The moves are expected to be completed in 2007.

"These changes will improve the productivity and efficiency of our North American manufacturing platform," said David L. Swift, president, Whirlpool North America. "The production moves also ensure that we can continue to rapidly introduce innovative new products under our leading portfolio of brand names."

These changes reflect the strategic role of the company's North American manufacturing base within its global manufacturing and distribution network. Products from the North American facilities are sold to consumers in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and in markets around the world.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion, more than 80,000 employees, and more than 60 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/.

Whirlpool Additional Information

This document contains forward-looking statements that speak only as of this date. Whirlpool disclaims any obligation to update these statements. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the merger with Maytag Corporation. Many risks, contingencies and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from Whirlpool Corporation's forward-looking statements. Among these factors are: (1) the company's ability to integrate the recently acquired Maytag Corporation on a timely basis and realize the full anticipated benefits of the merger within the current estimate of costs; and (2) changes in market conditions, health care cost trends and pending regulation that could increase future funding obligations for pension and post-retirement benefit plans. Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Whirlpool Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: cinda_s_noffke@whirlpool.com

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SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation