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Whirlpool is one of the biggest known brands of domestic appliances in the world. The company was started in Michigan in 1911 by Louis, Frederick and Emory Upton. They called their venture the Upton Machine Company.

The first appliance they started manufacturing were wringer washers, which were motor-driven. They faced their first hitch when they supplied 100 machines to Federal Electric and one of the gears failed in transmission. Louis Upton rose to the occasion by fixing the part at no cost. Impressed by his business integrity, Federal Electric immediately doubled their order.

The washers became very popular after Upton joined with Sears, Roebuck and Co in 1916. By 1929, it merged with Nineteen Hundred Washer Company, calling itself the Nineteen Hundred Corporation. The first top loading washing machines were developed and manufactured in 1949 and sold under the name of Sears.

By 1950, the Nineteen Hundred Corporation was renamed Whirlpool Corporation. Under this new name, it sold its first top-loading machines. By 1955 Whirlpool expanded its business by acquiring Seeger Refrigeration Company and Radio Corporation of America (RCA), a company controlled by General Electric for air-conditioner and cooking ranges.

With so many developments, Whirlpool bought a 100 acre land for their administrative centre at Benton Harbour in Michigan. They surged to popularity with their RCA Whirlpool Miracle Kitchen. It had an estimated 15 million viewers rooting for these time saving wonders.

By 1962, Whirlpool bagged a contract for developing Project Gemini’s feeding and waste systems. Project Gemini was the human spaceflight mission of NASA. Soon Whirlpool took over Kitchen Aid and began a joint venture with Philips called Whirlpool International.

Whirlpool is environment conscious and is working with the US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency for efficient management of energy and water. By 2006, Whirlpool was the biggest manufacturer and sellers of home appliances, which included washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, cooking ranges, dishwashers, microwave ovens, air-conditioners, mixers and blenders.

Whirlpool started its philanthropic work in the Fifties with the Whirlpool Foundation. It is a supporter of Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organisation. It builds low-cost houses. They also donate their appliances to the organisation. Whirlpool also contributed towards aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation.

Whirlpool markets major brands like Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Inglis, Estate, Brastemp and Bauknecht in most countries across the world.