Whirlpool announced the closure of its washing machine factory It is located in the Fatima Industrial Zone in the municipality of Pilar and 220 workers were fired. The company said that the decision is due to A Review the country’s production model.
“This decision includes a restructuring of the operation in Argentina. Based on this change, Whirlpool will focus its presence in the country on purely commercial and service activities, Ensuring the supply of devices, accessories and spare parts throughout the territory of Argentina“, the company said in a statement.
This news came in a complex context for the retail sector, which was affected by a decrease in consumption and an increase in imports. Despite this, the company maintained this Whirlpool’s continuity in the country is not under review. They stated that “its commercial presence and product portfolio will remain available to consumers, within an operating plan that is consistent with the conditions of the local and regional environment.”
Whirlpool established the washing machine factory in Pilar three years ago, in October 2022, after an investment of US$52 million.. According to the company, it has not yet decided what will happen to the factory it opened to export 70% of its production.
However, this is not the first time the company has announced the restructuring of its local operations. In May of last year, The home appliance company announced the reduction of production shifts and the reduction of 60 jobs at the Pilar factory, where 400 employees were employed..
at that time, Whirlpool products were facing declines of 40% and even 60%. In some white goods sectors due to lower demand in the Argentine market as well as in neighboring Brazil, a large export market. In fact, last year they clarified that although the idea was to “continue investment and increase exports, the situation is not favourable”.
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