Surprisingly, on Wednesday, November 26, Whirlpool Argentina announced the cessation of operations of its factory in Pilar and in an official letter alleging problems of lack of competitiveness of exports and intense competition from imported products. After this measure, 220 workers will be laid off. The factory was opened in 2022 with the aim of producing washing machines.
In a recent statement, the brand announced that it plans to continue in the country after the closure, a presence it has maintained for 35 years, and between 100 and 120 people will continue to work.
According to sources in the case, the decision was made because “it was an operational and competitive business model to make more flexible and efficient, which could not be achieved in the context of a strong slowdown in consumption and a significant increase in imports.”
“The idea is to start the path of transformation and organize ourselves towards a more commercial process than manufacturing,” the sources consulted explained.
According to the local subsidiary, the process will reach plant operators as well as teams related to the supply chain and management areas. The company stressed that the transformation process will take place “responsibly and transparently,” in line with international corporate standards.
With the plant’s closure, Whirlpool will cease production in Argentina and reorganize its presence under a new law Commercial and service operationIt is a model that has been replicated by other multinational companies that in 2024 and 2025 reviewed their industrial footprint in the country. This coordination will allow it, as they indicated, to maintain the distribution and supply of devices for its brands, in addition to spare parts and accessories.
The company also stressed that its continuity in the Argentine market is guaranteed and that it is “not under review.” In this new scheme, Whirlpool will continue to operate with a full range of products, including washing machines, stoves, refrigerators and advanced KitchenAid equipment, among other lines.
Impact of business and sectoral context
andThe closure affects 220 employees Important number dInsert the white line piecewhich in recent years has witnessed a combination of declining domestic consumption, Increased financing costs and difficulties in maintaining local integration processes. The decision is added to other industrial reconfigurations of the sector, which has been operating since 2023 at lower levels of utilization of installed capacities.
The home appliance industry is also facing a smaller market after several years of contraction in purchasing power, compounded by production regionalization led by parent companies seeking to concentrate manufacturing in centers intended to supply multiple countries. In this context, the Pilar factory had reduced production volumes since 2024, even with downtime programmes.
Whirlpool’s global strategy
Whirlpool, the US-based parent company, has made this clear The decision taken by Argentina is in line with its regional and global strategy To focus investments in factories with larger scale, advanced automation and the ability to supply multiple markets. Globally, the company reported sales of US$19 billion in 2023It employs 59,000 employees and operates 55 technology and manufacturing centres.
In Argentina, Whirlpool celebrated 35 years of continuous presence and established itself as one of the most recognized brands in the white goods market. They confirm that their products will continue to be marketed in the country through import and distribution through their usual network of retailers and their own channels.
The company confirmed that it will ensure the availability of products, accessories and spare parts throughout the region and that its business structure will operate without changes to the end consumer. The production shift will not affect the warranty or official technical service.
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