Products like the Smart Energy Dryer have won Whirlpool Corporation, of
Benton Harbor, the No. 5 spot on World's Most Innovative Companies
list, a ranking compiled by Fast Company Magazine in its March issue.
Whirlpool
was named as an innovation leader in the consumer products category,
just after household product manufacturer SC Johnson and before
bootmaker Timberland.
Excerpt:
Whirlpool will make 1 million
'smart' dryers by the end of 2011. Smart Energy dryers will respond to
peak-energy prices by lowering power consumption, saving money for
homeowners and easing stress on the electric grid. By 2015, according
to Whirlpool, all of its products will be compatible with the smart
grid.
The story goes on to say that the company expects innovation to drive growth in 2010.
It's
not just about revenue growth and profit margins, Fast Magazine
reports. It's about identifying creative models and progressive
cultures – to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the
business landscape.
The recognition adds to a series of way-to-go's already bestowed on Whirlpool.
In
2009, it was named one of FORTUNE's "Most Admired Companies" in the
electronics industry, one of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" by
Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine and one of the "Top 50 Most
Respected U.S. Companies" by the Reputation Institute.
Whirlpool
employs 67,000 people worldwide and saw annual sales of approximately
$17 billion in 2009. It has an innovation pipeline worth about $4
billion and in 2009 generated $3.8 billion in revenue from its
innovation efforts.
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading
manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances and has 67
manufacturing and technology research centers around the world.
The
company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana,
Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in
nearly every country around the world.
To read more about it visit
Fast Company.
Source: Fast Company