DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Whirlpool Corp. has decided to keep a small appliance parts manufacturing center in Iowa retaining up to 20 workers.
The Michigan-based appliance company bought rival Maytag Corp. last year and said it planned to close the Maytag corporate headquarters and a washer and dryer factory in Newton, idling 1,800 workers by the end of this year.
The parts center, a segment of the manufacturing operation in Newton will continue after the main washer and dryer plant closes on Oct. 26, Whirlpool spokeswoman Jody Lau said.
Lau said Whirlpool officials haven't yet decided how long the parts center will operate. Allen said the indication he got from the company was that the time frame for the operation was open-ended.
Workers will be hired based on seniority and skill level, Lau said. Positions will be filled by members of United Auto Workers Local 997, which represents Maytag production workers in Newton.