August 25, 2015

Whirlpool Corporation will invest $21 million to increase the size of its distribution network and has established a new Regional Distribution Center near Chicago, bringing the company’s U.S. total of RDCs to 12, including Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Whirlpool is leasing a 750,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in Channahon, Ill. southwest of Chicago. The new facility is a full-mix, rail-served warehouse, storing products from all Whirlpool-built major appliance categories and brands. The new center offers customers greater flexibility and more efficient operations, resulting in better delivery times. The Chicago RDC serves Whirlpool local distribution centers in the Upper Midwest.

“The expansion of our network is part of our ongoing commitment to provide the best service to continually meet our customers’ needs,” said Jim Keppler, the company’s vice president, Integrated Supply Chain and Quality. “Chicago is the perfect location for a new facility. We have a large base of retail and builder customers in the metro area, and it provides easy access to multiple modes of transportation.” 

Kenco, a third-party logistics provider, manages the warehouse in Chicago and will employ 60 to 70 people when fully operational. Shipments into the Chicago center have begun, and the first outbound shipments to the company’s local distribution centers will start later this summer.