Whirlpool Corporation announced that it will invest $40 million to nearly double the size of its Greenville, Ohio, small appliance manufacturing operations. The expansion is expected to generate approximately 400 new jobs by 2018 – bringing the facility to a total workforce of about 1,400 employees. Executives say strong demand for KitchenAid small appliances is driving the need for increased production capacity. Overall small appliance production has doubled during the past five years at the Greenville facility. With increasing market demand due to consumers’ desire for premium products and recent introductions of the KitchenAid brand in to new geographies, the company is confident this growth will continue. “This expansion project recognizes the outstanding skills of our Greenville employees, as well as strong partnership and support from the state of Ohio, the city of Greenville and Darke County,” said Jeff Fettig, Chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “With several global options for this project, our decision to expand our Greenville, Ohio facility is another way Whirlpool continues to demonstrate our commitment to American manufacturing. As the KitchenAid brand continues to expand its small appliance portfolio globally, this major expansion will ensure Greenville remains the manufacturing hub of our small appliance business”. Whirlpool produces KitchenAid brand stand mixers and attachments, hand mixers and blenders at the Greenville facility, which has been in operation since 1942. The facility currently employs approximately 1,000 men and women who produce an average of 16,000 units per day.