Whirlpool has opened its new headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in Pero, Milan.
The building was opened by Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and will accommodate more than 600 employees from 28 countries.
The new complex includes the latest technology and has been designed to meet current sustainability standards, including a rooftop solar power system that is expected to save 16 tons in CO2 emissions each year.
The new 500 square metre flagship showroom, called ‘The World of Whirlpool’, will display more than 150 products from Whirlpool Corporation’s four major brands – KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit.
The showroom will also feature interactive displays and cooking demonstrations in the show kitchens.
“The Prime Minister’s visit is a great honour for us at a very important time for Whirlpool EMEA in Italy,” said Whirlpool EMEA president and Whirlpool Corporation executive vice-president Esther Berrozpe Galindo. “In addition to the new headquarters, in the past few years we have invested $500 million (£389m) into product innovation, state-of-the-art industrial processes and ongoing training for our employees. The location of our new headquarters offers our employees a dynamic and multicultural environment.”
Norb Schmidt, vice-president for products and brands at Whirlpool EMEA, added: “The ‘World of Whirlpool’ is a new, exciting space where we can share the experience of our brands and products. The environment has been conceived as an immersive experience that allows guests to explore, live and experience our brands’ products through interactive content, show cooking and ‘edutainment’ activities.”