The company Whirlpool Argentina completed the first export to Brazil of the washing machines it produces in the plant it owns in the Buenos Aires district of Pilar, which was inaugurated in October of last year.

This operation was the first that the local subsidiary of the multinational firm completed in more than 20 years.

The manager of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability of Whirlpool Latin America, Agustín del Castillo, explained that "We are allocating 30% of the production for sale to Brazil. The idea is to continue advancing so that we can soon be at 50% and then reach 70%, which is the commitment we assumed when we inaugurated the plant."

In that sense, Del Castillo highlighted that the business is progressing according to the originally planned deadlines and estimated that starting in June they will be able to export 50% of what is produced.

The Pilar plant currently has 250 employees and they are already beginning to plan a second production shift, for which they will incorporate another 150 more workers in the short term.

The manufacturing establishment was inaugurated last October in an event led by President Alberto Fernández and the secretaries of Industry and Productive Development, José De Mendiguren, and Commerce, Matías Tombolini.

According to what is projected, the initiative will consist of a total investment of US$52 million that will allow Whirlpool to produce 300,000 washing machines per year starting in July, of which 200,000 will be exported to Brazil.

As a result of shipments to the Brazilian market, external sales will exceed US$50 million annually, according to estimates by the American company.

With these results, Whirlpool will become the largest exporter of household appliances in Argentina.

The new Pilar plant, which will have the capacity produce a washing machine every 40 seconds, is the most modern of the firm in the world.

Forbes