Whirlpool Corporation Selects Gray Construction to Develop New Manufacturing Facility in Tennessee

Gray Construction, ranked 9th among U.S. Top Manufacturing Contractors, has been tapped by Whirlpool Corporation to construct a new one million square foot, LEED-certified manufacturing facility to produce built-in, premium cooking products, as well as a 400,000 square foot distribution center in Cleveland, Tenn.

Whirlpool announced earlier this year the $120 million investment in the new facility, which will add approximately 130 new jobs. The new plant will replace an existing 100-year old facility also located in Cleveland, Tenn. Construction is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“The products made by Whirlpool Corporation are all about quality and excellence, and the Gray team is enormously honored and excited to be working with this leading global appliance maker and to be selected for this flagship project,” said Stephen Gray, president and chief operating officer for Gray Construction.

“We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in the manufacturing sector and are eager to join our manufacturing customers, like Whirlpool Corporation, in building for them,” said Jim Gray, chairman and chief executive officer for Gray Construction.  “The Gray team is honored to be working on this LEED-certified facility that will provide high quality appliances for Whirlpool customers for decades.”

“Gray Construction offered a strong resume specifically related to the construction of manufacturing facilities,” said Lee Utke, MCR, director of global corporate real estate for Whirlpool Corporation. “They also brought to the table a very seasoned and professional project team that clearly understood our key delivery metrics, and were prepared and positioned to meet a very aggressive delivery schedule.”

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com .

In addition to being ranked 9th nationally for manufacturing plant construction, Gray Construction has designed and built close to  460 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. totaling more than 53 million square feet. Gray is a nationally ranked engineering and construction firm with offices throughout the United States. Gray provides customers with programming, planning, site selection, engineering, design and construction and equipment installation services. Gray’s experience includes projects for the automotive, distribution, food and beverage and manufacturing markets. For more information visit www.gray.com .

If you have manufacturing plant construction needs, please contact Phil Seale, Vice President, Manufacturing at pseale@gray.com or (859) 281-9307.