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Maytag Timeline

Saturday, December 15, 2007 11:29 PM CST

1946: BorgWarner Corp. builds the plant in Herrin, producing about 100 washing machines a day, including a few winger washers.

1963: Norge successful with a new automatic washer. Employment jumps to more than 1,500.

1968: Fedders Corp. buys BorgWarner's Norge appliance division.

1969: Norge announces the acquisition of dryer production facilites. Other industrial news in Herrin includes DuraContainers adding 28 jobs; Allen Industries creating 300 new jobs; and Central Technology Inc. acquiring a 13-building complex in the Ordill area.

1979: Magic Chef Inc. buys Norge from Fedders. Technology updates cost $17 million.

1986: Magic Chef merges with Maytag.

1989: Norge in Herrin becomes known as Magic Chef Herrin.

1993: Magic Chef Herrin is renamed Maytag Herrin Laundry Products.

1996: The plant celebrates 50 years in Herrin and is now nine times its original size with around 800 employees. Magic Chef, Admiral Designer Series, Admiral, Crosley, Norge, Hoover and JennAir washer and dryers are made at the plant.

1997: Maytag's new Performa line allows the plant to boost its 880-person work force by another 112 jobs.

1998: Herrin expands its production lines in $12 million project.

2000: A week-long strike of more than 1,200 workers ends with a five-year contract agreement. The last work stoppage at the Herrin plant in 1981 lasted six weeks.

2002: The Newton, Iowa-based Maytag Corp. increases workers at the plant to more than 1,400.

2003: According to Maytag officials, the plant employs 2,000 people with 1,600 involved in production. More people work at the plant than anywhere else in region except Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

2003: Mass production begins of the super dryer, the Neptune. Around $32 million is invested in its production line.

2003-04: Herrin receives a $1.2 million state grant and $1.65 million federal grant to improve the loading dock and make road improvements around the plant.

June 2004: A total of 41 employees lose their jobs from corporate downsizing that targets management personnel.

March 2005: Maytag officials say they'll cut manufacturing costs by outsourcing more of its production to foreign countries, but the move will not negatively impact the Herrin plant.

May-June 2005: Maytag receives buyout proposals from Ripplewood Holdings LLC and from Bain Capital partners LLC, Blackstone Capital partners and Haier America Trading.

August 2005: Maytag Corp. directors sell the company to longtime rival Whirlpool Corp. for $1.7 billion.

January-February 2006: More than 150 workers are laid off.

May 10, 2006: Whirlpool officials announce the Herrin plant closing date.

November 2006: City of Herrin brings in experts to help Maytag workers gain expertise in starting their own businesses.

December 2006: Man-Tra-Con talks to Maytag employees about new opportunities.

Dec. 21, 2006: Last day of work for Maytag employees.