FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Ohio Lt. Governor Bruce Johnson, who also serves as the state's development director, today applauded Wilbert Plastic Services for its decision to establish an injection molding plant in Bellevue (Huron County). Wilbert expects to hire up to 200 employees at the new plant to fulfill a new outsourcing agreement with Whirlpool Corp., which recently announced a significant expansion of its manufacturing presence in Marion (Marion County) and Clyde (Sandusky County).

"Wilbert's plan to invest in Ohio and bring 200 new jobs to our state is outstanding," said Johnson. "I'm confident that the significance of Whirlpool's decision to expand its Ohio facilities will continue to foster new business relationships that will continue to generate new investment and create jobs for Ohioans."

Wilbert Plastic Services is the industrial plastics division of Wilbert, Inc., a holding company established in 1997. Wilbert Plastic Services is the combination of TPi, the ninth-largest thermoformer in the U.S.; TriEnda, a market leader in the material handling and packaging industry; and Morton Custom Plastics, a market leader in plastic injection molding and value-added processing.

Wilbert plans to open a 197,500 square-foot facility less than ten miles from Whirlpool's Clyde plant. The company will manufacture agitators, augers and related plastic components that will be supplied to Whirlpool's Ohio locations.

Following a post-merger review of Maytag operations, Whirlpool recently announced that it would consolidate washer and dryer production from Maytag manufacturing sites in Newton, Iowa; Herrin, Illinois; and Searcy, Arkansas with Whirlpool laundry factories in Clyde and Marion. The company says the moves will build upon the efficiency of its manufacturing capabilities and enhance its ability to compete within the highly competitive global home appliance industry.