Whirlpool to Debut New SlimTech™ Insulation Technology

BENTON HARBOR, MI – Whirlpool Corporation has introduced SlimTech insulation, the first vacuum insulated structure (VIS) technology in a refrigerator.

By using a proprietary material that is vacuum-sealed within the door or sides of a refrigerator, SlimTech insulation reduces wall thicknesses by up to 66% to offer up to 25% more capacity than traditional insulation. SlimTech insulation will initially launch in 2024 on select JennAir® 30 inch Column refrigerators and later be expanded to the KitchenAid brand.

“For the past 112 years, we have shaped the landscape of modern home appliances in the kitchen and the laundry room, developing products that have improved life at home for millions of consumers from the introduction of the first electric wringer washer and first home dishwasher,” said Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Corporation chairman and CEO. “SlimTech insulation is yet another turning point for the industry, and this launch is just the beginning of how we will utilize this technology.”

The material used in SlimTech insulation technology also has the potential to be recycled, and Whirlpool Corp. is working to map out a path to reclaiming the material at a refrigerator’s end of use, paving the way for a more circular future.

“For years low recyclability due to polyurethane foam has created a significant barrier to making refrigerators more sustainable and reducing environmental impact,” said Pamela Klyn, Whirlpool Corporation executive vice president of corporate relations & sustainability. “This is an extremely important leap forward on the journey to a more circular approach to home appliances. Implementation of SlimTech™ insulation marks the beginning of the end for foam insulated refrigerators.”

Beyond adding capacity and increasing the potential for sustainability, SlimTech insulation technology offers several additional consumer benefits:

• Increasing the thickness of SlimTech insulation walls can reduce thermal conductivity, allowing refrigerators to be up to 50% more energy efficient.
• SlimTech can extend food shelf life by reducing temperature swings from door openings by cooling up to 30% faster.
• SlimTech can accommodate more customization via metal interiors with cleaner angles that eliminate the need for molded plastic interiors common in most refrigerators.
• SlimTech reduces the number of compressor cycles needed to maintain cool temperatures, providing quieter operation.

Whirlpool Corp. aims to use SlimTech technology to revolutionize how consumers think about refrigeration in their homes by allowing for more discreet refrigeration spaces that could be seamlessly brought to other rooms of the house or be contained within other pieces of furniture.

“SlimTech insulation technology – along with other recent product launches – shows our commitment to innovation and will allow us to expand our market share and our margins,” said Bitzer. “This is a step change in technology and process innovation that will cascade across the Whirlpool Corporation brand portfolio and manufacturing operations.”

Refrigerators with SlimTech™ insulation will be built at Whirlpool Corp.’s operations in Ottawa, Ohio. The company has invested $65 million in the plant.