Wako Electronics designs and manufactures bimetal thermostats, pressure switches and sensors.  Located in Louisville, Kentucky in eastern Jefferson County, Wako operates a full production and assembly facility serving customers throughout North America.  Our central location enables us to ship to most areas of the country in a day or two.  In addition, since Louisville is the hub for the UPS overnight air fleet, we can provide next day service when necessary.

Wako has received QS-9000 and ISO 9001 registration, a globally-recognized quality standard established by the Inter-national Organization for Standardization in Geneva, Switzerland and adopted by over 90 countries worldwide.

MISSION

Wako Electronics (USA), Inc., will meet or exceed customer expectations through the continuous improvement of our products, processes, and people.

HISTORY

Our parent company started in 1967 in Gojo City, Japan, Nara Prefecture, as Wako Electric Co., Ltd. A factory was opened in 1983 in Gose City, Nara Prefecture, for the production of pressure switches. In 1984, Wako Seiki Co., Ltd., a producer of automated assembly equipment, was acquired and a joint venture was entered into with Pacific Controls, which became Pacific Wako Electronics Co., Ltd.  The U.S.A. plant, Wako Electronics (USA), Inc., was established in 1988 in Louisville, Kentucky as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wako Electronics Co., Ltd., Gojo City, Japan. Ten years later, in 1998, Wako Electronics (USA), Inc., was awarded ISO-9001/QS-9000 registration for our quality system, along with numerous customer quality awards.

CAPABILITIES

Agreements with Osaka University allow Wako direct access to laboratories, staff and facilities. Wako's "Design for Manufacturing" philosophy ensures product can be manufactured to specification at design conception, resulting in World Class quality. Products are made in our manufacturing facilities in Louisville, KY, using equipment designed and built by our Japanese affiliate.

Wako is certified with Underwriters Laboratories [UL], the Canadian Standards Association [CSA], and Verband Der Elektrotechnik [VDE].

Other capabilities include full implementation of SPC manufacturing, supplier certification program, 100% product traceability, reliability test capability, incoming/outgoing inspection, "Continuous Improvement" commitment and ISO-9001/QS-9000 certification.

CLIENT BASE: APPLIANCE

CLIENT BASE: AUTOMOTIVE

Wako Electronics (USA) Inc. named Whirlpool Supplier of the Year

For the second consecutive year, Wako Electronics (USA), Inc. has been honored by the Whirlpool Corporation as a "Supplier of the Year" in recognition of quality, delivery, and manufacturing excellence.

Whirlpool's Global Procurement Organization partners with suppliers around the world to obtain high quality, cost-effective materials, components and other products from top-notch suppliers that demonstrate excellence in quality, delivery, productivity and innovation.

"Whirlpool's world-class supply base has certainly contributed to the success we have achieved the last few years in transforming our company into an innovative industry leader that places the customer front and center of our operations globally," said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool's chairman and CEO. "To achieve the degree of customer loyalty that we are aiming for, Whirlpool depends not only on the dedication of our more than 80,000 employees worldwide, but also on the quality and dependability of our suppliers."

Of the approximately 700 U.S. suppliers Whirlpool worked with in 2005, 17 were recognized for outstanding performance. These suppliers were judged primarily on quality of their goods/services, total cost productivity and material management. A total of 20 supplier awards were issued.

"The suppliers we partner with are vital in helping us to maintain our status as the world's leading home appliance manufacturer," said Steve Rush, Whirlpool's vice president for North American procurement. "Those that we are honoring this year consistently meet our requirements in quality, productivity, engineering, design, availability and, increasingly, innovation."

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of over $12 billion, 68,000 employees, and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries. Additional information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.whirlpoolcorp.com .

Copyright © 2006 Wako Electronics-USA. All rights reserved.