USA

Maytag Commercial Laundry welcomed trade customers from around the world to a special one-day event "What’s inside matters" at its Clyde, Ohio factory. The plant, which is the size of 55 football pitches, is said to be the world’s largest producing washing machines.

Production moved from Mexico to Clyde earlier this year and visitors saw the first machines produced by the dedicated front-loading washer assembly line.

They also had a sneak preview of company’s first consumer app, powered by Maytag Connect 360° and created through a partnership with MasterCard.

The app, scheduled to launch in early 2015, will allow coin-store customers and multi-housng residents to pay for laundry services via debit or credit card at a click of a button. They can also check if there is a machine ready to use and if not, see when one is available. The app will send an alert when the laundry is finished.

MAYTAG MATTERS : Taking part take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the "What’s Inside Matters" event at Clyde, Ohio are (from left) Adam May, Hercules; Randy Karn, Maytag Commercial Laundry; Dick LaMaina, Equipment Marketers; Bob English, Maytag Commercial Laundry; and Doug Fowler, Fowler Equipment Company