Ex-Maytag engineers in Iowa to create own company

A company started by Maytag design engineers, who will lose their jobs next month when Whirlpool Corporation closes most of its Maytag operations in Iowa, have signed a contract with Whirlpool. Springboard Engineering expects to be operational in January in a 40,000-square-foot building.

''The pieces are all coming together,'' said Jordan Bruntz, president and CEO, in a statement.

Bruntz, 41, a 20-year employee of Maytag, said Springboard Engineering and Whirlpool agreed to a multiyear deal that is the cornerstone to maintaining important technical expertise in Iowa. Details of the agreement were not released.

Most of the Newton-based Maytag design staff will be employed by Springboard Engineering.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool bought rival appliance maker Maytag last year and quickly moved to close down the Newton corporate headquarters and a washer and dryer factory, leaving 1,800 workers to find new jobs. Part of the corporate operations in Newton was the design research and development operation.

Bruntz and seven colleagues are investing their own money in the new company, and worked to acquire financing from banks and financial assistance from state, local and federal governments.

Springboard Engineering expects to have a staff of 50 workers including mechanical, electrical and software engineers specializing in high volume design. The staff also includes consumer scientists and technicians with specialty in conducting product reliability and performance testing and product development specialists with expertise in plastic injection mold making and prototype sheet metal fabrication.