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Korean manufacturer to open Vernon Hills headquarters with ancient ritual

In South Korea, when a new business opens, an ancient ritual is often performed to bring luck. The ceremony involves placing rolled up cash in the ears and snout of a dead pig.

Company leaders at Winix, a global manufacturer, will take part in such a ceremony Friday with community leaders to celebrate the opening of its new U.S. headquarters at 220 N. Fairway Drive in Vernon Hills.

Winix Inc., a manufacturer of air cleaners and other home appliances, recently moved its U.S. headquarters from East Dundee where it operated for 10 years.

The gosa ceremony is a traditional Korean blessing ritual often used at the start of a new venture such as a company opening. A small "altar" with a pig's head and offerings of incense, wine, rice cakes and other special foods is displayed. Though not mandatory, guests traditionally bow and make offerings of money as a gesture of good wishes to the business owners. The Chinese character for pig, pronounced "don," has a similar sound as the word for "money" in Korean and has therefore come to symbolize abundance and good fortune in Korea as well as other Asian cultures.

"We are quite proud of our Korean heritage at Winix and enjoy combining the cultures of Korea and America in creative ways," said Tony Kircher, president of Winix America Inc. "In our business practices we try to borrow the best of both countries and to learn from each other. It makes for an exciting atmosphere as our employees around the world adapt to each other's way of doing things."

Congressman Brad Schneider, Vernon Hills Mayor Roger Byrne and other community leaders will join Winix Chairman H J Yoon, company CEO C M Yoon and other employees during the ceremony that signifies "good fortune, health and abundance," said Troy Kowalski, sales and marketing specialist at Winix, which has 15 employees in Vernon Hills and about 3,000 globally.

"We are a well-known global company and growing in the United States right now," Kowalski said.

Winix is a 49-year-old manufacturer of appliances which bring clean air, clean water and comfort to the indoor environment including air cleaners, dehumidifiers and water quality products. Their products are found at retailers such as Costco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot and others. Winix also is the factory for many well-known global brands of appliances.

The new Vernon Hills location will also serve as a distribution center and will be used for manufacturing air quality products by late 2018.

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Winix, which makes air cleaners and other appliances, is opening its Vernon Hills headquarters. Courtesy of WInix
Winix, based in South Korea, is a 49-year-old manufacturer of appliances that bring clean air, clean water and comfort to the indoor environment including air cleaners, dehumidifiers and water quality products. Courtesy of WInix
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