To grow and evolve, Whirlpool needed to expand its product line into the rest of the home. In 1955, the company embarked on a series of mergers with Seeger Refrigerator Company and Radio Corporation of America (RCA) to bring refrigeration, air conditioning and food preparation into the fold. The newly minted Whirlpool-Seeger Corporation released its first full line of home appliances—featuring 15 product categories and 150 models—in 1956 under the RCA-Whirlpool brand. The company also invested in appliance companies outside the U.S., expanding its global footprint.