200 new jobs created in Louisville
LOUISVILLE, KY. (April 22, 2013) – In Building 1 at GE’s massive Appliance Park, where topload washing machines have been built for about 60 years, two new assembly lines, costing over $100 million, have begun producing high-efficiency frontload washing machines and dryers. This is the first time GE has produced a frontload washing machine and matching dryer from one of its U.S. plants. The new products mean about 200 more jobs.
“Kentucky is proud to be home to GE’s Appliance Park and the wonderful products made there,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “The new frontload washer and matching dryer represent the type of innovative quality that has epitomized GE for six decades in the commonwealth, with this latest project resulting in 200 new jobs and more than $100 million in investment.”
The startup of these two lines completes the new product platforms GE committed to bring to Appliance Park in a 2010 announcement that stated it would invest $1 billion to transform its U.S. appliances business and products. Since that announcement, GE Appliances has hired 3,000 new employees in Louisville, 2,500 in 2012 alone.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news for workers at Appliance Park and across our community,” said Congressman John Yarmuth, D-Ky. “GE is a prime example of the growth that can come when we combine federal and private investments to develop new technologies, attract new product lines and create more jobs here at home. With this strong partnership, Louisville will continue to stand at the forefront of the revitalization of American manufacturing.”
In 2012, GE opened two refurbished factories in Louisville to house the first of the new product platforms — the GeoSpring™ Hybrid Water Heater and French door refrigerator. It also added lines in two existing plants for new dishwasher and washing machine models.
“This is exciting news for our city and region, both for the 200 quality jobs that these new products bring and for the statement it makes about the quality of our local workforce and the confidence GE has in those men and women,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “For Louisville to be the first city in America to build GE’s new state-of-the-art appliances is also super exciting and bodes well for the future of our diverse and growing local economy.”
Also, as part of the $1 billion investment, GE is investing in cooking products made in Lafayette, Ga., top-freezer refrigerators made in Decatur, Ala., and side-by-side refrigerators made in Bloomington, Ind.
“The new frontload washer and dryer are examples of what we set out to accomplish with our investment in U.S. design and manufacturing capability … producing great products with features and performance that delight consumers,” said Chip Blankenship, GE Appliances president and CEO. “Our team is committed to manufacture each unit here in Louisville with the highest quality levels and competitive costs.”
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