Gov. Andy Beshear announced a major investment from one of the state’s most prominent employers as GE Appliances, a Haier company, will invest $490 million and create an additional 800 full-time jobs at its global corporate headquarters at Appliance Park in Jefferson County.
This latest investment by GE Appliances brings laundry production to Louisville as they reshore production of the GE Profile Combo Washer/Dryer and the GE Profile UltraFresh Front Load Washer line from China.
“Today’s announcement brings more appliance manufacturing back to the United States and solidifies Kentucky and Louisville as the global headquarters of GE Appliances,” Beshear said. “GE Appliances is one of Kentucky’s most important companies and signature brands, and we are excited about this additional commitment.”
The project will move production of more than 15 models of front-load washers to Building 2 at Appliance Park. The building will be redesigned to showcase the latest in automation, robotics and material-handling technologies including Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots, according to the governor’s office.
The new product lines are scheduled to begin production in 2027.
“We are bringing laundry production to our global headquarters in Louisville because manufacturing in the U.S. is fundamental to our ‘zero-distance’ business strategy to make appliances as close as possible to our customers and consumers,” said Kevin Nolan, president and CEO, GE Appliances. “This decision is our most recent product reshoring and aligns with the current economic and policy environment.”
Since 2016, GE Appliances has invested more than $3.5 billion in its U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations. The company recently released its 2024 economic impact analysis, which, according to the governor’s office, reported that GE Appliances’ investments, supplier base, customers and payroll contributed $12.8 billion to Kentucky’s GDP last year. Additionally, GE Appliances spent $318 million with more than 480 Kentucky suppliers.
Louisville’s Appliance Park is GE Appliances’ largest manufacturing operation, with more than six-million square-feet available to produce washers, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
GE Appliances began production at Appliance Park in 1953. The campus is on 750 acres in southern Jefferson County, serves as the company’s global headquarters and includes marketing, sales and support functions. Appliance Park also houses the company’s technology and engineering center, industrial design, distribution center and warehouse operations. GE Appliances employs more than 8,000 people full-time at Appliance Park and a nearby call center.
(Photo courtesy of Louisville Business First)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
