- GE CEO Jeff Immelt and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear join business leaders and employees to celebrate grand opening
- Market-leading refrigeration technology a result of GE’s $800 million investment to upgrade Appliance Park, $250 million investment in bottom freezer technology alone
- Since 2009, GE Appliances & Lighting has committed to investing a total of $1 billion in U.S. appliance manufacturing
- Study shows GE presence in Ky. puts $1.6B into the state’s economy; directly and indirectly supports 12,000 Ky. jobs
- GE and GOOD/Corps select Kentuckiana Works as What Works Project Non-Profit of the Week, eligible for up to a $10,000 donation
Louisville, KY. — March 20, 2012 — (NYSE: GE) — GE previewed today its new refrigerator product line, the soon-to-be-launched French door bottom freezer refrigerator series, at the grand opening of a new factory at GE’s Appliance Park, the second manufacturing facility to open within six weeks here. The new refrigeration line – which features the most advanced ice and water technology on the market today – will support 600 new local jobs and improve the competitive position of the 130-year old brand.
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt will be joined by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and more than 1,000 GE employees to celebrate the facility opening as another milestone in the revitalization of GE’s Appliances business. Efforts to revitalize the business began in 2009 when GE committed to invest a total of $1 billion ($800 million in Louisville) and create more than 1,300 new jobs in the U.S. by 2014. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the February opening of the GeoSpring™ Hybrid Water Heater manufacturing facility, the first new factory to open at Appliance Park since 1957.
“Today’s Appliance Park milestone is proof that when businesses, unions and employees work together, we can deliver innovative solutions to the marketplace and demonstrate that U.S.-based manufacturing can be competitive,” said GE Appliances President and CEO Charles “Chip” Blankenship. “GE Appliances is a shining example of what is working in U.S. manufacturing, and we’re excited about what this new production line means for the future of our business. We know we could not have reached this milestone without our partners, such as the local union, government leaders at all levels and our 4,000 incredibly hard working Louisville employees.”
“GE’s continued investment in the Louisville manufacturing facility will help create jobs and drive economic growth for the surrounding community,” said Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. “They have been a great partner in helping to showcase to the rest of the world that Kentucky is a great place to do business.”
The new refrigeration line is one of 11 new products that will be launched by GE Appliances by 2014. The renewal of manufacturing in Louisville is a result of several factors, including the adoption of Lean manufacturing techniques and a more competitive wage structure for new employees, all intended to help GE better compete in a global marketplace. The Lean process, which uses a cross-functional team of employees – including hourly manufacturing workers – helps increase the competitiveness of the operation by identifying and removing waste in materials and work effort often found in traditional manufacturing.
GE French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
The new GE French door refrigerator line has been designed with intelligent home technology and is built to make the consumer’s world work better.
- The products offer the most advanced ice and water technology on the market today. GE Profile™ models (PFE29PSDSS) will feature a Hands-free Autofill system that uses sound waves from ultrasonic sensors and proximity detectors to fill a glass, water bottle, coffee pot or pitcher – an industry first.
- The GE Café™ model is also the first refrigerator in the industry to feature a hot water dispenser, which can heat up to 12 ounces of water in two minutes.
- In keeping with GE’s ecomaginationSM vision of the world, the new refrigerator models boast the first bottom-freezer manufactured in the U.S. to use cyclopentane foam, which reduces the greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing and at the end of the product’s life cycle, ultimately making this line better for the environment.
- More information on the new products’ technology and features can be found at online.
GE Economic Impact in Kentucky
A new study, commissioned by GE and conducted by independent consulting firm Tripp Umbach using 2010 data, quantifies GE’s presence in Kentucky, showing that the company directly and indirectly contributes $1.6 billion to the state. This means $1 out of every $103 in the Kentucky economy is supported, in part, by GE’s presence. In addition, the study found that GE helps support over 12,000 jobs in Kentucky, with nearly 5,000 direct employees, and for every GE job an additional 1.5 jobs are supported through a combination of employee spending and the company’s vendor purchases. GE has several Kentucky facilities in addition to Appliance Park, including GE Aviation engine manufacturing, testing and distribution centers, a GE Energy repair services center and a medical equipment manufacturing facility under GE Healthcare.
GE Highlights What Works in America
GE, in partnership with GOOD/Corps, has launched the What Works Project, a digital social innovation campaign that gives the public a simple, yet meaningful way to celebrate the innovations that work to advance our nation. Together they have selected, Kentuckiana Works, to be featured as Non-Profit of the Week. The organization is eligible for a donation of up to $10,000 starting March 19 through March 26for its support of job creation and training in the community.
Each week, the public is invited to visit www.celebratewhatworks.com and submit their ideas and images for the inventions and technologies that drive human progress. Each submission or “heart” for submissions will generate $1 for Kentuckiana Works. In addition, the Project will reward public participation with a $2,500 cash prize to be divided equally among five winners each week ($500/winner).
About GE Appliances
GE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. GE Appliances’ products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information on GE Appliances, visit www.ge.com/appliances.
GE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. GE Appliances’ products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information on GE Appliances, visit www.ge.com/appliances.