CAMDEN, SC—GE Appliances will invest $60 million to create a Manufacturing Center of Excellence for production of water heaters at its plant here. Renovation and retooling efforts will transform the plant, which currently produces refrigerators, into a  high-volume, water heater production facility with capacity for future growth. Since 2018, GE Appliances has invested more than $600 million in new products, US manufacturing and its expanded smart distribution network, creating more than 1,200 new jobs.
The $60 million investment will enable the company to retain all current GE Appliances employees. Employees at the plant will be offered opportunities to leverage their production, skilled trades and lean manufacturing expertise to assist in creating the new water heater production line. The new manufacturing line is targeted to start production in the fourth quarter of 2020.
GE appliances are in 50 percent of all US homes. The products are sold under the Monogram, Café,  GE Profile, GE, Haier and Hotpoint brands and include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water heating and water filtration systems.