GE Appliances announced the launch of its first-ever in-house water filter manufacturing operation at Appliance Park. The operation represents another project stemming from GE Appliances’ ongoing $3 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing over five years.

The water filter manufacturing operation is the first of its kind for GE Appliances, and the investment brings production of high-demand refrigerator water filters to Appliance Park – the company’s global headquarters. By designing, testing and manufacturing water filters under one roof, GE Appliances aims to further strengthens quality, supply chain resiliency and its ability to protect consumers from counterfeit products. 

“This investment is exactly what advanced manufacturing should look like in America,” said Bill Good, vice president of Manufacturing for GE Appliances. “We’re combining cutting-edge automation, digital tools and highly skilled teams to build a manufacturing operation that raises the bar on quality and efficiency. This new water filter manufacturing is another proof point of how we are putting our $3 billion U.S. investment commitment to work.” 

“GE Appliances is making a game-changing investment in American manufacturing while setting up Kentucky to lead the way on this exciting new chapter,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “I’m proud that Kevin Nolan and the entire GE Appliances team trust Louisville’s Appliance Park to successfully launch the company’s first-ever water filter manufacturing operation – and I know we’ll deliver great results. This $3 billion U.S. commitment is creating 800 new jobs for Kentuckians, and I am thankful to this iconic company for their continued commitment to our commonwealth and our workforce.” 

“This announcement further cements Louisville as the home for advanced manufacturing,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “It’s incredible when new and existing business like GE Appliances continue to invest and grow in Louisville because of our geographic location, logistics capabilities, and tremendous workforce. This is the latest in many wins for Louisville and GE Appliances.” 

“This investment is proof that advanced manufacturing can thrive right here in Louisville," said Congressman Morgan McGarvey. “By bringing water filter manufacturing in-house, GE Appliances is creating good-paying jobs, cracking down on counterfeit products, protecting the water families drink, and investing in our own communities right here in the Commonwealth.” 

“For more than 70 years, GE Appliances has been a cornerstone of Louisville’s economy and a source of opportunity for Kentucky families,” said Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. “The Kentucky General Assembly remains committed to policies that support continued investment and growth by GE Appliances here in the Commonwealth.” 

“The introduction of the in-house production of water filters is great news for the company and great news for this community,” said House Speaker David Osborne. “We’ve said all along that advanced manufacturing is one of Kentucky’s signature industries, and GE Appliances has been at the heart of it since the first dryer rolled out of Appliance Park. We’re proud to partner with the company as it continues to invest, grow, and expand here in the Commonwealth.” 

The new equipment was built by ATC in Cookville, Tenn. Virtual reality, digital twin technology and advanced simulation tools were used during design and development of the new manufacturing line, allowing teams to virtually test the equipment and optimize the design before it was built. The new manufacturing operation features GE Appliances’ most advanced automation for water filter production to date, including fully automated assembly and packaging, robotic pick-and-place systems guided by machine vision, 100% in-line air leak testing of every filter and new genealogy capabilities with end-to-end traceability.  

“Water quality is a concern for close to two-thirds of U.S. consumers, which is why GE Appliances has invested millions of dollars in our ice, water and filtration research and testing labs here in Kentucky,” said James Downey, senior director of Water Filtration for GE Appliances. “That commitment to quality starts with a talented research and development team and world-class laboratories, and now our new multi-million-dollar water filter line and highly skilled manufacturing team. We now own the entire process, which will give consumers greater confidence they’re getting the genuine, certified filters they expect.” 

The highly automated manufacturing operation is engineered to produce water filters in seconds and is supported by a skilled workforce, including control technicians, maintenance specialists and quality professionals who oversee performance, data integrity and continuous improvement. Prior to the launch, engineers and hourly control technicians spent weeks onsite at the equipment manufacturer learning about the new line and the advanced controls. The operation will run on three shifts and was designed with lean manufacturing principles, ergonomics and energy efficiency in mind, including a conditioned manufacturing space, optimized material flow, and reduced packaging materials. The new operation will create 30 new jobs with the potential to expand.