Built for America: GE Appliances Completes $180 Million Expansion at Georgia Plant
Built for America: GE Appliances Completes $180 Million Expansion at Georgia Plant
Latest milestone brings total investment in U.S. manufacturing to $3.5 billion since 2016
Executive Director and Plant Manager at Roper Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Appliances in LaFayette, GA, stands next to one of two new high-volume range manufacturing lines that can produce electric, gas or the new, more affordable induction ranges the company launched this year. (Photo: GE Appliances, a Haier company)
LAFAYETTE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Appliances, a Haier company, today announced the completion of an expanded $180 million investment at its Roper Corporation cooking products plant in LaFayette, Georgia—underscoring the company’s Built for America commitment to U.S. manufacturing and delivering innovation to American homes. This investment includes an additional $60 million above the previously announced total. Since 2016, GE Appliances – currently rated America’s #1 Appliance Company1 – has invested over $3.5 billion in new technology and products across its U.S. operations, more than any other competitor.
"At GE Appliances, we’re investing in American manufacturing – right here in Georgia," said Luther Ingram, executive director and plant manager at Roper Corporation. "By combining advanced automation with the skills and dedication of our local team, we’re creating high-quality jobs, launching breakthrough products, and ensuring that ‘Georgia Made’ ranges are being shipped to homes across the country."
This investment has enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, expanded production capacity, and accelerated the launch of innovative new products—most notably the new GE Profile™ induction range, a more accessible and affordable way for consumers to experience induction cooking.
- The plant’s new, high-volume production lines can produce gas, electric, or induction ranges and flex to meet customer demand.
- New assembly lines feature advanced manufacturing technology, including robotic cells that assemble glass cooktops, program control boards, and rotate units for easier final assembly.
- Robotics use has more than tripled at Roper, improving efficiency and employee ergonomics.
- Workforce development programs, including robotics training for employees, are funded in part by a state grant and delivered in partnership with Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
- The combined investment has added more than 600 new jobs to the plant.
“Investments by manufacturers such as GE Appliances at Roper Corporation are a major reason why Georgia boasts a gross regional product (GRP) of $678.2 billion, the 8th highest among U.S. states,” said Lloyd Avram, president and CEO for the Georgia Association of Manufacturers. "Georgia’s manufacturing sector, employing 426,940 production workers, is responsible for $77 billion of that output.”
Employment and Investment Impact in Georgia
In 2024 alone, GE Appliances spent $235 million with 359 Georgia suppliers, and the company employs 2,650 people in Georgia. GE Appliances' operations, employees and suppliers have a $3 billion impact on Georgia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and they have contributed to the creation of 7,500 additional jobs in the state.
Opened in 1973, Roper Corporation is the largest employer in Walker County, and one of the largest employers in northwest Georgia. The plant has 15 production lines that produce cooktops, wall ovens and ranges under the Monogram™, Café™, GE Profile™, and GE® brands. The plant is vertically integrated encompassing stamping, paint, enamel, welding, graphics and production – all under one roof. GE Appliances and Roper Corporation are proud participants in the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Georgia Made Program, an initiative that promotes and supports businesses that manufacture products within the state.
In 2023, GE Appliances and Roper Corporation celebrated the plant’s 50-year legacy of cooking product innovation and dedication to quality and dependability. “Our growth in LaFayette reflects Georgia’s vital role in driving U.S. manufacturing forward,” Ingram added. “We’re not just building appliances—we’re building careers, strengthening communities, and powering the future of American industry.”
About GE Appliances
At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make good things, for life. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, we are a leading U.S. manufacturer of home appliances with 15,500 team members nationwide. GE Appliances, found in half of all U.S. homes, is proud to be rated America’s #1 Appliance Company1, trusted by millions of families nationwide. We manufacture and sell products under the Monogram™, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier™, and Hotpoint™ brands. Our operations support nearly 98,000 additional American jobs and represent an investment of more than $3.5 billion since 2016. We are deeply committed to the communities where we live and work, passionate about getting closer to our product users to understand their needs and driven by the belief that there’s always a better way.
To learn more about our company, brands, career opportunities, and impact, visit geappliancesco.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
1OpenBrand Consumer Tracking Survey, Q1 – Q4 2024, Based on Volume of Total Majors/MO/RAC – Retail Units
Contacts
Media Contact:
Julie Wood, GE Appliances, a Haier company
(502) 741-1557 or julie_wood@geappliances.com