GE Appliances’ Decatur plant is the largest refrigeration manufacturing operation in the U.S. and produces the most popular type of refrigerator found in American homes.

Today, GE Appliances, a Haier company, opened its doors to government officials and community leaders to see a $28 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment upgrades and the opening of a new primary care clinic for GE Appliances employees and their families at its refrigeration plant in Decatur, Alabama. This investment strengthens GE Appliances’ Alabama workforce, deepens community relationships, and reinforces its position as an employer of choice in northern Alabama. This investment is part of GE Appliances’ previously announced $3 billion investment to expand U.S. manufacturing over the next five years, reinforcing the company’s long-term business strategy and commitment to design, engineer and build its most advanced products in the United States.

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Arial drone shot of GE Appliances upgraded Decatur Production Operation (DPO) in Alabama, featuring a new on-site healthcare clinic, free for its employees and families. (Photo: GE Appliances, a Haier company)

Alabama-Made and Built for America

A significant portion of the $28 million investment in the Decatur plant funded new, highly automated thermoforming machines that produce interior liners for fresh food and freezer sections of top-freezer refrigerators. The technology improves efficiency and expands production capacity across multiple models, supporting the plant’s three-shift operation. Additional upgrades include new lighting and 21 new commercial air-conditioning units added to improve the employee work experience.

The investment is part of GE Appliances’ work to expand its manufacturing footprint and increase investment in American communities. GE Appliances has been part of the Decatur community since 1977 and remains a cornerstone of manufacturing excellence in northern Alabama. GE Appliances’ Decatur plant is the highest-volume refrigeration plant in the country and nationally recognized for manufacturing excellence, producing 16-22 cubic ft. refrigerators that rank #1 in quality and dependability.¹

“Investing in advanced manufacturing and employee health is a winning combination that strengthens our business,” said Rocki Rockingham, chief human resources officer at GE Appliances. “How we show up matters. At GE Appliances, we are creating appliances our consumers love in an environment where our employees can do their best work and build lasting careers.”

Expanding Healthcare Access with Proven Results

Beyond plant updates, the $28 million investment will fund a new, state-of-the-art primary care clinic serving employees and their covered family members (ages 2 and older). The new facility is GE Appliances’ fourth onsite advanced primary care clinic at its manufacturing sites. The clinics are managed by healthcare provider CareATC and free to employees on the company health plan. The Decatur CareATC clinic builds on the success of GE Appliances’ on-site clinics at its plants in Louisville, Kentucky; Selmer, Tennessee; and LaFayette, Georgia. Over the past two years, these clinics have delivered measurable results that are boosting employee health, including:

• Primary care visits up 21.5%
• A 28% rise in overall visits
• A 12.3% reduction in avoidable ER visits among employees using the clinics

Reimagining the Manufacturing Employee Experience

In 2023, GE Appliances debuted its “On the Clock Care” program, allowing employees to go to annual physicals and a follow-up appointment during work hours on company time. In 2024, this program expanded to include mental health services and care of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and asthma. Now, employees can receive high-quality health care for free, without taking time off.

Services mirror those of a community primary care office, with additional offerings such as acute and preventive care, chronic condition management, nutritional counseling, lab work, prescription services for common medications, and mental health support, all at no cost.

“At GE Appliances, investing in the health of our people is investing in the success of our business,” said Michele Clark, Senior Health Services Manager at GE Appliances. “This new clinic gives employees access high-quality primary care that fits into their everyday lives.”

Economic Impact

GE Appliances contributes more than $2.1 billion annually to Alabama’s Gross Domestic Product, directly employs 1,600 people in Alabama, and supports thousands of additional jobs across the state through its workforce, suppliers, and operations. Investments at Decatur strengthen that impact while expanding the production of innovative refrigeration products built for American homes.

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 Company² and 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 90,000 additional American jobs and represent an investment of more than $2 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

Digital Assets: Visuals of GE Appliances’ Decatur Production Operations are available for download as images or b-roll.

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