GE Completes Fridge Factory Upgrade

GE Appliances unveiled the latest upgrades to its Decatur, Ala. refrigeration plant last month before government officials and community leaders.

The bulk of the company’s $28 million investment in the fridge factory was earmarked for state-of-the-art equipment, including 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, GE said.

Additional upgrades included new lighting and air-conditioning units to enhance the workplace environment and an advanced primary care clinic — GE’s fourth at a manufacturing site — serving employees and their families. 

Since opening in 1977, the Decatur plant has gone on to become the highest-volume refrigeration facility in the country, GE said, and has been nationally recognized for manufacturing excellence. The factory, which produces 16- to 22-cubic-foot fridges, benefitted from a $125 million expansion in 2020, which boosted production capacity by 25%.

See: GE Unveils Refrigeration Plant Expansion

The latest upgrade is part of a previously announced $3 billion capital infusion to expand GE’s domestic manufacturing over the five years.

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