GE Appliances opens $70 million water heater manufacturing plant in South Carolina

Halimah Cleveland, Camden plant operations manager, inspects the cooling line on new robotic equipment. GE Appliances, a Haier company

GE Appliances, a Haier company, has opened a $70 million water heater manufacturing plant in Camden, S.C. The vertically integrated plant, which produces residential water heaters from coils of steel, includes metal fabrication and welding equipment, robotic material handling and processing, and enameling systems.

During the construction and in preparation for launch, more than 50 team leaders and maintenance employees completed more than 5,700 hours of training in robotics, welding, and mechatronics at nearby Central Carolina Technical College. The plant will initially employ 140 people.