Haier Opens North American Tech Center in Evansville
Haier makes home appliances and consumer electronics.
Haier America has officially opened its doors in Evansville. The city says the Technology and Design Center of Excellence will create 50 jobs and have a $10 million annual economic impact.
Governor Mike Pence, Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and leadership from Haier Group, the multinational manufacturer of home appliances and consumer electronics, attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning.
"With the wealth of talent in the area and the way in which the local and regional communities have embraced us, Evansville is the perfect location to launch this Haier facility in the United States. The opening of the Haier Center aligns with our strategy to design and manufacture consumer-centric, whole-home platform solutions that fit the lives and anticipate the needs of American consumers. Haier is closer and more committed to the U.S. market than ever before," President and CEO of Haier America Adrian Micu said.
"Today's ribbon cutting ceremony for Haier America's new Research and Development Tech Center signifies the launch of a new manufacturing era for our community with the reemergence of the appliance industry in Evansville. This city has a strong history of producing refrigerators, air conditioners and other larger appliances, and we are proud to partner with the world's No. 1 leader in major appliance brands. Haier has already exceeded its initial hiring commitment, and I am confident this is only the beginning of the company's presence in our community for decades to come," Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said.
The 30,000-square-foot facility is located in the former Coca-Cola bottling plant and distribution center in Evansville. Haier America says it plans to invest more than $2.8 million to renovate the facility. It will have engineering offices, laboratories, a showroom and a model shop. The center will develop appliances for the North American market.
"When I met with Haier executives in China this spring, I was invigorated by the company's plans to accelerate technology development in Indiana. In addition to our strong workforce and pro-growth business climate, Indiana has quickly become a center for innovation, making the Hoosier State the natural choice for this facility as Haier continues to increase its presence in the United States," Governor Mike Pence said.