OPELIKA, AL—German appliance manufacturer Miele is investing $657.7 million to build establish a new assembly plant here—its first in the U.S.
In Phase I of the project, the company will occupy an existing facility in Opelika and create more than 150 jobs by 2026. For Phase II, Miele has plans to build a new, 800,000-square-foot factory. To be completed by 2030, that facility is expected to create approximately 837 jobs.
Miele manufactures cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and other products. Founded in 1899, Miele employs a workforce of 22,300 around the world. It has eight locations in Germany, and one location in each of the following countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Romania and Poland. The company also has two plants that belong to Steelco, its Italian medical technology subsidiary.
The U.S., where Miele has been represented by a sales and service company for 40 years, is the company’s largest market outside Germany. The new site will enable Miele to produce ovens and ranges specifically designed for the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“This reduces the delivery time from up to 10 weeks today to just a few days in a customer-friendly way and also reduces the impact on the climate,” says Stefan Breit, Ph.D., executive director for technology at Miele.
Miele had been evaluating several locations in the U.S. for the facility, including Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi.
“Overall, Opelika offers the best conditions for a successful start for our new plant, including the long-term perspective for further expansion stages,” says Uwe Brunkhorst, senior vice president for the cooking business unit at Miele. “We would like to express our gratitude to the city of Opelika and the state of Alabama for their outstanding support during this selection process, and we look forward to further cooperation.”
