Miele USA President/CEO Jan Heck, left, with AVB merchandising chief Chad Evans at last year’s KBIS expo.

Lux appliance maker weighing potential plant sites

By Alan Wolf, YSN

BrandSource lux appliance partner Miele is planning to open its first production facility in North America and is currently evaluating several U.S. locations.

The 123-year-old German manufacturer plans to produce ranges and built-in cooking products at the new facility, which it hopes to have up and running by the end of next year. The plant will supply retailers throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which the company described as important and quicky growing markets.

“We are excited that the U.S. has been selected for this expansion, and we are eager for the opportunity to be responsible for producing and distributing our German engineered and crafted appliances here for the North American market,” said Jan Heck, president/CEO of Miele USA.

Related: On the Scene at Summit: Miele USA President Jan Heck

The U.S. in particular “is a very important market for Miele,” noted Dr. Axel Kniehl, the Miele Group’s executive director of marketing and sales, “and we feel this is a necessary long-term investment that will ensure the strength of the Miele brand.”

Dr. Stefan Breit, the Miele Group’s executive director of technology, added that the new plant will shorten lead times, provide greater access to the company’s premium German cooking appliances, and cut CO2 emissions by reducing trans-Atlantic shipping.

The new factory follows Miele’s opening last year of an Emerging Technologies Lab outside Boston, which is collaborating with U.S. startups and other innovators to identify and test new technologies to improve the customer experience.

The family-owned business was founded in Herzebrock, Germany in 1899 as a maker of cream separation equipment, and today sells its “timelessly elegant” kitchen, laundry and floor care products in 50 countries. Its guiding principle of “Immer besser,” or “Forever better,” has helped Miele establish a worldwide reputation for quality, innovation and value.

Related: Meet Miele, BrandSource’s New Luxe Appliance Partner

In the U.S., Princeton, N.J.-based Miele USA supports the brand with 10 company-owned “Experience Centers” across the country, and a formal partnership with BrandSource that was forged in 2020.

Miele plans to add 150 employees to its U.S. workforce by the end of 2025 to fully staff the new manufacturing facility.

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