GE Appliances eneter the 'green' age (Louisville)

Two years ago, officials with General Electric Co. considered selling the company’s appliances business.

Although it is one of the GE brands most familiar to consumers, GE Appliances was struggling amid the global economic downturn and the slump in the U.S. housing market.

After exploring a sale, joint venture or spinoff of the appliances unit, Fairfield, Conn.-based GE decided to take it off the market.

All the while, Kevin Nolan, vice president of technology for Louisville-based GE Appliances, and his staff were working feverishly to help chart a course for GE Appliances that would keep it relevant into the next generation.

“Through all the turmoil, while my job was a little more focused externally, Kevin was very focused on developing these new products, and that really is key to our future,” said Jim Campbell, president of Louisville-based GE Appliances & Lighting. “Every new product that we develop is going to be different. It’s going to be more energy-efficient, and it’s going to feature smart-grid technology.”

Nolan was responsible for bringing to the market such GE innovations as Express Chill and Express Thaw for refrigerators and the Advantium oven Speedcook technology that uses halogen lights and microwaves to cook foods faster than conventional ovens.

“Kevin was brought in to help develop products that could help people save time,” said Kim Freeman, director of public relations for GE Appliances. Freeman is in charge of gaining publicity for the appliances that Nolan and his team of engineers help develop.

“Many of the products that he helped develop more than a decade ago are still hugely popular and relevant today,” she said.

Read the full story in Business First of Louisville