Bosch Builds in US, But Does Anyone Else? Need your help here.
Submitted by advisor on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:31am.
Bosch starts production in New Bern, NC, of the Bosch Vision Front Loader. Bosch claims a capacity of 100,000 units. The New Bern Sun Journal reported "The product line was conceived, designed, engineered and produced in 16 months at the plant in New Bern, said Uwe Mette, director of engineering. And production can be ramped up immediately as demand increases."
Mr. Mette, continued, "Laundry appliances produced by BSH in New Bern and Tennessee are the only ones manufactured in the United States, he said. “Most of our competitors have moved their production to Mexico or Korea.”
Is this true that there are no other laundry appliances produced in the US? We're bad off, certainly, but that bad off?
The story goes on that Bosch claims that these units will be the most efficient units in the market using "13 gallons and 130 kilowatt hours per load". This must be a mistake...........perhaps it should be 130 kwh/year? Someone tell us.
New Bern Sun Journal Story
UPDATE August 5: Bosch confirms: "Bosch's new Vision laundry uses 130 kwh/year. There is a typo in the New Bern Sun Journal article."
Many companies produce washers and dryers in the USA
Uwe Mette is flat wrong when he claims that Bosch's laundry appliances are the only ones made in the U.S.A. To set the record straight, Electrolux makes washers and dryers in Webster City, Iowa, GE makes washers in Appliance Park, Kentucky, Whirlpool makes washers and dryers at a huge plant in Clyde, Ohio, and Speed Queen makes washers and dryers in Ripon, Wisconsin. If you want to maximize the benefit of your washer or dryer purchase to the U.S. economy, you should consider purchasing an appliance made by one of these factories. I applaud Bosch for assembling its laundry equipment and other appliances in the United States, though it probably uses a higher proportion of imported parts than other domestic manufacturers. But Bosch employees should stop misleading American consumers into believing that Bosch is the only appliance manufacturer left in the United States.
Frigidaire
Love the new washer and dryer and the fact they are built in the US is even better. Keep our people employed. Frigidaire builds there stuff in Mexico and is crap anyways. Even the new electrolux brand, hey at the end of the day they are still an open price point supplier and can't compete with LG, Samsung, Bosch, Miele, Fisher Paykel etc
Where is Whirlpool?
To my knowledge, I don't remember Whirlpool making the duet washer in the U.S. I understand they were now manufacturing mostly out of Mexico for the North American market. We still have some Kenmore on our floor that came from Germany. Both the Duets are from Mexico. Strange enough though, we have a red and a blue HE5t steam on display. One is German and one is Mexican. Go figger?!
Duets
My Duet Washer was made in Germany , the dryer in the USA. I would guess they make them in multiple factories and depending on product demand they could come from any one of the factories.
Good Question
I haven't totally figured the answer out to that question yet. It appears that they may switch back and forth depending on demand and capacity at the factory. All of our duets say made in Germany, all of our Maytags say made in Mexico. Dryers are all US. They do have new models coming from Germany so I don't think you ever can totally tell where something is coming from in that line.
Gentlemen I believe we
Gentlemen I believe we have gotten off the beaten path here. The fact is this Bosch is "Made in America" New Bern ,North Carolina to be exact. When you compare any other manufactuer in price point they are not made here. If you think for a second Whirlpool will continue to ship product here from Germany think again the days are numbered for that. Bosch has created a monster and they are slowly grabbing market share just the way they want to so watch its coming before you know it the laundry will be just like the dishwasher UNTOUCHABLE.
German Whirlpool
I think what got this discussion started was that the Bosch front load washers are built here and have been since day one of the super capacity models. I think we stayed on track as the question was something like "Bosch builds here, does anyone else?" Whirlpool washers are built in Germany and the new models that are coming out in the next couple months that I saw on their secure website are also listed as being made in Germany. The dryers are built in the US. That did catch me by surprise as I figured with any new model introduction they would shift all washer production to Mexico. As far as Bosch creating an untouchable monster? They do build a decent product but we have had a higher rate of washability issues on Bosch products than we have on Whirlpool. It seems reviews I've read online back that up. I blame that problem on their efficiency - they are more efficient than most other products which creates a challenge for cleaning in some situations. The market is big enough that they are touchable. In fact, Maytag just introduced a complete stainless tub dishwasher to retail at $499 - right around the Bosch Ascenta model. Both have their place. I would rather have Bosch gain market share than LG, Samsung, Haier or Daewoo. They have brick and mortar here and are here to build our economy instead of destroy it.
Your Point Being What ?
Who thought Bosch was made anywhere else ? Certainly not me. They spent some time developing the investment in North Carolina so it will pay off for them. I also understand the Thermador brand is doing well for them. As for Whirlpool , I don't give a second thought to what their strategy is as far as Germany. My comment just clarified where the product I bought was made. You sound like a Bosch guy. Correct ?
Made in the US
Many of the Frigidaire brand front laod washers and dryers are made in Webster, IA. The new Electrolux models are made in the Mexico facility. There are still a ton of Frigidaire front load washers sold. I guarentee more than what Bosch produces!
Which ones are made in Webster?
Do you know which models are being made in Webster, IA? I heard sometime last year that they were moving production to Mexico but I haven't been able to confirm it. I know the Electrolux come from Mexico but I thought they moved most of the production there for the other models also.
Sort of almost accurate
If they are talking about front load washers they are almost correct. They deserve a lot of credit for building here. As far as I can tell Bosch and Speed Queen are the only two manufactures of front load washers in the US. The next best Front load laundry set is Whirlpool produced models with the dryer being made in the US and the washer in either Germany (Whirlpool) or Mexico (Maytag). Top load washer production is alive and well in the US. All of Whirlpool top load laundry - washers and dryers - are produced here including the high efficiency top loads. GE doesn't fair quite as well - they build their traditional washer here, their dryer in Canada and all their high end pieces come on the slow boat from China or Korea. Frigidaire is mostly Mexican now for front load.
Whirlpool
We own the front load Duet Series by Whirlpool with the platforms so they are ergonomically comfortable. It says it is made in the USA. The units we have are 3 years old. Great pair of units. Washes great and dries very good.
IT SAYS MADE IN AMERICA
Whirlpool Made in America right, I have a roll of stickers that say Kosher for Passover, you want some stallion...
Whirlpool made in America
Whirlpool does build the most appliances in the US and employs more Americans than any other appliance manufacturer. True, the current Duet washer is not built in the US, but the dryer is. I can't speak for the last 10 years of the Duets production. Most of you know my opinion by now, but if you are a salesperson and you are not pointing out where product is made you are doing a disservice to the citizens of this country. If you are a liberal you are doing a disservice to the unions of this country. If you are a conservative you are doing a disservice to the working man. If you really don't care about politics at least care about your neighbor. Every Whirlpool and Bosch laundry set you sell you are providing a job for an American worker. Period. Every GE, Samsung, Haier, LG, Electrolux and Frigidaire front load washer you sell you are sending our jobs overseas. How about THEM stickers......
Made in America
The problem I constantly have is that if I were point out a product made in America, the customer then assumes all their brands are made in America. That then creates more of a problem when they are buying a Bosch dishwasher, made in North Carolina, but they want the Bosch Fridge because that must be made in America, but they actually were made in Korea(Daewoo) and now they are made in Hungary or Turkey or some where like that. Sorry don't remember the exact country. Or a GE dishwasher made in Lousiville but then their fridge is made in Mexico. Whirlpool ranges made in Ohio but the fridge made in Mexico. So how can a consumer buy the same brand and be loyal to their country? And at the same time if they buy that Whirlpool range, they are supporting a country that supports both the German and Mexican economy. The GE dishwasher supports Korea, China, and Mexico. The Bosch supported Korea and now another Europoean country. In addition the new Bosch dishwasher, the 800 plus and the Ascenta are German built just as a reminder. The duets have always been German made also, I am almost positive. I guess my point in my long drawn out statement, is there is very few brands if any that are 100% loyal to this country, and while I think some are more involved in producing in this country, they might at somepoint leave once their facilities have paid for themselves and realize their is cheaper labor south of the border.(Just my opinion). But there must be a reason the major two, GE and Whirlpool are building refrigerators down there.
Lastly, to the Frigidaire, person, of course Frigidare has more front load sales. They sell their compact units to both GE and Kenmore, don't know the numbers but I am sure its big.
GE as a company employs some 160,000 people in this country, although of course not all in appliances as it's like a fraction of their sales, thats still pretty impressive and don't forget 30 Rock with all their GE plugs. Also when I sell a GE unit, I know that I may be employing a factory worker elsewhere, but I am also employing a sales rep who would do anything for our store, customer support individuals and service techs fixing their product. When I sell a Whirlpool front load washer thats made in Germany, I am helping employ people in Michigan if there are any consumer questions, service techs across the nation if there are any problems, and again my sales reps and his chain of command.
Lastly, my store does not carry Miele, but I think Bosch dishwashers are pretty touchable, and are being touched. People and retail sales people will only handle for so long when the customer calls and says their dishes are not drying.....we say "add jet dry", and when they call again you set them up for a service call or tell them how to do the sequence to raise the tempeture of the inline heater because its shipped at a lower temp for energy qualifications(read the owners manuals if you don't believe me). Decibals are lowering, Kitchen Aid and GE both are well below 50 with Kitchen Aid being at 41, forget about how well they wash, my customers seem to just care how quiet is it and my high end customers won't buy Bosch anymore, have yet to figure out 100% why.
Correction to Steady Selling on Duets by Whirlpool
You are correct. The manual says "Made in America". The tag inside the washer says "Made in Germany". The dryer is American made though as you stated. I stand corrected !!!!
Well
I can say with certainty mine was made in America.We certainly paid enough for it. I don't have an opinion on kosher ,passover or any other comment you make like that.I wish everyone would bring all of their manufacturing back here so we can employ the good people that live here and are hard working and honest people looking to raise their families.We all should have seen enough of how China is decimating our country and how some of the people in America send work to China not understanding the long term effects. It sure helps their resumes though.How does it go "Experience in international outsourcing a must" There you go , I am a genius.
Made In America
As soon as the dictionary introduces the letter I as part of the spelling for TEAM then and only then will china not be needed.
Appliance Guy
What is your point ?
China is needed
I agree China is needed. Without it where would we go with their entire population. As far as China being "needed" for our economy to function correctly I guess you are correct, but only because of many years of poor decision making on the part of our citizens, corporations and the government. I would appreciate your clarification on how they function as a team member in the world economy. What they are doing with their working class is very similiar to what the US cotton industry was150 years ago. They may be a part of the team but they are doing it with what amounts to slave labor and I for one don't want to play on that team, I don't care what dictionary you want to use.
I Agree
China abuses their people who make these products and most live in squaller. Where are those hyped audits of human working conditions over there ? We have plenty of people here more qualified to do the work they send there.China's only long term view is that Americans eventually become slaves to the Chinese economy.