LS Tractor USA’s new parts warehouse in northeastern Nash County on Friday morning was dedicated at a ceremony featuring the leader of its parent South Korean-based company.
“Let’s continue to make our future together,” Chai Ho Shin, president and CEO of LS Mtron, told a gathering of area and local officials, residents and employees under a large tent-like structure.
Not long afterward and near the entrance to the warehouse, Shin, Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and LS Tractors USA officials shoveled dirt over the lower part of a new tree.
The tree was put in place to symbolize LS Tractor USA’s roots in the community and to symbolize the continued growth that the company anticipates here.
Shin, in his remarks minutes earlier under the shade of the tent-like structure, welcomed the attendees and expressed appreciation to his team, to local officials including Roberson and to representatives of Nash Community College, Edgecombe Community College and the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce.
Shin said that in addition to the new parts warehouse having parts operations, the building has the logistics team, the implement assembly team, the quality assurance team and warranty service.
Shin made clear that the purpose of the new parts warehouse is to provide an even-higher level of service, with speed, to customers.
Roberson, who also spoke under the tent-like structure, told the gathering that the opening of the new parts warehouse is about more than just a physical structure.
“It signifies a significant milestone in the journey of LS Tractor — and indeed a milestone for our entire community,” Roberson said. “This expansion represents progress, growth and opportunity — a promising, positive impact on our local economy and the lives of our residents.”
A tour of the now-dedicated parts warehouse included a Gosa ceremony.
A Gosa ceremony is a Korean ritual that includes having a table with a boiled pig’s head, fruit, bread and champagne.
The ceremony included Shin, LS Tractor USA officials and Roberson putting money in the pig’s mouth and ears to symbolize future prosperity for the business.
Nash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robbie Davis, while on the tour, said that having existing industries in the area choose to expand in the same area is always great.
Overall, Davis said of LS Tractor USA, “This has been a great company since they came here some 15 years ago. I remember when they opened up.”
LS Tractor USA since 2009 has been operating a manufacturing plant across the street from the now-dedicated parts warehouse. The plant and the warehouse are on Corporate Drive on opposite sides of the entrance to the Whitaker Business & Industry Center, which is off N.C. 48 and just southeast of the Interstate 95 interchange for Gold Rock.
LS Tractor USA calls the manufacturing plant North Carolina Operations Center Number One and calls the now-dedicated parts warehouse North Carolina Operations Center Number Two.
The warehouse had formerly been used by plastics manufacturer and producer of plastics packaging Berry Global. LS Tractor USA late last year acquired the building for $6.5 million.
Previously, LS Tractor USA had been operating a parts warehouse in a rented building off Gelo Road off North Church Street in the northern part of Rocky Mount.
Raymond Bullock, who works at LS Tractor USA’s manufacturing plant as director of assembly and logistics, after the tour on Friday spoke about having been one of the first two people to walk into the plant in 2009.
“I set the plant up for production,” Bullock said.
Bullock spoke of the new adjacent facility enabling him and his team to have a more efficient operation.
Bullock also spoke of the days of the parts warehouse having been a slightly more than a 10-mile drive away from the manufacturing plant.
“So, if we needed an item, we had to email them, call them,” Bullock said.
Bullock also said that in the past, the item might be brought to the plant that same day or the next day.
“Now, we don’t have to worry about that,” he said with a smile.
Bullock said Shin and other LS Tractor USA executives attending Friday’s grand opening showed the level of support that they have for the local outfit.
“When I first started, I had two assemblers,” he said. “I have nine under me now.”
He also made clear he was glad that local officials attended the dedication.
“It makes us proud,” he said.
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