Salute To Industry 2018

The Greeneville Sun’s

Salute To Industry

A Special Section Highlighting Manufacturing In Greene County October 20, 2018

This Section Is A Product Of The Greeneville Sun And GreenevilleSun.com

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The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

Supplying Industry TEG Lease Seeing Steady Growth In Trailer Industry

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN For nearly 40 years, the corporate office for TEG Lease on Gass Road in Greeneville has functioned as a large-scale family business.

In 1983, Greeneville native Tracy Gass started a small operation of leasing out storage trailers to various construction, manufacturing and retail businesses. Today, his company has expanded to eight locations across the Southeast.

“We were kind of the pioneers of the storage business,” said Gass, president of TEG Lease.

“We started in Greeneville and then Knoxville was kind of an automatic force … then we did a couple of acquisitions about 15 years ago, which put us on the growth pattern.”

TEG Lease now carries over 6,000 products in the form of 10, 20, 22 and 40foot containers. Some are used primarily for storage while others are transformed into ground-level offices. Their most popular products are the 8-by-40 and 8-by-20 containers with doors on one or both ends.

“The ground-level offices are the hottest commodities right now,” said Tracy’s son and business partner, Tanner Gass. “We can’t keep them on the lot; no one in the industry can.”

TEG Lease has acquired many accounts, such as Amazon, Walmart Distribution, Petsmart, Bass Pro Shops, Eastman and Cracker Barrel. Most of these businesses came to TEG Lease with a proposal, rather than the TEG Lease soliciting their business.

Most business comes from construction companies, though.

“Remodels are just booming right now too, especially in Atlanta,” said Tracy. “When businesses are remodeling they need a lot more boxes than when in construction because the have to have a place for employees to work.”

EXPANSION While the makeup of TEG Lease has drastically evolved over the years, the Gass family has never felt like it was reaching too far.

“It’s piece by piece,” said Tanner. “We’ve never stuck our arm out too far to where we can manage it. We’re inching out very slowly.”

Most of the storage boxes reside within 25 miles of each of the base locations.

Once those boxes make it to a 150-mile radius, the Gasses know that it’s time to consider adding another location. While there are no immediate plans to expand, Tracy does recognize a need for additional facilities in Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Tracy Gass, left, stands with his son, Tanner, who heads up the BoomCo portion of the business, and will one day run TEG Lease as well.

TEG Lease services clients as far west as Memphis, as far north as Lexington, Kentucky, and as far south as the Florida panhandle. Their biggest competitors are publicly traded companies, one of which has 250,000 containers.

“We’re a lot more handson than the larger companies,” said Tracy. “You don’t have to call an operator or go through three different people to get to the manager or something like that. We’re a lot more accessible.”

QUALITY PRODUCTS The team inspects every box before it is delivered.

Each storage container is expected to be new or like new, with a neat appearance and high security.

The ground-level offices require a bit more maintenance than the standard storage containers.

These are equipped with heat pumps, wood floors, windows, doors and sometimes desks. Most of the ground-level offices are used as guard checks, security offices and renovation offices.

BOOMCO Another piece of TEG Lease is its child company, BoomCo. In operation for about eight years, BoomCo leases the necessary equipment to run a warehouse like boom lifts and forklifts. Since Tanner Gass joined the team two years ago, he has been the primary voice for the company alongside Equipment Lease Specialist Jim Morrell.

“The books are totally separate, but we feed off

each other as far as the job site goes,” said Tanner.

“We have the same people working on both companies.”

While BoomCo’s only location is in Greeneville, Tanner hopes to see it follow the footsteps of TEG Lease in the future and expand to other locations.

HOME BASE While TEG Lease has grown and evolved, one thing that has not changed is its corporate office in Greeneville. A large part of that is due to the costs of operations.

“There’s lots of room in industrial zones here, which is what we require,” said Tracy. “When you find real estate other places, you’re looking at it costing $250,000 per acre for industrial zone property, but here in Greeneville you can get it for less than half of that.”

Tracy also says that the tax burden in Greeneville is lower than in other towns as well, and the cost of operations is lower at the corporate office than any of the other offices like Atlanta, Asheville, Knoxville or Nashville.

While money does play a part in the Gasses’ decision to maintain their headquarters in Greeneville, there is another reason why Tanner commutes here from downtown Knoxville everyday.

“The good thing about Greeneville is our employees,” said Tanner.

“Some of them have been here for 15 years and have never left, so we see them everyday and have great relationships with them.”

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

SEE TEG ON PAGE 3

The most popular size storage container that TEG Lease sells is the 8-by-40.

Advertiser Index What’s Inside TEG Lease Seeing Steady Growth In Trailer Industry ...................................................... 2 Premium Waters Targets Efficiency With Plant Improvements ....................................... 3 Koyo Bearings Celebrates 10 Years In Telford................................................................... 4 Chasan Grows As Hub For Business And Industry ........................................................... 6 The 4-1-1: Business Prepares To Welcome New Customers ............................................. 8 Endot Industries Supplies Majority Of US Pipes............................................................... 9 New Landair Owner Has High Expectations ....................................................................12 GCP Hosts Annual Industry Appreciation Reception ......................................................13 Imerys Fused Minerals Touts Long-Term Track Record .................................................15 Employees Reflect On John Deere Power Products’ 30 Years Of Operation ...................18

A Services Group, LLC............................8 Accuforce ...............................................11 American Greetings ................................ 5 Bachman Bernard Chevrolet -Buick-GMC-Cadillac .......................6 & 7 Chasan Industrial Complex ...................11 Eastman Credit Union ..........................20 Elwood Staffing ..................................... 12 Endot..................................................... 18 Gardner Paint Services Inc. .................. 14 Grand Rental Station ..............................9 Greene County Partnership .................. 13 Greeneville Federal Bank ..................... 16 Greeneville Iron & Metals Inc. ............. 16 Greeneville Light & Power System .........3

Greeneville Oil ........................................6 Imerys ....................................................17 JTEKT/Koyo/Toyoda ........................... 10 Jarden Zinc Products............................ 13 Jeffers Funeral & Cremation Service ..... 7 Johnson City Area Homebuilders Assoc. 17 Link Hills Country Club.......................... 5 Little Top Drive-Thru .............................9 Parkway Products ...................................8 Red Wing Shoes of Johnson City ...........4 SumiRiko Tennessee Inc. ...............8 & 19 TEG Lease ............................................. 15 Town of Mosheim ................................. 19 Worthington Industries........................ 12

On The Cover A batch of water jugs comes off the line at Premium Waters in Greeneville. The plant produces and bottles water that is distributed across the country. Sun Photo by Mansi Boegemann. See a full story on page 3.

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 3

Premium Waters Targets Efficiency With Plant Improvements

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN A person can survive up to three weeks without food, but only three days without water. That’s one reason why Premium Waters Inc.’s mission is to provide safe, high-quality drinking water to people all across North America.

Premium Waters is privately owned by the Chesterman Company, which invests in eight manufacturing plants across the United States. The plant, located on Industrial Road in Greeneville is a medium-sized one, employing 110 people out of 800 in the entire company.

“The ownership is very aggressive with expansion and improvements, which keeps us efficient and keeps us competitive in the market,” said Don Myers, Greeneville plant manager.

The Greeneville plant packages water in a wide assortment of bottle sizes, which makes it stand out among competitors.

Among the most popular are the 1-liter traditional, 20-ounce, 10-ounce and vending styles for the 20-ounce and half-liter bottles. Greeneville is also one of two plants that produce the 1-liter straightwall bottles, which is the type of bottle used for SmartWater.

About 300 private labels are contracted to buy their water from Premium Waters. This includes businesses like casinos, bulk stores, retailers and local grocery stores such as Ingles, Aldi and the Walmart Distribution Center.

While the majority of the water packaged in Greeneville only travels within a 250-mile radius, some brands require that their product be shipped greater distances. Premium Waters holds a national contract with Ethos brand of water, which is sold by Starbucks.

Between the Greeneville and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, operation, the two plants supply almost all Starbucks locations in North America.

“If you happen to be in Washington State and grab a bottle of Ethos water, it’ll say ‘Greeneville’ on it, so it’s getting Greeneville’s name out there,” said Myers.

The plant in Greeneville packages electrolyte, alkaline, spring, distilled and drinking water, all of which are highly successful.

However, according to Supply Chain Manager Julie Wilburn, distilled drinking water is the fastest growing

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Stacey Wishon, the quality assurance lab technician at the Greenville Premium Waters Inc. plant, works on quality control for all five types of water.

product in the company.

“The 1-gallon package sales have grown 8 percent in the past year,” she said.

In order to accommodate this, the Greeneville plant is in the process of adding a 30,000-gallon silo to accommodate such growth.

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IMPROVEMENTS Because of the additional growth in the spring water industry, the Greeneville plant has added employment positions for tanker drivers, who travel directly to their spring water source in Camp Creek.

In the past eight years, Premium Waters has spent $22 million on improvements to its facility.

That includes buying the building where they are located and updating basic warehouse operations.

The company has added a pressure sensitive labeler to identify bottle brands.

Now, a single production SEE PREMIUM ON PAGE 4

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SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

The Greeneville branch of Premium Waters Inc. typically has the best safety reviews of any of the other plants, company officials say.

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TEG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Of the 50 employees at TEG Lease, 25 of them are based in Greeneville.

Their occupations include quality control, billing and collections, sales and dispatch, inventory crews, drivers and safety officers. BoomCo and TEG Lease have maintenance crews and truck shops in Greeneville, but the other locations subcontract out for this type of work. Tracy believes that the large amount of responsibility placed on his associates gives them more ownership over the products and services they provide.

“You can’t give them enough praise,” said Tracy.

“We’re really thin staffed.

We don’t have multiple people doing the same job, and we multitask.”

Most employees work 10-12 hours per day. They are dedicated to serving their customers and providing some of the necessary components that make their clients successful.

“We’ve got a lot of team players who don’t want to say ‘no,’” said Tanner.

“They’ll work overnight if they have to, and it relates back to our customers.”

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SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Hanging in Tracy Gass’s office is a photo of himself when he first started TEG Lease.

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

Koyo Bearings Celebrates 10 Years In Telford

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN TELFORD — For the Koyo Bearings North America plant, it’s always been about the people.

That’s why it was so important for the company leaders to host a 10-year anniversary celebration on Sept. 8.

“Our employees were allowed to invite their families to show them what they do each and every day and take pride in what they do,” said Kim Mayes, the human resources manager for the plant.

The Koyo Seiko Company merged with Toyoda Machine Works Ltd. in 2006 to create the JTEKT Corporation. The Washington County plant in Telford opened in 2008, and is one of nine in the company that produces bearings to be used in car transmissions and differentials.

“To be in the business for 10 years is a milestone,” said Plant Manager Sherry Ottem. “There was a plant in West Virginia that was open for about nine years before they shut down, so it’s a milestone to have the growth that we’ve had. We should celebrate that.”

The anniversary event included speeches from Dan Eldridge, former Washington County mayor, as well as the President and CEO of JTEKT, Koichi Yamanaka. Also present were the JTEKT Executive Vice President Mike Davidson and the Senior Executive Director Hiroyuki Miyazaki.

“We did an event like this to get our name out in the community, too,” said Ottem. “We want to recognize our employees and give the public some information about our company.”

Employees who have been around since the beginning were awarded recognition at the celebration, especially Robert Lewis.

Lewis began working at Koyo Bearings in 2008 and has not missed a day at work.

“My dad influenced me on being on time and working hard,” said Lewis. “Working for a great company and great team members make it easy to come to work every day.”

The plant also provided a lunch and plant tours to the families who attended.

Koyo Bearings accommo-

PREMIUM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

line can change bottle sizes in 10 minutes, rather than the two hours it took to switch over before. The addition of two preform machines means that 900 bottles can be produced per minute on the bottling line, boosting efficiency by 50 percent.

“You have to stay ahead,” said Wilburn. “These kinds of updates make our processes foolproof.”

The production line once took eight people to maintain, but has been cut down to three over the last 20 years. Plant production is also three times as

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Koyo Bearings Plant Manager Sherry Ottem addresses associates at the beginning of the 10 year anniversary celebration in September.

eral Motors and Toyota, some of the parts take the agricultural route and are purchased by John Deere and similar companies.

American Axel and Manufacturing is Koyo’s largest customer, but products are also sold to companies like Lamborghini. The major components needed to make a tapered roller bearing come from as close as Kentucky Advance Forge, owned by JTEKT, and as far away as factories in Japan. The finished product is then in turn shipped all over the world.

“One thing in the automotive industry is that it’s always changing,” said Myers. “If you don’t like change then don’t get into the automotive industry.”

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The following Koyo Bearings associates were recognized for their 10 years of service to the company: Stephanie Rice, Sandra Hensley, Jimmy Cutshall, Andrea Hilton, Tommy Kenyon, Sherry Ottem, Chad Harvey, Jimmy Harrison, Jeremy Widener, Robert Lewis.

dated children with games and activities on the front lawn, as well as door prizes for those who entered their names.

“We also had some vehicles come in so that our

employees could see how their work was being used and installed,” said Myers.

All employees, whether they attended or not, received an anniversary clock to commemorate the event.

FUNCTION

fast, with less than half the number of people. The purchase of an injection machine has made this possible, as well as an automatic driver sign in program that streamlines the check-in process. The people who held these positions are now responsible for driving the trucks that transport water from the source to the plant.

Premium Waters in Greeneville now produces 1.1 billion bottle lids each year, which they produce for the other plants as well as their own. The company has added electric forklifts to its fleet in an effort to improve sanitation in the warehouse, and it has also purchased a mole racking

pallet carrier that moves products from the back of the shelving unit to the front.

the bottles produced by the plant weighed 32 grams.

Today, they weigh onefourth of that. The plant recycles both in house and out, and Myers said that the industry is very conscientious of what it is putting into landfills.

The company also holds a contract to support the community.

“We purchase municipal water from the Greeneville Water Commission to produce purified and distilled water, so we support local utilities quite well,” said Myers.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT While efficiency is an over-arching theme for Premium Waters, so is reducing its environmental footprint.

“Bottled water gets a lot of negative press because of plastic consumption, but sometimes alternative methods are not desirable either,” said Myers.

In an effort to accommodate, Premium Waters has changed their bottles and packaging methods to use less plastic. In 1995,

The plant in Telford completes three main processes before the company ships the tapered roller bearings: a heat treatment process, grinding and assembly of

parts. The bearings come in a variety of sizes, and the plant can produce 40 parts per labor hour. While most of these bearings end up being sold to automotive companies like Ford, Gen-

QUALITY COMMITMENT All branches of Premium Waters undergo an annual three-day audit. It is here that the company receives critiques on standard operation procedures, basic employee practices, how they handle vendors and basic sanitation.

“It makes us better and it’s something our customers expect,” said Myers.

For Premium Waters, safety both in the plant and in the products is priority. The Greeneville

INTERNAL GROWTH When the Washington County facility first opened in 2008, the plant stood at 80,000 square feet, with one furnace and a line each for the outer and inner rings of the tapered roller bearing. Now, the plant has SEE KOYO ON PAGE 5

plant typically has the highest safety rating of all the plants in the company.

Myers said that if someone sees something wrong on the production line, that person has the ability and the responsibility to stop production in order to make sure that the company is putting out quality products.

“We have a guideline,” said Myers. “If there’s something you wouldn’t bring home to your family, then why are we producing it?”

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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The Koyo Bearings 10 year anniversary included door prizes, games and inflatables for the associates’ families.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

stretched to 161,000 square feet, with four furnaces, 14 lines for the inner ring and 13 lines for the outer ring.

With that growth comes a higher headcount of employees, which has grown to about 170 people.

“We want someone who is going to be here everyday and be part of a team,” said Myers. “There is no ‘I.’ We have to work together as a team because one person cannot make this product alone.”

Teamwork paired with self-discipline is one of five aspects of “The JTEKT Way.” Management expects its employees to take ownership in their work, as well as aspire for innovation and technique.

“Our number one asset is our people,” said Ottem. “If you take care of your people then they will take care of the rest, and we want the public and our employees to know that our people are the most important thing.”

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Plant manager Sherry Ottem awards associate Robert Lewis with a plaque, recognizing him for perfect attendance for 10 years.

COMMITMENT JTEKT is driven to make improvements from the top down. Every department has an action plan each year with initiatives for the plant to work on.

At the end of 2016, the corporate office challenged each of its plants to become landfill-free by 2018. The Telford plant achieved that goal in December 2017 and has maintained this ever since.

“The people are what makes the change and keeps us ahead and makes us better,” said Ottem.

“Our standards haven’t changed. If anything, they’ve gotten stricter.”

The plant is also focused on reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and completely eliminating substance concerns. The Telford plant has a machine that evaporates the water used at the plant.

Any oil that is leftover from this process is recycled. A large project that was led

by TVA last year was transferring to LED lights across the plant, including in the parking lots.

The associates at Koyo Bearings are also committed to safety. The plant was able to claim zero accidents in 2017, and only

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN

The Koyo Bearings 10 year anniversary celebration included door prizes, games and inflatables for the associates’ families.

two recordable incidents so far this year. Ottem explained that there are “safety guardians” being the voices and eyes on the floor during all shifts.

“We are culturally driven.

We don’t want anyone to be afraid to bring anything up or address anything,” said Ottem.

Representatives from each of the plants in JTEKT engage in conference calls every Wednesday morning and bimonthly meetings

to share innovation. This is done in an effort to improve and strengthen the corporation as a whole, making it a dependable and quality provider for other businesses.

“If we put something in place here, an improvement or to keep something from happening, we go ahead and read that across other plants so they can implement it as well,” said Ottem. “We learn from one another.”

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

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Chasan Grows As Hub For Business And Industry

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN There are only two things about the old Magnavox plant on Snapps Ferry Road that have not changed: Ricky Shepherd and the building itself.

“I started working at Magnavox right out of high school at age 17,” said Shepherd, the facilities manager for Chasan LLC. “I got promoted, and I will have worked here for 40 years come June.”

The Magnavox plant now goes by another name. The Chasan Industrial Complex is 1.1 million square feet, with 99 percent of the building leased out to 13 different companies. Shepherd is responsible for maintaining utilities in the complex, as well as managing sales.

“That’s very rare,” said Marlin White, the vice president of operations for Chasan LLC. “You go to any other company and those responsibilities are not intertwined. He has knowledge of the people, the businesses and extensive knowledge of the building itself, right down to every riser in the warehouse.”

Charles White, Marlin’s father, is president and CEO of the company. He began to see exponential growth in 2013, when the industrial complex became a multi-tenant facility and began the process of branding. Among these tenants are Premium Waters Inc., HSN, Forward Air and Landair. An additional seven companies are housed in other buildings across Greeneville, totaling 20 companies over 1.65 million square feet.

“They all come from local connections, local people and local companies that really want to see us be successful and the old Magnavox building to be successful as well,” said Shepherd.

After the plant stopped manufacturing televisions, Bush Beans utilized the space for a time before Chasan took over and welcomed its first tenant, Premium Waters Inc. By 2013, the company began to see a tip in the scales where they were being sought out for tenant space.

“We’re not a super aggressive marketing establishment anymore,” said White. “If somebody comes to us we’ll jump on it if it’s the right fit, but we’re not advertising nationally yet.”

Shepherd has turned down four tenant opportunities in the past month because of the lack of available space.

However, he is always sure to connect businesses with other potential locations.

“Before we turn them out of Greeneville or Greene County we will try to house them with somebody else whether we have anything to do with them or not,” said Shepherd. “If there’s something available we try to tie that loop together because oftentimes these people have helped us out at one point.”

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Ricky Shepherd, left, is the facilities manager for Chasan, and Marlin White, son of Charles White, is the vice president of operations.

CHASAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

without a plan in mind, but we’d like to balance this and do something with a manufacturing tenant because it brings in a lot of jobs.”

AUBREY’S

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Starr Ottinger worked at Magnavox for 20 years before becoming the operator for the Chasan Industrial Complex three years ago.

PHILOSOPHY

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Within the Chasan Industrial Complex, employees work in a variety of different capacities. The size of the facility is the largest in East Tennessee, meaning that companies do not necessarily have to be spread out across multiple properties. Amsee Ltd., for example, has roughly 70 employees, all of which work in the complex.

“As a whole you’ve got anything from a fully functional corporate office like LandAir, to a full-fledged manufacturing industry over here at Amsee, to people in HSN who are unpacking bulk shipments, to a temp office at Kelly Services,” said White. “It’s unique in the sense that you’ve got all types of workers in the same building at the same time.”

According to Shepherd, the businesses don’t just stop there. Because of Chasan, businesses have additional employees who are willing to chip in.

“If there’s equipment down, we loan it to them to get them through the crunch,” said Shepherd. “We go above and beyond for them. Our services are why these people like us and why we think our tenants will be here for a very long time.”

A building that once looked empty is now alive with activity on Snapps Ferry Road.

While Chasan itself only has five associates, there are over 500 employees who work for the company’s tenants.

White expects this number to increase by 70 or 80 people as with the finalization of the purchase and construction of Aubrey’s Restaurant next to the AMC Movie Theatre.

“We don’t really want to be in the long term food business,” said White.

Randy Burleson, the owner and operator of Aubrey’s, developed a relationship with Chasan CEO Charles White in the early 2000s. Wanting to expand the business, Burleson asked White for help with opening an Oak Ridge location in 2012.

“Dad helps fund it, finance it, build it and then after a period of years, Randy buys it back from Chasan,” said White.

There are now 10 Aubrey’s locations across East Tennessee, and the newest facility in Greeneville is expected to open in mid-March or early April.

“A lot of people want to know about us but we want people to know about Aubrey’s,” said White.

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

A blue print proposal of the Magnavox building hangs in the corporate office of Chasan Industries.

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SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

The Chasan conference room table is the same one that was used when the Magnavox plant was in business in 1947.

UPDATES In order to accommodate their tenants and potentially acquire more, the Chasan Industrial Complex has undergone multiple renovations in the past year. Up until 2018, 24,000 square feet of the complex was unusable because of some leftover TV equipment. All of the equipment was removed to provide more tenant space. Chasan is also in the process of constructing three new loading docks next to the newly renovated Chasan LLC corporate office.

“There’s nothing in this building that’s been untouched,” said Shepherd. “It’s a sad day to see a TV business die away but in other cities a building like this would fall away. But because of the large investment that Charles White and family did in the Greeneville Greene County area, this building was brought back to life.”

Chasan LLC has added 98,000 square feet of property off of Industrial Road as well. On the property are two buildings that currently house Bossard North America Inc. and Imery’s Fused Minerals. The space is currently under study.

“We have a future development here but not even a timeline of what or when it’s going to happen,” said Shepherd. “We’re not going to jump out and build something SEE CHASAN ON PAGE 7

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

The 4-1-1: Business Prepares To Welcome New Customers

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN Named for its location on the Old Newport Highway, 411 Industries has always been family owned and operated. The property started as a tobacco facility with five greenhouses, but as the industry began to decline, the business transitioned to an entirely new focus.

“We were in the greenhouse business and we had a lot of employees,” said Kyle Reaves, owner and founder of 411 Industries. “We started a partnership with Meco here in town to build parts bags because we needed to keep people busy during the winter months.”

The partnership with Meco began in 1995, and by 1997 the business had switched entirely to subassembly and subcontracting to other companies in the area.

“We ventured out the way we did to do the job that makes companies lose money,” said Reaves. “Subassemblies are too small for them to justify hiring workers, so they save money with us.”

Reaves’ daughter, Dawn Livingston, has been the company’s operations manager since 2012. She is responsible for human resources, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and production itself.

“I don’t mind being busy,” said Livingston. “It’s nice to wake up in the morning and not know what I’m going to do that day.”

The employees at 411 Industries either work at the corporate office or on site in a local factory. There are currently 13 associates at the corporate office and 17 on site, but this number fluctuates regularly based on the amount of work that needs to be done.

While part assembly is a large portion of the company’s job, 411 Industries also offers other services like quality inspection, sorting and packaging. This can range anywhere from dividing up part kits that

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

In business since 1997, 411 Industries LLC has always been family owned and operated. Front row from left: Curtis Lawn, Felipe Alvarado, Maggie Brown, Misty Smith, Juana Macias, Mimi Veloz and Patty Broyles-McClure. Back row from left: Kevin Seaton, Dawn Livingston, Robert Livingston and David Pickering.

accompany a product to building the boxes that the products are shipped in.

“We just do the extra little things that the businesses have to have but is not technically their core process,” said Livingston. “They can focus more on what they do.”

The hours are flexible as well: 411 Industries is at its busiest from March

up parts, take them to the facility to be assembled and taken back to the customer.

This enables the customer to focus on their core processes rather than the minor details.

“If you send us 10,000 pieces and say ‘we need these,’ we’re going to get you those,” said Livingston. “If you need it, we will do our best to get it within reason.

deal.”

Prior to this year, 411 Industries had partnerships with three local companies, one of which being in the automotive industry. Most of their customers come from Greeneville, Morristown and Newport, with a few other accounts occasionally coming in from Johnson City. 411 Industries owns a truck so that they can pick

through August, but remains active throughout the year.

Depending on what work needs to be done, associates clock in at 6 a.m. each day and leave anytime between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“This is a flexible job,” said Livingston. “Most of the time we end up hiring single mothers, where if they need to go pick their kids up from school it’s not that big of a

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www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 9

Endot Industries Supplies Majority Of US Pipes

BY MANSI BOEGEMANN SUN INTERN A mirage of colors meets the eye of someone roaming through Endot Industries Inc. in Greeneville. Each color represents a different purpose for the pipe that is manufactured there: blue for water, green for sewer and lavender for reclaimed water used for lawn irrigation.

Endot Industries, based in Rockaway, New Jersey, has three facilities that service about 75 percent of the country combined. The Greeneville plant strictly produces pressure pipes ranging from half an inch to 8 inches in diameter, but the Rockaway plant also manufactures conduit pipe for telecommunications systems. Mark Dignazio, the national sales manager, handles all pressure pipe sales as well as the conduit pipe.

“The Greeneville plant sells water pipe for residential services and water wells,” said Dignazio. “The gas pipes are sold to the gas utilities themselves or even just people putting in pool heaters, barbecue grills or anything that would constitute a gas meter.”

The sewer pipe that Endot produces connects directly to the municipal lines. All

pipes are installed underground, with none of it being used inside the home. Another feature that is especially popular in Florida is reclaimed water, where toilet water is repurposed for lawn irrigation.

“We sell to distribution only, but we will communicate with contractors and city engineers to help them design a plan and explain our product,” said Dignazio.

The Greeneville plant services as far north as Maryland and as far west as Michigan, Indiana and Mississippi. Shipments that travel to Florida are frequently sent to the Caribbean.

“This location is great for shipping reasons,” said Jim Price, shipping manager for the Greeneville facility. “We’re right in the middle of the area we service.”

RESIN All pipes, regardless of their purpose, are manufactured with polyethylene resin purchased by Dow Chemical Company. Endot was the first in the industry to start using a high-performance resin called PE4710, SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

SEE ENDOT ON PAGE 11

After pipe is produced at Endot, workers roll it onto coils to be distributed across the country.

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Misty Smith, an employee at 411 Industries, works with a hand manufacturing tool.

411 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

documented Quality Management System within the company. This system outlines all policies and procedures, from production line safety to the hiring and firing of employees.

“A lot of factories require their subcontractors to be ISO 9001 certified, so we got that to acquire more customers,” said Livingston.

Livingston finds that it’s better keep customers local. The company does not do a lot of advertising or promoting, and allows the customers to come to them.

They know that their prices are fair, and that they are flexible in providing “quality products and services.”

For Livingston, the certification means a lot more paperwork, but the possibility to expand their facility.

“This whole farmland is my dad’s, so we have room to expand,” said Livingston.

According to Reaves, 411 Industries is in the beginning stages of adding another building to the property in the fall of 2019.

There will be additional production lines there to

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Patty Broyles-McClure pours parts onto a scale to be weighed for quality control purposes.

The Little Top Drive Thru Brings National Recognition to Itself and Hometown Greeneville. No “Fast Food” at The Little Top .

Just Fresh Food, Fast.

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

411 Industries associate Kevin Seaton works as the company’s only truck driver.

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as early as 2020.

“It’s all in the distant future,” said Livingston. “But it is our goal to grow.”

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Two things, one recent and the other a century old, are particular accomplishment points for Keith Paxton of Greeneville’s Little Top Drive Thru.

The ¿rst is the Little Top’s inclusion this year by MSN.com on its list of “America’s Best Drive-Thru Restaurants.” Only 30 restaurants across the nation made that cut.

MSN had this to say about the Little Top: “Dating back to 1919, this small, family-run drive-thru in Greeneville is home to the Chip Burger: Little Top’s famed chipped ham sandwich. You can also sample the well-loved milkshakes, the sweet potato fries and the extensive burger menu.”

The second accomplishment point involves how deeply the popular 507 N. Main Street eatery is rooted in community and family heritage. Five generations of Paxtons have been helping meet the dining needs of Greeneville and Greene County since 1919, Keith notes. So it is the heritage behind the Little Top, not the restaurant itself, that dates to 1919, when Keith’s grandfather sold (Merita) bread, soft drinks and other items on food trucks, starting a family tradition in food services.

It was Keith’s father, WWII veteran Richal Lee “Sonny” Paxton, who invented and trademarked the Chip Burger, the signature warmed-bun chipped ham sandwich of the Little Top and its forerunner restaurant, the Big Top. The Big Top stood on Summer Street for decades as an iconic local eatery and community gathering spot.

“A lot of local people and families worked at the Big Top,” Keith recalls. “It’s where many people had their ¿rst jobs, and met the people they married.”

The youthful social activity of “cruising” found a home at and around the Big Top, Keith recalls. And though the Big Top is gone, the Little Top (whose name links back to the Big Top name) provides a present-day alternative that still offers the Original Chip Burger, Cheese Chipper and Double Chip Burgers that were, along with other favorites, Big Top fare.

The Little Top has earned praise beyond MSN.com. Nationally-known food author Fred Sauceman mentioned a visit in a recent Facebook post: “A quick picnic on the way to Nashville, at Greeneville’s Little Top, owned by our good friend Alderman Keith Paxton, with one of the world’s best sandwiches, the Double Cheese Chipper!”

Keith says of the Little Top menu: “Our restaurant has a limited menu to keep the drive-thru moving fast,” he says.

It’s not intended to be “fast food.” Keith clarifies: “We’re not fast food. We’re fresh food, fast.”

What will you find on the Little Top menu? To go along with those Chip Burgers, (at least six Chip Burger varieties are on the menu) there’s sweet potato fries, seasoned fries, premium cut fries, and drinks including the Little Top’s own blend of gourmet tea(s).

There are about a dozen styles of hamburgers as well, plus classic sandwiches, wraps, hot dogs and more.

Little Top uses fresh farm-to-table vegetables and even hand picks tomatoes and other ingredients at local farms in season.

The milkshakes are “hand spun” and famously delicious. Pick among over 23 flavors, or go creative and mix flavors to suit your own taste.

“Not fast food, but fresh food, fast.” That’s the Little Top mantra.

The Little Top is open every day but Sunday. A Christian family, the Paxtons close Sundays to give themselves and their staff the opportunity to attend worship.

Page 10

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

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www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 11

SUN PHOTO BY MANSI BOEGEMANN

Endot Industries functions in three shifts on Monday through Friday. Its busiest season is from March to November.

ENDOT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

with the number indicating the density of the resin.

Greeneville Site Manager Gary Biggs explained the difference in quality.

“The pressure rating changed,” said Biggs. “What used to be a 100-poundper-square-inch rating went to 150. What was a 160-psi went up to a 200-psi, just because of the resin. The PE4710 is the best ever made, in my opinion.”

The PE4710 is also the first pipe to have a lifetime guarantee, and is quickly becoming the standard resin for all pressure pipes. The Greeneville plant purchases approximately 4.8 million pounds of resin each year.

As of Oct. 5, the plant has made roughly $7.6 million in sales for the year.

“We’ve always been on the cutting edge of technology,” said Dignazio. “The pipe itself is considered a commodity product for plumbing.”

The National Sanitation Foundation certifies both Dow Chemical and Endot Industries for their products. The resin suppliers themselves have to get the resin approved before they can put it on the market for businesses like Endot to expend it.

“We have a lifetime product on pipe and pipe replacement, the first in the industry to do that,” said Dignazio. “That separates us from our competitors.”

While the manufacturing industry used to be a prominent field in the United States, businesses like Endot are not seeing the same level of interest from potential employees. Biggs mentioned that the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which offers a free two-year community college degree to recent high school graduates, has kept young people away from the manufacturing industry.

Dignazio agreed.

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The water, gas and sewer pipes made at Endot are manufactured at over 400 degrees. The pipe then travels through the length of the building underwater and is cool to the touch by the time it is labeled and cut.

to find,” said Dignazio. “You have to know basic fundamental math and know the industry tools; those are very important in knowing the structure of the pipe itself.”

Not only are math and measurements crucial, but working on the production line at Endot is physically demanding as well. The work is fast-paced, and employees are constantly on their feet. Biggs says that adequate training is the most crucial part of maintaining efficiency, especially when running short staffed.

“Supervisors have to know what to do or the whole company will get a bad name, even if it’s just one customer,” said Biggs.

HISTORY While Endot Industries has been in business for 46 years, the Greeneville location celebrated its 20-year anniversary on Sept. 14.

Endot bought out Orange-

burg Pipe in 1998 and has claimed the same property on Bohannon Avenue ever since. Biggs started working at Orangeburg Pipe when he was 21 years old, and decided to stay when Endot took over. Now 57, Biggs is one of six employees who have worked at the plant since it took on the Endot Industries branding.

“We didn’t lose any customers due to the change in ownership,” said Biggs.

While Endot employees over 100 people across the nation, 28 of them being based in Greeneville, Endot is still considered a family business. Biggs said that Endot President Jennifer Marin attended the 20-year celebration in September.

“We shut down the plant at 1 o’clock and grilled hotdogs and hamburgers,” said Biggs. “Jennifer came and she spoke a lot about how we are all family, which makes this a comfortable place to work.”

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Page 12

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

SUN PHOTO BY EUGENIA ESTES

Landair Transport Inc., located at 1 Landair Way in Greeneville, has been purchased by Chattanooga-based Covenant Transport Group Inc.

New Landair Owner Has High Expectations STAFF REPORTS

C

ovenant Transportation Group Inc. officials say purchasing Landair Transport Inc. will take the companies to new heights.

Covenant, a company traded publicly on the Nasdaq, bought Landair in July for $83 million.

The Chattanooga-based company backed the purchase using $45.5 million in cash on hand and already-owned equipment raised another $53 million in cash. Landair had $15.5 million of debt, which Covenant is refinancing.

Covenant Chairman and CEO David Parker was optimistic about Landair’s future in Greeneville while at the Landair facility days later.

“The thing that has really excited us about Landair is that this is one of the business services that we do not offer to our customers, and so we really saw the opportunity here to get in on the ground-level floor of a segment of service that our industry has and that is exploding. It is doing extremely well,” Parker said.

He said Landair will be the vehicle that drives Covenant to “places that we have never been.”

In 2017, Landair generated about $121 million in total revenue. Of that, $60 million came from dedicated truckload operations, $41 million related to managed freight services, and the remaining $20 million related to one-way truckload operations.

The acquisition should help reduce overall costs at Landair in equipment, fuel, workers’ compensation and casualty insurance, and over-the-road services Covenant officials said.

The Greeneville company will continue to be branded

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

From left, Covenant Chairman and CEO David Parker joins former Landair Chairman Scott M. Niswonger, Landair President John Tweed and Covenant President Joey Hogan at Landair headquarters in July.

as Landair, and its operations center in Greeneville will remain, officials have said. It will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Covenant Transport.

Landair currently employs 880 people. It operates 430 trucks and 900 trailers with 12 distribution facilities with 1.8 million square feet of warehouse space.

“Our goal, the first thing, is how do we double the size?” he said in July. “We have got employees all over the United States — here

in Greeneville’s corporate office, and then we have got other employees throughout the country.”

Parker said that a lot of the multiplication of future employees will happen in Greeneville.

Landair President John Tweed will continue in that role, officials announced.

“I am excited about this combination because it will give Landair and its customers access to, and the benefit of, the comprehensive resources of CTG,” Tweed said at the

time of the announcement.

“Continued growth at the pace we are experiencing requires access to the resources and support of a strong partner like CTG. The alignment in company cultures should enable a smooth integration of the two well-respected organizations.”

Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger will no longer have direct involvement with the company and plans to move his office to the Niswonger Foundation

office on North Main Street once renovations there are complete in the coming months. He has said he wants to spend more time with the Niswonger Foundation and pursuing aeronautical projects.

“Today is the start of the next chapter in the Landair story,” Niswonger said in a statement the day the purchase was announced.

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investment in our business and people.”

Landair was one of two companies founded or co-founded by Niswonger.

Landair dates to 1981, when Niswonger founded it with Ed Sayler. Niswonger, an Ohio native, had previously worked as a pilot with Magnavox in Greeneville.

The other Niswonger-founded company, Forward Air, continues to be a publicly-traded company based in Greeneville.

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 13

GCP Hosts Annual Industry Appreciation Reception

BY BIANCA MARAIS STAFF WRITER The Greene County Partnership hosted its annual Industry Appreciation Reception in honor of the state of Tennessee’s Industrial Appreciation Month.

For over 20 years, the Partnership has hosted industry leaders in Greene County in gratitude of the hundreds of jobs brought to the region.

“The invite goes out to all of our industries,” President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greene County Partnership Matt Garland said Tuesday. “It’s more of a ‘thank you’ for doing business in Greene County.”

With dozens of industry leaders and elected officials gathered on the terrace of the General Morgan Inn, Garland said that in the 25 months that he has worked with the Partnership, over 1,000 full-time positions were established by the business partners of Greene County and $200 million in investments were made.

Garland said that 80 to 85 percent of new jobs created in the county come from existing industry, and for that, he thanked those present.

“I like to think that we are on the move, we’re moving forward and it is thanks to a lot of the people that are sitting in this room,” he said.

Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels said that existing industry is only the beginning of the success of the county.

“When it comes to existing industry, that’s your number one recruiter when it comes to jobs,” Daniels said, extending an invitation to industry leaders present to call upon the city government whenever they need help that the city could provide.

Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison was unable

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Greeneville Alderman Buddy Hawk, right, and Andrew Johnson Bank COO Shane Hite, center, talk to First Tennessee Bank Financial Center Manager Tony Ottinger at the reception.

to attend the reception, so Greene County Trustee Nathan Holt spoke on behalf of the county and county commission.

“I just want to take the time to say thank you. We appreciate all that you do for our community in being the backbone and the investments you make into Greene County,” Holt said.

State Rep. David Hawk also spoke at the annual event Tuesday, before the Nov. 6 elections.

“We want to be a partner with you as we move forward in the state,” Hawk said on behalf of state government.

Hawk said that Tennessee is doing very well, economically.

As government representation from Washington D.C., Rep. Phil Roe sent

a representative from his office to speak on his behalf at the event.

Daryl Brady said that along with Roe, he visited several manufacturing plants in Greene County during the recent campaign leading up to the Nov. 6 elections.

“Having been an economic developer, I fully realize the great work you do in creating jobs in this community,” Brady said. “The most important thing to remember is that companies create jobs, not the government, and the work that you do through your small businesses, your industrial base, is tremendous.”

Sponsors for the annual event included A Service SEE RECEPTION ON PAGE 14

Chamber of Commerce • Economic Development Tourism • Education & Workforce Development Keep Greene Beautiful We salute our local industries for their outstanding contributions, exceptional performance and continued dedicated commitment to Greeneville and Greene County.

115 Academy Street Greeneville, TN 37745 423-638-4111 — Fax 423-638-5345 www.GreeneCountyPartnership.com

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Jarden Zinc Vice President of Application Development Carl DelSorbo, right, talks with Ronnie Waddell of Greeneville Light & Power System.

Page 14

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Mickey and Clorinda Lowery enjoy the Greene County Partnership Industry Reception Tuesday at the General Morgan Inn.

Rep. Phil Roe field representative Daryl Brady spoke of the economic development benefits from industry in Greene County.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

President and CEO of the Greene County Partnership Matt Garland said 85 percent of jobs in the county comes from existing industry at the Partnership’s industry reception.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Nurse Practitioner Specialist Marsha Montemarano, left, and Takoma Regional Hospital Clinics Director Patti Roberts at the Greene County Partnership Industry Reception Tuesday.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

From left, plant manager for the Donaldson Co. Everett Haynie, Takoma Regional Hospital President Tammy Albright and HR Director for C&C Millwright Maintenance Co. Darius Peedin enjoy the Greene County Partnership’s industry reception.

Greene County Trustee Nathan Holt spoke on behalf of Greene County government, thanking industry leaders at the partnership’s industry reception. See more photos from the event on page 17.

RECEPTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Group, Accuforce, Andrew Johnson Bank, APEX Bank, Baker Donelson, C&C Millwright Maintenance Co., Consumer Credit Union, Delfasco, East Tennessee Iron and Metal, First Tennessee Bank, Greene County Partnership, Grand Rental Station

and Greeneville Collection Service.

Other sponsors thanked at the event include Greeneville Iron and Metal, Greeneville Light & Power System, The Greeneville Sun, John Deere Power Products, One Team Clinic LLC, Marsh Propane, Ballad Health, Summers Taylor, Jarden Transport Technologies, AtWork Personnel Services and Professional Vending Services.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Greene County Partnership employees Jennifer Wilder, Lori Dowell, Tammy Kinser and Dana Wilds work the registration booth at the partnership’s industry reception.

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www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 15

Imerys Fused Minerals Touts Long-Term Track Record

BY LORELEI GOFF SUN CONTRIBUTOR Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc. has a track record for longevity.

Located on the property of the old Poor Farm at 109 Coile St. the company first began operations in Greeneville in 1960 producing magnesium oxide.

Silica was added during the early 1970s. After a series of acquisitions, the silica and zirconia plants merged into Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc., in 2014, with the official transition completed in 2018.

According to Chief Operations Officer Tim Newton, the company employs between 150 and 160 people for the combined silica and zirconia production operations, in addition to contractors.

The company can boast of another excellent track record. August marked 10 years with no lost time to accidents, a landmark Newton attributes to a good management team, excellent employees and company-wide education.

“Unfortunately, it also takes some luck,” Newton said. “Not everything here can be perfect.”

In addition to policies for employee safety, Newton said the company takes measures to protect the environment, including using huge vacuum units called bag houses to control dust created in the manufacturing process. The units suck dust-laden air into the filters, and it comes out the other side clean. Some of the dust collected can be reused. The rest is allocated for other uses or sent to a landfill.

Newton said the company finds many of its employees in the local area, even though the company’s production is highly specialized.

“You are not going to find

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

This two-story, three-phase funace, located at the Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc. facility on Coile Street, uses three 14-inch, graphite electrodes for electric arc fusion to process minerals. The electrodes arc downward into powdered zirconia. “What you think is smoke coming off, that’s really not,” said Chief Operations Officer Tim Newton. “It’s the last of the silica coming off the zirconia. That’s why the bag house — a vacuum — attached to it is so large, to pull all that off. If you look closely, you’ll see what looks like an irregular stick behind it. That welding glare that you see is actually an electric arc.”

anyone with fused minerals experience,” Newton said. “Generally speaking, in this area, a person who was raised on a farm would turn into a good employee. They’re not ashamed of hard work, they’re not ashamed to get dirty. That goes for both the production workers and the maintenance workers. Generally, a good farm hand, if they were raised that way, makes a good employee here because they need to be self-directed. This is not an assembly line.”

He added, “We have en-

gineers here and you’re not going to find an engineer on the farm, so you still have to go back out to the world of academia and get some degreed folks.”

Newton has been with the company for 31 years.

He moved into his current position with company in 2004.

“I started as the lowest paid guy on the site,” he said.

Newton explained Imerys’ production process, which uses electric arc fusion.

“We do it two different

ways,” Newton said. “We take a single-phase furnace and touch electrodes together and pull them apart and they arc from one electrode to the other.

It’s like a huge welding rod.

Really hot. Really bright.

Really intense.

“The three-phase furnaces arc to ground,” he said.

“They’re above a molten pool and they’re not arching to each other. They’re arching into the material.

They’re really big. The electrodes are a 14-inch diameter.”

They are so big that the

fusion furnaces create magnetic fields due to the large amount of current going through the electrodes.

Zirconia has a melting point of about 2,800 degrees Celsius, about 5,000 Fahrenheit. Zirconia has an excellent thermal shock resistance and is largely used in pigments, refractories, zirconium metal and abrasive industries.

The silica, with a melting point of about 1,700 degrees Celsius, is used for the investment casting and refractory industries. It has a low thermal conductiv-

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ity and excellent thermal shock resistance as well.

Silica production begins with raw silica sand. The transformation changes a crystalline silica with a crystal structure to an amorphous, or non-crystalline silica structure, known as silica glass.

“It’s very important to us that the chemical impurities are really low,” Newton said.

The pure, translucent silica glass is then crushed and used for manufacturSEE IMERYS ON PAGE 16

Page 16

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

www.greenevillesun.com

Saturday, October 20, 2018

IMERYS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

ing. One of Imerys’ main markets is investment castings to produce steel products.

Investment casting, a millennia old method, refers to a process of surrounding a pattern, often made of wax which burns off in the process, with a refractory material that creates a finely detailed and durable mold.

“Think of a mold that’s made around wax,” Newton said. “And around this wax is something that has to hold the molten material, like cast iron or whatever.

You make the mold out of wax and then put the sand around it. The sand has to form that mold pretty intricately because when you pour the molten material into it, the wax is going to burn off and evaporate. So it’s going to take the shape of that sand that stayed behind. Golf clubs and tractor parts — all kinds of things are made by cast.”

Newton said Imerys products are used to manufacture parts for “millions” of items, including golf clubs, tractors and aircraft. He explained refractories as “anything having to do with high temperature products.”

“Maybe you’re pouring molten metal, like steel, or maybe you’re running an oven and you need things in the oven to withstand a high temperature — coke ovens, kilns — so refractories could be the material that’s in that oven that gives it the structure,” he explained.

“They’re able to repeatedly get hot and cold, without falling apart. We make the materials that are used to make those pieces.”

Ironically, the zirconia processing requires removing silica from the zirconia, but that removed silica cannot be used in the other product.

“We actually buy what’s called a zirconium silicate,” Newton said. “We spend millions of dollars making fused silica. The zirconia plant, at the bottom of the hill, spends million of dollars getting rid of silica.

And you can’t contaminate the two.”

Newton noted that the zirconia is different from the diamond zirconia used in jewelry.

“I like to describe it to people as a creamy, butterscotch kind of ceramic, and we grind it up into grains and powders,” Newton said. “Once it’s ground to powder, it’s got two main purposes. One is refractories used for steel making and high quality parts for the automotive market.

“One of the things about zirconia that’s unique is that it will not expand and contract when heated and cooled. That’s why you can put it in the refractories for steel making.”

Imerys products may be added into zirconium metal, for which one application is the manufacture of the tubes that hold the fuel in nuclear reactors.

“We send our powder to a manufacturer that takes the hafnium out and then turns it into this tube,” Newton

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

From the left are a chunk of zirconia crystal, rods made with Imerys products, an aircraft part made using Imerys products and purified silica glass.

72 \HDUV LQ WKH UHF\FOLQJ ¿HOG years in the recycling field

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

Tim Newton, chief operations officer for Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc., holds a chunk of zirconia crystal. Imerys processes zirconia and silica for manufacturing uses from its production facilites on Coile Street in Greeneville.

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF

Mollie Freeman aspirates a sample into the flame of an Intercoupled Plasma machine in the Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc. Quality Control Lab to check the levels of contaminants in a sample of high purity fused silica.

said.

Newton explained that a manufacturer must the remove hafnium element from the zirconium before producing the rods because the hafnium would interfere with the ion transfer from the nuclear fuel going through the tube.

About 75 percent of Imerys’ silica products are sold in North America and the remaining 25 percent

is exported. Zirconia sales are more evenly split with about 50 percent sold domestically and 50 percent exported.

Newton described Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville Inc. as highly competitive in the global market, a fact he attributes to consistently producing high quality products and a reputation for consistent on-time delivery to customers.

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 17

GCP Hosts Annual Industry Appreciation Reception

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

From left, State Rep. David Hawk, Greeneville Alderman Buddy Hawk and former Senior Vice President of Greene County Bank Allen Jones enjoy the Greene County Partnership industry reception Tuesday.

From left, Cindy and Randy Rumbley of SumiRiko, and Walt and Barbara Glenn of A Services Group enjoy the Greene County Partnership’s Industry Reception.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

From left, President of MECO Corp. Mark Proffitt, community banker for First Tennessee Bank Jennifer Keller and Tim Coley, senior vice president Community Banking Group at First Tennessee Bank, chat on the terrace of the General Morgan Inn Tuesday.

Weee’re W We’re re More Th Than an JJu Just u Builders SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

Greeneville Mayor W.T. Daniels told industry leaders to come to the city government for anything the city could help them with.

We represent and promote responsible development of quality neighborhoods which encourage the American Dream of Home Ownership.

SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

The Greeneville Sun’s Sandi Blalock, left with Main Street: Greeneville Executive Director Jann Mirkov.

We’re Active in the Community

Annual Home & Outdoor Show Annual Bob Scott Classic Golf Tournament Annual Builders’ Showcase of Homes • Monthly General Membership Meetings • Hard Hat Happy Hours • Industry driven Lunch & Learns • Active and Involved Committees and Councils • Health Insurance Available to ALL Members • 3-in-1 Membership - HBA of Tennessee - National Association of Home Builders SUN PHOTO BY BIANCA MARAIS

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State Rep. David Hawk said that Tennessee is doing well economically.

10 Years - No Lost Time Accidents Thanks to All Employees of Imerys Fused Minerals Greeneville, Inc.

Page 18

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

Employees Reflect On John Deere Power Products’ 30 Years Of Operation

BY NELSON MORAIS SUN CONTRIBUTOR The John Deere Power Products facility on Hal Henard Road celebrated its 30th anniversary on Aug. 3, with a social gathering of employees and family members, live music, and a “petting zoo” with a “freerange” potbelly pig.

The once small satellite factory has gone from modest beginnings to being the highest volume facility in the John Deere enterprise, according to officials.

Jeff Hollett, factory manager, told The Greeneville Sun in August, “I am very happy to be a part of John Deere Power Products’ history. This is an amazing factory.

“We build the highest quality lawn tractor and zero-turn mower in the industry. It’s no wonder that our factory has grown from just a small factory of 62 employees building walk-behind mowers, to the highest volume facility in the John Deere enterprise today.

“Thank you to our 30year veterans who 30 years ago established a culture and a winning formula that ensured our company’s growth and success.”

The Greeneville facility is the manufacturing home for the 100 Series lawn tractor and residential ZTrak zero-turn mowers. It also manufactures bagging equipment and attachments for all Johne Deere mowers.

Since 1988, Power Products has taken pride in its many recognitions, from safety awards to manufacturing excellence. Officials credit its team-oriented culture for its success.

A total of 14 current employees have worked at Power Products since the facility’s start-up in 1988.

Those longtime em-

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

Rodney Taylor, a team coordinator, installs a battery throttle cable and a rear steering guard on a ZTrak mower.

ployees joined 600 other employees and family members at the August anniversary celebration.

A North Carolina band, Summer Brooke and the Mountain Faith Band, played country, contemporary and bluegrass music on bluegrass instruments, while children enjoyed a bouncy house, plant potting, and a petting zoo that included a turkey, goat, and untethered potbelly pig who enjoyed barbecue leftovers.

The band members were semi-finalists on “America’s Got Talent,” according to officials.

Officials said the most popular features of the celebration were the free tours of the facility that allowed employees to show family members the specific locations where they work.

The 14 long-term employees honored at the celebration included Darla Bowman, a safety manager who lives in Afton.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes” in 30 years of employment at Power Products, Bowman said.

“It’s for sure been a blessing for 30 years.

(When I started), about 1,400 people applied, and I was one of (62) people hired.

“I remember they had breakfast and lunch ready for us during the training period. It was an awesome experience.”

Bowman said John Deere paid for her tui-

tion at Tusculum College, which she attended in the evenings. She earned a degree in organizational management.

“I worked in all different departments of the factory. I had children while working here. My daughter works on the 100 Series line.

“John Deere (Power Products) has been really good to me and my family.

Of course, it was hard work. But as long as you worked hard, you had

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promotions.

“My family was able to build a house with the salary increase I received. It’s a family atmosphere here at work,” Bowman said.

Lynn Bolton, an environmental engineer at the facility, reached his 30th anniversary of employment at Power Products on Aug. 15, he said.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.

“It’s a clean atmosphere.

They really care about SEE JOHN DEERE ON PAGE 19

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

The Greeneville Sun Salute To Industry Edition

Page 19

JOHN DEERE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

safetly and environment. As it’s grown, it has become a little more bureaucratic, but it’s still team-based.

“The pay is good for this area.

We focus on C.I. (Continuous Improvement). Overall, it’s a very good place to work.

“The biggest change is I used to work out on the floor and knew everybody, including who they hung around with. Now I don’t know everybody. When you have over 500 employees, it’s hard to get to know everyone.”

Bolton said that despite the growth of the Greeneville facility, fortunately “there’s still a little bit of the small town atmosphere” at work.

Bolton said he was the last person hired of the first group of employees that worked at the facility. “They called me while I was a tank gunner in the Tennessee Army National Guard,” he said.

“Here they’ve always worked well with the armed services, and giving us time off” when mililtary duties require that, he stated.

Bolton said another positive aspect about the Greeneville facility is that, “if you’re deployed, when you get back, if the pay scale has gone up, you get that higher rate.”

John Deere paid for Bolton to get an associate’s degree at Walters State Community College, and then an industrial engineering degree at East Tennessee State University, he said.

“It has been good to be part of something that started 30 years ago,” said Tony Moyers, a team leader in manufacturing. “It took a lot of hard work back then from many people to get our reputation for quality and delivery.

I don’t think we realized at the time, but that was what we were creating — a foundation to grow on.”

In August, Rodney Taylor, a team coordinator, installed a battery throttle cable and rear steering guard on a ZTrak mower moving down the assembly line.

He said he had worked for the company for 28 years. “The people, the great atmosphere — I like everything about my job.” He’s been a team coordinator for over 20 years, he said.

Heather Newton, a team co-

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

William Hamilton puts drive belts on a clutch on a ZTrak mower.

Lynn Bolton

Darla Bowman

ordinator, has worked four and one-half years at the Greeneville facility, including three years full-time.

“I love it,” she said of her job.

“I really do. I genuinely like it.

The people are awesome, (though I suspect) some people probably wouldn’t agree with me.”

According to company literature, the Greeneville factory has built over 4 million units and expects to hit another milestone

next year.

The 100 Series lawn tractors and the Z300 and Z500 ZTrak zero-turn mowers built in Greeneville are sold through the John Deere dealer network and mass retail partners.

The Greeneville facility has received many accolades and awards throughout the years, including the TOSHA VPP Star Award in 2003, 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2017, as well as N.S.C.

SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS

Jamie Babb, a team coordinator, works on the ZTrak line at John Deere Power Products.

“Occupational Excellence Achievement” from 2007–2014.

The plant also received the Tennessee Commissioner’s Excellence Award for three consecutive years (2012, 2013 and 2014).

The Commissioner’s Award honors Tennessee employers and

their employees who together have achieved a required number of hours worked without experiencing a lost workday case and have maintained total injury and illness incidence rates below the national average. The number of hours required is based on the size of the company.

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Saturday, October 20, 2018

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