By Steve Short
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Global Track Manufacturing USA, Inc., officials announce that company has established a production facility in Milan.
Global Track will create 250 jobs at the new plant in Gibson County. The company has located its manufacturing operations in the former Tower Automotive plant in Milan.
Global Track manufactures rubber tracks and undercarriage for industrial and agricultural equipment.
The company currently operates a manufacturing facility in China. The Milan facility will be Global Track’s second plant, and the company anticipates production will begin in the summer of 2020.
Milan Mayor B.W. Beasley was thrilled about the good news.
“I am excited to formally announce this project as the City of Milan has been working with Barry Min and Global Track over the last two years since the company purchased the former Tower Automotive facility,” Beasley said, “Global Track has been manufacturing rubber tracks out of its China facility for many years with a great amount of success, and I look forward to the Milan facility achieving even greater success as the company grows the Global Track manufacturing footprint. This is a very exciting day for Milan and Gibson County, and I am grateful to Barry Min and Global Track for choosing Milan for the company’s U.S. manufacturing location.”
Since 2015, TNECD has supported 10 economic development projects in Gibson County, resulting in more than 2,500 job commitments and more than $415 million in capital investment.
Governor Bill Lee also weighed in on the good news.
“Global Track’s decision to invest in Milan is a resounding vote of confidence in Tennessee and our workforce,” Gov. Lee said, “More and more global companies are finding out that Tennessee is the perfect place to do business, and I look forward to the creation of 250 quality jobs in Milan and Gibson County.”
Barry Min, President and Owner of Global Track Manufacturing is excited about expanding his company into the United States.
“The Milan facility is Global Track’s first U.S. manufacturing plant, and I want to thank Mayor B.W. Beasley and his economic development staff for their hard work over the past two years,” said Mr. Min. “Mayor Beasley and his team have worked tirelessly to help Global Track get our building operational, act as an advocate for us in Washington, D.C. regarding tariff issues, establish U.S. banking relationships, and have been supportive in every aspect.
“I am confident we made the right decision to locate in Milan, and I look forward to growing our U.S. customer base and creating jobs for the citizens of Milan and Gibson County.”
The Milan Industrial Board also played a pivotal role in landing Global Track in Milan.
Board Chairman Lynn Arnold said he was happy the company chose Milan to expand their operations.
“On behalf of the Milan Industrial Development Board, I want to thank Barry Min and Global Track for choosing Milan as the home for its first U.S. manufacturing location,” Arnold said, “We look forward to helping the company achieve great success as it grows its U.S. manufacturing presence and creates quality jobs for the citizens of Milan.”
Mayor Beasley said that Mr. Min bought a large manufacturing building in Manchester, Georgia at the same time he bought the 520,000 square foot Tower building.
“Just because he purchased the Tower building didn’t mean he was moving to Milan, Tennessee,” said Beasley. “So that’s when the relationship building started between me and Mr. Barry Min. I flew to China to visit his manufacturing location and corporate office to try and persuade them to make sure Milan was their location.
With a lot of hard work out of our economic development team, I think (Min) saw what we had to offer with regard to workforce. (Chamber exec) Julie Burke chairs our Gibson Co. Workforce Committee and does a great job with that.
“Workforce was a huge part of why (Mr. Min) came to Milan, Tennessee.”
Mr. Beasley said the Tower building needed renovations.
Mr. Min’s company has done major upgrades, said Beasley, converting lights to LED lighting.
“That’s a significant investment,” Beasley said, “They’ve committed to 250 jobs over five years.”
“I’ve made five trips to Washington, D.C. to try to get the tariffs dropped for the machinery. (The tariffs) still haven’t been dropped, but (Mr. Min) bit the bullet on one press. It’s on its way over here. It should be here by the end of October.”
Rubber tracks made at the Milan plant will undergo extensive field testing before being produced in mass. “
“Certainly by the second quarter of next year (2020) we would hope for production to start,” Beasley said, “(Mr. Min) wants to hire as many people from the Milan area as he can.”
Mr. Min’s son, Rong Min, is Vice-President of Operations and has visited Milan along with his father.
Keith Pope is the Milan plant manager.
(PHOTO – Milan Mayor B.W. Beasley, left, Rong Min, Vice-President of Operations Global Track – PHOTO & STORY courtesy Victor Parkins, Milan Mirror Exchange)
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