CEG photo
Johan “Kip” Eideberg (L) of AEM and Shannon Seymour, president of LeeBoy, sit in the 8608 paver.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) stopped by the North Carolina production plant of LeeBoy Aug. 29, 2024, as part of the trade association's Manufacturing Express bus tour.
Throughout the summer, the goal of the AEM Manufacturing Express initiative was to recognize and celebrate the industry by making 80 visits across 20 states. The tour also highlights the innovative technologies, processes, people, and products that are revolutionizing the U.S. manufacturing sector.
"Equipment manufacturers are the backbone of America, representing $2.3 million employees," Kip Eideberg, AEM's senior vice president, said in a recent news release. "In North Carolina alone, our industry contributes 87,031 jobs and $11.3 billion to the state economy. The AEM Manufacturing Express is thrilled to be in North Carolina to celebrate the critical role of the state's equipment manufacturers in building, powering, and feeding our nation."
CEG photo
LeeBoy has been a member of AEM since 1991. (L-R) are Bryce Davis, Kristi Harris and Shannon Seymour, all of LeeBoy; and Jennifer Graham and Johan "Kip" Eideberg, both of AEM.
During its stop at LeeBoy's Lincolnton factory, AEM also feted the company and its employees' contributions at a time when the construction equipment maker is celebrating its 60th anniversary in business.
In addition, the AEM event, noted LeeBoy President Shannon Seymour, allows "us to let our associates get to know what AEM does for LeeBoy and showcase the company."
Seymour added that AEM is made up of more than 1,000 member companies and approximately 2.3 million associates.
"It provides various resources for member companies such as data, market share analysis, and educational materials," he said. "AEM is also very well tied into Washington and lobbies on our behalf to make sure that American manufacturing companies stay strong and remain a backbone of this country."
For example, AEM often helps arrange for politicians to make stops on the factory floors of its member companies as a show of their encouragement and support.
In LeeBoy's case, Seymour said that Mark Robinson, North Carolina's current lieutenant governor and the Republican candidate for governor in November's election, visited the Lincolnton plant in 2023. In addition, Pat Harrigan, a Republican running for the U.S. House to represent the state's 10th congressional district, made a campaign stop at LeeBoy several months ago.
The manufacturing company has its origins in the Charlotte garage of LeeBoy's late founder, B.R. Lee, who began making pavers there in 1964. Since then, the equipment maker has moved to a large, 33-acre production site in Lincolnton, northwest of Charlotte, where it produces a range of commercial paving equipment and machines, including pavers, motor graders, distributor trucks and brooms.
Over the past couple of years, Seymour said that LeeBoy also has introduced several new upgrades to its product lineup.
"The most notable improvements have been our electric products, which we brought out slightly more than a year ago," he said. "Not only did we make the first commercial class electric asphalt paver, but we also introduced the first electric broom. And LeeBoy is about to get back into distributing rollers. In fact, we have rollers available for order at the present time and will begin delivering them in January."
Plans call for the equipment manufacturer to create a 1.25-ton, 36-in.-wide roller, as well as a 3-ton model with a 48-in. width, and more models to come.
"LeeBoy will also begin selling and marketing soil rollers too, as well as rubber-tire machines," he said. "This is a good opportunity for us because we believe LeeBoy is the only paver manufacturer that does not currently sell rollers. We did so up until a few years ago and are happy to re-start their distribution."
The company has managed to remain among the market leaders in the commercial class paving equipment business, Seymour said, because LeeBoy has long realized "it is about connecting with and listening to our customers, understanding how they use the equipment, and constantly refining the equipment for more efficient usage.
"Quality and reliability are also an enormous factor – how we keep these pavers running for our customers," he added. "Uptime is everything for them."
Seymour noted that LeeBoy's nationwide distributor network is seen as being "the front line" in terms of contact with the end customers.
"The dealerships that have great service departments and rapidly react to any potential repair issues that arise in the field are the ones that make a difference in the marketplace," he said.
For its part, LeeBoy itself has proven to be outstanding at supplying parts to its dealers overnight or as needed, something that the equipment maker has prioritized to improve efficiency, according to LeeBoy.
With a warehouse built to be shared by both its production and parts departments, Seymour believes that LeeBoy has created an advantage for itself by having its entire operation under one roof.
"Let's say we need a wiring harness for a 20-year-old machine. We just make it in this factory," he said. "Or, if a weldment is required, we can run out to the weld cells and get that done quickly. That capability really helps us get service and parts needs turned around in a hurry." CEG
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