LEDA recognizes businesses with annual Milestone Awards
Lincoln Times-News Jaclyn Anthony March 22, 2018 Mar 25, 2019
The Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) recently held the organization’s Milestone Achievement Awards Ceremony to recognize milestone anniversaries of manufacturers and distributors in the county.
The meeting was attended by LEDA officials, Mayor Ed Hatley, Commissioner Anita McCall and Rep. Patrick McHenry.
In his remarks, Hatley said that in the excitement of ribbon cuttings and ground breakings for new businesses, established businesses are often forgotten.
McCall spoke about her experience at a recent meeting of the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. She has a presidential appointment to the International Economic Development Task Force. During the meeting, McCall heard from commissioners from around the country who look to business building practices in place in the county as an example.
“The star of the entire room ended up being Lincoln County, North Carolina,” McCall said.
Fifteen companies were recognized for milestones from five years to 105 years of doing business in Lincoln County. Representatives from each company provided their company’s history in the county and some insight to what they do.
Five years:
G & W Laboratories, a bioscience company located on Kawai Road, manufactures over-the-counter and prescription hydrocortisone, antifungal and permethrin products such as creams and ointments.
Family owned R & R Powder Coatings started in Gaston County. Five years ago, they expanded to a second plant located on Carolina Mills Circle.
Ten Years:
Sennobogen’s North American headquarters is located in Stanley. Where they manufacture material movers used in industries such as logging, waste and recycling, and pipe handling.
Spantek makes expanded metal used in air filtration, HVAC and architecture at their plant on Generals Blvd. in Lincolnton.
Massachusetts based Tri-Star Plastics operates a sales and distribution center in Denver. The company engineers and manufactures high performance plastics and self-lubricating bearings materials.
Henkel, located in the Lincoln County Industrial Park, makes adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. Those products are used in a wide array of other industries from packaging to manufacture of microchips. Henkel also has a stake in beauty and laundry/home care industries worldwide.
15 Years:
Industrial Hard Carbon, located in Denver, manufactures thin film coatings used in industries such as oil and gas, motorsports and textiles.
RW Garcia, best known as a tortilla chip maker, has expanded their product line to include crackers and corn chips.
20 Years:
Denver-based Crawford Composites manufactures carbon fiber fabric, hybrid and Kevlar cloth, resin systems, fiberglass and honeycomb products used in several industries including aerospace, musical and automotive.
30 Years:
Universal Rubber Products focuses on custom parts fabrication. They make gaskets and sealing items and industrial insulation for noise and temperature control. Their products are used in the manufacture of products such as vacuums, office equipment, toys and small engines.
40 Years:
Blum, Inc. recently announced a $22.5 million expansion of its facility and US headquarters in Stanley. They design and manufacture a variety of hardware for kitchen cabinets and drawers, including concealed hinges and drawer systems, touch-to-open technology, lift systems and soft-closing doors.
The Timken Company was founded in 1898. They make engineered bearings and power transmission products. Plant manager Rege Eger brought along three employees who have worked at the company since their Iron Station plant came online 1979.
50 Years:
Leonard Automatics, a family owned business now on its third generation, manufactures industrial laundry equipment and garment manufacturing equipment. They also do metal fabrication and recently started a division to making Toyota off-road parts.
55 Years:
Lincolnton based NC Spinning produces yarn used for hosiery, sweater material, upholstery, drapery and various other fabrics.
105 Years:
Haynes Dairy was started in 1914 by Harbin Haynes who delivered milk and cream via horse and wagon. Paul Haynes, Jr. pointed out that his company is also a beef supplier. A solar farm located on the property produces enough energy to power over 300 homes.
“I always felt like it wasn’t a job, it’s an opportunity to serve your friends,” Haynes said. “It’s been a joy. Not many people go out and deliver ice cream at 70 years old.”
During Congressman Patrick McHenry’s remarks, he highlighting the need to reinvest in what makes the area economically strong.
“This gives me a great sense of where we are economically as a county,” McHenry said.
“And LEDA has been fantastic about ensuring that we’re focusing on recruiting new industry, but never losing sight of the existing industries that have brought us to where we are today.”