In July 2022, shortly after the company’s founding in 2021, Duksan Electera made the strategic decision to locate its first North American manufacturing facility in Shelbyville, Tennessee. This commitment included more than 100 new jobs and a $95 million investment in Bedford County.
Now, just a few years later, the company has transformed from an empty field to the largest electrolyte manufacturing facility in the country. After the official ribbon cutting ceremony for Duksan’s new facility in January, our team sat down with Moonil Cheon, sales manager, and Jinkang Yim, plant manager, to discuss the impact of the company’s Tennessee location and its ambitious goals for the future.
From Korea to Bedford County
Cheon moved from Seoul, South Korea, a city of 10 million people, to Middle Tennessee for this job opportunity with Duksan, and according to him, it has been an incredible experience so far.
“When I first got here, it was all just a grass field,” recalls Cheon. “I had to work out of a trailer office, but now I get to work in this state-of-the-art facility, so it’s been great for us.”
Duksan plays a crucial role in the battery supply chain, providing essential electrolytes for battery production.
“Much like how Gatorade supplies electrolytes to our body, our electrolytes supply the flow of electrodes in a battery cell,” explained Cheon.
Major factors in the company’s decision to establish operations in Tennessee included our state’s location within the emerging “battery belt,” a region that starts in Michigan and runs all the way down to Alabama and Georgia, along with our workforce.
“Tennessee is smack dab in the middle of the battery belt, and we thought, strategically, this is a very good option for us,” said Yim. “Tennessee also has a very high level of education and a government that supports scientific programs, so this was a great opportunity to attract the quality workforce Tennessee has to offer.”
Embracing a New Culture
Yim credits the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) for helping navigate a new culture and facilitate key conversations between city and county officials, which eased the company’s transition into the local business environment
“Since we’re just gearing up, we have a lot of support coming from Korea, but our goal is to localize the workforce around here,” explains Yim. “We’ve been working with not only the local staffing agencies, but also the Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership has been very helpful to us.”
With most of Duksan’s employees relocating from Korea, adapting to a new way of life was a significant adjustment.
“Most of our employees are now Shelbyville residents,” said Cheon. “They call Shelbyville home, and the local community has helped us integrate very quickly, so we’re grateful for that.”
Leading the Charge
Duksan’s Shelbyville facility stands out not just in Tennessee, but across the nation.
“We are one of the first Korean electrolyte manufacturers to locate in the United States and have the highest capacity of a single manufacturing plant,” explained Yim. “I believe this gives us great potential to grow here in the state of Tennessee.”
With room to double or even triple production capacity within its existing facility, Duksan is positioned for long-term success in Tennessee. The company is also scouting additional locations in the state for future expansion.
“Our goal is to become the number one electrolyte manufacturing firm in the United States by the year 2028,” said Cheon. “And I think we’re on course to do that.”
“Our goal is to become the number one electrolyte manufacturing firm in the United States by the year 2028.”
Feeling at Home in Tennessee
Both Cheon and Yim agree that the welcoming nature of the community and the state’s support for international businesses have made their transition seamless.
“Tennessee has been very gentle and kind to us, even though we are from outside the country,” said Yim. “We feel the southern hospitality rubbing off on us, and because of the way people in Tennessee make us feel at home, we are happier and better employees.”
From a field of grass to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Duksan’s journey in Tennessee is a testament to the state’s ability to attract and support global businesses. As the company looks ahead to further expansion, one thing is clear: Tennessee is not just where Duksan does business—it’s where they call home.
To learn more about Duksan Electera, click here.
