South Korea-based LS Electric Co., a major player in the global electric power equipment sector and part of LS Group, has officially completed construction of a new production and research facility in Bastrop, Texas. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s long-term strategy to expand its footprint in the U.S. and respond proactively to shifting trade dynamics.

The facility—dubbed the Bastrop Campus—was commemorated with a completion ceremony on Monday, local time. The event drew around 200 attendees, including LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun and Bastrop Mayor Pro-Tem John Kirkland, underscoring the importance of the investment for both the company and the local community.

Built on a 46,000-square-meter plot the company acquired in 2023, the Bastrop Campus is outfitted with advanced infrastructure for manufacturing, research, and design. The facility represents LS Electric’s first major manufacturing base in the United States and is part of a broader effort to localize production amid tightening U.S. trade restrictions.

The company’s decision comes in response to a wave of new tariffs and anti-dumping duties imposed under the Trump administration, which have made imported electrical components more expensive and less competitive in the American market. By producing domestically, LS Electric aims to avoid these trade barriers and better serve its growing customer base in North America.

Starting this year, the Bastrop site will manufacture a range of strategic products, including medium- and low-voltage power equipment and power distribution systems. These offerings are essential to utilities and industrial clients working to modernize energy infrastructure and integrate renewable sources.

“We plan to invest an additional $240 million by 2030 to expand production facilities and hire local staff, making this a hub for North American power solutions,” said LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun during the ceremony. “This investment marks the starting point for LS Electric’s goal of achieving 70 percent overseas sales and becoming one of the top four power companies in the U.S.”

In addition to manufacturing, the Bastrop Campus will serve as a research and development center, giving LS Electric a platform to innovate and customize products specifically for the needs of U.S. clients. The site will also provide training and support resources, helping to build a local talent pipeline and create skilled jobs in Bastrop and the surrounding region.

The company’s long-term vision reflects broader trends in the global energy sector, where decentralization, digitalization, and decarbonization are driving demand for advanced grid and power distribution technologies. LS Electric’s U.S. investment places it in a strong position to respond to these changes while reducing dependency on exports.

With this strategic move, LS Electric not only deepens its commitment to the North American market but also signals its ambition to compete more aggressively with global power equipment giants operating in the region.

Originally reported by Jeong Ji-seong and Han Yubin in Pulse.