The Global Network

When they boarded their recent flight at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, few of the 16 KIOTI dealers — some with their wives — had a clue as to what their first trip to South Korea had in store for them. The winners and runners-up in a recent KIOTI sales contest were excited about the opportunity to learn something new about the company’s products they were marketing and its country of origin.

Once in South Korea, the group went to visit one of Daedong’s suppliers, and then began the tour of the huge Daedong campus in Daegu. The first day’s visits to the Daedong Gear Co. and Daedong’s huge Research and Development Center provided their first wakeup call.

“We were in awe,” said Jake Weldon of Weldon Equipment Co., Julian, Pa.  “If any of us had any concerns of what Daedong was all about, the size and scope of this operation, the quality and cleanliness of their production lines and their employees’ attitudes and willingness to help, surely this would have eliminated those preconceptions in one broad stroke.”

Daedong and their subsidiary, Daedong-USA with its bright orange KIOTI brand tractors, pride themselves on running a tight ship. Today, KIOTI specializes in the sale and service of quality compact tractors, attachments and implements; next year, the company will also enter the growing utility vehicle market. Its North American headquarters is based in Wendell, N.C., and though the company may have started off as an underdog player in the compact tractor business in 1993, KIOTI is growing its market share in this tough economy. Perhaps it’s because the company offers a four-year, full-fleet, unrestricted warranty on its tractor power trains. Dealers noted that one look at a Daedong Industrial facility will show the company’s commitment to efficiency and cleanliness.  

“The entire facility has this eat-off-the-floor look to it that would do any OEM, anywhere proud,” said Weldon.  “I think I can speak for all of us when I say we were totally impressed.”

According to KIOTI’s Mike Boucher, “Daedong is a huge network of companies supplying various industries. They designed and built their first diesel engine back in the 1940s and now turn out over 50,000 engines a year. These quality engines are used in all of the products we make. We wanted our dealers to see this firsthand; not only the tractor and UTV lines, but also the size, scope and quality of our parent organization.”

Dan Ison, owner of Kenton Equipment, Independence, Ky., got the message. Ison grew up working on tractors and understands why and how every part in a tractor functions. Prior to taking on the KIOTI line, he spent much time under these machines checking out their construction and quality. “To say the least, I was amazed,” said Ison, “especially by the mechanical fit and finish of these machines and their components.”

When he got out on the floor at Daedong Industrial, where the tractors and UTVs are made, he could see why.  Daedong manufactures all of the primary components of their machines in-house, so there are no excuses for not having a perfect fit. “I’ve been a big fan of KIOTI for the past five years we have been working together. Seeing these being built first hand has opened my eyes even wider. These are really great products and I am very pleased to represent them back home in Kentucky.”

In between well-designed production lines and products, the group had the opportunity to play tourist for a bit, visiting ancient palaces, museums and popular restaurants.