Big Techs Industry Tours & Little Big Techs Showcase

Ever wonder how stuff is made? Come see how Komatsu builds the world's largest front end loader, how Eastman, INVISTA, and Westlake turn chemicals into products, how STEMCO's manufacturing is making roadways safer, and other cool technology. Join us for Big Techs: the behind-the-scene tours of what makes East Texas work.

Longview’s story—rooted in its 1870 founding as a railroad town, its industrial rise during the East Texas Oil Boom and WWII—is a testament to generations of trailblazers. Big Techs is a collaborative effort of the Longview Economic Development Corporation and the Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau as a part of Industry Appreciation Month.

Industry tours are free, but registration is required. Each tour is approximately one hour, with most tour times at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. There are 11 industry tours but only 3 tour times, so choose the tours that work best for you. Please note age restrictions and clothing restrictions on some tours.

AAON, 203 Gum Springs Rd., Longview, TX

• Texas is hot, but AAON products help keep us cool. AAON is engaged in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of air conditioning and heating equipment. Learn how AAON builds everything from commercial-sized air conditioners to geothermal/water-source heat pumps and coils. The Longview offices and manufacturing facilities employees more than 600 people at their 263,000 square feet facility.
• Must wear close-toed shoes and long pants. Facility is not heated; wear weather appropriate clothing.

Eastman Chemical, 300 Kodak Blvd., Longview, TX

• Learn how Eastman Chemical and Westlake Chemical turn chemicals into plastic products, which in turn make life better for people every day. From the film on your car’s windshield to the screen on your tablet, from baby bottles to passenger jets, from tires to attire, the world depends on products made here. Long pants and closed-toe shoes required.

• Check-in Location: B-86 Learning Services Building
• Spanish-speaking option offered.

Flanders, 901 W Harrison Rd, Longview, TX 75604- Minimum age: 18

• For more than seven decades, FLANDERS has been a trusted global leader in industrial power and automation—designing, manufacturing, and servicing motors, drives, and control systems for mining, mills, and heavy industry worldwide. On this tour, learn how the Flanders Motor Shop rebuilds motors for clients ranging from locomotive to mining.

• Close toed shoes and no shorts

Holt CAT Machine Division, 5110 W. Loop 281, Longview, TX

• During this tour, participants will have a chance to see various types of industrial Caterpillar equipment in various stages of repair. This will include whole machines, torn down machines, components on the machine, and undercarriage. There will also be opportunities to touch the equipment, sit inside of the cabs of the equipment, as well as demos of dirt moving on our back yard.

Holt CAT Power Systems, 2210 Legacy Pkwy., Longview, TX

• See how Holt Cat Power Systems completely refurbishes huge industrial engines from large Caterpillar earth-moving equipment into like-new condition. Children are welcome with adult. Must wear closed toe shoes. Safety glasses will be provided.

INVISTA, a KOCH Company, 118 Huntsman Way, Longview, TX- Minimum age: 8.

• INVISTA’s polymers and chemical intermediates are the foundation for many of the plastics you use every day, and INVISTA fibers are woven into many of the fabrics and materials you rely on. INVISTA plastics are used to make everything from the color caps of Sharpie and Crayola markers to laundry detergent measuring cups.
• Must wear closed toed shoes.

Indevco, 800 Jordan Valley Rd, Longview, TX-

• Learn how INDEVCO produces energy-efficient building envelope products and sustainable packaging materials from paper, paperboard, and plastics, then recycles these materials for reuse or regeneration into new products.
• No shorts, cutoff shirts, or open toed shoes

Komatsu Mining, 2400 S. MacArthur St., Longview, TX- Minimum age: 10

• Komatsu makes the world’s largest wheel loader, the L-2350, an earth-mover of massive proportion. The huge machine weighs 294 tons (more than the Statue of Liberty!) and features tires that are 13 feet tall. Yet, this goliath is fuel efficient utilizing a hybrid diesel / electric drive. Komatsu’s Longview location was originally founded by Robert G. LeTourneau over 70 years ago. Mr. LeTourneau designed and built machines beyond the imagination of ordinary men. He introduced into the earthmoving and material handling industry the rubber tire, which today is almost universally accepted. LeTourneau built 70% of the heavy earthmoving equipment used by the allies in World War II. During the height of the war, from 1942 to 1945, his fertile mind pumped out 78 inventions, many of which were instrumental in helping to win the war. Komatsu acquired the facility in 2016.

• Long pants and closed toe shoes required.

LeTourneau University Aviation Center, 200 Airpark Dr, Longview, TX 75603

• LeTourneau University is a comprehensive institution of Christian higher education where educators engage learners to nurture Christian virtue, to develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, to integrate faith and work, and to serve the local and global community. This tour will focus on Flight and Maintenance training. You will see the maintenance training and flight training areas (including simulators and real airplanes).
• Parking will be in the Visitor lot and the main parking lot with check-in directly in the main door.

STEMCO, 300 Industrial Drive., Longview, TX-Minimum Age: 12

• STEMCO has been supplying a diverse line of high performance systems and components to the commercial vehicle industry since 1951. Their mission is to engineer advanced commercial vehicle solutions and create exceptional customer experiences in our passion of Making the Roadways Safer. STEMCO is consistently recognized as a world-class manufacturer of innovative and exciting commercial vehicle solutions. The values of safety, excellence and respect drive everything that STEMCO and parent company Enpro Industries (NYSE:NPO) do. Trust, training and focused innovation are just a few of our value drivers at STEMCO. Increasing fleet safety and performance expectations are our specialties.STEMCO was originally established in St. Charles, Missouri by Ben Cook and Tom Davidson in 1951. The company began with the production of pinion seals, standard and Grit Guard® oil seals, hub caps, and exhaust products. In 1956, STEMCO headquarters relocated to Longview, Texas where wheel adapters, drum check gauges, oil seals and exhaust accessories were manufactured. Since then, STEMCO has continued to grow and evolve, becoming a diverse, world-class manufacturer of commercial vehicle components.

• No heels or hoodies. Close toe shoes are required. Steel toe shoes are required, but can be provided during tour. Safety glasses and ear plugs provided.
• Spanish-speaking option offered.

Westlake Chemical, 811 Estes Drive Eastman Building 86, Longview, TX

• Westlake Performance & Essential Materials businesses also includes our polyethylene and vinyl chemicals production, which are vital to the manufacturing of polymers to protect food, medical and personal products, and an extensive range of sectors and spaces, such as automotive interiors and exteriors, building materials, PVC pipes for agriculture, water systems and buildings, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and many more vital applications. Click the button below to learn more about Westlake's Performance & Essential Materials business.
• Littles must be accompanied by a parent on the bus.

Downtown Longview will be full of hands-on activities as we explore science and technology during Little Big Techs. On Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., the Gregg County Historical museum will have STEAM-related activities provided through partnerships with area schools. Although the activities will be appropriate for children, the activities will be fun and educational for adults to try as well.

Gregg County Historical Museum 214 N. Fredonia St, Longview, TX 75601

• Admission: Free.

Longview World of Wonders 112 E. Tyler St., Longview, TX 75601

• Admission: $5 (or free for museum members)

Info: Gregg County Historical Museum, Longview World of Wonders

Info: Various locations, free ticket required.

Info: Various locations, free ticket required.

Info: Various locations, free ticket required.

Also check out other Workshops in Longview, Entertainment events in Longview, Food & Drink events in Longview.