Jurgita Radzevice, Head of SBA Home, a company that operates four furniture factories in Lithuania, is overseeing the construction in Mocksville, North Carolina, of SBA’s first factory in North America. The supplier of casegoods for Ikea plans to start production at its $70 million, 500,000-square-foot factory in the last quarter of 2025.

SBA Home is the largest division of SBA Grupe UAB, a Lithuanian conglomerate established in 1992, that exports furniture to 50 countries worldwide. The company currently has more than 3,000 employees in Lithuania and plans to employ 250 in North Carolina. 

Q. Why did SBA choose North Carolina? What benefits drew you to the Piedmont region of the state?

A. When we at SBA Group decided to invest in our first facility in North America, our team conducted extensive research to determine the most suitable location for our future site, based on a wide range of criteria. We evaluated several key factors: proximity to raw material suppliers, the development of the logistics network, and the convenience of distributing finished goods. We also considered the site’s distance from ports, as some of the raw materials might need to be imported.

The labor market was also critical — we need to ensure access to a sufficiently skilled workforce capable of operating in a highly automated environment.

We explored several East Coast U.S. states. In the final stage, it came down to North and South Carolina. In North Carolina, we found a logistics facility we could convert for manufacturing use, where we’re currently installing equipment.

Another important factor was the strong collaboration and support from state leadership, which made a real difference for us as an investor.

Ultimately, our decision to invest in Davie County, North Carolina, was driven by its strategically attractive logistics infrastructure, proximity to raw materials, access to a skilled workforce, and an investment-friendly environment for global companies.

Additionally, over 800 furniture companies operate in the state, offering a deep pool of experienced talent.

Q. The SBA furniture group is known for its use of robotic and automated machinery. What is SBA’s production philosophy?

A. We are crazy about efficiency — that says it all. SBA group’s DNA is all about “Invent every day for the better.” That’s the philosophy that drives our operations in both of our strategic business sectors - furniture manufacturing and real estate development.

We aim to maximize automation and robotics in production. We seek creative solutions to accelerate processes, ensure top product quality, and reduce unit cost. We also care deeply about minimizing our environmental impact. Sustainability is a priority — in the selection of raw materials and socially responsible business partners.

We see business as inseparable from our employees and the communities we operate in. Our strong corporate value system is based on leadership in invention, a passion to win, and an ownership spirit. These are the values that drive us forward.

Q. Is this massive facility a mirror of your production sites in Lithuania, or was the plant redesigned for this site?

A. We expect the SBA project to create over 250 highly skilled jobs and positively impact the local labor market. The 500,000-square-foot building is currently being adapted for manufacturing use, and equipment installation is underway. We’ve completed roughly a third of the work so far. Within six months, we plan to install 10 production lines, which will include 30 robots and robotic systems.

The equipment comes from leading global suppliers to the furniture manufacturing industry. We plan to launch production at the end of this year. Our target output is 300 packaged furniture units per hour.

Q. Can you tell me about the products you will manufacture in Mocksville? 

A. The Mocksville facility will produce new products for the SBA Group — items we’ve never manufactured in Lithuania.
We expect to produce around 2-million shelving units annually. These products will bring comfort and utility to millions of homes and will be sold exclusively in the U.S. 

Q. I understand that SBA began looking at sites well before President Trump was elected, but it seems as if your timing couldn’t be any better.

A. SBA is a global business group. We export our products to more than 50 countries. Our goal is to be as close to our customers as possible, so establishing manufacturing operations abroad was always just a matter of time.

About eight years ago, we began planning expansion into Asia and North America. At the end, we decided to enter the U.S. market. We scouted locations in the Northern states as well as in the Southeast.

Our decision to invest in the U.S. was made well before the most recent U.S. presidential election, at a time when nobody could predict what trade policies would be introduced. Our objective then, as it is now, remains the same — to be close to our customers, shorten supply chains, reduce production costs, and gain a competitive advantage.

Q. With Ms. Radzevičė’s background in business development and the diversity of business types within the SBA Group, do you eventually anticipate new types of products or services coming out of Mocksville?

A. Right now, we are focused entirely on executing the “SBA Home North Carolina” project, launching production by the end of this year, and ramping up to full capacity successfully.
The success of this first SBA investment in the U.S. will determine whether we expand our production footprint in the future. At that point, we’ll decide whether to grow near the current facility or explore another location.