Loader Parts Source

How has a small business grown from one man selling Skid Steer replacement parts out of his garage to a multilevel company, employing over 30 individuals and delivering parts all over the world? Levi Burkholder rebuilt his first engine at 14 years old in his father's repair shop. At the time, hydraulic systems were evolving so Levi began educating himself on the hydraulic systems as they progressed. He started his own hydraulic repair business in 1996 called, Burkholder Repair in Wakarusa, IN. "Every day was a different challenge because we worked on a wide variety of farm and construction equipment," says Levi. "I had a team of 4 guys. Skid-steer loaders were used in both farming and construction, so we saw a lot of them. There weren't good suppliers for skid-steer parts so worked hard to track down the parts we needed at a customer friendly price." After 10 years of business, Levi decided to close his doors to Burkholder Repair to take care of his sick daughter. After her recovery, he began to sell his leftover parts and realized that there is still a need for skid steer parts and that he truly enjoyed working with all the customers and helping them find what they need. In 2008, Levi opened the doors to Loader Parts Source. "I believed I could provide quality parts with quicker delivery times, at a better price, and offer better technical support for those doing the repairs, either in repair shops or through the user's own capabilities," says Levi. Loader Parts Source grew rapidly and soon began offering rebuilt components in response to customer demand. When vendors couldn't keep up with demand, Levi started a remanufacture shop within LPS, focusing only on the hydraulic components instead of the complete machine. The company's offerings have grown from hydraulic pumps and drive motors to include undercarriage parts, starters, engines, alternators, seals, bearings, and radiators, and much more. Today, LPS tries to supply the items that are needed from running a full-scale shop to an individual replacing ...