The Taco Lubbock, Texas facility is quickly becoming a key component of the company’s future. While Lubbock might seem like an obscure location at first glance, it’s actually the pump capital of the United States.
“Lubbock feels random unless you’re in this world,” said Justin Pena, an area native who was recently named VP of Operations. That local advantage shows up in his team. With decades of industry experience across departments, the facility has a strong operational foundation as it continues its rapid expansion.
Under Justin’s leadership, staff has grown by 50 percent in the past seven weeks alone, with the addition of welders, assemblers, and engineers to support increasing demand.
The early priorities of Taco Lubbock focus on skid packages and tank production, which are expected to drive even greater expansion over the next few years. A major milestone is already underway, with the tank line being brought to Lubbock. It is expected to become a substantial portion of the business by the end of 2026.
To sustain the facility’s rapid development, Taco is making internal investments in quality and operations. Onsite experts, a new quality management system, and staff specifically hired as continuous improvement resources are all part of the plan.
“The most important thing is giving ownership to every individual,” Justin said. “Clear accountability and measurable metrics help drive consistency and quality.”
Justin’s management strategy quickly made an impact across the facility. Challenges are broken into smaller, more manageable tasks and tackled collaboratively, and regular communication is heavily prioritized.
Lubbock is positioned to support some of Taco’s largest OEM opportunities, strengthening partnerships and delivering solutions on a larger scale.
Justin brings nearly ten years of industry experience and a background in engineering, sales, and management. His vision goes beyond short-term successes.
“We have great potential here,” he said. “We’re building a framework for a scalable organization and a strong base. We’re making the investment now so we can grow fast later.”
Consistent with the Taco culture, the foundation of Lubbock is rooted in its people. “The way our team talks about their work stands out,” Justin noted. “They have the resources they need to succeed.”
Looking ahead, the goal is ambitious: accelerate growth, expand output, and continue building a high-performing operation that delivers the highest quality and most dependable solutions for its customers.
The groundwork is already in place for success, and the next phase is just getting started.
