Hytrol is expanding across Arkansas, as the company plans to invest $20 million into a manufacturing operation in Fort Smith.
On Monday, Jan. 4, the Jonesboro-headquartered material handling systems company announced its plans for an advanced manufacturing operation in Fort Smith. The operations will be located at an existing 300,000 square-foot facility at 6500 Jenny Lind Road in Fort Smith.
This new expansion is projected to create 250 new jobs within five years. Currently, Hytrol employs roughly 1,200 individuals at its two Jonesboro facilities.
“Hytrol has been in Jonesboro, Arkansas since 1962,” Hytrol president David Peacock said in a statement. “We began with 28 employees and have grown to more than 1,200 employees in that location. When it came time to expand with an additional production facility, it was an easy decision to stay in Arkansas. The workforce in Arkansas is second to none; the business climate supports our growth; and our values of faith, family, gratitude, empathy, commitment, and community align perfectly with Arkansas.”
This new operation will increase Hytrol’s production space to approximately 1 million square feet. According to a Hytrol news release, Hytrol currently has more than 700,00 square-feet of production space at its Jonesboro facilities, expanded its facility in 2016. In addition, Hytrol renovated its Technology Center in 2018, increasing its space to 45,000 square feet.
“Fort Smith is extremely excited to welcome Hytrol Conveyor Company to the region,” Tim Allen, president and CEO of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said. “Having another legacy Arkansas company choosing to expand here is proof that business understands what we have to offer. When they needed the right facility, the right workforce and the right environment, their first call was to Fort Smith. That endorsement speaks volumes about what we can bring to the table.”
Hytrol has signed a lease for the Fort Smith facility with the owner of Spartan Logistics.
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Image courtesy of Hytrol
