AFS Corporate Member Applied Process Inc. (Fort Smith, Arkansas) an austempering heat treatment technology company, is expanding with a multi-million-dollar heat treatment plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The 51,000 sq. ft. plant will house six furnaces and add at least 30 jobs. The plant is expected to be fully operational in the third quarter of 2018.

“We are very excited to announce our expansion in Fort Smith,” CEO Harold Karp said. “Record sales performance in 2016 and 2017, combined with a strong new product forecast, make this the right time to expand.”

Applied Process plants in Livonia, Michigan, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will remain in operation, serving the automotive, agriculture, aerospace, heavy truck, railroad, mining industries, as well as the military. The Oshkosh facility houses an integral quench batch austempering furnace which is capable of austempering parts up to 20,000 lbs. in weight.

“The new facility will allow us to expand into new markets and serve a broader geographic customer base”

Rusty Rainbolt, who has been with Applied Process for three years on the sales team, will be plant manager.

“Rusty’s engineering, sales and product experience, along with a strong, experienced leadership team, will ensure a smooth start-up of the new facility,” Karp said.