Company announces $3.5M investment, 50 new jobs

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen GROWING: Timber Automation announced Wednesday it will invest more than $3.5 million in new customer support, engineering and manufacturing jobs, and capital equipment at its 145,000-square-foot Hot Springs facility.
The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen GROWING: Timber Automation announced Wednesday it will invest more than $3.5 million in new customer support, engineering and manufacturing jobs, and capital equipment at its 145,000-square-foot Hot Springs facility.

Timber Automation on Wednesday announced plans to invest more than $3.5 million in its Hot Springs facility, creating 50 new jobs.

According to a news release, Timber Automation will invest more than $3.5 million in new customer support, engineering and manufacturing jobs, and capital equipment at its 145,000-square-foot facility.

Timber Automation provides custom engineered equipment and control systems for woodyards and sawmills that maximize yield, increase uptime and reduce production costs, the release said.

"We're fortunate to be in a position where one of our biggest challenges is keeping up with customer demand," John Steck, president of Timber Automation, said in the release.

"By creating more than 50 new jobs, we will ensure that Timber Automation can continue to design, manufacture, sell and support industry-leading equipment for our customers. Additionally, capital improvements like our new CNC boring mill will allow us to increase our production capacity and improve product quality while also creating more high-skilled manufacturing jobs. We're excited to be able to continue to invest in this business and the broader Hot Springs community."

The company was founded locally more than 25 years ago, first as Hi-Tech Engineering in the early 1990s and more recently as Baxley-LogPro from the mid-2000s.

In 2017, the company rebranded to Timber Automation, encompassing Baxley, LogPro and newly formed Timber Automation Construction, which completes turnkey construction and equipment installation.

"Our community is excited to learn of Timber Automation's growth outlook which will bring significant investment and jobs to the greater Hot Springs community," Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe said in the release.

"As a cyclical business, prudent management decisions have allowed Timber Automation to position itself to take advantage of the current economic environment to satisfy the needs of existing customers and grow new ones. This new capital investment reaffirms the company's bright outlook," McCabe said.

"I'm very proud of our homegrown businesses who have worked hard throughout the years to bring jobs and economic development to this community," County Judge Rick Davis said.

"I have memories of Hi-Tech Engineering's commitment and caring for this community for many years which has brought Baxley and Timber Automation to the level of success that they have achieved. Their ongoing efforts are continuing to provide opportunity for people to work and change their lives. I appreciate their hard work allowing this wonderful growth and expansion," Davis said.

"The Hot Springs Metro Partnership is excited about the ongoing growth at Timber Automation," Gary Troutman, president and CEO of Hot Springs Metro Partnership, said.

"Timber Automation is in most capable hands with John Steck and his team of leadership there, and we congratulate them on injecting an additional $3.5 million into our local economy and creating 50 new jobs for Hot Springs and Garland County. At the Partnership, we are always enthusiastically working with our local companies to maximize their success," Troutman said in the news release.

Local on 01/11/2018

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