The Hytrol Story

a Florida office which he maintained for many years. And, of course, he was still a member of the Hytrol Board of Directors. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hytrol continued to design and market new types of conveyors and accessories. High-speed sortation conveyors and zero-pressure accumulating conveyors were very much in demand by industries who needed to move goods faster, more efficiently, and more economically. Hytrol’s engineering teams met the demands with new and revolutionary conveyor designs. The Hytrol Technology Center was built just for this purpose. Many exciting products have come from the Tech Center with the promise of many more to come. In 1998, Hytrol announced a new Stockyard would be built in Jonesboro, adjacent to the main plant. Upon completion, the St. Louis facility would be closed. Several reasons necessitated this change. With a four-lane highway now open between Jonesboro and Memphis, shipments out of Jonesboro were now fast and reliable. Additionally, with the Stockyard connected to the main plant, Hytrol would be able to maximize its 24-hour shipping capabilities and add more models to the Stockyard inventory. The new 75,000 sq. ft. facility was officially opened in September 1999. On a sad note, Hytrol lost Ralph Pocobello in 2000. It was a great shock to the entire Hytrol Family. A special memorial service was held at Hytrol, attended by Hytrol employees and others. A number of Ralph’s past associates took turns just talking about Ralph and the influence he had made on their lives. Hytrol continued to expand and modernize its operations through the end of the twentieth century. More plant expansions took place as business continued to grow. The addition of a state-of-the-art powder paint department was another step to provide Hytrol distributors and customers with superior products. Hytrol’s Aviation department moved into a new hangar in April of 2001. Located next to the Hytrol Technology Center and just a few blocks from the main plant, the hangar accommodates customers and distributors by putting them closer to Hytrol when they are flown in for meetings and product tests. With the success in moving the National Stockyard from St. Louis to Jonesboro, Hytrol made the decision to close the Western Stockyard at Manteca, California in late 2001. Now, with all Stockyard business coming and leaving Jonesboro, Hytrol is able to further increase its flexibility in the 24-hour line. Now, more models and sizes can be shipped in 24 hours than ever before!