JONESBORO, Ark. — Hytrol dedicated its renovated Technology Center on Tuesday. The ceremony, attended by local leaders, included an open house and tours of the more than $1.5 million updates to the facility.

Hytrol Chairman of the Board Robert Jones charged those in attendance to continue to support Hytrol and in turn build a stronger northeast Arkansas commmunity.

The 45,000-square-foot building was renovated to include 185 new conveyors comprising eight different conveyor loops spanning two stories for customer demonstrations. Hytrol will also be able to test customer-provided products in the area.

“The Technology Center was specifically designed to show visitors how diverse we are in the material handling industry,” said Hytrol President David Peacock. “I want this facility to inspire the Hytrol Family to build upon the foundation that Tom gave us to continue to change the world and make it better.”

The center also houses a research and development lab. The secure area is solely for new technology, product development and prototype testing. The lab features 10 test bays, a rapid prototyping area and a safety center.

“This facility will allow us to build conveyors better, faster, less expensive and more reliable,” Peacock said. “It has the tools for engineers to advance material handling technology.”

The renovation also entails an industry-exclusive augmented reality room that allows customers to experience their material handling design virtually before it is built or installed. Hytrol collaborated with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock George W. Donaghey Emerging Analytics Center to create the one-of-a-kind experience.

“When you see the technology innovations that are going on and the foresight this team has put forward to really reach into the future of how they are going to serve their customers,” said AState Engineering Dean Timothy N. Burcham.  “This is not only a great day for Hytrol and Jonesboro, but also Arkansas State University. This Technology Center is a great addition to our community.”

Throughout the day Hytrol celebrated the dedication with employees by offering tours of the space.

“This is an exciting time to be at Hytrol,” said Employee Training Specialist Jessica Odom. “The renovation is a great investment in us and will help Hytrol grow opportunities.”

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About Hytrol:

Hytrol designs and manufactures advanced conveyor systems for its customers. For more than 70 years, Hytrol has focused on creating innovative, customized conveyor solutions that help companies achieve their goals.