The Systems Group expands in El Dorado

The Systems Group, a steel industry equipment manufacturer, will expand its main fabrication and machine shop in El Dorado, the company announced Monday (May 2).

The company will purchase 47 acres of land next to its current El Dorado facility and expand operations to make more of its patented Spray-Cooled equipment, which is used to prevent electric arc furnaces from melting while producing new liquid steel. A dollar figure for the expansion was not disclosed.

The Systems Group plans to invest in land, equipment, and buildings and hire 60 new employees in El Dorado. The expansion is already underway, and the company is currently searching for good welders, fitters, and fabricators to join its team.

This is an exciting time in the steel industry,” said Lee Morgan, president and owner of The Systems Group. “America is going through a resurgence of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the USA, and our business is benefiting from that. The steel industry is investing in new mills and expansions, and as a result, Systems’ orders are dramatically increasing for our Spray-Cooled equipment, SMAC air cleaners, and our maintenance and construction services. This expansion will help us triple the equipment we currently build in Arkansas.”

“We are very excited to bring more jobs to South Arkansas. Most of our competitors build their equipment overseas and import it. We are proud to make our Spray-Cooled equipment right here in the USA. We proudly put ‘Made in the USA’ in big letters on our equipment and our customers love it. We are committed to growing in El Dorado,” said Charles Hays Jr., CEO of The Systems Group.

The Systems Group qualified for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) Advantage Arkansas Program, which provides state income tax credit for job creation based on the number of new employees hired as a result of the project, and the AEDC Tax Back Program, which provides sales tax refunds on building materials, taxable machinery, and equipment associated with the project.

“The Systems Group is a great example of why we need to invest more in our skilled workforce,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “The new jobs being created in El Dorado are for welders, fitters, and fabricators – jobs that are in high demand throughout the state that can lead to lifelong career opportunities. We look forward to working with The Systems Group as they continue to grow.”