Advanced Heat Treat Corporation of Waterloo, Iowa, announced their intentions to build their fourth service center and manufacturing facility in Cullman County at a ceremony on Thursday, August 10, 2006.

City, county and state officials joined Gary Sharp and members of Advanced Heat Treat's administrative staff in celebrating the company's decision to build in Cullman.

"We've looked at sites in three states as well as other sites in the state of Alabama," Sharp said. "California, the Carolinas ... we haven't seen anyone as organized as you folks and so focused on working together to bring companies here. It was easy to select Cullman."

According to Sharp, the company plans to build on a site in Cullman's Industrial Park III across from Topre American and Nafco on County Road 222. Advanced's Cullman operation will initially start with an employee roster of about 20 and an investment of $6 - 7 million.

"We believe this can be the biggest operation in our organization," Sharp said. "We pledge to you that Advanced will be a good corporate citizen and help your community grow."

Advanced Heat Treat currently has three production facilities: one in Monroe, Mich., and two in Waterloo, Iowa, one of which includes their corporate headquarters.

According to Sharp, although Advanced Heat Treat does manufacture some parts for industrial use, the company's speciality is a process known as "UltraGlow" ion nitriding. This process of heat treatment improves the strength, flexibility and abrasion resistance of metal components and tools. Most of Advanced's clients are from the automotive and aerospace sectors and include Ford, Chrysler, GM, Caterpillar, John Deere, Harley Davidson to and Northrup Grumman to name but a few.

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. was founded by Sharp in 1981. Since that time, hundreds of companies worldwide have turned to them for their metallurgic expertise as well as their "Mid-west work ethic," something Sharp says is mirrored in the local workforce and played a major role in the decision to locate here.

During the announcement ceremony, Sharp and his associates were officially welcomed by Cullman Mayor Don Green, Cullman County Commission Chairman Wiley Kitchens, City Industrial Development Board Chairman John Apel, Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Mancer, David Nichols of the Alabama Development Office, and State Representative Neal Morrison, who presented Sharp with a state seal made from pecan shells and a state flag.

"If it weren't for businesses like you, this state couldn't survive," Morrison told Sharp.

"Cullman is a city on the move where progress is achieved," said Mayor Green, presenting Sharp with the Key to the City of Cullman. "We're very appreciative you've come to Cullman. You pointed out in your presentation just the kind of people we have: people with a strong work ethic that will make your company strong."

Chairman Kitchens also thanked Sharp for choosing Cullman County and remarked upon the level of cooperation between the city and county governments that made the recruitment of Advanced possible.

All of the officials who spoke gave credit to the efforts of Peggy Smith and the Cullman Economic Development Agency as well as the city and county Industrial Development Boards and Cullman County Economic Development for their roles in making Advanced's location in Cullman County possible.

"It's so refreshing to have that level of cooperation," said the city ID Board's John Apel.

State Representative Neal Morrison presents Advanced Heat Treat Corp. CEO Gary Sharp with a state seal and flag at the company's announcement ceremony at Cullman City Hall on Aug. 10.