Innovative Hearth Products (IHP), the manufacturer of Astria, IronStrike and Superior brand fireplaces, stoves, inserts and accessories, announced the grand re-opening ceremony of its Russellville, Alabama, facility on Tuesday, October 28 at 1:30 pm, CDT. The ceremony commemorates the company’s renovation and expansion of the facility, which involved a 14-month, $14 million investment that has resulted in 225 new jobs to the local and surrounding communities.

To address manufacturing and sales growth, IHP enlarged the original 105,000 sq. ft. operation to 320,000 sq. ft. The company acquired new state-of-the-art equipment, and transferred necessary equipment from its Union City, Tennessee, and Santa Ana, California, facilities to the renovated Alabama location.  n addition IHP dedicated numerous hours to advanced employee training over several months, in preparation for the factory’s re-opening.

IHP is dedicating the facility to friend and former employee Charlie Krosp, who was instrumental in opening the plant in 2004. Krosp productively managed the operation for a number of years before retiring in 2011. In his honor, the new factory will be referenced as “Charlie’s Campus” with a plaque in the visitor’s lobby to honor him and his long-time devotion to the company.

Mark Klein, CEO

The grand reopening event will host company employees including Mark Klein, CEO, industry professionals, community leaders, and dignitaries, including Russellville, Alabama, Sen. Roger Bedford, Representative Johnny Jack Morrow and Mayor David Grissom.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will precede guided tours of the facility, which are scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm and will be led by IHP plant manager Sam Scarbrough and his team.

 “We look forward to a long, solid relationship with the Russellville community,” said Glenn Thomson, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at IHP. “We have many hard-working, loyal employees as well as a number of staff members who have transferred from our Union City operation devoting their time and energy to the operation’s success and advancement.”

Offering a diverse family of products for every style and budget, Innovative Hearth Products (IHP), backed by the Comvest Group, is the only manufacturer with offerings in every fireplace category. IHP is the leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor fireplaces, fireplace inserts, free-standing stoves, gas log sets, accessories, and venting products for specialty retail, residential new construction and industrial markets. IHP has manufacturing plants in Auburn, Washington, Russellville, Alabama, and Santa Ana, California, as well as corporate offices in Nashville Tennessee.

Visit the website.