Gates Corp. has announced it will expand its Iola, Kan., manufacturing facility to accommodate its new line of oil and gas hose products. The 82,000-square-foot expansion will increase the size of the company’s existing plant that manufactures high-quality hydraulic and other industrial hose products to more than 500,000 square feet.

Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2015 and will take approximately 18 months to complete, including equipment installation and testing.

“We are very excited about this expansion of our Iola manufacturing facility,” said Scott Strycker, Gates Iola plant manager.

Ken Friedman, President Americas Region for Gates, added, “Selecting Iola as the site for this new facility speaks to the quality of the people and products manufactured out of the Iola plant.”

In operation since 1975, the Gates Iola plant currently employs more than 650 people in its manufacturing and distribution operations and is currently accepting applications for employment.