Specialty Heat Treating Inc. announced it will expand its heat-treating facility in Elkhart County, Ind. The move is estimated to create up to 26 jobs by 2012. The Michigan-based company plans to invest $1.5 million to add a new vacuum furnace to its existing 33,000-square-foot plant. The new furnace, which will provide additional capacity to its existing vacuum heat-treating services, will be installed in May with production beginning in August. The company currently employs 12 associates in Elkhart County and plans to begin adding production personnel in May.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Specialty Heat Treating up to $270,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $2,500 in training grants based on the company's job-creation plans. Specialty Heat Treating, which was established in 1973, processes specialized, high-end components from three production facilities in Michigan (Grand Rapids and Holland) and Indiana.