(KAIR)--The City of Wathena, on Wednesday, was revealed as the location for a state-of-the art manufacturing facility that will come through a $50 million dollar investment by Summit Truck Bodies, identified in a release from the office of Kansas Governor Kelly, as "a leader in service and lube truck body manufacturing."

The release says the expansion, which will double the company's production output and create 80 new jobs, aims to meet the rising demand for high-quality service trucks.

The release, announcing the move, explains that "the new facility will include a 200,000-square-foot manufacturing space and 20,000 square feet dedicated to office spaces and showrooms," and "will be located adjacent to the existing production and warehouse facility to ensure efficiency, optimize workflow, and double production output," with the expansion to "focus on service body production and the final assembly of service trucks."

Construction is expected to be completed in 20 months.

The Wathena company's current 132,000 square-foot facility, the release says, " will be transformed to streamline capability in key areas, shifting its focus to manufacturing lube trucks, drawer systems, cranes, body refurbishments, and parts sales."

Kelly, in the release, calls the company's expansion "proof that [the State's] dedicated workforce, quality of life, and central location draw businesses across various industries,” adding that "Kansas will continue to partner with first-class companies...to ensure communities throughout the state have opportunities to prosper.”

Plant Manager Chris Walter, in the release, says the most exciting aspect of the expansion "is the integration of new technology and streamlined processes that will maximize [Summit's] production efficiency.”

Summit Truck Equipment, the release explains, is a sister company of STB, "focused on selling custom service and lube trucks and equipment STB produces," adding that the expansion means "manufacturing capabilities will significantly elevate STE's capacity to meet market needs."