Impulse Manufacturing recently announced the acquisition of MSM Holding Company, a move that could more than double the Dawsonville-based steel fabricator's work force within the next year.

The manufacturer bought Bellwright Industries in Summerville, S.C., and Mid-State Machine in Ulla, N.C., on April 24. Both specialize in machine castings and support a variety of Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

"The combined operations currently employ over 400 people. We believe this number will grow rapidly to over 550 people in under 12 months," said Karl Baysden, director of sales and marketing for Impulse.

According to Baysden, the merger gives Impulse a presence in a region the fabricator was previously unable to serve.

"It's two different facilities, and there's a lot of customers and prospects in the North Carolina and South Carolina areas that we really have not been able to sell products to because they felt like we were just too far away from them geographically," he said.

Companies in the Carolinas have expressed interest in products manufactured at the Dawsonville plant.

"It will allow us to sell our products and services made in Dawsonville to companies up in this area," Baysden said. "And likewise, our customers that we deal with make byproducts and services that these other companies manufacture as well.

"With this merger, hopefully we'll be able to grow all three businesses with our existing customer base and expand through their customer bases."

With the addition of the two affiliates, the Impulse brand has grown to employ more than 400 workers across three sites.

"We believe that the customers are really going to like this combination of capabilities and skill sets that the three companies offer," Baysden said. "If it works out the way we think it will, it should result in increased employment opportunities for all three facilities in the coming years."

The merger comes as Impulse begins a major expansion that will add nearly 50,000 square feet to its manufacturing operation off G.W. Taffer Road at 55 Impulse Industrial Drive, near Ga. 400.

Baysden said the $7.5 million expansion, which calls for an additional 50,000 square feet of space to house a new paint line and more than $5 million in equipment, is on track to be complete by fall.

"That project is moving forward. They've broken ground. There's nothing on hold there," he said. "We're still looking at an August/September timeframe for completion. And that's the expansion and the installation of the new equipment in Dawsonville."

The 150,000-square-foot plant currently employs more than 200 workers over three shifts. It produces parts for several small excavator models, including a new Caterpillar production facility in Athens.