Denso to build $35 million Osceola plant

A $35 million automotive parts manufacturing facility will soon begin construction in Osceola. Denso Corp. of Japan is the owner, while Denso Manufacturing Arkansas Inc. will operate the facility.

More than 1.5 million car air conditioners and 70,000 heavy equipment radiators will be produced at the facility.

Denso's North American customers will be supplied by the plant. The plant will measure approximately 217,000 sq. ft. upon completion. Production of the radiators will begin in October 2004 and production of the air conditioners will begin in January 2005.

Magic Springs adds suspended roller coaster in Hot Springs

A Hot Springs company plans to build a suspended looping roller coaster by the summer 2004.

Magic Springs & Crystal Falls' roller coaster will cost an estimated $7 million and reach 10 stories high, and is expected to significantly boost attendance.

The roller coaster will reach 2,260-ft.-long and 109 ft. tall, and is being manufactured by Vekoma Rides Manufacturing of The Netherlands.

I.C.E. acquires Little Rock engineer

Little Rock engineering firm I.C.E. Inc. recently purchased Fred Hegi & Associates Inc., also of Little Rock.

One of the largest engineers in the state, I.C.E. has 12 engineers, with one engineer being added as a result of the purchase. Also, Fred Hegi joined I.C.E. as principal/senior structural engineer.

Hegi & Associates specialized in structural and seismic design, and in the design of single- and multi-story post-tensioned concrete systems.