FORT SMITH, Ark.—Three manufacturers announced Monday they would add to their presence in Fort Smith, either through hiring more workers, expanding facilities or both.

QualServ Corp. announced Monday it would move its headquarters from Kansas City, Mo., to Fort Smith, adding 40 jobs. The company, which makes cabinetry for restaurants and retail stores, says it will also add 75 jobs at its Fort Smith factory, giving it more than 400 employees in the city.

Pradco Fishing announced it would build a new $21 million manufacturing plant at Fort Chaffee. The company, which makes fishing lures and employs 150 people in Fort Smith, will consolidate from three buildings to one at the new site.

Also coming to Fort Chaffee is a new factory for airgun maker Umarex USA, which will double its size to 65,000 square feet. The company did not offer a dollar amount for its new plant but said it plans to expand from 22 workers to between 60 and 120 employees within three years. The company opened shop in Fort Smith in 2006.

Fort Smith was dealt a blow in 2006 when Whirlpool Corp. announced it would move part of its refrigerator production to Mexico. The Fort Smith Whirlpool plant now employs about 2,000 people, down from more than 4,000. Local suppliers to the plant have also seen business shrink.

A bright spot has been Baldor Electric Co., which has added jobs with its 2006 acquisition of Rockwell Automation Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth $1.8 billion. Manufacturers, including Rheem, Trane, Macsteel and other companies, have helped sustain the city.

Speaking of the QualServ addition, Gov. Mike Beebe said Monday that Fort Smith’s factories are driving employment.

“This is a prime example of how a strong manufacturing workforce can bring additional jobs and expansion to a community,” Beebe said.

Pradco is to build a 300,000-square-foot facility, up from its total 120,000 square feet it now has in use. The new factory will be built so it can expand. Bruce Stanton, vice president and general manager of Pradco Fishing, said he is pleased the company is staying in Fort Smith.

“This is our home, and we definitely have been made feel extremely welcome by our local and state leaders,” Stanton said.

QualServ has manufacturing sites in Kansas City and Columbia, S.C., plus its Fort Smith site which has operated since 1979. The plant counts Wal-Mart, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts and other companies among its customers. The Fort Smith plant makes stainless steel, and wood laminate products, and other equipment for the hospitality industry.

Umarex USA is owned by Umarex Corporate Group, which also owns firearms leader Walther Co. in Germany.