Today, State's Ashland City headquarters operation spans 1.6 million square feet, producing up to 10,000 water heaters daily over three shifts. At the same time, State's push to modernize continues as strong as ever. The most notable of these initiatives can be found in nearby Franklin, Tennessee, at Apcom Inc. Established in 1969, this manufacturing subsidiary fabricates numerous water heater components and parts, including drain valves, fittings, thermostats, cold-water inlet tubes and heating elements. These items are used not only in State's own production, but also by most of its competitors in the United States.
State also makes water-system pump tanks and expansion tanks in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A third facility in Cookeville, Tennessee, produces tooling and dies to company specifications for all State manufacturing operations. Both of these operatuons have also been certified as complying with ISO 9001 standards for quality management. For example, in 1979, State became the first manufacturer to line the space between the water heater tank and jacket with foam insulation to prevent heat loss and save energy. The Sandblaster's revolutionary design automatically prevents mineral deposits in the water from settling and hardening at the bottom of the tank, thus blocking the heating process and even triggering premature unit failure. A self-cleaning water heater not only lasts longer, but also reduces energy costs throughout the life of the water heater.