CLINTON TWP — A manufacturer's expansion plans are moving ahead.

ESM Group on Tuesday will present a site plan to the township supervisors.

The plan covers the first phase of the company's expansion plans, which entails the construction of a 60-foot-by-60-foot building at the Saxonburg Boulevard complex to manufacture a finer grade of magnesium.

Hartmut Meyer-Grunow, ESM's vice president of international sales and engineering, said the new production process would make the site the second place in North America to sell the finer grade.

He said the U.S. military uses this form of magnesium for such uses as flares to divert heat-seeking missiles.

The company already sells a coarser form of magnesium to the steel industry for removing sulphur from steel.

This product also is used for fireworks.

Under the new process, the magnesium is refined into a spherical shape.

"You want it to be volatile," Meyer-Grunow said. "You want it to burn."

As with the coarser magnesium, the company will turn ingots of the finer material to create small particles.

He said the new product will benefit the military because it will not have to rely on one domestic source.

The new process also enables the company to make a magnesium alloy for other uses.

Meyer-Grunow said the new plant should be operational next year if no obstacles arise.

The company expects the expansion will initially result in adding 14 workers to the 60 already at the site.

Meyer-Grunow said that number could increase further if sales of the new product warrant it.

Under the company's second expansion phase, the processing unit would eventually be extended to 120 feet wide.

Meyer-Grunow said the second phase would result in the hiring of another 10 to 20 personnel.

The Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company is working with ESM to learn new safety procedures needed once the finer grade of magnesium is processed at the 39-acre site.

Flo Allison, chairwoman of the Winfield Township supervisors, said she wants the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company also to learn those safety protocols.

Frank Matis, director of Butler County emergency services, said his department will be in contact with ESM as well.

He said the company already has an emergency response plan to address any potential problems that might be encountered during the current manufacturing processes.

"I can't imagine the preparations will be much different," Matis said.

Clinton Township Supervisor Mary Zacherl, board chairwoman, said ESM does not need to acquire a conditional use because it is expanding an existing use of the property.

ESM also has sites in Mars, Kentucky, Ontario and in China.