By locating in the right spot, Alcoa found a way to expand its aluminum plant, even during the economic crisis.
Expanding: Alcoa’s Davenport Works. (Courtesy Of Alcoa)
If the Great Recession was disastrous for many sectors of the American economy, it was widely seen as the death knell for manufacturing. But a cutting-edge aluminum plant in the heartland is evidence that American factories were given their last rites prematurely. Alcoa’s Davenport Works plant in Iowa—which makes high-tech aluminum alloys—has added 600 jobs since the height of the recession and is training 150 new workers to staff a $300 million expansion, which will come on line at the end of the year. The plant now employs more people than it did before the economic crisis.
National Journal is honoring Alcoa’s Davenport plant for demonstrating the mix of ingredients necessary to sustain the nascent revival of U.S. manufacturing. The plant combines a highly skilled workforce, relentless innovation, and proximity to North American markets to ensure competitiveness and further its technological advantage over business rivals. “When you combine all those elements along with our market knowledge, it just gives us a great platform to compete,” said Mark Vrablec, president of Alcoa Global Aerospace, Transportation, and Industrial Rolled Products.
via Where Manufacturing Is on the Rebound – NationalJournal.com.