tracygehrts@alliantenergy.com
tracygehrts@alliantenergy.com In Project Roundup
Third local expansion in 14 years for German pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer
German pharmaceutical excipients manufacturer JRS PHARMA GmbH & Co. KG announced that they will be expanding the U.S. subsidiary's, JRS Pharma, plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The $15.9 million project calls for an increase in production space and associated tank farm. It will add 18 employees to the current 75 staff members.
This is the company's third expansion since locating to the community in 2006. JRS Pharma is a leader in the manufacturing of excipients, offering a complete portfolio of solutions for the global health science industry. JRS PHARMA GmbH & Co. KG and its subsidiaries have 31 production facilities over four continents.
Defense aerospace facility coming to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
United Kingdom based BAE Systems, Inc. announced that they will be investing $139 million in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to build a new 200,000 square foot classified defense aerospace facility. The 650 new employees will design and manufacture mission-critical GPS receivers that are compliant with military M-Code, anti-jamming, and anti-spoofing requirements.
Construction is planned to start this October with occupation scheduled for September 2022. The City of Cedar Rapids will incentivize the project with infrastructure improvements around the facility and a 75% property tax exemption over 20 years.
BAE Systems is a global defense, aerospace and security company employing 83,100 people worldwide and 30,500 in the United States. The company helps their customers to stay a step ahead when protecting people and national security, critical infrastructure and vital information.
Iowa adds feed mill, expands plastic packaging manufacturer
Landus Cooperative grows feed business in Yale, Iowa
Landus Cooperative, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative headquartered in Ames, Iowa, announced plans to increase their swine and beef feed business. The company is investing $22 million in a new 400,000-ton mill on an 80-acre site in Yale, Iowa. The project will add 18 positions to the current 725 full-time employees.
Landus Cooperative provides bulk feed and toll-milling services to the swine, beef, dairy cow and poultry production industries. The company has a global reach, distributing their line of specialized, high-quality, soybean meal-based products across six continents.
Amcor Rigid Plastics to expand in Ames, Iowa
Amcor Rigid Plastics, one of the world's largest manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, personal/home care and healthcare industries, is expanding their manufacturing operation in Ames, Iowa. This project represents a $3.1 million capital investment that will bring six new production lines and result in the creation of 42 new employment opportunities.
Amcor operates 59 facilities in 13 countries including an additional plant served by Alliant Energy in Centerville, Iowa.
Wellman Dynamics to grow in Creston, Iowa
Wellman Dynamics announced the purchase of a 315,000-square-foot manufacturing, office and warehouse space along with approximately 20 acres of land in Creston, Iowa. Initial production at the new facility will include castings manufactured by Wellman for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter being manufactured for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Work on the $45 million project will take place over the next 12 months with plans for production in the facility targeted for 2022. Wellman Dynamics will create 50 new jobs to add to their existing workforce of 400 people.
See the Digital Manufacturing Lab Powered by Alliant Energy in action
This exciting partnership between Alliant Energy and Iowa State University's Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) helps businesses evaluate problems and find opportunities using innovative technology.
The lab utilizes departments across Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. It brings students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds to help companies solve problems and stimulate innovative ideas. CIRAS can help industry test new technology such as cobots, 3-D scanning and other technology and train staff how to use it.