Arconic held a groundbreaking ceremony on a $175 million investment project at its Davenport Works in Iowa, which will add a state-of-the-art aluminum casting complex to the facility. For company leadership, this Pit 10 expansion project represents both manufacturing growth and long-term commitment to the region.
“Pit 10 is more than just a construction project for us,” said Jeff Weida, plant manager, Arconic. “It’s a reflection of where we’ve been over the past 80 years. We’re very proud of our heritage, our legacy. It’s a commitment to innovation, to the customer, to the community and also to the future of Davenport Works.”
With expanded capacity, advanced technology, and a focus on efficiency and sustainability, Arconic is positioning itself and the local community for the next generation of industrial growth. Once complete, Pit 10 will will significantly expand ingot casting capacity, increase scrap aluminum recycling and improve overall energy efficiency. This will help strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and produce high-performance alloys for aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor and industrial markets.
“We’re looking at casting our first ingots in Q3 of 2027,” said Susan Mooy, engineering specialist at the facility. “We will be ramped up to full production by Q1 2028,” she said. “The ingots that we produce here, they roll them down flat into plates and into thinner materials that might go on automobiles, tractor trailers — anything in the transportation industry is what our products are turned into: If it drives, flies or transports people.”
In addition, the expansion is expected to create 40 new jobs, creating opportunities across a range of skilled positions, including production operators, general mechanics, electricians, metallurgists, supervisors, brick masons, and more. “In addition to jobs, the project provides more opportunity, more customer output, more customer feed, which then provides more opportunities downstream,” said David Collier, manufacturing manager at Davenport Works.
In a statement, the Iowa Economic Development Authority said, “IEDA values assisting companies such as Arconic as it further strengthens our advanced manufacturing industry and creates jobs. The Pit 10 project benefited from the support of the Iowa Economic Development Authority via the BIG program to help offset the significant costs associated with expanding and modernizing facilities through tax benefits.”
The project has earned strong backing from stakeholders across the region, including the Quad Cities Chamber, Grow Quad Cities, United Steelworkers Local 105, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Junior Achievement of the Heartland, Living Lands & Waters, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Quad City Conservation Alliance and United Way Quad Cities. The City of Riverdale also demonstrated its support by passing a resolution endorsing the project, underscoring a strong public-private partnership.
“This $175 million investment is a clear sign of Arconic’s belief in the Quad Cities,” said Peter Tokar III, President and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “By expanding operations at Davenport Works, Arconic is investing not only in advanced manufacturing but in the people who make this region thrive. The Quad Cities is a great place to live and work, and projects like Pit 10 help ensure our community continues to grow and prosper.”