Iowa Aluminum Purchases New Press To Double Capacity


Iowa Aluminum, Inc. is nearing completion of a $7 million expansion project that is set to more than double the company's production capabilities at their facility in Albia, Iowa. The company, which specializes in unique and challenging aluminum extrusions, will be adding a state-of-the-art, 7-inch press that will not only increase workflow, but also put them at the forefront of technology in their industry.



To accommodate the new machinery, Iowa Aluminum has expanded its existing 65,000 square foot factory to 97,000 square feet, It is growth that the company owner, Mike Lawrence, sees as a vital component of industry in the area.



"Our mission at Iowa Aluminum is to be a premier aluminum extruder here in the Midwest," Lawrence says. "This expansion will further that goal while meeting the critical needs of manufacturers in the greater Midwest."



The new machinery is expected to boost extrusion output to 12 to 15 million pounds of aluminum a year, most of which to service the industrial, construction, automotive and electronic industries. It will also create access to the certified metal — or machine shop — market that hasn't been available to the company previously.



"It's putting us in a very competitive position," Lawrence says. "We're going to be able to compete with the larger extruders in the Midwest and do it in a very high quality, efficient manner."



Iowa Aluminum has been in business for 15 years and throughout that time Lawrence has seen a steady growth in the demand for aluminum extrusions. Aside from a slight dip in the late 2000s, he says typical growth has been roughly 7 percent a year.



"Demand is going up," Lawrence says. "Over the last three years we've started seeing that type of usage come back. Someone has to fill those demands and that's what I'm trying to do."



Iowa Aluminum currently runs three shifts, six days a week in it's manufacturing facility. Although the new production equipment relies heavily on automation, Lawrence foresees several new positions opening up for engineers and production managers.



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