Advanced Manufacturing

Central Arkansas Sees Exponential Growth in Advanced Manufacturing

Steel

In June 2007, Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd., an India-based manufacturer of spiral-welded, large diameter steel pipes for use in the oil and gas industry, announced it would build a $100 million manufacturing plant on 740 acres in the Port of Little Rock and employ 300.

As a result of this prominent Indian location, Central Arkansas is fast becoming recognized as a premier location for advanced steel manufacturing. The region’s intermodal transportation system – from its convergence of interstate highways connecting the country to its port access to the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, linking Tulsa to the Mississippi River – provides efficient, economical distribution of the company's heavy products. 

Wind Energy

Just a couple of weeks after the Welspun announcement, the Little Rock region welcomed Denmark’s LM Wind Power, the world’s leading manufacturer of blades for wind turbines. LM purchased 135 acres at the Little Rock Port to manufacture blades measuring between 165 and 200 feet in length.

Wind power is the fastest growing renewable energy technology in the country, projected to grow from a $17.9 billion sector in 2006 to $60.8 billion in 2016. Led by the successful location of LM, Arkansas has since landed and continues to aggressively pursue other wind industry companies throughout the state.

Subsequent to LM Glasfiber's location, other two other wind energy advanced manufacturers have located in the state - Nordex in Jonesboro and Mitsubishi in Fort Smith.

Other Advanced Manufacturers

In January 2009, Caterpillar, the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, announced plans to locate its new North American motor grader production facility in North Little Rock. The company will invest $140 million and employ approximately 600 people, with production expected to begin in early 2010.

The region is also home to many food manufacturers, including Sage V Foods and Unilever, which manufactures all of the world's Skippy peanut butter from Little Rock. Combined employment in the food processing sector totals more than 930. 

For more information, Joey Dean (Vice President, Economic Development; Executive Director, Metro Little Rock Alliance), 501.377.6006.