Iowa's Largest Industry
Iowa knows how to make it happen (and how to make just about anything). Food products, medical devices, construction machinery or aerospace electronics, our advanced manufacturing industry brings Iowa innovation to the world. As the state’s largest industry, it accounts for 17% of our GDP, contributing $35 billion annually to the state’s economy. And we’re a recognized national leader too – Iowa consistently ranks among the top 5 states in percentage of manufacturing GDP.
Iowa is perfectly positioned to export products around the globe, connected through a robust transportation network with access to air, water, rail and highway. In addition, Iowa’s skilled talent pool and state-of-the-art training and research programs at our colleges and universities offer a wealth of workforce resources. Manufacturers are in good hands here – companies can find a network of resource providers with the expertise, collaboration and support to remain on the industry’s leading edge.
Advanced Manufacturing in Iowa
Manufacturing 4.0: Iowa Embraces the Technology Revolution
Iowa is committed to helping manufacturers adapt to the landscape formed by the fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0 - and its emphasis on smart technology, data-driven operations and process automation. The state is making investments in manufacturers of all sizes to ensure the industry adopts innovative technologies to increase productivity, compete for talent and encourage ongoing globalization.
Iowa launched an industry-led Manufacturing 4.0 initiative in 2020 to strengthen the industry’s momentum and maintain a competitive edge. As a result, a strategic plan for Iowa's manufacturing industry was created that offers a roadmap to accelerate the growth of Iowa's manufacturing ecosystem through the adoption and utilization of Industry 4.0 technologies.
Fairfield, Iowa is Home to State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Facility
Agri-Industrial Plastics launched Iowa's first solar and Tesla Powerpack project to control energy cost. The company now incorporates solar and energy storage to become more energy efficient.
