Released on April 12, 2010

Sivyer Steel Corp., Bettendorf, Iowa, has signed an agreement with the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (RIA), Rock Island, Ill., to leverage the capabilities of the two facilities when quoting jobs for future customers.

According to a press release issued by RIA, the partnership is expected to attract more work by utilizing both plants’ resources. Sivyer manufactures large steel castings, where Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) offers steel parts in smaller weights. (The facility also offers parts in a number of other alloys.) Gary Taylor, head of global business development at RIA, said the collaboration will begin immediately, and work will start when the first order is received.

“I’m glad we took the time to get to know each other because now we’ve established a relationship that’s built on trust and a mutual goal for the future,” Taylor said. “I honestly think this is the wave of the future for the Quad City area in general, and I’m glad we’re a part of it.”

RIA said the agreement was in part signed to meet the objectives of the Arsenal Support Program Initiative, which promotes the commercial use of underutilized capacity at arsenal facilities. The new partnership reportedly will operate like existing agreements RIA has with Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, but the Sivyer deal will pertain only to metalcasting operations.

“The time that it took was time well spent,” said Art Gibeaut, president of Sivyer Steel. “We’re really glad to be here, and we’re looking forward to this great opportunity.”