A manufacturing company in north Davenport – PCT Ebeam and Integration, LLC – now has the needed room to grow, hire more employees and offer more products to its customers.
More than 50 people gathered on Thursday, Oct. 26, for a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony to help welcome a 30,000-square-foot addition at the company’s 8700 Hillandale Ave. location. That addition doubles the manufacturing space at the company, said Karl Swanson, president of PCT.
“To see this on paper is one thing, but to now see just how much elbow room we will have is another. … This space will immediately be useful,” he added.
During the brief ceremony, the company president said the addition will be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Space for more assembly bays to build products for customers.
- More space for manufacturing departments.
- Space for a new pilot line of equipment.
During the event, local business leaders got a chance to tour the new manufacturing space, which currently is mostly empty except for a few pallets and shelves filled with supplies and equipment. That will soon change. Mr. Swanson said that as soon as the company gets the needed occupancy permit for the addition in a few days, the new 30,000-square-foot section will start being used for the PCT’s manufacturing needs.
PCT is a global leader in ebeam systems and system integration services. The company designs, manufactures, and installs electron beam equipment for various applications including offset, flexo, and inkjet printing; décor printing; and film crosslinking. Its mechanical and electrical engineers resolve unique and complex process issues across numerous industries, according to the company.
Mr. Swanson recently told the QCBJ that one specific use of ebeam technology being conducted at the Davenport facility involves helping improve furniture made by other companies. In this case, ebeams are used to cure the lamented wood used to make the furniture.
The company president did not disclose how much of a financial investment the new addition is for PCT. However, during a groundbreaking ceremony last November, company officials estimated the new addition would cost about $3.5 million.
The local economic impact of the new addition will be even greater. The expansion project will yield a total annual economic impact of more than $4.2 million in the region, according to information from the QC Chamber.
“This is a really exciting expansion for the community,” Julie Forsythe, the chamber’s senior vice president, business and economic growth, said at Thursday’s ceremony.
PCT officials have said that as a result of the expansion, the company plans to hire 10 to 15 more people over the next three years.
Also during the ceremony, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson thanked company officials for having the faith in the community to make more investments and expand PCT. “Thank you for growing … and thank you for staying in the community,” he added.
