Brett Lindsey is the newest CEO of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based ark data centers, which recently rebranded from Involta and is creating in the New North region its largest data center in the country. Today he joins co-hosts Kate Bruns and Ann Franz on the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast to share why ark data centers has chosen to create its 20-megawatt campus on 24.5 acres in the village of Harrison.
Lindsey says the Harrison data center will utilize the company’s “Gen 6 design” model in a sprawling location that has easy access to major markets such as Chicago and Minneapolis. He says the company has had a great experience setting up shop in Wisconsin.
“For us it’s trying to find a good ecosystem to be a part of it,” Lindsey tells the co-hosts. “What we found in Wisconsin is an incredibly welcoming group of people, and that’s been the case from the time we started investigating the market … to when we consummated the deal.”
Lindsey says Northeast Wisconsin’s manufacturing economy is also a major plus for ark data centers.
“We really think there’s a unique opportunity to bring more customers to Wisconsin,” Lindsey says. “For us, there’s a lot of manufacturing … that has a special place in our heart.”
On the episode Lindsey also dives into cybersecurity, AI and other tech topics that are affecting ark’s large enterprise customers and suggests some moves manufacturers should consider making now to build new products and offer better service to customers in the age of AI.
Get more insights by listening to this week’s episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights on Spreaker or anywhere you listen to podcasts. This episode, along with all other September episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights, is sponsored by Wisconsin Paper Group.
NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of Insight on Manufacturing and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, produced by B.J. DeGroot of Woodward Community Media. New episodes are released on Thursdays.
For a free invitation to attend a live recording of next Thursday’s episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights at Werner Electric Supply, register now for the 14th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference.
