Purcell Systems Inc., of Liberty Lake, has quadrupled the production capacity at its manufacturing facility here in an effort to handle soaring sales volumes.


Rick Varnell, Purcells vice president of sales, says the companys sales this year are expected to double last years roughly $12 million, and the company already has under contract for 2004 enough orders to more than double this years revenues. Purcell, which makes outdoor storage cabinets for electronics equipment, currently employs 160 people, including temporary manufacturing workers, up from about 90 people earlier this year, says President Pete Chase.


The company has expanded the amount of floor space it uses for production to 12,000 square feet from 3,000 square feet and has gone from one production line to three large-product production lines, one small-product production line, and a prototype production line, Varnell says. That manufacturing space is inside the companys 19,000-square-foot building, located at 22924 E. Appleway.


To free up manufacturing space, the company has leased about 9,500 square feet of floor space in the nearby Allegiance Building, at 23502 E. Knox, and has moved there parts and product storage from its main building, Chase says. He says the company likely will need to take additional measures to address space constraints, but hasnt determined yet what those measures might be.


Purcell cabinets most often are used to house telecommunications equipment at the base of a transmission antenna, and most of its customers are in the wireless sector. Varnell says, however, that the company is targeting a broader range of businesses in the telecommunications industry, and he expects Purcell to penetrate additional sectors next year.


The telecommunications industry is going to be strong from the standpoint of building and upgrading sites, Varnell says.


Purcells aggressive growth pace was noted earlier this fall when Deloitte & Touche LLP ranked the Liberty Lake company 21st on its national Rising Star list, which ranks technology companies by revenue growth over the course of their first three years.


Purcell Systems was founded in 2000. It has offices in Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, D.C.