Itronix Corp., the Spokane maker of rugged computers, has leased a 2-year-old building in Liberty Lake that telecommunications equipment maker Telect Inc. owns and had occupied until scaling back its operations last year.


Dave Bergman, Itronixs senior vice president of operations, says Itronix plans to move its Liberty Lake manufacturing and service divisions next month to the 52,000-square-foot structure, at 1730 N. Madson, just southwest of Telects headquarters, from smaller quarters across the street, at 1709 N. Madson.


Bergman says the company also plans to move its client services and help-desk operations to the Liberty Lake building from its corporate headquarters, located at 801 S. Stevens, on Spokanes South Hill. Itronix has projected strong growth this year, and Bergman says that freeing up space in its headquarters building will allow it to accommodate its expanding engineering and sales staffs. The company hasnt determined how many people it expects to add.


Itronix currently employs about 575 people, roughly 400 of whom work in the Spokane area. It also has offices in other parts of the U.S. and Coventry, England.


Before scaling back last year, Telect used the building for a mix of manufacturing, warehouse, and administrative operations. The building includes about 37,000 square feet of manufacturing space and about 15,000 square feet of office space.


Mark Pinch and Grant Person, both of Tomlinson Black Commercial Inc., of Spokane, and Brad Baldwin, of Baldwin Corporate Real Estate, of Coeur dAlene, handled the lease.