Sandpoint, Idaho-based airplane winglet maker Tamarack Aerospace Group Inc. has opened an installation center in Aiken, South Carolina, marking its third expansion this year.

The new space, which was developed through a partnership with Aiken-based Carolina Turbine Support, is intended to improve Tamarack’s ability to meet increased demand it has seen this year, says Jacob Klinginsmith, president of the Sandpoint manufacturer.

“Charter operations during the pandemic have really supported upgrades,” Klinginsmith says. “We’ve seen an increase in demand for the winglets, and we want to be able to offer other products down the road.”

The new facility is located at the Aiken Regional Airport, where Carolina Turbine Support has an authorized Mitsubishi MU-2 service center. Tamarack’s active winglets are currently only approved for use on Cessna CitationJets.

Tamarack manufactures and installs active winglets for Cessna CitationJets to boost fuel efficiency. Klinginsmith contends the winglets provide upward of 30% savings in fuel. 

Two Tamarack employees will be stationed at the new Aiken facility, says Klinginsmith, while four employees from Carolina Turbine Support will be dedicated to active winglet installs.

The facility has the capacity to install three winglets a month, according to a press release provided by the aerospace company.

“We’ve also been growing our engineering certification services,” which is the part of the business that contracts out Tamarack engineers to other companies, says Klinginsmith.

Although he declines to disclose annual revenue, Klinginsmith describes 2020 as a strong revenue year due to the company’s growth.

Tamarack opened a transformation center in Oxford, England, last summer and expanded its headquarters in Sandpoint shortly after that.

The company also has increased its workforce. Tamarack now has more than 30 employees, up from 20 at the start of the year, says Klinginsmith.

Tamarack is hiring currently, with three active job listings on its website as of earlier this month, and plans to hire more employees next year to boost research, development, and sales.

The company hit two big milestones this year, says Klinginsmith. Tamarack celebrated its 10-year anniversary, he says, and also celebrated its 100th winglet installation.

Klinginsmith says the recent expansions will give the company the ability to focus more on research and development of active winglet technology for different airplane models. The company expects it will announce winglet designs for other airplanes in 2021, says Klinginsmith.