Kent, Washington-based Exotic Metals Forming Co.’s two-phase expansion project at its West Plains facility is well underway, with walls in place on the first phase at 12933 W. McFarlane Road.

The manufacturing company is building two new warehouse facilities, each between 150,000 to 175,000 square feet, as well as a 25,000-square-foot storage facility. 

A representative of Exotic Metals couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.

Walker Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the general contractor on the project, which was designed by Bernardo|Wills Architects PC, also of Spokane. Coffman Engineering Inc., of Spokane, provided engineering services.

Exotic Metals was acquired late last July by Cleveland, Ohio-based aerospace motion and control technology company Parker Hannafin in a $1.7 billion deal. Exotic Metals now operates as a standalone division within Parker’s aerospace group. 

Parker Hannafin also has a location at 2218 N. Molter Road, in Liberty Lake. 

Also included in the expansion project will be two employee parking lots, with 150 parking stalls each, as well as landscaping and other site improvements. Site plans also show the company plans to develop roads for ease of access to each facility. 

Construction on the first phase is expected to be completed this year, according to plans. A timeline for the second phase isn’t indicated.

The company anticipates hiring 150 employees per building, according to environmental documents and a traffic study.

The company held a hiring event in early January at WorkSource Spokane for its Airway Heights location. 

Exotic Metals built its existing 150,000-square-foot facility on the West Plains in mid-2015. Walker Construction and Bernardo|Wills were the design-build team on that project as well. 

Exotic Metals was established in 1966 by Don Lindsey. The company manufactures components and systems for both commercial airliners and military craft. It also has a manufacturing facility in Phoenix.

The company has expected annual sales of $450 million and employs 1,600 across its three U.S. locations.