Manufacturing

Fueling an emerging industry: An alliance between public lands and timber products

State partners with CLT manufacturer on forest health initiative

June 4, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Hilary Franz wants to shorten Washington's forest-fire season, and she's executing a plan to do just that.

Q&A with Mountain Dog Sign's Marshon Kempf

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May 21, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Custom sign maker Mountain Dog Sign Co. isn't making many signs in the midst of a viral pandemic. The company has been manufacturing face shields and counter barriers-transparent partitions that separate customers from cashiers-to sell or donate to

Manufacturers grapple with aerospace slowdown

Long-term outlook remains positive as companies shift focus to other sectors

May 21, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Spokane-area manufacturers that serve the aerospace industry say they're staying aloft for now and feeling somewhat optimistic about the long term, even as new orders for aircraft and components have taken a nosedive.

Making distance on Spokane's manufacturing floors

Inherent open spaces help create separation at facilities

May 21, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Several Spokane-area manufacturers say most of their employees are in environments where being at a distance from each other has been the norm because of already established workplace configurations.

Tractor Beverage raises $18.5 million in VC capital

North Idaho company distributes organic drinks exclusively to restaurants

May 7, 2020

Virginia Thomas

A specialty soda company based in Dalton Gardens has raised $18.5 million in venture capital funding. According to proprietary market data software subscription platform PitchBook, Tractor Beverages Inc. raised the funding as a combination of equity

Vestis Systems shifts focus to making clear barriers

Small manufacturer aims to bring back employees

April 23, 2020

Natasha Nellis

Spokane-based custom awnings, sunshades, and canopy maker Vestis Systems Inc. has shifted its manufacturing operations to make and install clear vinyl barriers for businesses.

Clearwater Paper is lone bright spot in first quarter market report

Toilet paper demand fuels manufacturer as others lose value

April 23, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Fueled by nationwide consumer demand in toilet paper, Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp. was the lone publicly traded company in the region to experience an increase in market capitalization in the first quarter of 2020, according to an analysis by Hart

Xcraft raises $1.1M though crowdfunding effort

DroneÂ manufacturer addsÂ more than 2K investorsÂ

April 9, 2020

Virginia Thomas

XCraftÂ Enterprises Inc., the Coeur d'Alene-basedÂ droneÂ manufacturer, raised $1.1Â million in angel fundingÂ in a campaign that closedÂ early last month through theÂ StartEngineÂ crowdfunding platform.Â

Silver linings emerge amid coronavirus storm

Some companies report sales growth, while others adapt

April 9, 2020

Kevin Blocker

Shannon Myers never thought she'd be talking about toilet paper so much, even though she's the spokeswoman for a company that makes it. Though Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp. doesn't have hard revenue figures yet for the first quarter of 2020

Mullen Technologies agreement on West Plains expires

PDA remains optimistic that electric sports car maker will build plant here

April 9, 2020

Natasha Nellis

The letter of intent signed by Brea, California-based Mullen Technologies Inc. committing to take land for an envisioned electric sports car manufacturing plant expired March 31, leaving the young company's future in the region somewhat uncertain.