Manufacturing

Startup SafeGuard Equipment energizes investors

Electrocution-alert maker to debut device this year

February 16, 2017

Three recent University of Idaho graduates, each hailing from families of electrical workers, have generated substantial attention from Spokane-area startup investors as a company they've founded, SafeGuard Equipment Inc., develops a wristband that woul

Garco Building Systems to keep some staff in Spokane

NCI hasn't decided what it will do with plant facility

December 15, 2016

Despite the recent layoff of 112 manufacturing workers and the shuttering of manufacturing operations at Garco Building Systems' Airway Heights facility, the company says it will retain nearly 50 workers here in information technology, sales, and procur

Able Label grows under former Red Lion executive

Expanded facility helps meet increase in orders

December 1, 2016

Mike McLean

Art Coffey, former CEO of Red Lion Hotels Corp. and now president of Able Label, says the Spokane label-manufacturing company has seen consistent strong growth since he and his wife, Kaleen, bought it and moved it to larger quarters. The company is locat

Litehouse expands operations in Sandpoint

Salad dressing maker expects further growth

November 17, 2016

Mike McLean

Litehouse Inc., the Sandpoint-based salad dressing maker is in the midst of a $6.2 million expansion project at its Sandpoint manufacturing plant where it hopes to continue increasing its production and its workforce. The company plans to break ground be

Water discharge regulations raise concerns

Planned PCB limits would be hard to measure, some assert

October 20, 2016

Treva Lind

Three municipal operators along with Kaiser Aluminum Corp. and Inland Empire Paper Co. have Spokane River discharge permits up for renewal, but participants are raising concerns about higher regulatory standards being imposed as part of permit updates. F

One Tree Hard Cider: Good times for hard cider

-

September 22, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Now in its third year of operation, Spokane Valley-based One Tree Hard Cider LLC plans to keep expanding by extending its distribution area and creating a second tasting room here. The company increased production this year hoping to increase sales, a

Scrap metal woes pile up

Spokane area feels global decline in demand

September 22, 2016

Spokane-area scrap metal collection and recycling companies say a global market slowdown has battered their industry in recent years, and industry forecasts indicate a rebound in demand for scrap metal is still at least three years away. 'It's really

Spokane-area exports grow by $17 million

Exported goods topped $800 million here in '15

September 22, 2016

Goods exported from the Spokane and Spokane Valley metropolitan area totaled a little over $823 million last year, marking a 2.1 percent increase from 2014, according to the International Trade Administration's 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview rel

Valley chamber sponsors manufacturing expo

Event will showcase 50 exhibitor booths

September 8, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the seventh annual Manufacturing Matters Expo, to be held Sept. 26 and 27. Rick Pickel, expo chairman and sales manager at Haskins Steel Co., says this year's event will have 50 exhibit

Carbon-emissions tax initiative stirs strong debate

I-732's revenue neutrality touted; many are dubious

September 8, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane-area manufacturers and utilities contend that Initiative 732, which would create a tax on carbon emitted statewide, will hurt both businesses and residents, while proponents say it will reduce carbon emissions and benefit low-income families. The