Manufacturing

Hecla to shut down Lucky Friday for rest of year

Move to enable mining company to make modifications following fire

September 18, 2023

Hecla Mining Co. expects to suspend production at its Lucky Friday Mine for the rest of the year as it makes modifications following a mine-shaft fire.

GarageSkins expands to meet demand

Post Falls company is gearing up to produce 10 times more product

September 14, 2023

Karina Elias

GarageSkins Inc., a Post Falls company that produces panels to make steel garage doors look like they're made of high-end wood, is in the process of purchasing machinery that will multiply its production capacity, says GarageSkins founder Rick Medlen.

Lakeside Cos. (top) ALSC Architects PS (Bottom)

Tech Hub Hopes: Two Spokane groups compete on national scale for federal funds

Gonzaga consortium looks to bolster aerospace manufacturing; WSU group pitches biotech

September 14, 2023

Dylan Harris

Two Spokane-area consortia are competing against more than 370 other groups nationwide to land federal funding for regional Tech Hubs. Ultimately, upward of $75 million could be at stake, and the first round of decisions is expected this fall.

Precast concrete company sells Valley operations

Rail tie manufacturing facility will remain here under new ownership

August 31, 2023

Dylan Harris

CXT Inc. has sold its Spokane Valley-based rail tie operations to voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak LLC, a subsidiary of Austria-based voestalpine Group, according to press releases from the two parent companies. CXT, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based

Tractor Beverage tracks sustainability as it grows

Idaho soft drink company sees growth while limiting impact on environment

August 31, 2023

Karina Elias

Hayden-based organic soft drink maker Tractor Beverage Inc. says it's on track this year to avoid the use of 34.5 tons of synthetic pesticides in its food system, compared with conventional production practices. Kevin Sherman, CEO of Tractor Beverage

Meet & Greet with Spicelogy's Darby McLean

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August 31, 2023

Karina Elias

Darby McLean, president of Spokane-based Spiceology Inc., has been appointed the spice company's CEO as of July, cementing her position as the fast-growing company's highest-ranking officer. She had assumed the role of president in August 2022

Itron's fortunes rise with electrification trend

Utility-tech company reports revenue surge

August 31, 2023

Karina Elias

Itron Inc.'s revenue is growing with the demand for electricity-and more specifically, the demand for infrastructure capable of withstanding a push toward electrification in a current, climate-conscious environment. 'The demand on electricity is

Aerospace tech hub proposed at old Triumph plant

Gonzaga-led consortium includes Boeing, Avista, dozens of others

August 17, 2023

Dylan Harris

A Gonzaga University-led consortium of about 50 organizations has applied to bring a federally funded aerospace manufacturing tech hub to the Inland Northwest.

Post Falls manufacturer develops smokeless fire pit

Product line to boost sales during seasonal slowdowns

August 17, 2023

Erica Bullock

Stove manufacturer 509 Fabrication Inc., which does business as Flame Innovation, plans to overcome a slow summertime sales season with a new product line, says company founder Dusty Henderson. 'We've recently filed a patent on a smokeless fire pit

What's Happening With: the Zenbivy sleeping system

Sales of backpacking, camping bed doubling this year to top $5M

August 17, 2023

Mike McLean

Zenbivy LLC, which produces a line of camping and backpacking beds, is growing faster than anticipated, says Spokane entrepreneur Michael Glavin, the company founder. Glavin says Zenbivy will more than double its sales this year, with revenue expected