Manufacturing

Lone Wolf Distributors acquired by Texas group

Glock-accessory maker is based in Priest River

July 2, 2020

A Priest River, Idaho, manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket parts and accessories for Glock brand firearms has been bought by an out-of-state company. Lone Wolf Distributors Inc. was acquired on May 22 by Jersey Village, Texas-based Vigilant Gear

Shamrock Machining installs new technology

$1M machine expected to increase efficiency, add capabilities at Valley shop

June 18, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Shamrock Machining Inc., at 5704 E. First in Spokane Valley, has invested about $1 million in new equipment that business development manager Mike Oliver says will make the machining shop more efficient and add capabilities the company didn't previously

AquiPor tackles stormwater challenges

Startup develops permeable pavers as new tool for concrete contractors

June 18, 2020

Kevin Blocker

The owners of AquiPor Technologies Inc. claim that after about a decade of research and development, they've produced a porous, hardened material with the ability to absorb surface stormwater and alleviate drain flooding in heavily paved urban

Parting Thoughts with Cassel Promotions' Tracy and Sam Cassel

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June 18, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Cassel Promotions & Signs started with a tube of fabric spinning in the wind atop a car. Cassel President and co-owner Tracy Cassel, now age 63, came up with a windsock in 1987 to advertise his now-defunct Spokane Valley deli delivery business.

McKinstry plans new West Plains fabrication facility

$5M industrial project will be built using CLT

June 4, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Seattle-based McKinstry Co. is in the process of buying undeveloped land north of Spokane International Airport, where it intends to build a $5 million fabrication facility for its Spokane operations.

Itron takes on new partnerships

New contracts follow jump in earnings for first quarter

June 4, 2020

Virginia Thomas

Liberty Lake-based Itron Inc. is partnering with Singapore-based smart metering company EDMI Ltd. to develop and launch a new smart gas meter for use in the United Kingdom. The meter uses Itron's Intelis platform and ultrasonic measuring technology

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.