Schweitzer Engineering expanding in Pullman, Lewiston

MOSCOW – Steady growth expected at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is leading it to start manufacturing in Lewiston and add about 10 percent to its Pullman work force within a year.

The growth will include three projects: a $7 million Solutions Delivery Center in Pullman, a $12 million manufacturing center in Lewiston and an expanded manufacturing center in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, said SEL President Edmund Schweitzer.

The Pullman-based company expects to add 150 more positions within a year to the 1,500 it already employs in Pullman, Schweitzer said.

The company manufactures protection, monitoring and automation devices for electric power systems in 10 buildings on 130 acres in Pullman, and also in San Luis Potosi and Lake Zurich, Ill.

The three-story, 70,000-square-foot delivery center in Pullman will include six classroom-like areas where customers can test and learn about their purchases. Testing can take two to three weeks or longer.

The building will be constructed in the existing industrial park and is expected to be up and running by October 2011.

The manufacturing facility in Lewiston is expected to bring about 90 jobs to the area. The 106,000-square-foot building will be constructed on a 25-acre site within the Lewiston Business and Technology Park on open land near Home Depot. A deal to purchase the parcel is being worked out with the Port of Lewiston.

Rather than purchasing an existing building, Schweitzer said the company chose to start from scratch to allow for future expansions. The parcel is big enough for the center to double in size.

Contractors also have said the building will cost 10 percent less than it would have had SEL chosen to build in Pullman. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2011.