EVERETT — Pacifica Engineering of Bothell plans to open a manufacturing site in Everett.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., announced the news June 19 during a conference call with journalists. Larsen said he had met with leaders from Pacifica’s parent, MTorres of Torres de Elorz, Spain, which designs and builds aerospace manufacturing equipment, at the Paris Air Show.
“They’re committing to building a manufacturing facility in Everett,” Larsen said.
Last year, MTorres bought Pacifica Engineering. At the time, Pacifica employed about 60 people, Larsen said. Since then, Pacifica has added 25 workers and has plans to employ 100 people in all by year’s end.
Details about an Everett plant, including the potential workforce there, were not available.
The investment by MTorres in an Everett manufacturing site underscores the message Larsen learned from talking with representatives of other aerospace companies at the air show: “Workforce for these folks is the number one issue.”
Many aerospace companies, including Boeing rival Airbus, are looking to expand their presence in the U.S. That gives them the advantage of pricing and selling their products using the U.S. dollar rather than the European euro.
Larsen led the delegation of Washington economic development officials, business leaders and educators to Paris on behalf of Gov. Jay Inslee, who stayed in Olympia during the legislative special session to settle the state’s budget. Inslee joined the conference call from Washington.
The governor emphasized the need for the Legislature to support his education and workforce training initiatives to keep the state’s aerospace workforce strong and attractive to outside companies.
He noted that one of every three aerospace jobs in Washington is in the supply chain.
Although 75 percent Washington aerospace companies do business with Boeing, 40 percent supply to Airbus, according to a recent study by the state Department of Commerce. More than 25 percent supply planemakers Embraer and Bombardier.
Washington’s aerospace supply chain has “flown under the radar” for too many years, Inslee said. “We haven’t given it enough attention.”
Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454; mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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