Korry Electronics, a global aerospace company previously located in Seattle, celebrated the opening of its new location near Paine Field at a mid-September ribbon cutting ceremony.
Now known as Esterline Control Systems, the avionics plant brought 600 workers from a south Lake Union location to a brand new facility on Snohomish County property at Paine Field.
Dan McFeeley, Esterline Control Systems president, kicked off the ceremony, welcoming a crowd of dignitaries, politicians and the employees who arrived in a caravan of buses.
The company’s move to Snohomish County underscores the county government’s focus on competing for aerospace businesses. Since the original deal in March 2008, McFeeley has said all along that the county’s quick permitting process and willingness to meet Esterline Control System’s needs helped them choose this site over others in the region. The Economic Development Council of Snohomish County also played a big part in attracting Esterline Control Systems to this area.
Aaron Reardon, Snohomish County executive, reiterated the county’s commitment to compete for new businesses and serve its new customer.
“Our goal is to make you effective at what you do,” he said in prepared comments to the Esterline employees.
“It’s a great day for Snohomish County,” said Gov. Christine Gregoire to the crowd. Like Snohomish County’s executive, she confirmed the state’s commitment to the aerospace industry and its ability to compete for aerospace businesses in her welcoming remarks. “Korry and Esterline are a part of that great family,” she said.
Esterline Control Systems designs and manufactures Korry aviation products, which includes cockpit interface displays and controls. The company is also known for its expertise in night-vision lighting.
“Anything a pilot can touch or feel, we manufacture,” said Peggy Keene,, spokesperson for the company.
The company was founded in 1937 by former Boeing Engineer Boris Korry. The aviation products, which are found on most commercial and military aircraft and ship-board and land-based defense systems, were first used in 1937 on the four-engine, Boeing 307 Stratoliner.
Its customers, among many, include Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Learjet, Cessna, GE, and all major airlines.
The new 216,000-square-feet manufacturing and testing facility at 11910 Beverly Park Road is situated on 14 acres, approximately one mile south of the Everett Boeing facility. It is much larger than the 175,000 square-foot building that the company occupied in Seattle.
Its open design includes elements of glass, stainless steel, wood and a mix of muted and brightly colored walls. The manufacturing area comprises most of the building with its large open space, high ceilings and moveable work spaces, many of which are situated in half-circles with half-wall partitions.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming remarks, employees were invited into the building for self-guided tours and to find their new workspaces, which were tagged with their names.
In an effort to help with employee commutes, the company is subsidizing transportation costs with free van pools, transit passes, on-site flex cars, and car pool gas and ferry vouchers.
Esterline Control Systems is a division Esterline Corporation, which is a worldwide Bellevue-based aerospace and defense supplier.
The international firm operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, China, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, with annual sales of more than $1.5 billion.
The company employs more than 10,000 people worldwide.
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