Schweitzer Engineering Labs building factory in Moscow

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is planning to build a 140,000-square-foot facility on recently-purchased land southwest of Moscow on Highway 95.

The building will be home to a state-of-the-art plant for fabricating printed circuit boards. SEL will use the boards as parts in the products it manufactures to protect, monitor, control and automate electric power systems.

SEL plans to break ground in spring 2021 and to complete construction by mid-2022. The company is running out of room on its Pullman, Wash., campus. There are only 20 acres left to build on out of the 100 acres on the firm’s property, according to the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

“As a former hardware engineer, I am really excited about adding this capability to our already amazing manufacturing capabilities,” said CEO Dave Whitehead. “Circuit boards are one of the most engineered components we design. Bringing them in-house allows us more freedom to experiment and innovate. Instead of ordering them from across the country, we’ll be making them just seven miles down the road!” SEL is headquartered in Pullman.

SEL engineers and specialists design the printed circuit boards used in SEL products, but they are fabricated by several U.S. suppliers. Having local in-house manufacturing will provide SEL and its customers improved product quality and supply chain security, the firm stated in a recent press release. SEL has facilities around the world, including a manufacturing facility in Lewiston.

“Printed circuit boards are custom and critical components,” said Edmund O. Schweitzer III, president, founder and chief technology officer of SEL. “Building our own shortens our supply chain, reduces risk and advances quality. This is great news for our company and our customers. It’s a dream come true.”

SEL is working with GreenSource Fabrication in New Hampshire to design the facility and manufacturing processes. This partner of SEL is a leader in innovative printed circuit board manufacturing.

“This will be the most modern, environmentally-friendly and safe PCB manufacturing facility in the United States — maybe the world,” said Schweitzer. “This is great for our employee owners, our customers, our community and the environment. It also represents opportunity for us all.”

SEL anticipates starting up the new plant using its current employees and then expanding its employee base by hiring locally in Pullman and Moscow as the operation gets up and running. The company currently employs over 600 in the area.

“Stay tuned! This is a dream come true for Dave, me and so many of us,” added Schweitzer. “We’re turning an essential commodity into a locally engineered, designed and manufactured specialty — right here at home!”

SEL is a firm that invents, designs and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids, with customers around the world. Their products come with unmatched technical support, customer service and a 10-year worldwide warranty. SEL technology prevents blackouts while enabling customers to improve power-system reliability, safety and cost.

SEL is a 100% employee-owned company. The firm has manufactured its products since 1984 and now serves customers in 166 countries.