SEL breaks ground for Moscow manufacturing plant

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories’ (SEL) presence just got larger in Idaho, with ground broken June 2 in Moscow for a 140,000-square-foot circuit board manufacturing facility.

“It was a great turnåaout and a happy occasion,” described Ed Schweitzer, president, founder and chief technology officer of SEL. The day was bright and sunny, pushing 90 degrees, yet comfortable with a slight breeze — and Schweitzer noticed people shaking hands, even hugging.

“What makes it fun was (that) it was a post-COVID thing,” Schweitzer said. “After the past (year), to see people interact with so much energy, it warmed my heart.”

Planning the new factory

In the upcoming weeks, SEL will present project design plans to the Moscow city council for approval. Sixty people are anticipated to occupy the building, and 12 have already been hired to lend expertise during the interior construction process.

Having its own circuit board manufacturing facility is expected to enhance productivity for SEL, as, previously, the company has had its circuit boards manufactured farther away from its sites. The new plant will complement the company’s operations in Lewiston (a 30-minute drive away) and in Pullman, Washington (its headquarters).

“We are all excited to see the plans come forward,” said Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert. SEL has been working closely with the city, and each party expressed appreciation for the other; SEL appreciated assistance from city departments all through the application and planning process.

“We also know when you have a plant like this, you never know what other types of businesses this will attract to our area,” Lambert added.

The location is also just seven miles away “from where the growth lies,” Schweitzer said. “Lord willing,” construction will be completed in just under two years, with a target opening of January 2023.

Better for the environment

Lambert and Schweitzer both praised the plant’s incorporation of green practices, including almost completely eliminating water waste in the building’s water usage. The facility will have its own water treatment and recycling operation. SEL is working with GreenSource Fabrication to make that happen.

“There’s no tradeoff between environment, economy and quality,” Schweitzer said. “When you focus on clean, you’ll almost always have higher quality and be better for the economy.”

“It means a lot to us,” said Lambert. “(These) plans of building a chip factory, (it’s) one of the most unique ones in the world; there are just a few in the world, is my understanding. It’s a perfect place to put it here in Moscow. We are open for business here.”

Lambert was one of several dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking. Idaho Gov. Brad Little and University of Idaho president C. Scott Green were also in attendance, underscoring Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories growing impact in not just the Idaho economy, but in the state’s education sphere as well.

“We have wonderful relationships with the universities in the area,” Schweitzer said, a former professor himself. “And we have a huge internship program for young folks in high school or college; of course that will be part and parcel to what we’re doing in this new facility.”

Future plans

The entire parcel of land SEL owns is 154 acres. This first building’s footprint takes up 3.5 acres, but when adding in parking and road integration and landscaping, etc. closer to 7 or 8 acres is required for the entire project, leaving about 146 acres undeveloped.

“We’ll grow from there,” Schweitzer said. “That leaves a lot of other property out there for projects, and we have identified…where (to possibly site) potential future buildings. We already have a glimpse of what that would look like.”

When asked why Moscow was selected for the site, Schweitzer credited Idaho’s approach to economic and political freedom. And for Schweitzer, Idaho’s Tax Reimbursement Incentive was not a factor; rather than take money for the business, he said, “We all want a well-run state (with) good education, good public safety, the things that are fundamentals we expect from (the) government.”

“Idaho is a place that encourages innovation and removes unnecessary barriers so that businesses and communities thrive,” Little stated in an email message. “Dr. Schweitzer is an inventor and understands that the best way for people to practice their arts is for government to get out of the way. SEL’s printed circuit board manufacturing facility will be the newest, state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly facility of its kind in the nation, not because the government told them to though, because they want to be good neighbors and care about the environment. It is just the right thing to do.”

“I am so happy to be part of the electric power industry,” Schweitzer added. “We move energy at the speed of light; it’s such a vital industry. It gives me a lot of personal satisfaction to serve that industry and everybody who plugs in. We are so excited to have this opportunity to further grow our mission.”