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With second 787 line lost, should Washington build Airbus parts?

Source: Glen Farley / King 5 News

November 5, 2009

MUKILTEO, Wash. - On the opposite end of Everett's Paine Field, just a short drive from Boeing's massive Everett plant, there's are a cluster of blue and white buildings. The sign says Electroimpact and around 360 people work here.

Electroimpact is just 22 years old, and it builds tools. Really, really big tools. At one point, 80 percent of the work it did went to Boeing... some if it still does. But now about 60 percent of the work is going to build Airbus planes.

"We'll put in our custom machine, we'll put in our custom jig, we'll train everybody how to run it, how to maintain it and operate it." said Ben Hemstead, a mechanical engineer and assistant to the company's president.

Hemstead gave KING5 News' Glenn Farley a tour this morning, showing him massive tools that are heading all over the world.

"The green machine there, is going to China. Now, who sells machine tools to China!" said Hemstead.

That wasn't meant as a question, but as a statement. That green machine is heading to China where the Chinese intend to build their own regional jet. He calls it the fastest riveting machine out there.

Electroimpact makes no apologies for its business dealings with Airbus, China or anywhere else. Hemstead's father was a Boeing engineer. He gets it. But these days we call this the global economy. And as Boeing farms work out around the globe - remember the 787's wings are made in Japan, much of the body or fuselage in Italy, and other body parts in South Carolina and Kansas - local suppliers in Washington state are trying to pull the world's work here.

"We need other airframers to come here. That expands our base,"says Roesmary Brester, President and CEO of Hobart Machined Products Inc.

Hobart is based in the community of that same name south of Issaquah. But its small manufacturing plant is in Ellensburg. Brester has been active in recruiting efforts to bring in more business. Next week her firm is sponsoring an event inviting French companies to come check out what Washington manufacturers have to offer.

Brester's firm, founded along with her husband back in the 1970s, used to have one customer - Boeing. But about a decade ago she took Boeing's advice as to where the business was heading.

"Boeing years ago kept saying you need to diversify," said Brester. And diversify she has.

Since then, Hobart has branched out into making parts for Rockets, medical equipment, some automotive and of course, some parts that end up on Airbus planes.

While Boeing places its bet on South Carolina and that state's promise to deliver a competent work force, Washington's suppliers say the local work force here is what makes companies keep coming back. People have done this kind of work for a long time, said Brester.

It's estimated there are at least 650 manufacturers in Washington who are considered aerospace suppliers. But there may be more that cross over a variety of industries. Largely, the industry has operated out of the spotlight as attention from media, state and federal governments keep focusing on Boeing.

But the companies we spoke with both say the State of Washington needs to do more to make the business climate better, because there's a lot of competition... all over the world.

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