MOSCOW, ID – Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is planning to build a 140,000 sq. ft. electronics manufacturing facility here.

The company will break ground on the PCB fabrication plant in spring 2021, with construction to be completed mid-2022.

SEL is working with GreenSource Fabrication to design the facility and manufacturing processes.

“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 engineers and specialists design all the PCBs used in SEL products, but they are fabricated by several US suppliers.

“Printed circuit boards are custom and critical components,” said Edmund O. Schweitzer III, president, founder and CTO. “Building our own shortens our supply chain, reduces risk and advances quality. This is great news for our company and our customers.

“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 with current employees and then expanding, as the operation gets up and running.