Summer is just around the corner and our aerospace manufacturing facility expansion project has made some major headway since our Spring update.

In early March, Washington Patriot Construction lifted and placed 55 tilt walls within three days to set the outer perimeter for the main manufacturing facility in Phase 1. Structural steel was delivered soon after and placed to support the roof and roofing components which were installed throughout March to late April.


While the construction crew built the roof, interior finishes were simultaneously installed including rough-in piping and power for the new HVAC, sprinkler and electrical systems. Restrooms, a research and development room, mechanical, electrical and IT rooms were also built throughout April and May.


As of mid-June, current construction activities include an infiltration trench and storm water structure installations, framing, drywall and insulation – among other projects. Mapping for machine relocation is also currently underway. Washington Patriot Construction superintendent Greg Gran met with Tool Gauge Leadership and plastic division managers to chat about logistics of machine placements, plumbing, and electrical systems as equipment relocation starts in early August.



We look forward to the following expansion project milestones from June to July as we get closer to completing Phase 1 of construction:
 

• • Roof flashings and gutters
• • Injection molder rack rough-in
• • Exterior Paint
• • Dock leveler install
• • Storefront installation
• • Bridge crane installation
• • Equipment relocation and startup
• • Asphalt prep and pave for employee and customer parking
• • Irrigation installation systems
• • Site furnishings installation

 


Projected finish date of Phase 1 construction for early September with Phase 2 right around the corner. Phase 2 of the expansion project includes demolition of our current plastics facility to build out our paint room, QA lab, training and lunchroom, employee lockers and restrooms, offices and facility entrance/lobby.

Construction is estimated to be completed late 2019 and will feature a customer lobby with the history of Tool Gauge in a storyboard format, two conference rooms, six offices, 14 work spaces, employee locker area, lunchroom and training area. Other important expansion details include:
 

• • An additional 80,000 sq. ft. in our plastics division
• • Expansion of our plastics press size range
• • Broadening of our secondary operations to improve flow and ergonomic assembly
• • Installation of a new, state-of-the-art vertical paint system
• • An additional 2,000 sq. ft. for CNC equipment within our metals division
• • Implementation of multiple collaborative robots (cobots)

 

Once the expansion project is completed, we expect to create over 100 new jobs spanning over the next five years within the Tacoma-Pierce County region. The grant from Governor Inslee’s Strategic Reserve Fund will assist in the training of new employees and advance the skills of 50 incumbent employees. Employee opportunities are on our career page and will include full-time, apprenticeship and internship positions in machining, molding, assembly and engineering areas.

To follow the Tool Gauge expansion project progress, visit out live WorkZone Cam or on our social media channels.