Washington State is not only home to the world’s largest manufacturer in terms of volume, but also is among the most attractive states to do business. In 2017, CNBC ranked the state as #1 in the U.S. for its business conditions. Washington’s diverse manufacturing landscape features major names in aerospace, food processing, electronics and medical device manufacturing.
Today, we are providing an insider look at Washington’s innovative manufacturing sector and exploring the largest industrial companies operating in the state.
According to MNI, compiler of the industrial information that powers IndustrySelect, Washington is currently home to 5,523 manufacturers employing 336,334 workers.
Looking to reach decision makers in the industrial world? Get a live database of industrial contacts, built exactly for what you're selling IndustrySelect gives you live access to detailed information on 460,000 U.S. industrial companies and one million executives. Try a free demo today! Looking for data on Washington manufacturers? Learn about our Washington data here.
According to MNI, Seattle is Washington’s largest city based on number of industrial jobs, with 81,200 workers. This is followed by Everett with 38,211 jobs.
Read more: Top Manufacturing Cities in the U.S.
Other top cities in Washington include:
• Kent (17,549 jobs)
• Renton (16,453 jobs)
• Vancouver (12,033 jobs)
King County is Washington’s largest in terms of industrial jobs, home to 149,767 workers. This is followed by Snohomish with 42,318 workers, Pierce (26,144), and Spokane (22,627) and Clark (16,835).
The transportation equipment industry is Washington’s largest in terms of employment, home to some major names in aerospace. That sector accounts for 18% of Washington’s manufacturing workforce. This is followed by food processing with 16%, and industrial machinery with 12%. Lumber and wood products accounts for 7%, while electronic products make up another 7%.
MNI reports there are 11,711 executive contacts among Washington’s manufacturing companies, including 21,309 presidents, 2,344 owners and partners; 1,479 vice-presidents and 1,641 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.
Other facts to know about Washington manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers, include ownership, distribution and other trends. Let’s take a look:
• 2% of Washington manufacturers are women-owned
• 9% are publicly owned companies
• 9% import raw materials
• 33% distribute their products internationally.
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.
Company | Employees | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. | 30,000 | Everett | WA |
The Boeing Co. | 12,000 | Renton | WA |
The Boeing Co. | 4,900 | Kent | WA |
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. | 2,552 | Pullman | WA |
Terex Aerial Work Platforms | 2,500 | Bothell | WA |
Philips Oral Healthcare, LLC | 1,800 | Bothell | WA |
Seagen, Inc. | 1,600 | Bothell | WA |
Borton & Sons, Inc. | 1,500 | Yakima | WA |
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | 1,400 | Wallula | WA |
HP, Inc. | 1,100 | Vancouver | WA |
1. Boeing Commercial Airplane (Everett, WA)
Measured in terms of revenue, Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company, valued at $93 billion. Boeing's Everett campus is the world’s largest building in terms of volume, spanning 98.7 acres. The company employs18,560 at its massive Everett campus, which produces the 747, 767, 777, and the 787 airplanes.
2. Boeing (Renton, WA)
Boeing’s Renton plant, birthplace of the iconic 737 jetliner, continues to lead in commercial aviation. With over 12,000 skilled employees, it produces the fuel-efficient 737 MAX, pushing the boundaries of flight technology.
3. The Boeing Co. (Kent, WA)
Also known as the Kent Space Center, 4,900 employees support the development of military aircraft and antisubmarine warfare systems.
4. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (Pullman, WA)
The fourth largest industrial employer in the state, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories makes technology that protects, monitors and controls electric power systems, including relays, meters, electronic wireless and serial encrypting transceivers, precision digital clocks and computers.The company employs 2,552 at this location.
5. Terex Aerial Work Platforms (Redmond, WA)
Terex is a worldwide producer of lift and material handling equipment and serves multiple industries, including the construction, transportation, mining and shipping industries. 2,500 employees work at the Redmond location, which produces commercial and industrial super boom lifts.
6. Philips Oral Healthcare, LLC (Bothell, WA)
Employing 1,800 employees, Philips Oral Healthcare makes electric toothbrushes as well as ultrasound medical equipment and defibrillators at this location.
7. Seagen, Inc.
Seagen, now part of Pfizer, is a global biotechnology company revolutionizing cancer care. With over 20 years of expertise in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Seagen pioneers safe and effective solutions for solid tumors and blood-related cancers
8. Borton & Sons (Yakima, WA)
Employing 1,500 in Yakima, Borton & Son’s is a major employer in the food processing industry and provides apple, pear and cherry processing as well as packaging.
9. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (Wallula, WA)
Tyson. is a international food industry giant, processing 2.4 billion animals worldwide per year. The company is also the largest private corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. 1,400 employees work at this Wallula beef-processing facility.
10. HP Inc. (Vancouver)
Hewlett Packard’s is the world’s largest technology company, producing printers, personal computers, software, IT infrastructure and more. Headquartered in Palo Alto, HP employs 321,000 worldwide. The company’s Vancouver location produces printers and also focuses on 3-D printing research and development. The company is currently undergoing a massive expansion in Vancouver which will result in the facility encompassing 1.5 million square feet once completed.
Interested in other states? Browse all of our state news here.
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Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Everett_Factory
http://welcome.hp.com/country/uk/en/companyinfo/facts.html
https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/jun/09/hp-submits-application-for-1-5-million-square-foot-campus-in-east-vancouver/
www.physio-control.com/uploadedFiles/Physio85/Contents/About_Us/Newsroom/Company%20Overview_January2014.pdf
https://monroeaerospace.com/blog/6-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-boeing/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terex
Editor's note: A version of this article first appeared in May of 2021. It is updated annually to reflect new statistics and trends on Washington manufacturing.