Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is expanding its manufacturing footprint in North Idaho with the acquisition of a large industrial building in Post Falls, creating approximately 250 new jobs. The employee-owned company announced the move as part of a broader strategy to increase production capacity for digital systems that protect and monitor power grids worldwide.
The expansion represents a significant investment in Kootenai County’s economy, adding to the region’s growing list of industrial employers. SEL, which has manufactured products in the United States since 1984, will use the Post Falls site to produce electronic devices similar to those currently made at its facilities in Pullman, Washington, and Lewiston, Idaho. The company expects the new facility to be fully operational by 2027.
Major Expansion for Kootenai County Industry
The Post Falls project marks the fifth major manufacturing expansion initiative announced by SEL in the past two years. This rapid growth follows previous projects in Moscow and Nampa, Idaho; an expansion in Charlotte, North Carolina; and the acquisition of property in Pullman, Washington. Most recently, SEL purchased a 103,000-square-foot facility in Nampa, signaling a strong commitment to domestic production.
Super 1 Foods Expands Post Falls Presence with $12 Million Second Store, highlighting the city’s ongoing commercial development. The arrival of SEL adds a high-tech manufacturing component to Post Falls’ economic landscape, complementing other local business growth.
Competitive Wages for Manufacturing Careers
SEL is offering competitive compensation packages to attract workers for the new positions. Starting wages at the Post Falls facility will be $26 per hour, with shift differentials of up to $10 per hour available. These rates are designed to recruit skilled labor for the production of complex electronic devices that serve customers in 170 countries.
The company currently has more than 800 open positions globally, reflecting a surge in demand for its technology. SEL provides a 10-year worldwide warranty on its products, underscoring the long-term reliability expected from the equipment manufactured at these sites.
Meeting Global Demand for Grid Infrastructure
President Dave Whitehead noted that the combined investments in Nampa and Post Falls will allow the company to bring two facilities online simultaneously. “In addition to our recent purchase of the 103,000-square-foot space facility in Nampa, our manufacturing investment in the Post Falls location will allow us to bring two facilities online to increase our ability to meet the significant demand for our electronic devices,” Whitehead said.
The expansion is driven by a global trend among utilities and industries upgrading critical electrical infrastructure. SEL Founder and Chairman of the Board Ed Schweitzer emphasized the importance of these upgrades for modern power systems. “Utilities and industries across the globe are upgrading critical electrical infrastructure to improve reliability, security and performance,” Schweitzer said.
As a 100 percent employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL’s growth directly benefits its workforce while strengthening the domestic manufacturing base. The Post Falls facility will play a key role in meeting this international demand, bringing high-wage technical jobs to Kootenai County residents.