Big crane in Big Pasco shines during WA state manufacturing tour
The Association of Washington Business visited a storied Tri-Cities crane company this week to tout the importance of manufacturing in Washington.
AWB’s stop at Lampson International’s crane yard at Big Pasco Industrial Park coincided with the business association’s first-ever report on the state of manufacturing in Washington.
It calculates Washington’s 6,462 manufacturers produced $63.29 billion in 2021, or 8.6% of the state’s total output.
Collectively, manufacturers employ nearly 8% of Washington workers, or about 268,000. Average annual compensation approaches $100,000.
The wealth, AWB noted, extends beyond the Puget Sound counties enriched by Boeing jobs and the tech sector.
Benton and Franklin counties are among 23 Washington counties with 1,000 or more manufacturing jobs.
The 207 manufacturers in Benton County employ nearly 5,000 people and pay average annual wages of $63,000 while their 65 counterparts in Franklin County employ nearly 4,000 at an average annual wage of $58,000.
AWB executives, including Kris Johnson, its president, hit the road every year, touring manufacturers in communities across the state to draw attention to a sector of the state’s economy it says deserves respect.
The Oct. 6 leg brought it to the Tri-Cities, where it called on Lampson, as well as Tyson Foods before trekking to Rankin Equipment, a farm equipment dealer and manufacturer in Yakima.
Its upcoming stops include Bellingham (Oct. 9), Everett, Mukilteo, Bothell and Seattle (Oct. 1) and Seattle, Kent and Auburn (Oct. 11).
At Lampson, AWB heard the story of how the late Neil and Billie Jane Lampson established their eponymous company in 1946 as a small drayage company, then grew it into the global heavy lift crane company now run by their son, Bill Lampson.
Before heading out, the tour group paused for a photo op in front of one of the most prominent pieces of construction equipment in the Tri-Cities, a massive orange and white Transi-Lift 3000 crane.
Lampson built the crane about 10 years ago for use in the Japanese nuclear industry. It has been part of the Pasco skyline ever since.
In addition to highlighting traditional manufacturers such as Lampson, AWB noted that food and beverage processing are important components of the state economy.