German laser manufacturer breaks ground on new building in Chandler

From lasers to measurement devices used in the broad spectrum of science and engineering projects, German-based manufacturer Laser Components makes just about everything needed to complete an engineering feat. Although its headquarters is set in the Rhineland, its American presence will soon be right in our own backyard in the form of a new manufacturing facility located in an industrial neighborhood in Chandler.

The laser parts company is working with local commercial builder LGE Design Build, which recently broke ground at the new location. The building has an estimated completion date of January of 2020 when the company will move its employees over from its current Tempe office and boost its staff number beyond its current 30-piece headcount.

Laser Components is another example of an industrial manufacturing push in Arizona. Job growth in the manufacturing industry in Arizona has seen a sharp rise in recent years, boasting more than 3,200 jobs per 100,000 people for a total of 135,100 jobs. Job growth in the industry saw a healthy 5.4 percent boost between 2017 and 2018, with that number expected to rise by another 3.4 percent between this year and next year, according to a study by Kempler Industries.

“Laser Components’ move shows that the word is out that Arizona is a fantastic place to grow a manufacturing business,” said Dawn Grove, chairwoman of the Arizona Manufacturers Council. “Laser Components has been manufacturing products in Arizona for the past 15 years, and the fact they are building a much larger structure with room for future expansion shows their optimism for more manufacturing and distribution growth here.”

Last year alone, Arizona added nearly 7,000 manufacturing jobs, with the majority of those jobs being raised up in the Greater Phoenix area. From aerospace to defense, advanced technologies to electronics, it’s all about growth.

The new space built by LGE will round out to about 21,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space in east Chandler. The structure was designed from the ground-up and everything in between by LGE’s in-house architecture firm. It should hold more than 70 employees and feature a good deal of clean aesthetics and natural lighting.

“From our first meeting with LGE Design Build, we were very impressed by their approach to the project and their professionalism,” Patrick Paul, general manager and CEO at Laser Components said. “We have quite some experience with construction projects in different parts of the world, but we have never met such a good, skilled, well-organized and well-balanced team as LGE.”

One kicker for Laser Components’ choice behind picking Chandler was its equal proximity to Arizona State University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus in east Mesa.

“These new jobs uplift Arizona, as average manufacturing wages greatly exceed average non-manufacturing wages, each manufacturing job births many other service and supplier jobs, and research and development and technological breakthroughs accompany manufacturing wherever it goes,” Grove said. “I love seeing high-end, innovative companies from around the world recognize the value of investing in manufacturing in Arizona.”