Ball Aerospace Completes Final Phase of $75M Colorado Expansion

Capital investment in Boulder manufacturing plant more than doubles spacecraft production to accommodate business growth and new programs.

JPSS mission (Photo: Ball Aerospace)
JPSS mission (Photo: Ball Aerospace)

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has opened the door on a new era of space programs by celebrating the completion of an advanced satellite manufacturing center that more than doubles current spacecraft production capability. The 90,000-square-foot expansion is designed to accommodate larger and more sophisticated satellites and simultaneous spacecraft builds to fulfill new NASA and the Department of Defense contracts for space-related assets.

The $75M capital investment includes expansion and improvements underway since 2005 at Ball’s Fisher Integration Facility in Boulder, CO, and comes on the heels of the opening of expanded facilities at the company’s manufacturing center in Westminster, CO, in 2011.

“The expansion we proudly unveil affirms our commitment to growing Colorado’s dynamic aerospace economy,” said David L. Taylor, Ball Aerospace president and CEO.

The larger aerospace manufacturing complex in Boulder includes a 60 percent increase in clean room space, state of the art environmental testing systems, and build-out capacity for a larger thermal vacuum chamber to test spacecraft. These spacecraft include NASA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), the WorldView-3 remote-sensing satellite for DigitalGlobe, the Sentinel Mission for the B612 Foundation and multiple Department of Defense and national security missions. The new facilities enable Ball to provide the full range of manufacturing, assembly, integration and test capabilities needed to be the industry’s go-to partner for high performance satellites and instruments.

Ball Aerospace has more than 2,800 employees and reported sales of $784 million in 2011. In the past five decades, the company’s strength has grown in several areas, including space science and exploration; space-based monitoring of the Earth’s weather and environment; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; supporting the military in creating an integrated battlespace; and building space superiority for the nation. Ball is also a leading provider of commercial remote-sensing satellites.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions for national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications.

Aerospace/Defense/Aviation, Colorado, Daily News, Economic Development, Industries, USA - Rocky Mountains

Aerospace, Ball, Department of Defense, NASA

Sponsored Content
Featured Location

Location Spotlight: Ohio Electric Cooperatives

Ohio consistently ranks as one of the top U.S. destinations for new corporate facilities, meaning prime sites are quickly snapped up. Economic development officials and private developers are working cooperatively to ensure the pipeline of immediately-developable sites stays full with diverse location opportunities.

Featured Video

Webinars, Podcasts & Videos

Camp Hall – A Next Generation Commerce Park in South Carolina

Camp Hall is a first-of-its-kind, master-planned industrial work space located in Charleston, S.C. As a convergence of people, place and programming, Camp Hall delivers thoughtful infrastructure and logistical features that empower people — and business — to thrive.

Hear from leaders at the Destination Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Business Development in Rochester about why they feel Minnesota is filled with opportunities for founders and why investors should consider the power of startups in Minnesota.

Business Benefits In Minnesota, a Mayo Clinic Business Development and Destination Medical Center Perspective

Hear from leaders at the Destination Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Business Development in Rochester about why they feel Minnesota is filled with opportunities for founders and why investors should consider the power of startups in Minnesota.

Agricultural Heritage Meets Strong Manufacturing Base With a rich history in agriculture, the region is now made up of a strong manufacturing base, including everything from snack foods and Gatorade, to leading human resources software and revolutionary plug-less power systems for electric vehicles. Mount Rogers Regional Partnership's strategic East Coast location is the driving force.

Virginia’s i81-i77 Crossroads | Talent Retention & Manufacturing

Learn about manufacturing jobs and facilities in the Mount Rogers region of southwest Virginia. There is ample opportunity for education and jobs in a region rich with culture and heritage.

Share to...