“ Color Craft had a long history in Seattle dating back to 1949 . I was intrigued by the chance to build something in aerospace and to try and turn around a business with a long history . Through the hard work of our team , the business , along with Eclipse Technical Graphics in Spokane , now has around 40 employees and was recognized last year with a Boeing Supplier Excellence award for our quality and on-time delivery performance . In Seattle , about 80 percent of our revenue is driven from Boeing and its supply chain . We serve all platforms : commercial , military , space , and aftermarket . If it is a specialized placard , marker , nameplate , or graphic , whether printed , engraved , molded , or etched — you name it — we probably make it .” The company also works with Boeing and airlines directly on exterior livery graphics and mandatory markers .
Stewart grew Color Craft through a relentless focus on customer support . “ On-time delivery and high quality are the minimum bar for entry , but our team separates itself through its focus on serving the individual buyer or engineer that we engage with every day .” Stewart also likens airspeed to the pace of decision making and product development , while brains are a company ’ s great people . Color Craft ’ s brains include Vice President and General Manager Kimberly Krebs in Seattle and Kelly Espe and Buffi Bornschein who lead Eclipse Technical Graphics in Spokane . They had to make the hard decision to reduce payroll in 2020 ; that and other smart decisions to reduce costs were completed with enough speed to maintain vital cashflow ( or altitude as Stewart would see it ).
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While the entire world economy has taken a hit , the aerospace industry will continue to see reduced demand commercially until the pandemic ends . When airlines curb spending , the traditional industry stabilizers are military contracts for the U . S . government . Thankfully the Color Craft Group has access to those through its partnership with Boeing . In addition , Eclipse Technical Graphics does similar work in other industries . “ Our Spokane team builds many of the same types of parts along with membrane switches , but its customers build things like computer servers , treadmills , industrial testing equipment and much more . That non-aerospace balance has been very helpful this last year ”
With all three elements of altitude , airspeed , and brains available to maintain its flight , Stewart believes the Color Craft Group is well set to take off in full force when things do start to return to pre-pandemic levels . He ’ s ready to get flying himself , do a little traveling , and enjoy a concert — all hopefully with his kids .
58 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS