Hanahan defense company expands into new facility

Hanahan electronics supplier and defense contractor UEC Electronics recently opened an expanded manufacturing facility and entered into a mentoring partnership with Raytheon Co. to help it grow even further.

UEC opened its new, 19,000-square-foot manufacturing and electronics integration operation last month in front of hundreds of employees, customers, suppliers and Hanahan Mayor Minnie Blackwell.

“This additional facility, and the extensive capabilities that it houses, positions UEC to be a more vertically integrated supplier,” President Rebecca Ufkes said at the ceremony.

Ufkes said the expansion would increase UEC’s ability to deliver “responsive, high-quality components up through sophisticated integrated systems to our customers.”

The company also said it has teamed up with Raytheon in a Department of Defense-sponsored mentoring program. Raytheon will mentor UEC for three years in product development, advanced electronics manufacturing, lean manufacturing and other areas.

“This is an excellent opportunity for us to help UEC Electronics become a better supplier to Raytheon and the D.O.D.,” said Mike Jarrett, vice president of supply chain management for Raytheon Missile Systems. “This agreement will pay benefits to both companies and our customers.”

Ufkes said the mentoring agreement with Raytheon will provide UEC with training, guidance and technology to help the company grow strategically.

UEC is a woman-owned small business that provides engineering design, product development and system integration. The company manufactures and integrates circuit card assemblies, wire harness assemblies, complex box builds, test stands and complex integrated systems. The company does work for SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, BAE Systems, Robert Bosch Corp., Raytheon and Cummins, among others.