Along the Street: Applied Physics expands to Hillsboro

McMinnville’s Applied Physics Technologies, Inc. has announced it will relocate its research and development team to Hillsboro.

Seven staff members will make the move to a state-of-the-art research lab in March. Under the direction of Chief Technical Officer Bud Magera, the team will continue working with companies worldwide to design custom electron emitter solutions.

APTECH, which designs and manufactures precision parts for scientific research, is not leaving McMinnville, however, company officials said.

The move will allow it to expand its manufacturing space in McMinnville and hire additional development engineers, lab technicians and manufacturing workers. The site will “fabricate high quality, single-crystal materials using a well-defined process called ‘Inert Gas Arc Float Zone Refining,” according to CEO and President Marcus Straw.

Administrative offices also will remain in Mac.

APTECH started in 1995 as an outgrowth of the Linfield Research Institute at Linfield University. Its first location was the garage of co-founder William Mackie, a Linfield physics professor. 

Over the next 25 years, it grew in space and scope, providing new and rebuilt electron sources for use in electron microscopes, 3-D printing of refractory metals and alloys, advanced X-ray generation tools and lithography systems for integrated circuit manufacturers. 

In 2019, Mackie announced he would retire, and APTECH was purchased by Hitachi High Tech of America 

Current CEO and President Marcus Straw said the company “expects to increase production and market share, while maintaining outstanding product quality, and a commitment to the community that has been home for nearly three decades.”

2020 building permits down

The city of McMinnville issued 139 building permits for single-family dwellings in 2020, 29 fewer than in 2019 but 38 more than the previous year and 86 more than 10 years ago.

Both the 2018 and 2010 lists including manufactured homes in addition to single-family stick built dwellings. The building permit recap format changed in 2019 and now breaks out only single-family and multi-family buildings and units on the residential side and, on the commercial side, only new buildings and additions/remodeling.

Permits were issued for one new multi-family building and 12 multi-family units in 2020. A year earlier, the city issued permits for 24 multi-family buildings and 233 multi-family units.

In 2018 and 2010, respectively, the permit recap shows 14 and five buildings for two or more families, with totals of 110 units in 2018 and eight in 2010.

The 2020 recap lists 15 new commercial buildings and 28 additions. A year earlier, permits were issued for four new commercial buildings and 35 additions.

Six new buildings were permitted in 2018 and 13 in 2010. The earlier of those reports was broken down into industrial, 2; office, bank or professional, 1; amusement or recreational, 1; educational, 2; and other, 7.

The additions in 2018 included 31 non-residential buildings and structures. In 2010, there were 47.

Thus far in 2021, at least 16 commercial permits have been taken out, including for remodeling the Terra Vina Tasting Room in the Odd Fellows Building and altering a Third Street building for Bierly Brewing, and for building a new urgent care center.

In addition, at least 46 permits have been taken out for home construction and remodeling, including adding gas lines, heat pumps, altering plumbing and fixing foundations.

Chamber Greeters programs set

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Feb. 26 Greeters program will feature Juliette’s House, the Yamhill County Child Abuse Assessment Center. A link for the 8 to 9 a.m. Zoom program is available through the Chamber website, mcminnvlle.org.

The Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce in Newberg will host a virtual Greeters session featuring Al Bannan from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici’s office from 8 to 9 a.m. Feb. 26.

Juliette’s House will be featured at Chehalem Valley’s March 5 program.

A Zoom link for each Friday is available through the website, business.chehalemvalley.org.

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