Schafer Celebrates Aerospace, Defense Growth with New Facility

Schafer Celebrates Aerospace, Defense Growth with New Facility

March 1, 2011 - Schafer Corporation recently showcased its class of high-tech offerings for a variety of federal government clients such as the Department of Defense and NASA at a recent celebration of the company’s expanded facilities.

Schafer, created in 1972, is a leading edge technology company rooted in laser and directed energy programs.

Jim Bolte, Chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Board of Directors, and Schafer’s Bill Marx, Charles Chitwood, Carol Daniel and Mike Williams cut the ribbon on Schafer’ new office

Schafer in Huntsville supports a broad range of activities, including system concept development and evaluation, systems engineering and integration, test and evaluation and many other services to government customers such as the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Army and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

The expanded facility will provide Schafer with improved lab environments for prototyping and product development for ongoing programs and innovative research and development pursuits. In addition to office and conference space, the new facility houses a machine shop, an electronics shop and a high-bay area, according to Charles Chitwood, Schafer vice president and lead for the company’s System Engineering & Integration Division.

“This facility also has increased flexibility for configuring lab space for secure processing, leading the company’s efforts in missile defense, future Army systems, NASA, several product lines and other Schafer work with numerous major aerospace contractors,” Chitwood said. “We look forward to the expansion of Schafer Huntsville capabilities through the additional prototyping and product development work to be accomplished here in this new facility.”

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County Chair-Elect Jim Bolte praised Schafer as a company that has unlimited potential to grow in Huntsville.

“Among their numerous government and industry clients, Schafer supports two of the federal agencies that have long served as primary drivers of our local economy: the Department of Defense and NASA. If you are talking about this community’s sweet spot in economic development, aerospace and defense are at the top of the list,” Bolte said.

“We are very well aware of what that means to the growth of our community. Rest assured your Chamber will continue to do everything we can to provide a platform for Schafer’s continued growth and success.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle thanked the company for its long-standing commitment to Huntsville.

“You’ve got a great history here, and the future is even brighter. It is companies like Schafer that keep Huntsville as a leading technology center of excellence in support of the aerospace and defense industries,” Battle said.