Springing into action
<p>Isaac Christensen, a Lake City High School senior, looks at a bag of bowed washers which act as springs on Thursday at Titan Spring during a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) after-school activity in Hayden.</p>
<p>Pam Shelton, quality control inspector at Titan Spring, explains schematics to students during a mock inspection Thursday evening during a tour of the facility for STEM Week in Hayden.</p>
HAYDEN - Isaac Christensen saw local manufacturing firms in action this week, a perspective the Lake City High senior can't get in the classroom.
Christensen was among local high school and North Idaho College students who participated in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Week organized through the University of Idaho.
He was among the students on Thursday who toured Titan Spring Company in Hayden, which manufactures springs primarily for the aerospace industry.
"This was recommended by my physics teacher because I'm interested in aerospace," Christensen said while learning about Titan's manufacturing process.
"I'm amazed at how many tiny springs they manufacture. You wouldn't think that much would have to go into it."
Instead, Christensen learned engineering and math are involved in multiple steps of the manufacturing process, including during a risk analysis of the product design and during the inspection.
Christensen was surprised to hear the company only employs 30 despite shipping springs to countries such as Germany, Spain, France and Israel.
About 75 students toured seven North Idaho companies during STEM Week. Other companies that opened their doors to the students included Bay Shore Systems, Empire Airlines, Triple E Technologies, AGC Aero Composites, Quest Integration and Lightning Tool and Manufacturing.
Karen Thurston, UI's coordinator for the event, said the week allowed students to see cutting-edge technology and the companies' work environments. It was also an opportunity to ask questions about education requirements for STEM careers and learn about possible summer internships.
Titan, a family-owned company that was recruited to North Idaho from California in 2002, has manufactured springs for the space shuttle, Apache helicopters, B-1 bomber, U-2 spy plane and the SR-71 Blackbird.
Kevin Glenn, the company's business development director, said Titan Springs doesn't have its own product line. The firm manufactures springs according to the customers' drawings.
"They draw it and we've got to make it fit," he said. "Every day we're turning jobs that we haven't seen. That keeps it exciting."
Jim Glenn, president of the company, told students they don't necessarily need to be math whizzes to work for Titan.
"Attitude and aptitude," he said, referring to the qualities he looks for most. "You need to have good logic to make decisions. I emphasize work ethic because you're working as a team."
Creativity and imagination are other good qualities to have.
Glenn said he immediately found an advantage to moving the company to North Idaho.
"The talent pool to draw from up here is huge," he said.
Glenn said he's encouraged by the students' interest in STEM fields.
"The world is getting more technical ... and you're getting a leg up," he told the students.