Aerospace Manufacturer Building Facility In Niles

Woodward, a global corporation and defense contractor which concentrates in the aerospace and energy sectors, is breaking ground on a facility in Niles which will eventually house 900 employees.

The company is building at 6300 Howard Street, said Ross Klicker, the village of Niles economic development specialist. The property formerly housed the Adams Elevator building and a warehouse in back. The former Adams building is being torn down, and Woodward is building a 100,000 square foot facility, which will adjoin the warehouse.



Woodward currently operates in two buildings near each other, one in Niles and one in Skokie, on the Niles-Skokie border, Klicker said. About 500 employees work in Niles now; once the building is completed, Woodward wil house all of its 900 employees in the area there.

Woodward lists among its business lines  aircraft, engines and wind power, as well as cockpit controls, guided missiles and munitions, armored and tactical vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Woodward lists plants and offices in India, China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Bulgaria, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, the U.K., U.S. and other places on its website. 

Woodward would likely become the village of Niles' largest employer as W.W. Grainger, which had 860 employees, moves its operations out of Niles by the end of the year, according to the Niles Herald Spectator.