Materials & Machinery
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L.A. County Materials
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Los Angeles County is the nation’s number one manufacturing center, in terms of employment, with a total of 434,000 employed in the sector.
Supporting these many manufacturers is a strong base of component and tool suppliers. Currently, about 123,000 people create the pieces, parts, and machines required to assemble the finished goods of manufacturers.
The aerospace industry and its suppliers have led the way in creating new ways to fabricate the exotic materials they employ. Traditional mills, lathes, and presses are giving way to extruders, injectors, autoclaves, and kilns to shape a myriad of components.
The County is known for its expertise in such advanced materials as composites, ceramics, polymers and the latest innovations in nanomaterials. L.A. County is a leader in producing people with the expertise to handle these modern materials.
Precision components are also a specialty. Utilizing advanced computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining tools, skilled tradesmen aided by talented mechanical engineers turn out unique components honed to the tightest tolerances.
The largest segment in this industry cluster is fabricated metal products, which employs some 49,000 workers. Often supplying key components for aircraft and military hardware, these shops work to exacting specifications and tight security.
Tool and machinery manufacturing employ 19,000 people in the County, while plastic parts fabrication keep 15,000 workers busy.