Leupold & Stevens adds 100 jobs in Beaverton

Portland Business Journal:

Leupold & Stevens Inc., a giant in the world of sports optics and firearms scopes, has added nearly 100 jobs at its Beaverton headquarters this year as it expands into new markets and develops new brands.

While most of the jobs are skilled manufacturing positions, one big hire can’t be overlooked.

CEO Calvin S. Johnston joined Leupold in July, replacing the retiring Tom Freuchtel and taking the helm of a 103-year-old company in its fifth-generation of family ownership.

Until now, the company has been known primarily for its gun-mounted scopes.

But after a decade of growth driven by investments in products sold to sportsmen through outdoor retailers, Leupold is making strides in building products for new markets, such as its U.S. armed forces division.

“We’ve reached a size to balance our investment between two divisions,” Johnston said.

Johnston said the company’s 2010 revenue is expected to grow in the single digits. Though Leupold keeps its financial data closely held, the research database ReferenceUSA estimates the company’s annual revenue at around $160 million.

The company makes an assortment of sports optics products. Though it’s principally known for firearms scopes, Leupold’s catalog includes binoculars, range finders, flashlights and mounting systems.

It’s distinctive in that all of its products are made locally in its 160,000-square-foot Beaverton headquarters and manufacturing plant, where until this year it employed 600.

That figure has grown to nearly 700.

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