Variety of products made by companies in Boulder Valley

Manufacturing companies run the gamut in the Boulder Valley and make everything from tea to fine furniture to circuit boards and electric motors.

Many companies chose the area for its weather and close proximity to an educated workforce, and several said the ease of transportation was an important draw.

Newcomer to the area UQM Technologies Inc. makes components and power drives for electric motors at its manufacturing facility east of Longmont.

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There also is a hub of medical-device makers, led by Covidien and Mountainside Medical.

Natural product manufacturers have a large presence in Boulder, and leading the way is Celestial Seasonings Inc.  an herbal and specialty tea manufacturer. The company employs about 225 its operations on Sleepytime Drive.

Corden Pharma, Martek Biosciences Corp., Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy and Eco-Products Inc. also add to the manufacturing segment of Boulder.

Boulder is home to a long list of sports and recreational equipment manufacturers. GoLite LLC, a popular outdoor clothing and equipment company, calls Boulder its home, as does Kelty Inc. The sector is assisted by the presence of the Outdoor Industry Association, a trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business.

The city and county of Broomfield has about 160 manufacturers varying from a one-person operation like Tri City Tool, to the 600-plus employee Sandoz Inc. Perhaps the most well-known manufacturer in the area is Ball Corp. in Broomfield, best known for making beverage containers.

The Boulder Valley also is home to WhiteWave Foods Co. a producer of organic milk and dairy.

While Lafayette’s presence in the sports and recreational equipment manufacturing segment is smaller than Boulder’s, it is home to Lafuma America Inc., a manufacturer of sleeping bags, outdoor apparel, backpacks, camping furniture and footwear. Lafuma’s parent company is based in France.

In Longmont, contract manufacturing is the name of the game. By far the biggest industry segment in the city, contract manufacturing employs approximately 400 people. Longmont also is home to Woodley’s, a manufacturer of high-end wood furniture.