Boeing tanker contract a boost for California

Lamsco West Inc., and ITT Aerospace Controls will be manufacturing parts for the 179 NewGen tankers to be designed and assembled by The Boeing Co.

"We're very pleased. It's very good news for us," said Gladden J. Baldwin, president of Lamsco, which makes gap-filling shims used to align aircraft parts.

The company employs about 90 people and expects to add at least 10 more once production starts on the KC-46A air refueling jet, he said.

"This will definitely have an impact on our work force. It's just hard to make a prediction right now."

Founded in 1962, Lamsco is the world's largest manufacturer of shims, according to its website. The company's parts are used on all aircraft assembled by Boeing, which is its largest customer, Baldwin said.