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Southland aerospace firms brace for defense cuts

Employees assemble products at Qual-Pro Corp. in Gardena. Over the last year, the company has been steering away from defense work.

Employees assemble products at Qual-Pro Corp. in Gardena. Over the last year, the company has been steering away from defense work.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

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Qual-Pro Corp. in Gardena, a 125-employee company that makes high-tech electronics, is one of thousands of Southern California aerospace suppliers that could be hurt if automatic federal spending cuts take effect Friday.

Moving away from defense

Last year, defense work made up 60% of Qual-Pro’s business, Chief Executive Brian Shane says. This year, it will be less than 30%. Above, a worker pushes a cart through its factory.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Moving away from defense

Qual-Pro employees move around the surface mount high-speed line. The company’s six robots that used to make microchip components for missile and rocket parts are now building parts for medical devices.  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Moving away from defense

A Qual-Pro employee stacks shelves in the company’s parts department. Of the shift away from defense work, CEO Brian Shane says, “It’s almost like during World War II when car factories changed to build tanks, only it’s the other way around for us.”  (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

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