Mukilteo is losing one of its few industrial anchors, as Novanta, a supplier of precision photonics and medical-device components, has confirmed it will close its local manufacturing plant and move the work overseas. The decision will end production at the Mukilteo facility and carve a noticeable hole in the city’s already small industrial base.
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Novanta plans to shift all work currently handled in Mukilteo to the United Kingdom, calling the move part of a broader effort "to reduce complexity and scale operations." The company has not publicly shared a firm timeline for the shutdown or specific employment figures in initial reports.
Novanta Expanding U.K. Capacity
While Mukilteo prepares for a wind-down, Novanta has been beefing up operations in Stockport in recent years, relocating into a larger facility to increase laser and sub-system assembly capacity. Optics.org reported that the 2024 Stockport expansion was designed to quadruple local production capability and solidify the company’s U.K. footprint.
What the Mukilteo Site Built
A product change notice from Novanta Photonics states that final assembly for certain 48 Series CO2 lasers will now also be carried out at the Stockport facility, which has been positioned as an established hub for that work. The notice identifies the Mukilteo operation at 4600 Campus Place as responsible for manufacturing sealed laser tubes and other core components and outlines earlier shifts in assembly work along with related part-number updates.
A separate filing from Novanta Photonics lists Mukilteo contact information tied to those product changes, underscoring the role the site has played in the company’s laser portfolio.
Next Steps for Workers and the City
For now, employees and local officials are waiting on basic details such as timing, severance and any transition support that might soften the blow. Early coverage has not included headcount numbers tied to the closure. The Puget Sound Business Journal first reported the shutdown, while a recent filing with the SEC shows Novanta discussing operational shifts and financial results as it pursues cost and capacity changes. The SEC document details corporate announcements made earlier this year.
