Made in Washington #8: Cascade Designs

A tour through the assembly areas at Therm-a-Rest and MSR (Mountain Safety Research) in Seattles SoDo neighborhood produces a pleasing array of colors, shapes and textures. In the first photograph, rolled-up Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper SV mattresses await their final perimeter bonds. In the second photo, mattress fabric is cut to order and stacked before being assembled and air tested for at least 24 hours, third photo. At MSR, in the fourth photo, a tumbler cleans and polishes fuel-priming cups for its line of WhisperLite backpacking stoves. Click through for more images. Therm-a-Rest and MSR are units of Seattle-based Cascade Designs, which also makes Platypus hydration products, SealLine dry bags and PackTowl personal camping towels. The combined businesses employ 550 people at plants in Seattle and Reno, Nevada.

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