HAYDEN - U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo toured Transtector Systems in Hayden to learn about its involvement in the manufacture of products for the U.S. military.

Surge protection devices - designed, developed and manufactured by Transtector Systems - are being used to protect electrical and communications systems used in military vehicles, watercraft, aircraft and facilities, the senator learned.

"The value that Idaho manufacturers like Transtector Systems are providing to our state and country through technical military solutions and U.S. jobs is impressive," said Crapo. "It is evident that Idaho is a state where high-quality technical solutions are engineered, designed and manufactured with world-class excellence."

Transtector, in a news release, said Crapo's tour gave the manufacturer the opportunity to "demonstrate the value and need for innovative products to protect our county and military."

The Idaho Republican's visit last week was part of a multi-stop business tour.

Transtector Systems is located in a 51,800-square-foot facility at 10701 Airport Drive. It is part of Protection Technology Group, which is a business division of Smiths Interconnect.

Transtector employs more than 260 workers, and was founded in 1967.

Susann Ferrari, marketing specialist for Protection Technology Group, said the company would not disclose annual sales revenues.

"But we can say that despite the economic downturn, we have been able to slightly expand our employment base and continue to support the local economy and job market," Ferrari said.

The Protection Technology Group specializes in surge protection. It sells products to markets such as telecommunications, medical imaging, transportation, energy, security and the military.

Smiths Interconnect, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., designs and manufactures electronic and radio-frequency products that connect, protect and control systems in the wireless telecommunications, aerospace, defense and health care markets. It is a division of London technology company Smiths Group, which employs around 22,000 people in more than 50 countries.