The next time you fold up that tray table, strap yourself in and connect your phone to the charger in your seat, you may very well have a Kirklander to thank for the convenience.

Astronics, which has a campus in Kirkland employing around 500 people, manufactures a handful of electronic systems for airplanes — including the components for charging laptops, cell phones and tablets.

The company has expanded from a much-smaller workforce in 2006, and was recently voted as one of Washington’s 100 Best Companies to Work For by Seattle Business magazine for the 10th consecutive year.

Astronics is based in East Aurora, N.Y., and was selected in the division for companies based outside Washington.

Company President Mark Peabody said it was the employee culture at each of the three local facilities which put Astronics in position for the recognition.

“We care about our employees, and find they are motivated to learn, perform and grow when surrounded by a culture of passion, teamwork, humility and caring,” Peabody said in a statement.

In addition to in-seat electronic components, Astronics also works with business aircraft. Astronics helps to simplify the electrical system in the event of an emergency or loss of power, similar to a circuit breaker.

The company is a supplier for many different companies, including Panasonic, and Textron aviation.

“There are so many smaller companies that help us; people started businesses surrounding Boeing,” Peabody said.

Astonics may expand after recently leasing a 25,000 square foot facility in Redmond last summer. Currently, Astronics has a total of 142,000 square feet including Redmond and two facilities in Kirkland.

Peabody said the company is working through the permit process to build a new facility on property Astronics already holds. The new facility, he said, could range between 50,000 and 130,000 square feet and would essentially consolidate the two smaller facilities in the area.

“If we look at [building], it’s still a couple of years out,” Peabody said. “It’s because we are growing, and we’ve been growing.”