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Chronicle Staff Melodee Martinuk City politicians, local business leaders and Kâ€"W dignitaries were there. They had balloons and receptions, speeches, and running through it all, a party atmosphere with a sense of exciteâ€" ment. Even Ontario Premier Bill Davis flew into Waterloo Thursday to attend the official opening of Hewlettâ€"Packard‘s new Panacom Automation Division. But, considering the new â€" manufacturing facility on Lexington Road now employs only 50 people, you may be wondering why this plant opening has generated such a stir. _Quite simply, it‘s because, with Hewlettâ€"Packâ€" ard, the important thing to keep in mind is, what we see now, is not all of what Waterloo‘s going to get. â€" â€" â€" The 50â€"person workforce today is expected to grow to 400 by 1988, and if this division follows the path of others around the world, total employment of some 1,600 is not impossible, says Panacom general manager Chuck Bonza. Even the renovated quarters in the former Zeller‘s store on Lexington, he said, is only a temporary home for the division. Hewlettâ€"Packâ€" ard has already announced plans to build a new plant on 25 acres in the University of Waterioo‘s north campus in 1987, to be occupied in 1988. Future growth potential for Hewlettâ€"Packard is hinted at by the fact that the company has an option to acquire an additional 175 acres on the north campus, to accommodate possible future expansions. As Hewlettâ€"Packard President Malcolm Gissâ€" ing promised Thursday, "this isn‘t the beginning of the end, it‘s the end of the beginning of a new era for Waterloo. Our start may be a little humble, but until our permanent facilities are ready, it will suffice." The Waterloo division, the first integrated manufacturing facility for Hewlettâ€"Packard in Canada, has a "unique" charter to design, develop, market and manufacture industrial dataâ€"acquisition and control systems, said Bonza. ‘"They are products made in Canada, designed for use in Canada. *‘We‘re not a licensee product division. We have our own engineers, our own products," he continued. "Hewlettâ€"Packard has wanted for a long time to be involved in manufacturing in Canada. But we wanted to do it with a special touch:; to have an operation doing something that no other Hewlettâ€"Packard divisin is doing." SHEAR HEAVEN 16 Young St. E. (at Regina) Waterioo 884â€"5141 "he years ahead most exciting _ yet for Hewlettâ€"Packard team _ OCTOBER 2nd â€" 20th would like to welcome to our staff Julie Bright (formerly of Westmount Unisex) Julie is offering to all new and former clients 1/3 OFF C.B.A. award winning Sailon Major product lines include remote terminal units, standâ€"alone software systems, automated fueling systems and industrial keyboard panels, which allow corporations to monitor and control industrial processes in remote locations. **Whether out by oil wells or on pipelines, we are in the business of putting electronics into hostile environments," said Bonza. ‘"When you think of all the oil wells in the world, the volume potential for us is rather tremendous."‘ _ The company plans to introduce the Waterlooâ€" made products to the U.S. market next year, and go worldâ€"wide in 1986. _ _ _ Speaking at a cityâ€"sponsored welcoming luncheon, Gissing said Hewlettâ€"Packard has considered many locations in Ontario, but selected Waterloo because of a desire to be close to the University of Waterloo. He noted that the company has a long history of working closely with universities, and indeed, established its first plant near Stanford University in California where its corporate offices still are. Gissing said the electronics industry stands on the brink of tremendous growth and predicted that, by the turn of the century, it will be the second largest industry in the world. : ‘"‘The years ahead promise to be the most exciting yet for Hewlettâ€"Packard," he said. Keys to future development, he explained, are innovation and competition, both of which "face some serious challenges that threaten (the industry‘s) growth." Gissing said that in both Canada and the United States, there is a shortage of electronics engineers and computer scientists, which if not remedied, could reach "critical proportions." As well, he added, new products are the "life‘s blood"" of electronics, yet high costs may mean industry will be forced to reduce spending on research and. development. He said Hewlettâ€"Packard "expects and welâ€" comes"‘ competition in cost, performance and quality and in these areas, the Japanese are determined competitors. Gissing concluded by saying that one of the best ways for Hewlettâ€"Packard to compete is to invest in people and research, and "we as a company expect to continue this investment." In her welcome to Hewlettâ€"Packard, Mayor Marjorie Carroll said the company will have "‘a longâ€"term impact on the community â€" we are confident, and I know this company is also, that they will grow and prosper and that not only will hundreds of jobs be provided by Hewlettâ€"Packâ€" ard, but that many more jobs in supplier industries and in ‘the service sector will be spawned." Waterioo site opens & (Sept. 1st. to June 30) inet 200. NS _ Trombone .. ... ... 1 Scheol Year SPECIAL OUT OF TCWN CALL TOLL FREE 3 REGINA ST. N. WATERLOO MON. TO FRI. 9:00â€"5:45 SAT. 9:00â€"5:00 RENTALS nCP Many local dignitaries were on hand along with some wellâ€"known political faces last week when Hewlettâ€"Packard opened its manufacturing facility on Lexington Road. You‘re Invited for the Fun! The Official Oktoberfest Breakfast The Official Oktobertest Antique October 11th to 13th Over 20 Ontario dealers will be displaying their best antiques and memorabilia. Saturday, Oct. 6 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Come join over 6,000 revellers for a FREE breaktast! Coâ€"sponsored by CHYM/CKGL radio Between Erb and William Strecets, Uptown Waterioo Melodee Martinuk photo