The Redmond spokesman., April 26, 2022, Page 18, Image 18

PYROTECT POWERS ON
Despite pandemic and labor shortages, an auto manufacturer endures
BY TIM TRAINOR
Redmond Spokesman
During the height of the pandemic, as major events were de-
layed and canceled, Pyrotect owners Dena and Steve Russell
started to see a big uptick in their business.
“A lot of people just went into their garage and worked on
their cars,” said Dena. “Th ey wanted to be ready for when things
opened up again.”
Th at was good news for Pyrotect, which builds custom-built,
non-exploding fuel cells for some of the fastest vehicles around.
Th e company also manufactures specialized safety equipment
for drivers: helmets, suits, shoes, gloves, seats, seatbelts, socks
and clothing.
Th ey make it all in two manufacturing facilities in the Red-
mond area, the largest of which is 20,000 square feet.
Th e Russells employ about 30 people in Redmond — and are
trying their hardest to fi ll a number of still-open positions, in-
cluding in sales and assembly.
“Th e staffi ng problem has been huge,” said Dena. “I’ve got ads
going, we hear from folks ... but can’t even get them in for an in-
terview.”
Courtesy Pyrotect
Pyrotect employs about 30 people in Redmond.
Th e company has seen steady growth in the eight years they
have been in Redmond, years aft er starting the business in Bend.
Th ey ran out of aff ordable space to expand there so moved to
Redmond, but a lack of space is now becoming a problem here,
too.
“We’d love to have more land, you just can’t fi nd it,” said Dena.
“Th ere’s nothing available.”
Th ough the company have seen steady growth throughout its
existence, the pandemic did off er plenty of challenges. Early on,
as pocketbooks tightened, sales went down and they had to tem-
porarily lay off 10 employees for a couple months. Th at’s when
demand returned, but by that time the supply side was far be-
hind schedule.
“We had customers mad about their orders when they were
still on the boat near Long Beach. Did they want us to go swim
out there and get them?” she laughed.
Th at supply shortage led to an increase in prices on com-
ponents, which in turn led the company to increase their own
prices for the fi rst time in fi ve years. She said that hasn’t resulted
in higher profi ts, just a higher cost for consumers.
And the date of delivery is baked up too — a combination of
pain in both the supply chain and labor market. Th ey used to
be able to get a custom-built fuel cell to a customer in six weeks,
now its more like 12.
“It’s been booming,” said Dena. “We just can’t keep up with
it.”
675 NE Hemlock Avenue • Redmond
541-526-5143
WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR ROOF...WAIT, YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT YOUR
ROOF? WELL YOU’RE IN LUCK BECAUSE THAT’S ALL WE THINK ABOUT.
WHETHER YOU NEED A TEAR-OFF, BUILDING SOMETHING NEW OR JUST
ADDING ON, ELITE ROOFING HAS THE PEOPLE AND KNOWLEDGE TO
MANAGE WHATEVER YOU NEED. WITH OVER 75 YEARS OF COMBINED
EXPERIENCE, YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU CALLED ELITE ROOFING AND HAD
YOUR PROJECT DONE RIGHT. LOCAL OWNERS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYEES
ENSURES WE’LL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS. ALWAYS FREE ESTIMATES
AND INSPECTIONS. WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY GUARANTEED.
Contact Elite Roofing Today!
www.eliteroofingbend.com
Ph. 541-527-0992
12 | REDMOND PROFILES | APRIL 2022