(Photo above by Krystal Marie Collins)
With 20 years in manufacturing and construction, Greg Shoffner, president of Diversified Products Inc., has seen many changes in the Central Oregon economic climate. He says his businesses have weathered shifting economic conditions through impeccable customer service and delivering quality products in a timely manner.
Shoffner wasn’t always in the business of making parts. His company was largely construction based before 2008, however, when the downturn hit, he saw opportunities in manufacturing.
“Construction involves a lot of effort chasing jobs, hectic scheduling and competing for cost. Manufacturing is more predictable and the industry is growing at the moment. We make parts for original equipment manufacturers, the folks who make and sell the final product,” explains Shoffner.
Another factor in Shoffner’s decision to get in the parts industry was the lack of competition in manufacturing. When he first started, there was only one producer of parts in Bend. Unsatisfied with fulfillment of his parts orders, he says, “There was a need to do it better,” and he points out Diversified Products’ timeliness and fair prices as staples in customer retention.
Dean Pettyjohn, owner of ProLine Fabrication, says he has done business with Shoffner for over 12 years.“ The only way I can come close to making the products I sell is by getting parts from Diversified Products.” Shoffner manufacture’s major bumper components, shells, flat bed parts, rear bumpers and farming related parts for ProLine Fabrication.
Currently, there are numerous parts manufacturers in Central Oregon and Shoffner’s forecast is that the parts business will continue to expand as the economy grows. He offers an example of growth stating, “One of my clients used to require 10,000 specialized brackets a month and by this time next year, they will be requiring 100,000.”
To accommodate the need for this magnitude of brackets, Diversified Products will acquire additional equipment and space. Laser and press break machinery, which made lower volume brackets well, will be replaced with a stamping press line, equipment designed to produce parts in high volume. Components to the stamping press line include a coil line, coil straightener, punch press and a finishing process to remove sharp edges and de-burr.
When asked what the most unique part(s) Diversified Products ever developed were, Shoffner proudly gestures to several photos hanging in the office. The images show a sculpture and guard rails he produced for artist Jerry Werner. Installed in Redmond at the 97 North and SW Glacier Ave junction and along I-5 in Wilsonville, both projects took a year for completion.
Diversified Products offers manufacturing assistance to car, truck, helicopter, farm implement, solar panel and many other industries. They invest in the community through involvement in Deschutes County 4H, work in Sisters County School District and the Oregon High School Equestrian Team.
Ultimately Shoffner is grateful to be in the parts business and he gets a satisfied look when the prospect of attracting more business is mentioned. He says, “because the Central Oregon economy is growing, I am expecting a year of growth with my existing customers as it is.”
Diversified Products
62860 Boyd Acres Rd. Bldg. C, Bend, Oregon 97701
http://diversifiedsteelproducts.com
CEO: Greg Shoffner
No. Employees: 6
Year Established: 1996
Product/Service: Manufacturing facility specializing in parts manufacturing for OEMs.
Hot News: One client used to require 10,000 specialized brackets a month soon will be requiring 100,000. To accommodate the need for this magnitude of brackets, Diversified Products will acquire additional equipment and space.
Outlook for Growth: Very strong outlook for growth this year.
