Brunton Blazing a New Trail in Wyoming

Brunton made headlines at the 2008 SHOT Show. The SHOT Daily featured an article on the newly constructed headquarters in Wyoming. Here's what Peter Mathiesen had to say:

Brunton charts course from new HQ

Optics maker Brunton has expanded its new manufacturing facility in Riverton, Wyoming. Brunton’s former factory was a jigsaw puzzle of multiple wood-frame buildings and a warehouse of shipping-container storage bins. But the new state-of-the-art factory, which opened just a mile up the hill, changes all that.

The new entrance sports a 40-foot brass-in-concrete compass marking directions to such Wyoming landmarks as Yellowstone Park, the steps of the state capitol and the 50-yard line at the University of Wyoming’s football field. Brunton makes all its directional products and much of its accessories and camping gear in this 40,000-square-foot facility.

“There is a strong sense of pride in our manufacturing,” said company spokesperson Jason Kintzler. “Our employees are highly skilled and stay with us year after year. And we just can’t imagine a Boy Scout using a compass that’s made in China.”

Production facilities weren’t the only improvements at Brunton. New offices with the goal of fostering a creative-driven, product-oriented culture have been key to continued growth.

“We make every effort not to e-mail each other,” Kintzler said. “Engineers and marketing staff move from cube to cube exchanging ideas. If we need an area to develop a product, we just create one.”

Other innovative business practices at Brunton include Labrador retrievers in the aisles and lunches at the gun range to test optics. The Brunton staff takes their hobbies and work to heart. On the back of almost all of their packaging you’ll see this notice: “No suits or ties were worn in the making of this product.”

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http://www.shotbusiness.com/Article/NewsBriefs/c9890039-a8e6-4660-847f-0563398db943