A QUICK TRIP FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY.

Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Thanks to a new Eugene-based firm, retiree Larry Bush will head to Bellevue, Wash., next month with a load of aftermarket parts to sell at a vintage Mustang show.

Bush started his business, NorthWestMustang LLC, just six months ago. Already, he has designed and developed three custom parts for people who like their vintage Mustangs but also like modern conveniences, such as cup holders, LED tail lights - which are much brighter than stock lights - and custom dashboard gauges.

Bush says he couldn't have done it without Tarleton Bull, a rapid prototyping company that opened in November in Eugene.

Tarleton Bull, owned by three Eugene businessmen with design and manufacturing backgrounds, uses state-of-the-art equipment to quickly churn out working prototypes. The machines, which resemble institutional ovens, read a computer blueprint and create objects out of plastic or resin.

Rapid prototyping offers a shortcut to traditional product development. And it's a fast-growing manufacturing trend as companies strive to beat their competitors in getting quality next-generation products to market.

Tarleton Bull is the only rapid prototyping house between Seattle and Sacramento, says co-owner and marketing director Jon Broome. The firm offers design, engineering and production expertise to small and medium size businesses that lack in-house development departments.

So far, the six-employee firm has worked on a wide range of projects, from aftermarket parts for Mustangs and Mini Coopers to mock potato-chip bags for a Kettle Foods display at a national trade show.

Tarleton Bull charges clients $249 for an initial consultation usually lasting 90 minutes to two hours, Broome said. A separate fee is negotiated if the client requests a prototype. Tarleton Bull also does limited-run manufacturing to help companies and entrepreneurs test the market for their products. Tarleton Bull isn't yet profitable but aims to be by November, Broome said. The company doesn't disclose financials.

Tarleton Bull's majority owner is Joe Potter, former owner and president of Eugene-based AKI Dryer, a maker of gypsum-board manufacturing equipment. He sold the business, which is now known as Grenzebach/AKI Dryer. The other owners of Tarleton Bull are Broome, marketing director, and Jim Woodall, engineering director.

Broome was a business leadership consultant for 10 years, running Unity Farms, a retreat center, out of his home near Fall Creek Reservoir.

Potter and his employees at AKI Dryer were regular clients at Unity Farms, and Woodall worked for Potter at AKI Dryer.

The source of Tarleton Bull's unusual name is Potter's great uncle, Tarleton Bull Eastman, one of the founders of photography giant Eastman Kodak.

Tarleton Bull's 4,000 square-foot office at 1939 West Second Ave., reflects the company's mission to mix creativity and collaboration with the latest manufacturing technology.

At the front of the office is an inviting conference room decorated in terra cotta and moss green. It's dominated by a large wood board room-style table. In the back is a well-lit and equipped fabrication shop. The company leases the space and spent $1.2 million to wire and equip the shop, Broome said.

Explaining the company's approach, Broome said: "We throw great minds in with technology experts and see what happens. Essentially, we never know what's going to come in the door."

Bush was one of the clients who just dropped by, after being referred by a local fabrication shop.

At his initial consultation in February, Bush discussed ideas for five parts that he had sought for his own Mustangs and figured others might want too.

Tarleton Bull offered design and engineering ideas and also agreed to do limited production runs - a service most fabrication shops don't offer.

"That's the beauty of Tarleton Bull," Bush said. "It was cheap enough for me to run 1,000 of the (dashboard gauge) support holders and 50 of the cup holders, so I'm not building this huge stock that I'm up to my ears in."

Bush sells the items over the Internet and at car shows.

Tarleton Bull has drummed up other business by cold-calling and paying personal visits to manufacturers.

Jim Bogard, product development manager for Mini Mania, an aftermarket Mini Cooper supplier in Nevada City, Calif., became a customer after Tarleton Bull contacted him.

Now, the two companies are working on a half-dozen projects, including a cup holder, a dust cover for a shifter mechanism, and LED tail lights.

"They're willing to work with us," Bogard said. "They're coming up with ideas also. So far, it's been a great relationship."

Junction City-based Country Coach also became a customer after receiving a call and visit from Tarleton Bull.

Country Coach sent Tarleton Bull a computer design for parts for a load-bearing ramp assembly. Within three days, Tarleton Bull sent over a usable set of parts, said David Diamond, Country Coach director of research and development.

Diamond said he appreciates the fast, local service. "It's very handy to have someone local with the equipment and expertise to do rapid prototyping."

TARLETON BULL

Business: Rapid prototyping

Address: 1939 W. 2nd Ave., Eugene

Employees: Six

Web: www.tarletonbull.com

CAPTION(S):

James Jordan, director of mechanical technologies at Tarleton Bull, fabricates a heart monitor prototype. The company helps customers create working examples of their product ideas, and can make small production runs.