Sof-TEK Integrators, Inc.

Globally Connected Tech Manufacturing Company Going Strong

Sof-TEK Integrators, Inc. was launched in Redding, CA in 2000 out of the owners’ desire to maintain control over the magic that too often walks out the door when the business deal gets done. For obvious reasons, that didn’t sit well with them. There had to be a better way.

Dan Morrow, Doug Tracy, and Curt Dodds were the 3 founders of the umbrella company, Soft TEK Integrators, Inc.

The one address has 3 companies under its roof. Everyone working there helps to create and sustain a vital synergy. Several projects are being worked on at any given time. They admit to being “geeky nerds” and finding inertia in the broad spectrum of talent at hand.

The owners of Sof-TEK Integrators are from the Redding, CA area. Going back to grade school, there are Redding schools in their pedigree.

Dan, Doug and Curt have found success in hiring local talent to fill the roles of managers and other positions giving credit to Shasta College, Simpson University, and UC Davis in the mix. It is quite common for them to hire locals or people who grew up here, moved away to find jobs elsewhere with hopes of one day coming back to Shasta County to live and work. They have been successful in bringing people back to the area. These are very talented people who had moved away to find the work they wanted but now are finding they can return to the work and lifestyle they’ve had their sights on all along – right here in Redding, CA / Shasta County.

Twelve years old now, they have come a long way. Growth is happening at this stage with many irons in the fire. Anticipated growth over the next 5 years is 25 new positions. One third of the positions will be professional and range in income from $60K - $100K. Other technical positions will open up, too, starting at $10-$12/hour going up to $18/hour.

Op-Test
Op-Test builds test equipment to test High Brightness LEDs. Because LEDs are 80% more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs, they are being used in a broad spectrum of places such as cars, houses, televisions, phones, and architecture.

The HBLED market (HB = high brightness) is currently about $10 billion but is expected to grow to $80 billion in just 5 years’ time. The technology hasn’t caught up which is creating a huge multi-billion dollar waste every year. This is part of the reason LED’s are expensive.

The customers of Op-Test are the manufacturers of LED’s. Op-Test has developed a test technology that can save the LED manufacturing community over $1.6 billion/year. Op-Test has 2 patents on technology that will save manufacturers 10% a year. No other test company can do this.

Of note is that most of Op-Test’s customer base is offshore which means the work is done here and shipped overseas, bringing export dollars into our economy.

Also, Cornerstone Bank helped them acquire funding via SBA so Op-Test can proceed with the next phase of their business plan. They are very excited to be moving ahead with this.

Sof-TEK
This business is geared to assemble specific electronic needs for such places as China, Singapore, and Malaysia. Eric West manages Sof-TEK.

Redding is part of the Pacific Rim but away from the expensive cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles where cost of living expenses are much higher. This all weighs on creating the local wage scale. Dealing with U.S. manufacturers, other benefits that keep the cost down are our stable government, stable electricity, reliability and the fact we don’t have intellectual property issues (as often happens at overseas assembly plants).

The assemblers are called  “fulfill-ologists” – a great term – and they work on such things as temperature control units for China, Singapore and Malaysia. This team does between 2,500 and 3,000 assemblies a year. They work on very specific projects and can have a fast turn around which leads to customer loyalty

Wire by Design
They cut, strip, and label wires to your specification. This is the third and last (at the moment) business under the umbrella of Sof-TEK.

With the assistance of Superior California Economic Development, funding was located to help them purchase the almost $100K machine that makes wires by design.  Very simply, if you need one or several wires, you can order exactly what you want and have it made and returned to you within 24 hours with this equipment. Order each wire you need by gauge and length and it will be made and clearly labeled on each end. From microwaves to refrigerators to wires under the hood of your car, Wire by Design is who to call.

Dan Morrow indicated Shasta County has been an easy place to do and grow business. The Shasta EDC, he said, was instrumental in introducing them to AirCover, who is new in Redding. The two companies realized they can collaborate on some things which will help them both.