High tech repair shop thrives when economy dives

By Jessie Kirk

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 29, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

In a recession, Beaverton’s Matt North has learned that doing repairs is good for business.

While many companies are struggling through the downturn economy, North’s electronic test equipment repair shop is thriving and expanding.

“It’s not by any intelligent design,” North said. “It just so happens that in slower times people look to get things repaired instead of buying new.”

After a 10-year career at Intel, the longtime electronic engineer went into business for himself in 2003. As president and CEO of Norway Labs, North leads a team that repairs electronic test and measurement instruments like Tektronix oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers and television broadcast gear.

Originally buying, repairing and selling oscilloscopes on eBay out of the basement of his Beaverton home, North has expanded his business several times in the past seven years. Now his company has seven employees who fix the specialty equipment in office space off Southwest Hall Boulevard on Cirrus Drive.

This month, the company expanded its headquarters again, adding a new wing. The 5,000-square-foot space will allow the growing company to service more contracts and hire more employees in the future.

“We’re in really good shape,” North said. “We’ve seen business pick up.”

While several other companies create or calibrate scopes, Norway Labs is one of the few around that fixes the machines, most often used by high tech companies.

“There’s probably no one in the U.S. who can repair them as well as we can,” North said.

And while buying a new scope can cost between $4,000 and $20,000, North said, repairing one often costs between $900 and $2,000. The savings is enough to drive business his way from all over the world.

North, who has lived in the area since the early 90s, knew it was important to locate his business in the heart of the Silicon Forest, near highly recognizable tech businesses like Tektronix.

“If you have a Beaverton address, (customers) give you instant credibility,” North said.

Mayor Denny Doyle stopped by Norway Labs earlier this month to meet North, learn about the company and celebrate its successes.

“In this economy, getting things repaired is a natural,” agreed Doyle of Norway Labs’ business plan.

The mayor routinely visits Beaverton businesses and is trying to change perceptions that the city is difficult to deal with.

“I always back the little guys because they are the ones taking the risks,” Doyle said.

With the city’s Economic Development program providing expansion, retention and relocation services, the mayor said that local businesses need to know if they need help, the city should be their first call. In this economy and beyond, creating and keeping jobs is a top priority, he said.

“We have to grow the businesses here and we have to find the businesses that can grow here,” Doyle said, noting that small companies that provide good wages like Norway Labs are the backbone of Beaverton’s economy.

“Family wage jobs are the key to this city,” Doyle said.