Techni Force Coatings LLC, a Shoreline, Wash.-based developer of specialty paints, coatings, and finishes, is moving to Spokane, says Tim Brummett, the companys sales manager and co-owner.


The company, which was formed nine months ago in that Seattle suburb, moved most of its operations into a leased, 5,000-square-foot warehouse building in Spokanes Hillyard area, at 5825 N. Florida, in June. That building serves as a distribution center and a wholesale outlet thats open to contractors and individuals, Brummett says. The office here currently employs five people, while a small remaining office in Shoreline employs another workerBrummetts partner, Dario Bottger.


Bottger, who has a background in structural engineering, currently serves as Techni Forces managing general partner. He likely will relocate to Spokane, once the company begins to grow here, Brummett says. Techni Force expects to hire an additional six to 10 workers here during the next 12 months, he says.


Techni Force so far has introduced a line of ceramic-elastomeric paints and roof coatings that it claims are durable, heat-reflecting, and virtually non-peeling. It also has introduced what it calls a direct-to-rust primer-finish that in many cases eliminates the need for sandblasting to repair rust damage. It says the product supposedly will repair rust problems with a one-coat application.


This month, Techni Force also plans to introduce a durable, easy-to-clean interior latex-ceramic paint thats designed to help keep heat inside a structure, thus lowering winter heating bills, as well as a line of lacquers that are low in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates.


Brummett says Techni Force currently develops the formulas for its paints and coatings, but contracts with manufacturers in Kansas City and Florida to make and package its products. He says Techni Force eventually hopes to begin manufacturing its own paints and coatings here.


The partners decided to move Techni Force to Spokane partly because Brummett, who is from Spokane, is familiar with the paints and coatings industry here, and because business costs are lower here than in the Seattle area.


Also, Brummett says that introducing and finding acceptance of new products tends to be more difficult in Spokane, and the partners decided that if they could market their products successfully in Spokane, then we would be successful elsewhere.