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Jungst Scientific-Bozeman-based company is where owner wants it to be

Extreme Skier Tom Jungst uses his passion for snow sports to further a business.

By Paula J. Peters, of The Montana Standard

(The Montana Standard’s "InBusiness" is an excellent publication that highlights business in Montana.- Russ)

Bozeman businessman Tom Jungst never even considered another location when he started his company, Jungst Scientific, back in 1986. Although he was born in Minnesota, Jungst was no stranger to Montana, having spent much of his childhood visiting the state for ski racing competitions. When it came time for college, Montana State University in Bozeman was the obvious choice; a ski team scholarship only sweetened the deal.

Over the course of his college career, Jungst also developed a love for the many other outdoor recreational opportunities the state had to offer. Hooked on the Montana lifestyle, after he graduated from MSU in 1981 Jungst had no question in his mind that he would be calling Bozeman home. "I love it here. I love the climbing, the community, the bicycling and everything. That’s why I stayed," he said.

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Jungst Scientific

10 Evergreen Drive

Bozeman, MT 59715

phone: (406) 586-4246

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In his early 20’s Jungst nurtured a growing passion for extreme skiing. With ready access to challenging terrain at nearby ski area Bridger Bowl, Jungst developed an incredible ability to ski extreme terrain. His talent ultimately brought him to the attention of extreme ski film producers Warren Miller and Greg Stump.

Although Jungst said he enjoyed the fame, travel and promotional opportunities associated with extreme skiing, he never allowed his celebrity status to interfere with his focus on work. Jungst talked about his business beginnings in Bozeman with Jungst Scientific, crediting his father with providing him the knowledge on which to base his business endeavor. "My father had taught me how to weld and machine," he said. Jungst combined his existing skills with the knowledge of engineering, business, and economics he had acquired at MSU and Jungst Scientific was born.

"I started building scientific equipment," said Jungst, who said that one of his first jobs was a contract with MSU to produce specialty items such as ultra high vacuum equipment and stainless steel vacuum chambers used in physics research. "From that precision work I started building and designing other people’s products," he said.

In simple terms, Jungst’s company makes the injection molds used to produce plastic components used in various products and then uses those molds for production. "We build parts for a variety of electronics, sporting goods and medical industries," he said. Jungst said his company currently molds 20 million parts each year.

Jungst said the celebrity associated with his extreme skiing film career brought him additional contracts, as outdoor recreational companies sought him out for advertising promotions and requested his input on their products. Today Jungst’s client base includes companies such as Patagonia, The North Face, Black Diamond Equipment, Life Link, and Wilderness Engineering.

"Much of what I manufacture goes into the outdoor industry in the form of buckles, avalanche shovels, ski poles, grips and baskets and avalanche safety equipment. I help them with the design of their new products and then I’ll design prototypes for them," he said. Jungst’s business has grown and flourished and he continues to look for opportunities in the outdoor recreation product market. He described his most recent business venture. "The latest thing that’s probably the most exciting is that I’ve formed a company with Conrad Anker. We have formed Anker Climbing Equipment (ACE). We’re building climbing equipment for big wall mountaineering," he said.

"We build these things called portaledges that mountaineers use to camp in," Jungst explained. "We launched the product at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake this summer," he added. Jungst said that ACE currently offers a line of 10 different products designed as accessories for big wall climbing.

Jungst drew comparisons between his success as businessman and his success as an extreme skier. "What’s attracted me to extreme skiing was precision and technique," he said. According to Jungst, focussing on precision and technique have helped him build Jungst Scientific into the successful Bozeman business it is today…and Bozeman, Montana is precisely where Jungst wants to stay.

http://www.mtstandard.com/inbus7/inBusinessJungstScientific.htm

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