Zamp Solar to close Bend manufacturing facility as it shifts production out of Oregon
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Zamp Solar’s Bend manufacturing facility is set to close in early November as part of a companywide consolidation effort aimed at streamlining operations, according to a spokesperson.
The Bend closure marks the end of local solar panel production for the company, which has been part of Central Oregon’s manufacturing community since its Zamp Solar was founding in Bend in 2010 by John Yozamp and Steve Nelson.
They have been at the current northeast Bend facility since 2015, the year they stopped importing solar panels from Asia and began manufacturing in the United States.
A company representative said the change will affect the employment of over 20 local community members. He said production will continue for a short period while operations are wrapped up, with the final closure expected by the first week of November.
Parent company Dometic said it is committed to supporting the affected staff and exploring job opportunities within other parts of the organization.
Distribution and production will shift to other North American facilities in Auburn, Washington; Goshen, Indiana; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The move is intended to centralize logistics, improve service consistency, and continue production of Zamp Solar’s OBSIDIAN solar panel line, which had been made in Bend.
The company emphasized that product quality and availability are not expected to be affected by the transition. However, there are no plans to reopen the Bend site, and the decision to permanently close the facility was made following what officials described as a thorough internal review.
Customer service and sales operations will also be relocated, transitioning this week to offices in Victoria, British Columbia. Customers seeking assistance will continue to be supported by Zamp Solar’s dedicated service teams based there.
The closure ends a local chapter for Zamp Solar, which has contributed to Bend’s growing renewable energy sector and provided jobs in a market known for its emphasis on sustainable industries.
