A big deal, living small

MCNALEY ROAD - Tucked in the hills between Columbus and Absarokee sits something very big.
A few miles after the pavement ends on Whitebird Creek Road is the world-class pryotechnics company Next FX. A small compound on 244 acres includes 34 non-pretentious buildings and workers moving about.
The nature of the work, however, is huge.
Hollywood huge.
Super Bowl huge.
Cruise ship huge.
Disney movies huge.
ColdPlay and Beyonce tour huge.
U.S. military huge.
Next FX is the second largest manufacturer of theatrical pyrotechnics in the world and one of just a handful of companies in that business. It is now solely a manufacturer, meaning it sells to professional production companies. It is the maker of pyrotechnic magic seen by millions every single year through movies, commercials, professional sports, cruise ships and worldwide music tours.
Even the military is on the company’s client list.
One of the newer devices is a munitions vest that actually simulates the concussion of a bullet hitting body armor so a soldier knows what that force will feel like, said Ron Walker, who owns the business with his wife Kim.
The company also makes RPG simulation devices, tracer comets, mortar hits and other simulation devices with various amounts of color and audible effects to mimic actual “live fire” on a battlefield, said Ron Walker. The company also provides training supplies for the U.S. Secret Service.
Roots
Established in 2001 as a manufacturer of theatrical pyrotechnic special effects and pyrotechnics for technical applications, Next FX was originally located just off Rapelje Road, not far out of Columbus. About one year ago, the opportunity came to move locations and grow. So without shutting down production for even a day, the Walkers and their 37 employees set up shop on McNaley Road.
The new location has allowed the Walkers to implement safety measures beyond what are required, such as self-contained concrete units where chemicals are mixed without the physical presence of a worker.
“We wanted to take it up a notch,” said Kim Walker.”
It also makes the company Department of Defense compliant, meaning it can now do work for that federal agency.
The Walkers are originally from the St. Louis area and made the move to Montana due mainly to the low humidity factor. As explained on the company website, low humidity is good for business.
“Being located in a high desert climate where the humidity hovers around 20 percent on normal days, we are afforded the opportunity to work with many chemicals and mixtures that our competitors can not employ simply due to their location. The fact that we can manufacture in an ideal climate also means that the integrity of our chemicals remains unchanged from the beginning of the production process to the end. With such a favorable climate, the shelf life of our products is virtually unlimited with proper storage.”
The Walkers fell in love with Montana once they were here and raised two sons.
“And now we would never go back (to St. Louis),” said Kim Walker.