News & Resources
As engineers, we love learning about the world around us and drawing inspiration from other people and inventions throughout history. And, we love sharing our favorite stories with you! Who knows? Maybe they’ll help spark your next big idea too.
It once seemed outrageous to think a ship made of heavy steel could ever float on water. Imagine the reaction if a painter told you a contraption of wood could let you toss yourself from any height and drift safely to earth. The parachute was one of the many inventions from
We are an idea company. When we first meet customers, they are always a bit baffled…perplexed…flummoxed even. Our job is to take their (seemingly) impossible challenge and come up with the best way to solve it. We love love love being asked to do the things that haven’t been done before. We’ve been
Necessity is the mother of invention, but when three million gallons of liquid hydrocarbon explodes in front of you, waiting for mother to call isn’t an option. While the event was cataclysmic, it inspired the invention of the variable flow fire nozzle now used by fire departments around the world. Volunteer
No, that’s not a typo. No, we didn’t push the wrong button. Instead of a holiday once a year, what if we gave a little “thanks” …every day? At Custom Powder Systems, we’re a building full of scientists and engineers. We like to see methods and proof. This is why
The plumbing in your house. The road under your car. The intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) you use in your process. All important. All easily overlooked. Pipes, highways, and IBCs have been around for a long time doing crucial jobs, and fortunately, somebody else thinks long and hard about them. And
When engineers aren’t “engineering,” you’ll often find them building, tinkering, and inventing. Most engineers spend their days within a structured framework, but they’re always on the hunt for a creative outlet. Today, we profile Scott Heffern, Senior Vice-President of Products, about his after-hours obsession: Pinball Machines. At Custom Powder Systems,
A firefly enters your field of vision and you reach out to grab it. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. Ideas are just as fleeting. Ideas are known to dance just out of reach when you look for them. They sneak up on you in the shower. They
ELGIN, Ill., April 19, 2019 – Custom Powder Systems of Springfield, Mo. was recently chosen to receive a 2019 Safety Award of Merit from the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA). Open to all FMA company members, the FMA/CNA Annual Safety Awards recognize metal fabrication companies that adhere to excellence
From a 21st century perspective, one might look at the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci and conclude he “stumbled upon the inevitable.” His original concepts, ranging from tanks to parachutes, appear “obvious” in hindsight. But Leonardo wasn’t working with hindsight. All he had was the limited resources of 15th century
At Custom Powder, we spend an inordinate amount of time applying art to science. As a result, we’ve taken a special interest in the current (and often heated) debate to introduce art into the concerted efforts for more primary and secondary education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Should
As we continue to develop our reputation for aseptic isolation, we’ve learned a thing or two about containing negative pressure… and its many forms. In our shop, we use this focus as a regular reminder to consider and address the other kind of negative pressure: Stress and frustration and, specifically
There is a long-standing tradition between engineers and their love of cats. Maybe it’s a fascination with how they always seem to land on their feet. With June 4th being National Hug Your Cat Day, it’s the ideal time to celebrate cats, engineers, and the relationship that they have together.
At Custom Powder, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for novel solutions to complex problems, as well as the people who create them. Changing human behavior is, perhaps, the most complex of problems. That’s why we loved this short presentation from Dan Pink on emotionally intelligent signage. The basis of
Dylan Armstrong came to Springfield, Missouri, by way of Delaware almost five years ago. His plan was to play college football, but as we all know, sometimes life has a way of changing the best-laid plans. A close friend had moved to the area and convinced Dylan to move to
With Memorial Day fast approaching, we’re pausing to remember those who have served and given their all. We’re also celebrating the freedom that their sacrifice has given us. One of the most popular ways of doing that is by getting together with friends and family, and firing up the grill.
We just returned from Detroit with our heads and hearts full of excitement for the additive manufacturing industry. Rarely have we seen such a neat combination of talent and passion! Because we pride ourselves not only on our work in the additive manufacturing space, but in our relationships and processes,
The meeting was held in December. Over 200 people attended a 2 1/2 day seminar hosted by the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE). The takeaway? The time had come for aseptic isolation to come into its own. The problem? The meeting happened in 1995. Flash forward and we’ve only
At Custom Powder, we believe in working with you every step of the way, from pencil to product. We realize that inspiration often strikes at the most inopportune times, and sometimes you just have to grab what’s in front of you and write it down. You’re not alone. Some of
Once in a while, we will read an article that reminds us of the challenges that face not only us, but also our customers. Since NASA has been a customer of ours in the past (did you know that moon rocks are handled inside of a gloved isolation box that
When you strive to give your work 100%, 100% of the time, it’s going to lead to stress. With our expertise in aseptic isolation, we know a thing or two about negative pressure. It doesn’t matter how much you love your job. At some point, things are going to get