Inventor
I think I’ve always known that I wanted to be some sort of engineer. I’m pretty confident that when asked at age 4 or 12 what I wanted to be when I grew up, my reply would’ve been an “Inventor.” I can attribute that to a love of watching comic superheroes (or villains) in their lairs surrounded by amazing equipment that they brought forth from the recesses of their own minds—and, of course, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Regardless, I’ve always known. So when I had the chance to go to university, I tailored my degrees toward my goal of being an inventor (Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on new product design and development, and Business Law, for IP reasons).
Shortly after graduating (just four days after my last exam), I was offered an amazing position with TechPlas Extrusions, on the other side of the continent. Luckily, my now-wife was already living in Sydney, so the move wasn’t overly traumatic. The invaluable lessons I learned at TechPlas laid the foundation for my current ventures. I cannot overstate the significance of what I learned over nearly 10 years, mostly from the amazing people who had been there for so long and were willing to pass on their knowledge. But I digress (maybe another post about TechPlas Extrusions is due in the near future).
I’ve always been one to solve a problem when it comes up, but I’ve learned that listening to the issue and truly understanding it is the pivotal first step, even if it takes significantly longer to do so. Currently, I’m not doing too much “inventing” myself, but my projects are steadily progressing. The Triple Helix Snowboards, for instance, are designed to revolutionize how snowboards are transported and used, offering customizable stiffness and interchangeability. CooperSwann Hockey is developing some interesting protective ice hockey equipment, while CooperSwann Building is exploring Passive House (EnerPHit) renovations to existing properties using innovative construction methods.
Mostly, though, it’s amazing to guide others on their own inventor journey. In-house, we have 3D printers, extruders, plastic fabrication machines, welders, composite lay-ups, vacuum forming, and a complete machine shop to work in, plus an amazing network of manufacturers both locally and internationally who can help take ideas through to solutions.
So whether you’re facing a design challenge or have an idea waiting to be brought to life, let’s collaborate and turn your vision into reality. Until the next problem that I need to find a solution to, reach out and discuss yours.
Andrew
