The president of Fritze DeZein, LLC is a graduate engineer from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering program with an emphasis on power and propulsion and electro-mechanical automation. An early background with R/C boats and making models for Tonka Toys lead to the ability to create patterns for making aluminum castings and machined components for marine propulsion systems. These activities lead to racing propeller development, outboard engine improvements, and the advancement of surface-piercing marine drives. CMC, Inc. As a graduate Mechanical Engineer, several years were spent learning Forensic Engineering techniques which examine the nature of product failure, product liability, metallurgy, and accident investigation. These disciplines would become invaluable in developing new products today. SWISHER GRINDER / MICROTOOL Several years were spent on engineering specialized custom machinery which included precision disk grinders, pick and place insert equipment, and various test equipment and fixtures. NEUPAK While continuing to work in the industrial machinery realm, an opportunity arose to create an engineering department for a small Minnesota company and lead its development of precision net-weight liquid-filling machinery. While the notion of deZeining “fillers” was not at first enchanting, applying the same passion to high-performance racing machines and jet engines, Neupak quickly became the dominant player with this new technology. In an effort to keep-up with the sales of new systems to the many and growing customers, individual modules for filling heads were invented and the concept of hot-swapping these to keep the machine running during changeover gave rise to his first patent! Today hundreds of these machines are still in service for many paint and chemical industries: Shell, DuPont, Dow Chemical, Ecolab, Fuller O’Brien, HB Fuller, PPG, and Sherwin Williams. RAM Center Another opportunity arose to create a new engineering department for Robotic Aided Manufacturing’s Automated Equipment Group (AEG). This venture arose from an experiment to operate a McDonald’s restaurant by a sophisticated computer-controlled order-entry system which controlled an industrial FANUC robot trained to cook! The business model was quickly refined into manufacturing frozen French fry dispensers. Leading the new team of hand-picked engineers, several models of pneumatic and electronic dispensers were developed. At production of 300 per month, soon every McDonald restaurant in the world had one. You can watch these dispensers work tirelessly in every McDonalds throughout the world today! These high-performance machines became the highest quality equipment in that industry and precipitated numerous patents and advancements. PENTAPURE / CUNO / 3M In the late 90’s, PentaPure was another small Minnesota company which was struggling with the start-up of its newest product, a water filter for Amana’s refrigerator. Using the techniques learned from the background in forensic engineering, the manufacturing problems were quickly resolved and product refined into its next generation. This turn-around provided yet another opportunity to create an engineering department and bring Jet Engineering to water filtration! The next target was General Electric and soon they became our largest and most demanding customer. Numerous platforms and systems were engineered to exceed the capabilities of the competition and set new standards of performance for the industry. PentaPure became a Minnesota success story and was ranked among the fastest growing companies in the nation. With each new engineering challenge in cost reduction, automating manufacturing, and exceeding standards – numerous patents were issued. These patents became a valuable portfolio establishing a viable market share and significantly increasing the value of the company. The opportunities provided in working for PentaPure lead to becoming an ISO 9001, six-sigma supplier to GE, Maytag, and Amana until in August 2004, PentaPure was sold to rival CUNO located in Connecticut. One year later, 3M purchased CUNO. There are millions of these filters in service today cleansing countless billions of glasses of water served! Today Fritze DeZein is ready to work for you!