Today we’d like to introduce you to Bruce Sargeant and Steve Maylish.
Bruce, with two other founders, started one of the first contract engineering companies, Ocean Scientific in the diagnostic space in 1980.
The company was very successful and the three founders sold about 6 years later. Bruce went on to be a serial entrepreneur providing engineering services in various industries. In 2004, Bruce and one of the original founders bought back the original company, now called Source Scientific. They built it up and turned the company profitable with the help of Steve in the business development role. The company was sold once again to a German company named BIT Analytical Instruments in 2012.
Later in 2016, Bruce and Steve reunited and formed Fusion Biotec. Originally housed in Irvine. The company moved to Orange in January of 2017. Their design studio is in an old citrus refrigeration facility known as the icehouse. It was built of thick concrete walls and cork insulation in the late 1920’s and still has much of the original design intact. After refurbishing part of the building, Fusion Biotec had its first open house in May, 2017.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been fairly smooth, partly because the economy is doing well and both Steve and Bruce have been in the industry for decades. It is difficult to start as a small company and bring in large projects, but we team with a local software company and consultants to fill gaps. Also when we moved into the icehouse, it needed a lot of work. We tore down a crumbling loading dock and put in a redwood deck, redesigned the interior, painted, added industrial lighting, etc. We are very happy with how the design studio turned out, but it has also been a lot of work especially in the beginning.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Fusion Biotec – what should we know?
We design and engineer medical devices. We have a core competence in in-vitro diagnostics. We also have an industrial designer, Dave Hines, who provides the human factor and art school design to our projects. We are most proud of our small business culture, which includes mentoring by the seasoned engineers, frequent lunch trips to the local restaurants and strategy meeting as the local brew pubs. We enjoy a close camaraderie and pulling together as a team.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Yes, the whole team deserves credit. Steve Maylish has been writing articles in a national publication with the help from Bruce Sargeant, Dave Hines, Dave Mock and Mike White. Everyone has done exceptionally well by mentoring the younger engineers and providing direction. Dave Hines designed our space before we did any work and he made all of our furniture.
Contact Info:
- Address: 160 S. Cypress Street
Orange, Ca 92866 - Website: www.fusion-biotec.com
- Phone: 949 264-3437
- Email: [email protected]
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