Manufacturing Firm Uses Growth Acceleration to Keep Doors Open

Custom Applied Technology of Manatee County

Some people are gifted at thinking of ideas. Some people are gifted at making those ideas come to life, which is exactly why Howard Taylor started Custom Applied Technology (CATEC) in 1985.

Companies turn to them with ideas for products and CATEC turns those ideas into reality, creating designs and prototypes.

Graduating from the University of Florida with a dual degree in electronic and mechanical engineering design, Taylor’s expertise covers a broad range of technical disciplines.

Over the years, CATEC has designed and manufactured products ranging from electronic instrumentation to ultra-sonic sensors and water filtration systems. A few of their most notable projects include the Close-up Flash Controls and System for Kodak Digital Cameras in the medical field and the Computer-Based Instrumentation System for Detroit Diesel Company. In addition, they’ve helped design and prototype High Reliability Linear Proximity Systems for NASA.

In 1993, Taylor, along with his three sons, Production Manager Keith Taylor, Production Supervisor Dale Taylor and Technical Sales Engineer Dean Taylor, began focusing on developing products associated with ozone, the main ingredient used in water purification. “Getting into this business is not a decision per say; it evolved,” Dean said. “Everything we have come to today has evolved from something in the past.”

After changing directions they soon discovered the seasonal tendencies of the industry. “Most water tanks for the filtration systems are underground which means we can’t do anything from Thanksgiving to around March,” Dean said.

Howard and Dean turned to the Florida SBDC at USF Sarasota-Manatee and teamed up with Dr. Anita Rose, a certified business consultant. Rose prepared a Growth Acceleration Report, which is an in-depth business assessment, for CATEC last March, identifying strategies to increase revenue growth.

In order to stabilize finances in the slow season, CATEC set their minds on a new product. The OT-8000 uses ozone combined with fog to eliminate the harshest of odors. The odor-eliminating machine functions by killing the root of smelly problems, the bacteria. With recent strides, they are steps away from earning a disinfectant certification for the machine, taking it from a machine that deodorizes hotel rooms to a machine that could sanitize hospitals, locker rooms, and food processing facilities nationwide.

“Dr. Rose’s Growth Acceleration Report has really helped us,” Dean said. “We’ve been giving demonstrations of these machines to relators, killing odors in houses that prior to, couldn’t be sold because of the smell.”

Investors are quickly taking note of the new product, especially if the disinfectant certification comes through. CATEC’s future looks bright and they look forward to continuing their work with Rose and the Florida SBDC at USF Sarasota-Manatee.

“The Florida SBDC at Sarasota Manatee has been very instrumental in helping us,” Dean said. “Any small business that needs help, I would highly encourage them to seek out the Florida SBDC at USF Sarasota-Manatee; just phenomenal help that they’ve offered us.”