About Us
What Makes FPrin Special:
We Are Small But Mighty!
The FPrin way
Fprin offers “first principles” oriented, knowledge-driven design and engineering services to our clients. We deliver cost-effective innovation by leveraging computational methods and targeted testing to explore the design space and identify robust operating regimes. These tools enable cost-function driven optimization and Monte Carlo simulation.
We have demonstrated that this process results in will work designs that culminate in demonstration prototypes, supported by robust analysis, that are scalable, rather than can work, one-off, designs that may not be reproducible.
This helps the decisions makers:
Make informed design decisions based on data – not guesswork and hope. We simulate to refine the design and test to confirm the prediction and demonstrate the required function.
Finish the design process in an
efficient manner. You won’t be left wondering if there is a better design within the same constraints.
Brings design assurance which enables passing phase gates like EVT & DVT and confidently transferring into manufacturing.
Our Process:
We Foster A Culture That Encourages Asking "Why?" and Managing Risk Through Analytically and Empirically derived Data to Drive Decision Making
This “go slow now to go fast later”, First Principles based alternative to a “design by analogy” (DBA) approach enables objective design decisions. Models, simple test, careful consideration of what the models tell us, and application of the models as design tools all support a more reliable, predictable, and efficient product development process.
This is the approach that we employ at FPrin. We perform analysis, modeling, and test to build a knowledge base for your design. We use this to determine strengths and weaknesses of the design and to map an informed approach to design development. This knowledge tells us where we need to focus our efforts – specifically on “make or break” design elements – and where we can afford to defer closer scrutiny. It allows us to put the right resources on the right problem at the right time.
Our People
FPrin is grounded in the principles of fair treatment of its staff and suppliers. Our passion is helping our clients to deliver safe and effective products to enhance the lives of their customers. We work together to foster a culture that offers superior value to our Clients by building a financially strong company where we all share the benefits and enjoy a meaningful and fulfilling journey.
Our Leadership
Peter Holst
Adam Seger
Anna Kovchina
Founder
Peter Holst
Peter Holst, Founder, has nearly 30 years of experience in R&D and product development in the field of medical devices and equipment. He has experience with visual field testers, IV and enteral pumps, surgical robots, cholesterol testers and glucose meters. He is experienced with drug delivery technologies for liquid drug formulations as well as pulmonary and trans-dermal methods.
Peter is a strong proponent of data driven design methods known as “Lean Engineering” or “Knowledge Driven Product Development”. With these methods the outcome of the design process is a design that is well understood – by analysis, modeling, and simulation – and well characterized – by directed testing, typically at the sub-system level. Using this process the design can be typically characterized as “will work” rather than “can work” before making major capital commitments. Peter has experience in design for high volume manufacturing using various component manufacturing methods including plastic injection molding, metal injection molding, casting, powder metal, sheet metal and machined components. He also has background in the design of low volume capital equipment medical mechanisms and systems.
Peter has a BSME from Northwestern University and an MSME with a concentration in dynamics and controls from Santa Clara University.
VP Operations
Adam Seger
Adam has 15 years’ experience related to the development and commercialization of translational technologies in the biomedical space. At FPrin he is focused on operations and delivering high quality, innovative solutions to clients.
Prior to FPrin, Adam worked at multiple startups, including as a founder. He was primarily focused on developing technologies that enabled increased interrogation and characterization of biological systems, but he also dabbled in software development.
Adam has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Cruz, focusing on interfaces with biological systems. In his spare time he enjoys time with his family going on hikes, making movies, and eating good food.
Controller
Anna Kovchina
Anna’s primary focus is on the financial sphere of FPrin, also supporting procurement and inventory management.
Anna has over 10 years of diverse experience in financial accounting, from working for international company Hyundai Steel to supporting multiple small business organizations in California during her employment in bookkeeping company Accounteam. Anna is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
Anna enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and swimming with her husband and 2 sons.
Our Team
Camren Spangler
Sam Sayre
Lawrence Smith
Liam Parrish
Alec Lindeman
Cameron Stearn
Martin Leugers
Principal Engineer
Camren Spangler
Camren Spangler is an electrical and computer engineer with 20+ years experience designing medical, communications, broadcast, Pro A/V and aerospace equipment. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Honors Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Oregon State University.
Camren spent 5 years as a design engineer and engineering manager at a top medical device manufacturer engaged in producing communications equipment for operating room suites. He has successfully managed the design and launch of multi-million dollar design projects and is a leader in the development of new medical, industrial, and consumer products.
In 15+ years as a design consultant he has contributed on designs of products and proof of concepts for a variety of A/V, communications, control system, analog and digital signal acquisition, and handheld products.
Mechanical Engineer
Sam Sayre
Sam Sayre joined the FPrin team in May of 2020 as a Mechanical Engineer. He graduated magna cum laude from Cal Poly in 2019 with a BSME in Mechanical Engineering and a concentration in Manufacturing. He has previous internship and full-time experience with Aerojet Rocketdyne and Flex, industry leaders in the aerospace and manufacturing industries respectively.
Through his Senior Project, classwork, and internships Sam has gained experience in creating experimentally verified numerical models for complex mechanical systems. Sam’s areas of interest include heat transfer, composites, FEA, and manufacturing.
Mechanical Engineer & Modeling Expert
Lawrence Smith
Lawrence Smith has 8 years of experience building numerical and analytical models of mechanical systems and drug delivery devices. He has special interests in heat transfer problems, structural mechanics, optimization, and shape memory alloys.
Lawrence graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2014 with a BSME and a concentration in Mechatronics, where he earned Dean’s List honors for three semesters. After working at an engineering consulting firm in the medical device space for several years, he enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder and earned an MSME with a focus in Design. He is currently pursuing a PhD of Mechanical Engineering at CU Boulder with the Matter Assembly by Computation (MAC) Lab.
Lawrence researches simulation of nonlinear structures using finite element and material point methods. He was selected as Graduate Student of the Month for the College of Mechanical Engineering in February of 2020.
Material Scientist
Liam Parrish
Liam Parrish, Mechanical Engineer, has a background in Materials Science and has experience in testing and characterizing the mechanical behavior of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires. He also has experience in engineering test design, mechanical and thermal design, and data analysis. Liam is a recent graduate from Cal Poly SLO with a BS in Materials Engineering.
Mechanical Engineer
Alec Lindeman
Alec is from Saratoga, CA and recently completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Santa Clara University. In his free time Alec enjoys skiing with friends and working on cars/motorcycles.
Mechanical Engineer
Cameron Stearn
Cameron Stearn is part of the mechanical engineering staff at FPrin. He is a recent UC Berkeley graduate where he earned his BSME and MSME with a concentration in product development, human factors, and mechanical design. Cameron has experience in the computer hardware and biomedical device industries where he enjoys applying mechanical engineering to consumer-oriented products.
User-Centered Industrial Design Specialist
Martin Leugers
Martin Leugers is an Industrial Designer that loves to solve problems. He graduated from The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning with a BS in Industrial Design. He brings 25 years of experience on a broad range of design projects including medical devices, consumer products, and industrial equipment. Within the medical device field, he has worked on implants, robotics, consumer medical, drug delivery, and surgical devices. Approaching every design project with a focus on client and user needs, he combines his endless creativity with experience to create elegant solutions.
