# Stan Bentley | Starting an Engineering Business, Day Care, & Powdercoating

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2022-09-16
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/Stan-Bentley-Starting-an-Engineering-Business/

## Summary

Stan Bentley, founder of Diversified Systems, DIVSYS, and DIVaero, recounts his journey from fixing a transistor radio in seventh grade to building a nearly 700-person electronics manufacturing company. He details how he started Diversified Systems in his garage in 1972, leveraging early PCB fabrication and assembly to solve specific hardware problems, such as a flaw in dollar bill changers. Bentley also discusses his work on electrostatic powder coating safety at Randsburg and the unique company culture he built, including an on-site daycare and wellness center, to attract top talent. He concludes by highlighting the modern engineering challenge of bridging the gap between digital design and physical manufacturing as domestic PCB production declines.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=0) Introduction: Stan Bentley and the Being an Engineer Podcast
- [1:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=112) Stan Bentley's Origin Story: Fixing a Transistor Radio
- [5:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=325) Early Career: PCBs, NASA Grants, and Electrostatic Painting
- [17:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=1053) Starting Diversified Systems: The Garage, Dollar Bill Changers, and First Funding
- [27:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=1655) Building Company Culture: Daycare, Cafeteria, and Wellness Center
- [38:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-09-16-stan-bentley-starting-an-engineering-business-day-care-powdercoating#t=2338) Modern Engineering Challenges: The Gap Between Design and Manufacturing

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Diversified Systems (company)
- DIVSYS (company)
- DIVaero (company)
- Randsburg (company)
- Harold Greensburg (other)
- Rubbermaid (company)
- Easterseals (company)
- ICAPE corporation (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview With Dave Young](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-07-01-an-interview-with-dave-young) (The Amp Hour)
- [Boeing, PCBs & Startups - Awful Airplane Aeration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-01-29-boeing-pcbs-startups-awful-airplane-aeration) (The Amp Hour)
- [ActOne Group: Janice Bryant Howroyd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-03-actone-group-janice-bryant-howroyd) (How I Built This)
- [Wait, why is Jeff glowing?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-30-wait-why-is-jeff-glowing) (The Amp Hour)
- [Scaling an Electronics Design Business: Insights from Jordan Danko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-22-scaling-an-electronics-design-business-insights-from-jordan-danko) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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