What is innovation?  

In the early 1980’s, Cor Drost was working on a research grant at Cornell University. As with all great ideas, his began with a nagging problem: he needed a better way to measure flow in his animal studies.  

His issue wasn’t isolated, but pervasive across the research world. “Most people doing research are interested in volume flow,” Drost said. With time and effort, Drost converted a rough industrial technology, Transit Time Flow Measurement, to serve in precise research applications. With device in hand and conviction in mind, Drost founded Transonic Systems to bring the patented technology to a wider audience.  

Very soon, though, “We found we were being steered towards the human market. Doctors were doing animal studies, but they wanted to use the technology in procedures with their human patients as well.”  

It would be fair to say the technology launched, with increasing use spurring increased demand, which fed back into increased use, and round-and-round went the upward spiral.  

“We had to come up with ways to modify the flowsensors to be used in acute applications. To do that, we designed things over and over again, let users play with it, give suggestions and make changes to come up with a good stable measurement approach,” he said of Transonic’s success. 

In the forty-plus years that have passed since, Cor Drost and his team have built Transonic into a global corporation, with distribution across North America, Europe, Asia, and most recently, the Middle East. But they’re not going to stop there. Or anywhere… 

“When you come to us for your OEM needs, you get an expert engineering team on board, not just to duplicate past products, but to learn your needs and work with you through a co-engineering program that will bring true innovation to your technology and device,” he said. 

Perhaps that’s the definition innovation: refusal to accept “good” or even “great” because of the conviction that no matter how wonderful a technology is, it can always be better.  

So maybe innovation is a mindset that guides, even drives—always to excel, always to exceed.  

Maybe innovation is relentless.  

Call us today to see how perfectly we can fill your OEM needs. Because we won’t stop until we do.