From Metal Cutouts to Big Business
Bob Keller was just trying to make a little metal cutout to show students in his daughter’s third-grade class the kind of work a mechanical engineer can do when he hit upon an idea for a new business.
Keller used a bandsaw to cut a piece of steel in the shape of the state of West Virginia and he liked how it turned out, figuring it might have applications as a desk knickknack or possibly a decoration to adhere to a car.
He started showing it to friends and co-workers at West Virginia Tech’s Community and Technical College, where he teaches mechanical engineering. “What do you think?” he asked. “Everybody said, ‘Go, go, go,’” recalled Keller. As a mechanical engineer, he had plenty of know-how for producing cutouts using polymer-coated steel. What he didn’t have was the expensive equipment necessary.
After taking his idea further and approaching a few schools with his ideas… Keller is producing enough now that he has bought his own computerized cutting equipment and space in North Charleston. He has more ideas than he can handle, including some that are more artistic. He made a sign for his friend Jeff James’ marketing business and created some artwork to go with it. It was so much fun, he hopes to do more.
Photo by Bob Wojcieszak.
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