About Prototype

You bring us your vision, we help you bring it to life.

Prototype & Development Specialists (PDS) in San Antonio, Texas, is a 4,000 square-foot machine shop geared toward small to medium-sized production runs, including assembly. PDS creates one-off products by helping our clients build fully operational prototypes using simple to elaborate design concepts. We specialize in assisting with prototype development for entrepreneurs, start-up enterprises, biotech firms and oil & gas companies.

What makes PDS different is that we are there with you from the very beginning. The way we see it, developing and manufacturing your product is a truly hands-on process. When you need expert feedback on developing or modifying your design, we’re always around to talk. Drop by the shop or give us a call anytime. Really. Need that part yesterday? Whatever your lead time, our talented engineers know how to make it happen. Working closely with our clients is what allows us to make the first run of the product the best it can be to minimize costs and deliver on time.

As a member of the San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA), we conform to the highest industry and ethical standards. PDS is also working toward ISO 9001 compliance and certification in 2018.

I have been working with PDS for almost 4 years now and I have had the good fortune to work with them for rapid prototyping and low volume production. Irrespective of the day or time of the day I can always count on Joe Blandford, the COO, to come through and be eager to work on and meet a hard time line. We have had parts turned around in a matter of hours when the need is immediate. Whether it is a one off prototype or a prototype to production scenario PDS delivers by suggesting cost saving suggestions and streamlining the manufacturing process. I would not hesitate to recommend PDS as a manufacturing shop to any one whether it is for developing a product or looking for a production partner.

Deepak Jayaraj, Mechanical Engineer, Xenex Disinfection Services, LLC

PDS has been my go-to shop for collaboration on new designs to expedite my assembly line production demands. They also have been instrumental in helping to maintain our assembly line itself when parts are needed. They have been available and easy to work with in helping me meet my time constraints.

Ignacio Alvarez, LUX Bakery

Joe has been working with me on several projects. I can bring him anything and he will be able to duplicate the item or create a new one that will work better. My clients are particular about the presentation of the products I provide. I have not had one rejection of designs that Joe and I have collaborated on. He is my first stop for one of a kind products and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who needs a product that is not only efficient and cost effective, but works.

Max Patino , Owner, Cactus Max

When I needed a demo product that would assist us in marketing our products, PDS came up with a workable design that would show in miniature what our products do on a large scale in the oil and gas processing facilities that we service. Joe was able to evaluate the parts and propose solutions that created an economical design to produce. We were able to design, implement, and finalize our solution on time and achieve a cost effective outcome.

William L. Jagers, Engineering Manager

Stephanie Blandford
President

Creating a functional and marketable prototype takes time, money, and expertise. With Stephanie Blandford at the helm of Prototype & Development Specialists, your company is in great hands.Stephanie worked for over 10 years in accounting with top business consulting firm Ernst & Young, where she honed her business talents and built up substantial management experience that allows her to lead such a progressive company as Prototype & Development Specialists.

She also spent 5 years as Manager of Corporate Services for the Texas Research and Technology Foundation, a nonprofit economic development agency for the technology and biotechnology fields in San Antonio. In this role, Stephanie served as a controller for the foundation and also assisted the entities that were incubated within the research park with their start-up processes, accounting and human resources functions.

After leaving the foundation, she worked for several start-up companies, helping to guide them through their growth phase. This role is one that Stephanie finds most fulfilling and is what drives her as she guides PDS in its mission to help turn clients’ dreams into reality.

Stephanie holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Kennedy-Western University in Cheyenne, WY and maintains an AIBA (Accredited in Business Appraisal) designation through the Institute of Business Appraisers since 2004.

Joseph “Joe” Blandford
Chief Operating Officer

Joseph “Joe” Blandford has worked in and supervised machine shops since 1979. The machine shop business is his world. He is considered a master of prototype development by our many return clients.Backed by his extensive, wide-ranging industry experience, Joe is a hands-on COO. Anyone who has ever worked with him agrees that he is a rare breed of leader who expertly oversees the complex process of prototype development.Technical Proficiency
Joe works with both CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and manual machine tools to produce prototypes, production tools, fixtures and devices.He is proficient in Mastercam programming software and SOLIDWORKS to produce 3D models and drawings. Over the course of his extensive career, he has:

Managed machine shop operations
Been instrumental in quality design by developing and creating specifications
Engineered quality in the development of processes
Written manufacturing and work instructions
Conducted process validations within a quality management system

Medical Industry Expertise

Joe gained part of his experience working for biotech companies, including OsteoBiologics and EO2 Concepts. With his reputation for strict protocol and high quality work, scientists and engineering teams began approaching Joe for help in developing innovative 510(K)-approved medical devices to bring to the market. While working on these projects, Joe:

Helped finalize the design before testing and conducting validations to receive FDAclearance
Sourced purchase and manufactured parts for the devices
Designed part models and made approved drawings to document device components
Set up a quality plan to manufacture parts and components through device assembly, packaging, and sterilization
Worked with quality control doing inspections and calibrations
Conducted quality control and assisted in maintaining a quality management system to retain FDA and ISO certifications
Built an ISO-certified Class 7 3400 SF Terra Universal hard-walled clean room and helped design all mechanical systems to validate the clean room and equipment through production.

Oil and Gas Industry Expertise

Joe worked many years for National Oilwell supervising the night shift plant. He is well acquainted with most oilfield equipment manufacturing.

Staff

Don Anderson
Machine Operator / Purchasing Backup

Stephen Rabke
Mechanical Engineer