Function Engineering, an engineering design firm out of Palo Alto and San Francisco, California opened an office in downtown Decatur. Like its parent office, the Decatur version will specialize in engineering and mechanical design on a wide range of products. Function has worked alongside such noted industrial design firms as Pentagram, Astro, Lunar, Frog, and Herbst Lazar Bell.

Rob Bronwell will head the office located at the corner of Church and Trinity. “We have a proven track record of developing products – from the conception to manufacturing stages – for high tech clients such as Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics, and Palm, maker of the Palm Pilot. But we’ve also designed such diverse products as ski goggles, toasters, and even toys,” said Bronwell. “In many ways, Decatur reminds me of Palo Alto ten years ago. We decided to locate our office here because we felt that the city will continue its trend toward revitalization. We also found Decatur a welcoming place for companies engaged in creative pursuits.”

Function’s recent work includes a prototype for the “Saw Stop” which took the Challengers Distinguished Achievement Award at the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair (IWF) in Atlanta. The idea behind the “Saw Stop” is prevention. The system detects when a table saw blade touches flesh instead of wood and brakes the blade before injury can occur. According to Bronwell, the brake kicks in so quickly that the hot dogs (that’s right, hot dogs) used for testing were barely scratched.