Each year, Products Finishing editors carefully review nominations from industry peers—managers, colleagues, and partners—to select outstanding young professionals who are driving the surface finishing industry forward. Honorees come from a range of backgrounds, from technical experts like engineers and chemists to business leaders such as general managers and entrepreneurs. These individuals are recognized not just for their skills but for their ability to inspire and lead the next generation of surface finishing professionals.
Their insights and passion offer a glimpse into the future of manufacturing and finishing.
Our 40 Under 40 Honorees
Derek Danowski, Design Engineer, has been recognized by Products Finishing magazine as a Class of 2026 as a 40 Under 40 honoree.
In his current role as designer, he creates CAD drawings for products made from flexible materials such as foam, pressure-sensitive adhesives, neoprene, silicone, natural rubber, and others. In tandem with this, Derek develops 3D proof of concept parts for customers to evaluate their part or component prior to production. Click here for his story.
“What I like about the finishing industry is solving real-life production challenges—developing manufacturing-ready drawings and prototypes that help finishers, OEMs, and suppliers achieve consistent, high-quality results," says Derek.
This is the second employee from the CFS engineering team to be recognized in the 40 Under 40 Class. Stefan Samardžić, Process Engineer, was named as a Class of 2025 40 Under 40 honoree.
Stefan’s problem-solving background helped him transition into his current role by continuously streamlining the process from start to finish. His technical knowledge and practical work in process engineering have helped identify solutions for a variety of custom projects. See the video interview.
Engineering and Design Support at CFS
Engineers like Derek and Stefan provide CFS with the ability to help customers solve real production challenges by transforming ideas into manufacturing-ready designs, prototypes, and optimized processes.
Their ability to create accurate CAD drawings, develop proof-of-concept parts, and streamline production ensures customers receive parts that meet tight specifications and perform reliably in real-world applications.
CFS leverages 3D prototyping as a development tool, allowing customers to evaluate proof-of-concept parts before full production begins. This process helps to validate fit, function, and design early in development, reducing risk, saving time, and minimizing costly revisions later in the manufacturing process.
Our goal by offering customers engineering & design support is to deliver the best possible fit for the application—while providing technical guidance throughout the entire order lifecycle.
More information about the Products Finishing 40 Under 40 Program can be found here.