At some point, every business hits a wall. The systems that got you here won’t take you further. For CPV, that moment came into focus around 2023.
We had just committed to a 26,000-square-foot expansion, bringing our total footprint to 60,000-square-feet to solve our warehouse space issues. On paper, it looked like the solution. But behind the scenes, our paint process was still being held back by inefficiencies. Our paint booths didn’t give us the flexibility or control we needed to meet the growing demand for complex applications. We knew we needed more than space. We needed a smarter system.
WHEN GROWTH PUSHES PROCESS TO THE LIMIT
Back in 2017, our 34,000-square-foot facility felt massive. But the company kept growing, faster than we expected. We started renting off-site warehouse space to handle overflow, just a block away. Then in 2021, our team doubled in size. Production demand skyrocketed.
That kind of growth is a good thing, but it also revealed the cracks in our foundation. We were spending too much time moving parts between buildings, chasing bottlenecks, and fixing mistakes that shouldn’t have happened. Our team was producing incredible work, but they were doing it under mounting pressure.
THE TURNING POINT
So, we asked ourselves the tough question: If we were starting fresh today, how would we build it?
The answer was clear. We needed a conveyor paint line. Not just any system, but one designed specifically for how we work. One that didn’t automate away the craftsmanship but eliminated the logistical drag and empowered our painters to focus on their craft.
We weren’t just solving a space problem. We were investing in a system that makes our work smarter, faster, and more precise.
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP
That’s when I called Nick Testa from Spray Systems. We knew some of the same people, and over time, we became friends. I trust his instincts. He’s built his own business and knows what it takes to stay adaptable. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if a company like his, which typically builds for large-scale operations, would take on something custom for us. But he was all in.
We spent months sketching and reworking ideas, both in CAD and on napkins. What came out of it was a fully customized conveyor paint line designed specifically for CPV: how we move, how we paint, and how we train.
It will take up nearly half of our new expansion. It is built to deliver parts directly to the painter, with total flexibility to handle our most complex graphic applications. That means fewer handling errors, faster turnaround times, and more time spent doing what we do best — precision work done right.
A SYSTEM THAT BUILDS MORE THAN EFFICIENCY
This project isn’t just about boosting output. It is about investing in our people. We are making it easier for our team to work smarter and more efficiently without sacrificing quality or pride in their work.
This upgrade represents a cultural shift. It is our way of saying we are not just trying to go faster — we are building the infrastructure to go further, together.
And the timing couldn’t be more meaningful. Both CPV and Spray Systems are celebrating 50 years in business this year. This collaboration is a milestone for both companies and a reflection of everything we’ve learned about people, process, and progress.
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR CPV
Our conveyor paint line is in its final stages of manufacturing in California. Soon, we will begin prepping for installation and commissioning here at CPV.
We are doing it right — carefully, thoroughly, and with the same attention to detail we bring to every project. This isn’t just about meeting today’s demand. It is about building for tomorrow, with purpose.
We have grown fast in the last few years, but this moment marks something bigger. It is the difference between reacting to growth and planning for it. Between getting it done and doing it right. Between more output and more impact.
Smarter systems. Stronger teams. That is where we are headed.
We will keep you posted as this next chapter comes to life. Thanks for growing with us.
- Steve Wright
