CCSteven & Associates, Inc

08/12/2026

“Where does it go?”
That’s the question that started it over 9 years ago. A demanding manufacturing application called for blowing particulate off parts before a critical process step — and once the particles left the surface, no one had a good answer for where they actually ended up.
Stephen Carfaro (“Dr. Static”) took that question seriously. What started as a solution to a real, high-stakes cleaning challenge became a US patent, and eventually the PCS (Particle Capture System) family — now one of the most trusted particle capture solutions in medical device manufacturing, life sciences, and a growing list of industries where “clean” isn’t optional.
Today, PCS has grown into 8+ standard configurations, including:
🔹PCS: Under Bench Mount & Vertical configuration (MUON TRAP) — the original space-saving design, delivering over twice the face velocity of competing products 🔹 Tabletop Units/ CLEAN STATION — 11” and 20” sizes, with an optional XL/PRO versions featuring an integrated timer and foot pedal for repeatable blowoff protocols 🔹 PCS: CLEAN CUBE (larger scale) — self-contained clean environments for material transfer or assembly, with laminar flow and HEPA-filtered downdraft 🔹 PCS CLEAN TABLE — our all-star configuration for final packaging and tray cleaning, with dual 18” hoods, dual blowers, and an optional height-adjustable frame
And when standard configurations aren’t enough, we build custom — including 72” downdraft units for applications that don’t fit a catalog page.
We just released a new intro video walking through the full PCS family. If particle contamination has ever been a question mark in your process, this is worth five minutes.
Watch the video. Visit us in Camarillo for a demo. Send us your parts-we’ll show you what PCS can do.

07/31/2026

Room Ionization or Process Ionizers? Why the Answer Is Usually “Both”
(Our Ask Dr. Static question of the week! Watch the whole video!)
One common question we hear at C.C. Steven & Associates is whether facilities should invest in room ionization or process ionizers to control static. It’s a fair question — and one worth unpacking, because the two approaches solve different problems.
Room Ionization: Managing the Baseline
Think of room ionization like a sprinkler system for a fire. It’s not designed to put out a single, intense flame — it’s designed to suppress overall risk across the entire space. Room ionization works the same way with static: it reduces ambient static charge throughout your facility, keeping overall conditions manageable.
Process Ionizers: Targeting the Hot Spots
But some areas need more than baseline suppression. At points in your process where static is highly concentrated — often called “hot spots” — process ionizers like ionizing bars and fans deliver faster, more targeted neutralization. That speed matters: quicker decay time means sensitive components are better protected from static discharge damage, and product surfaces are less likely to attract unwanted particles from a lingering static field.
So Which One Do You Need?
In most real-world applications, it’s not an either/or decision. Room ionization handles the overall environment, while process ionizers address the specific points where static risk is highest. The right combination depends entirely on your process, your materials, and where your sensitive operations happen.
With over 48 years of experience in static mitigation and particulate control, our team at C.C. Steven & Associates has helped countless facilities identify exactly where — and how — to apply the right ionization strategy for their application.
Have a static control question of your own? That’s exactly what our Ask Dr. Static series is for. Reach out — we’d love to help.

07/16/2026

⚡ Ask Dr. Static: Why "No Static Detected" Doesn't Always Mean No Static.
In this week's episode, Stephen "Dr. Static" Carfaro tackles a concept that trips up even experienced static control professionals: Charge Suppression.
The Problem:
When an insulator becomes electrostatically charged, that charge can become temporarily undetectable — not because it's gone, but because it's being suppressed by close proximity to a nearby surface (like a table, work surface or idle roller). The static field appears to vanish on a meter. But the charge hasn't gone anywhere. It's simply collapsed and hidden from view.
The moment that insulator is lifted or separated, the field reappears in full — proof the charge was there the entire time.
Two Simple Demonstrations:
🔹 A plastic disc resting flat on a table reads as static-free. Lift it slightly, and the field becomes fully measurable again.
🔹 A roll of Scotch tape generates a strong charge through contact and separation as it unwinds. Held close to a table surface, that charge is suppressed and unreadable. Pull it away, and the field is immediately detectable.
Why This Matters More Than You Think:
This isn't only a measurement issue — it's a mitigation issue. Ionization can only neutralize a field it can see. If a charged insulator is suppressed by proximity to a nearby surface, there's no field for an ionizer to act on. No amount of ionization will neutralize a charge that isn't measurably present.
That charge stays latent — and reappears in full the instant the insulator is moved or separated, often at the exact moment in a process where it becomes most disruptive.
The Takeaway:
Effective static control requires adequate air gap between an insulator and any surface it's resting against or passing near. Without that space, both diagnosis and treatment fail — not because the equipment is inadequate, but because the charge is invisible to it.

📺 Watch the full demonstration:

Charge Suppression: Why You Can't Mitigate What You Can't MeasureW...

07/03/2026

Forty-eight years ago, an Italian American Korean War veteran had the vision and grit to build something lasting. In 1978, he founded C.C. Steven & Associates — and today, under his son’s leadership spanning nearly four decades of growth and innovation, we remain a trusted name in static mitigation, particle capture systems, and manufacturing solutions expertise.

This July 4th, as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we’re reflecting on what it means to build something from nothing in a country that makes that possible. Small businesses like ours are woven into the fabric of American manufacturing — and we’re proud to be part of that story, 48 years and counting.

To our clients, partners, and team who’ve been part of this journey: thank you. Here’s to America’s 250th, and to the next chapter for C.C. Steven & Associates.

06/29/2026

Ask Dr Static…. Mats and wrist straps won’t save you if your problem is ESA. ⚡

Plastics are insulators. You can’t ground them. The only way to neutralize electrostatic attraction on a plastic surface is ionization — and Dr. Static proves it live in this week’s Ask Dr. Static video.

If you work in medical device or plastics manufacturing, this one’s for you. Link in bio 👆
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06/19/2026

⚡Nearly 50 years ago, C.C. Steven & Associates opened its doors with a simple mission: Solve static problems and take care of customers. We're still doing exactly that.
This year we're celebrating two milestones worth shouting about:
🏢 C.C. Steven & Associates: almost 50 years in business
⚡ Stephen "Dr. Static" Carfaro: 40 years of expertise
The hair may have thinned, but the knowledge? Deeper than ever.
From the early days of analog everything to today's most demanding production environments, Stephen has seen it all, and solved most of it! Four decades of showing up, geeking out over static control, and earning the trust of customers and vendors who have been with us for 20+ years. That doesn't happen by accident.
To our customers, vendors, and partners — thank you. You are the reason we're still here, still growing, and still loving what we do.
Here's to the next chapter. ⚡

06/11/2026

Is your particle capture system actually doing its job — or just looking like it is? 🤔
Dr. Static breaks it down: it’s all about face velocity — how hard the unit pulls air in. Less than 170 feet per minute? It’s not capturing. Period.
He shows you two ways to test it yourself: ✅ The quick capture test — drop particles and watch ✅ The pro method — anemometer measurement
Watch, test yours, and know for sure. 👇

06/01/2026

🎬 New Ask Dr. Static video is live! **Do static bars need compressed air to work?** It’s a common questions we get — and the answer might surprise you. After 40+ years in static control, here’s what we know: ✅ For most applications: web converting, film, printing, coating, laminating, flat sheet processing... **compressed air is not required.** A properly selected and positioned static bar neutralizes electrostatic charges from several inches away with no air assist needed. That means lower operating costs, since compressed air is one of the most expensive utilities on a production floor. ⚡ That said, there are situations where air *does* play a role: — Ionizing blowers positioned several feet from the target (air carries ions to the surface) — Blow-off and cleaning applications (the ionizer neutralizes the charge; air removes the particle) — Complex 3D parts with recesses and geometry that limit direct line-of-sight The right solution always depends on your specific application- the material, the distance, whether cleaning is required, and your production goals. Watch the full video 👉 Have a static control question of your own? Submit it through our Ask Dr. Static page — your question may be featured in an upcoming video or article. click on the Dr Static logo at www.CCSTEVEN.com or www.DRSTATIC.com CCStevenandAssociates

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we’re thinking about a different kind of discipline.

At CC Steven and Associates, we talk about precision, standards, and showing up — because what we do matters.

But today we’re reminded of what really showing up looks like.

The men and women we honor today didn’t get to choose their mornings or decide whether they felt like it. They got up anyway — in conditions most of us will never fully understand — for people they’d never even meet.

We get to build things. Solve problems. Run businesses. Innovate.

We get to do all of that because someone else made the ultimate trade.

To those who gave everything in service to this country — thank you. And to the families who carry that loss not just today, but every day — we see you and we honor you.

From our team to yours — 🇺🇸 Happy Memorial Day.

CC Steven and Associates

05/21/2026

Introducing "Ask Dr. Static"
Whether you're troubleshooting contamination on a medical device line or chasing down a static problem that's been driving your team crazy... we have someone you need to meet.

Ask Dr. Static is our new forum where you can submit your real-world questions on static mitigation and particle capture directly to one of the most experienced experts in the field. Stephen Carfaro, AKA "Dr. Static," has more than 40 years of experience solving these exact problems across all types of manufacturing — from industrial to life sciences, semiconductor/electronics, aerospace, packaging, and medical device production.

No generic answers. No runaround. Just deep, practical expertise from someone who has seen it all. He will answer questions and provide solutions!

Watch Dr. Static answer our very first question — then submit yours. 👇
https://www.esdproducts.biz/ask-dr-static/

▶️ASK Dr.Static Question of the Day: Is compressed air blow off enough to clean my parts alone, or do i need more? Watch the video for the answer!
ASK DR.STATIC... 🎥
https://youtube.com/shorts/b7vvqUxFbW0

Whether you're an engineer on the floor, a quality manager chasing compliance, or an executive evaluating your contamination control strategy- this forum, these answers are here to help you!

We can't wait to hear what's keeping you up at night. Dr. Static and our team of static experts are here to help!

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