Alpine Engineering and Design, Inc.
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Author: Kaitlyn Short
Alpine Engineering and Design, Inc. (AED) specializes in providing mechanical engineering expert witness services, particularly in areas such as product liability, intellectual property, and patent litigation. The company’s team of licensed mechanical engineers offers comprehensive support throughout the legal process, including case evaluation, evidence gathering, testing, simulations, report preparation, and courtroom testimony; they are experienced in various domains, including accident investigation, machinery safety, and mechanical design analysis. The AED team’s expertise is complemented by strong communication skills, enabling them to effectively convey complex engineering concepts to judges and juries.
The Good
- Decades of Experience
- Alpine Engineering and Design Areas of Expertise
- Alpine Engineering and Design Experts
- Nationwide Clientele
Decades of Experience
AED has a rich history rooted in innovation and engineering excellence. The company's origins trace back to 1979 when Fred T. Smith founded F.S. New Products Inc. in Palos Verdes, California. As a prolific inventor with over 200 U.S. and international patents, Fred T. specialized in excavating equipment, trucking equipment, refuse equipment, hydraulically operated mobile equipment, and exercise equipment.
The 1980s and 1990s marked a period of expansion and diversification for the company, including a relocation to Alpine, Utah, where the company is currently headquartered. In 2000, F.S. New Products Inc. became AED. At around this same time, AED began pursuing forensic engineering work — applying engineering knowledge to legal applications.
Today, AED remains a boutique engineering firm, offering personalized forensic engineering services across the United States. The company is typically involved in legal processes by evaluating the safety and/or failure of mechanical products, and by providing professional opinions on intellectual property cases. AED’s extensive experience, spanning over four decades, has solidified its expertise in mechanical engineering, product design, and expert witness services.
Alpine Engineering and Design Areas of Expertise
AED offers a comprehensive range of expert witness and engineering services, specializing in mechanical engineering disciplines. AED’s primary areas of expertise include the following:
1. Mechanical engineering expert witness services
- Product liability — analyzing incidents to determine if injuries resulted from defective design, manufacturing flaws, or inadequate warnings
- Accident reconstruction — utilizing engineering principles to reconstruct accidents, providing insights into causation and liability
- Industry standards compliance — assessing whether products or processes adhere to relevant industry standards and regulations
2. Intellectual property and patent expert witness services
- Patent litigation support — offering expertise in patent infringement and invalidity cases, with a strong understanding of both technology and patent law
- Trade secrets and trademarks — providing consultation on misappropriation issues related to intellectual property
3. Machine safety consulting
- Safety assessments — evaluating equipment operation and maintenance practices to ensure compliance with industry safety standards
- Hazard analysis — identifying potential risks associated with machinery and recommending mitigation strategies
4. Engineering design and analysis services
- Product development — assisting clients in designing new products, from conceptualization to prototyping
- Finite element analysis (FEA) — conducting simulations to predict how products respond to real-world forces, aiding in design optimization
The AED team is composed of licensed professional engineers with extensive industry experience, holding over 70 patents collectively. The company’s dual focus on ongoing product design and expert witness testimony ensures it remains at the forefront of mechanical engineering advancements. This blend of practical design experience and litigation support positions AED as a trusted partner for clients seeking authoritative engineering expertise.
Alpine Engineering and Design Experts
The AED is made up of a range of qualified experts, all of which have years of experience in the industry in varying capacities. Thus, no matter your needs, whether you need mechanical engineering insight on a legal case or you want to evaluate the safety of your own business’ equipment, the AED team will likely have an expert that can offer assistance.
The AED team is committed to providing high-quality analysis and clear opinions — all data provided will be unbiased and based on a reasonable degree of engineering knowledge.
Nationwide Clientele
Based in Alpine, Utah, AED's team of licensed professional engineers is equipped to assist clients nationwide. This is unique as many boutique firms, no matter the industry or area of expertise, typically have limited service areas, allowing them to provide locale-specific expertise.
With expertise that spans various industries, including product liability, intellectual property, and machine safety, AED is equipped to provide comprehensive support to clients throughout the country.
The Bad
- Firm Availability
Firm Availability
While AED isn’t limited by location (the firm’s services are available to clients nationwide) the company may experience service limitations, at times, based on its size and capacity — AED is a small boutique firm with a small team. Thus, there may be times when it is difficult to secure the company’s services, especially if the firm is experiencing an influx of requests at the time.
The Bottom Line
Alpine Engineering and Design, Inc. (AED) stands out as a premier provider of mechanical engineering expert witness services, specializing in product liability, intellectual property, and forensic engineering. With a history dating back to 1979, the company has evolved from a product development firm into a trusted authority in accident investigation, machinery safety, and design analysis. The AED team, composed of licensed professional engineers with over 70 patents collectively, combines decades of industry experience with strong communication skills, ensuring complex engineering concepts are conveyed effectively in legal settings.
Unlike many boutique firms that operate within a limited geographic range, AED serves clients nationwide, offering expertise across industries such as machine safety, patent litigation, and compliance with industry standards. The company’s rigorous, unbiased analysis and dedication to high-quality evaluations make it a trusted partner for businesses and legal professionals alike. However, as a small firm, AED’s availability may fluctuate based on demand, which can occasionally make securing its services challenging. Despite this, AED’s nationwide reach and specialized expertise make it a valuable asset in both engineering and legal fields.
