On this episode, Scott Lewitt of Structural Composites Inc. joins me to discuss a newly installed composite bridge in Tennessee that they've developed, and how this structure is being used to showcase sustainable solutions for aging infrastructure.
This FRP bridge replaces a decades-old concrete crossing which, like many rural bridges across the nation, was rated structurally deficient and outdated.
The University of Tennessee and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) partnered with Morgan County, TN, and Morgan County Highway Superintendent Joe Miller to create an affordable bridge that can be installed quickly and will safely meet transportation needs
You can see this bridge by visiting https://compositebridge.org.
On this episode, Tobi Ferguson, CEO of Magnum Venus Products, joins me at the IACMI Member Meeting to discuss their new $20 million expansion.
Magnum Venus Products (MVP), a global manufacturer of fluid movement and production solutions for industrial applications, is expanding its footprint and capabilities with the purchase of this new facility and land in East Tennessee.
This expansion will enable MVP to increase its manufacturing velocity and meet customer demand.
Tobi will be sharing the details of this new facility as well as MVP's mission moving forward as a solutions provider for the composites industry.
You can learn more about MVP by visiting https://www.mvpind.com.
On this episode, Haley Marie Keith, the CEO of Mito Materials joins me during IACMI's annual member meeting. MITO’s technology is the “first and only” process to functionalize substances like graphene oxide and biomaterials—creating hybrid additives that give fiber-reinforced composites and thermoplastics lab-verified improvements in strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability.
Their technology can be integrated into a variety of production processes, including:
You can learn more by visiting https://mitomaterials.com.
On this episode, regular guest Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me to discuss the topic of industry consolidation. We explore the impact of mergers & acquisitions on the future of composites.
Over the past year, we have seen monumental shifts and transformations, with particular emphasis on the flurry of mergers and acquisitions that have created a seismic shift in our industry's landscape.
The composites industry has been, for decades, a critical player in driving technological advancements and sustainable solutions across multiple sectors, from aerospace to automotive, construction to wind energy. It has been the unsung hero behind numerous innovations, providing the raw materials that enable us to push the boundaries of what's possible.
But, like any sector in the global market, the composites industry isn't immune to the forces of change. In an era defined by digital disruption, geopolitical tensions, and environmental challenges, businesses have had to adapt and reinvent themselves. The rapid rate of consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is a testament to these forces at play.
But what does this mean for the future of our industry?
Today we’ll try and dissect the nuances of these mergers and acquisitions, and assess their potential impact on our industry's future.
Some sources we'll refer to are below:
https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insightsnew/chemicals/changing-face-ma
https://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2022/02/84417/
On this episode, Brian Fitzgerald, the CRO at Augury joins me to discuss how A.I. is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry with its ability to predict machine and equipment failure, enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime costs.
Augury is a Billion manufacturing tech company that is unlocking production capacity, predictability, and sustainability while transforming how manufacturing teams work.
You can learn more about Augury by visiting https://www.augury.com.
This week, Jesus Zozaya and James Pickard of Voltera join me on the show to discuss the future of additive electronics and how it is revolutionizing so many industries - including composites.
Votera, is a company that makes rapid prototyping platforms for printed electronics — from traditional circuit boards to the flexible, stretchable, conformable, and biocompatible electronics of tomorrow. The best and brightest minds are using Voltera's NOVA platform to push the boundaries of innovation - boundaries that are only limited by your imagination.
On this episode, they’ll be sharing some of the applications their printing technology is being used for – from simple solutions like an induction coffee mug heater to self-heating carbon fiber composites for UAV Wings.
You can learn more about their technology, as well as connect with their experts for questions by visiting https://voltera.io/cw.
On this episode, Alex Corrêa, CEO of Gerdau Graphene joins me to discuss some of the exciting work their company is doing with graphene to revolutionize industries such as coatings, concrete, elastomers, polymers, and lubricants to name a few.
This Brazilian nanotechnology company Gerdau Graphene, specializes in advanced graphene-enhanced materials for industrial applications.
They have recently announced the commercial availability of two new additives specifically formulated for waterborne paints and coatings. The two new additives also deliver excellent coverage, durability, and washability while also minimizing the overall environmental impact, reducing or eliminating the need for some traditional manufacturing inputs, additives, and processes, thus also lowering production costs.
We'll be discussing these latest developments and some of their applications.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.gerdaugraphene.com/en.html.
This week, I welcome Dr. Liron Nesiel to the show. She is the CEO of Smart Resilin, a company that is setting out to change the plastic narrative. Using Resilin, a super-performing protein originating from insects, they are using genetic engineering techniques to extract the DNA and tailor-fit the protein for a variety of use cases and produce it at a very large scale.
Having near-perfect elasticity and resilience, Resilin is the most elastic material on earth and can be implemented within a wide range of products such as elastic adhesives, sports goods, composites, 3D printing, and more.
As it is a non-toxic bio-degradable protein, these resilin-based products are environmentally beneficial game changers for multiple applications.
Their mission is to bring nature’s wonder materials to the industry - offering realistic, super-performing, green, and safe materials for a variety of applications.
You can learn more about their work at https://www.smartresilin.com.
This week Shannon Schutt, the marketing director at Research Casting International joins me on the podcast to discuss how 3D printing is being used to recreate missing pieces of prehistoric dinosaurs.
Founded back in 1987, RCI is one of the world's largest providers of Museum Technical Services, which include specimen restoration, casting, mounting, exhibit fabrication, and transportation.
They are capable of creating museum exhibit projects and commissions of any size and complexity.
With the addition of their 3D printing lab, they can now recreate incomplete or missing pieces of specimens and most recently have been expanding their foundry to reproduce dinosaurs, and other specimens, first in a castable 3d printed resin and then in bronze.
On this episode, Shannon will discuss some of the interesting projects they've been involved with. You can learn more about their work by visiting https://rescast.com.
This week I welcome Nick Castelucci to the show. Nick is the managing partner at Prestige Tooling, based out of Elkhart, IN. Nick and his team have over 25 years of experience in mold making with over 6,000 completed molds.
On this episode, he'll share some of the history of their company, as well as some of the industries they serve.
Their company is also one of the first mold makers in North America to bring in a cutting-edge new additive manufacturing 3D printer.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://prestigetooling.com.
This week Andrew Polkewaldt joins me again along with Dustin Troutman, the corporate director of marketing and product development at Creative Pultrusions, Inc.
Creative Pultrusions, Inc. (CPI) is the worldwide leader in pultrusion manufacturing with a commitment to continuous process improvement. They specialize in pultruding large custom pultrusion profiles, while utilizing high-performance resins in combination with our proprietary high-pressure injection process.
We'll be highlighting the Creative Composites Group of companies as well as some of the work the team at CPI has been involved with.
Dustin will also be presenting at this year's North American Pultrusion Conference in Chicago, IL May 16-18. This conference will bring together 200+ industry leaders, customers, OEMs, and suppliers from around the world for an unparalleled, three-day education and networking event in the heart of downtown Chicago.
You can learn more about the conference and register by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/pultrusion2023.
This week Cary Martin, VP of research & technology with Hexcel for global fibers joins me to discuss Hexcel's new Center of Research & Technology Excellence in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The 100,000-square-foot building is home to a state-of-the-art laboratory where company scientists and researchers collaborate with customers on the latest composite technology developments for aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications.
This new center is the company’s largest center for innovation and product development in North America. It showcases the company’s advanced composites technology, providing space for future growth and expansion in the years ahead.
On this episode, Cary will be highlighting some of the capabilities of this new facility that include a general lab, a prepreg lab, a chemical lab, an analytical lab, and a microscopy Lab.
You can more at https://www.hexcel.com.
On this episode, Eric Pierrejean and Thomas Lepretre join us to discuss JEC, and JEC World 2023. Eric is the president and CEO of JEC and Thomas is the JEC World Director.
JEC World is the only global trade show dedicated to composite materials and applications.
It gathers the whole value chain of the composite materials industry in Paris every year and is “the place to be” for composites professionals from all over the world.
This event brings together not only all major global companies but also innovative startups in the field of composites and advanced materials.
My guests will be sharing not only the background and mission of JEC, but some of the highlights of this year's show.
On this episode, Scott Stephenson joins me to discuss SAMPE 2023 taking place next week in Seattle, WA. Scott is the director of strategic initiatives and events at CompositesWorld, and also president & acting CEO of SAMPE North America.
This show is where the advanced materials community comes together for face-to-face meetings, top-level education sessions, and panels led by the industry’s leaders and innovators. Scott will be sharing some of the events happening at this year's event.
It's never too late to register. You can do so by visiting https://www.sampeamerica.org.
This week, I welcome Adam Harms to the show. Adam is the m of the founders of Modulus, a new Social Community that is 100% dedicated to the Materials Industry.
This new platform will offer a more focused materials network experience away from LinkedIn that allows deeper engagement, and industry advancement.
This week I welcome Fadi Abro, the global director of transportation at Stratasys.
Stratasys provides complete polymer 3D printing solutions for every stage of the product life cycle, across design, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Fadi is responsible for leading the Automotive Vertical for Stratasys in North and South America. His focus is on providing 3D printing solutions to customers throughout this segment.
With the world increasingly turning to EV’s for transportation, 3D printing has become an attractive solution for manufacturers.
Fadi will be discussing one of the key advantages their technology is offering to automotive manufacturing today, particularly the EV market - the ability to produce complex, custom parts quickly and cost-effectively. This can be useful for low-volume production runs or for creating one-off prototypes and new concept models.
You can learn more about Stratasys, particularly their focus in the automotive sector by visiting https://www.stratasys.com/en/industries-and-applications/3d-printing-industries/automotive.
This week Peter Hedger of Composite Applications Group and Anthony Vicari of Cleantech Group join me on the show to discuss the role of composite materials in the EV market.
On this episode, we'll have an in-depth discussion of the future of electric vehicles and battery technology and where the opportunities are with composite materials.
Peter is vice president of business development at Composite Applications Group, a company that has an extensive network of Composite technologies and materials and works to connect manufacturing companies to the necessary supply chain to bring their innovation dream into reality.
Anthony is a Consultant Manager at Cleantech Group. He has completed projects for global corporations across geographies and industries to understand the details, implications, and trends in emerging technologies, and to develop adoption and investment strategies, in order to grow their businesses while achieving their sustainability and emissions reduction goals.
This week I welcome Johanna Reiland on the show. Johanna is an engineer, innovation consultant, and circular economy expert based out of Barcelona, where she works for Bax & Company, a leading European sustainable innovation agency.
On this episode, Dr. Susan MacKay joins me to discuss her work at the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Her responsibilities include managing operations and R&D programs with a particular focus on Additive Manufacturing programs.
She has 25 years of experience in materials chemistry, product development, and manufacturing at both large corporations and early-stage companies.
Prior to joining UMaine, she was the founder and CEO of Cerahelix, Inc. where she led the commercialization of their ceramic nanofiltration technology based on a patented DNA ceramic nanotechnology coating.
We'll be discussing some of the ongoing research around bio-based materials in additive manufacturing as well as ASCC's BioHome3D - the first 3D-printed house made entirely with bio-based materials.
The BioHome3D was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hub and Spoke program between the UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The 600-square-foot prototype featured 3D-printed floors, walls, and roof made of wood fibers and bio-resins. This house is fully recyclable and highly insulated with 100% wood insulation and customizable R-values.
Construction waste was nearly eliminated due to the precision of the printing process.
UMaine is a world leader in forest-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) technology, including nano- and micro-cellulose reinforced thermoplastic composites through its Advanced Structures and Composites Center.
You can learn more about the work by visiting https://umaine.edu/biomaterials.
On this episode, we'll be discussing the topic of employee retention in the composites industry.
Industry expert and technical trainer Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me for the 1st part of the show to discuss how some companies are incentivizing employees.
On the 2nd part of the show I interview Lisa Ryan, author of the book Thank You Very Much: Gratitude Strategies to Create a Workplace That ROCKS!
On this episode, Dan Neumann joins me to discuss the ACMA’s Infrastructure & Sustainability Fly-In that's taking place in Washington DC this week(Feb 15-16). Dan is the Vice President of Government Relations with The ACMA, and he'll be filling us in on some of the activities and meetings from day one.
This week, I welcome Mike Graham on the show. Mike is the founder and president of Real Carbon, a composite engineering company with a long history of high-quality work.
Through 35 years of industry experience, they've helped their clients design custom carbon fiber products for all types of applications. These include the consumer, industrial, marine, medical, military, musical, recreational, and UAV industries.
Mike Graham is a chemist with a passion for all things composites related. He is originally from St. Andrews in Scotland and moved to the US in 1987.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://realcarbon.com.
On this episode, Ben Gibbons of Circular11 joins me to share how their startup company is turning plastic waste into low-carbon building products that outlast and outperform traditional building materials.
In the UK, 75% of plastic goes to waste, and a significant reason for this is the cross-polymer contamination that is an inseparable part of the recycling system.
The mixture of plastics, and the range of chemicals in them, means that manufacturers can't achieve consistent product characteristics, and therefore don't buy the waste streams.
The team at Circular 11 has developed a process control system that dynamically adjusts our own sets of composite formulations to achieve a consistent, high quality output from low-grade variable inputs.
They currently manufacture and sell products to validate the technology, and will then license the process control system to other manufacturers, enabling the wider polymer processing sector to use low-grade plastic as a functional feedstock.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://circular11.com.
This week Jeff Bassler, founder of Prodigm joins me on the podcast. Prodigm is a premier maker of production-focused filament winding controls and software solutions.
On this episode, Jeff will share some background of their company and a recent case study of helping Duoline Technologies improve their process. Duoline produces RICEWRAP®, a protective wrap of fiberglass epoxy externally applied and bonded to steel pipe for external corrosion protection on downhole tubing.
The team at Duoline had challenges with the current filament winding equipment used to produce this product line. Using Prodigm's open platform CNC controls and software installed on their filament winding fiberglass tubular product line Improved the quality of their parts.
Jeff started Prodigm back in 2008. Having over 13 years of experience in controls and software engineering already, Jeff was completely intrigued by the possibilities offered by filament winding different laminate structures and started developing the first algorithms.
Now, 13 years later, having customers across the continental US, Prodigm's primary focus has not changed. Getting a machine running is one thing; tailoring it to run for their customer's specific wants is the most rewarding part.
They've contributed to the manufacture of light poles, composite rifle barrels, ductwork, rocket fuselages, rocket fuel tanks, oil well-lining systems, and lightweight robotic arms—to name a few! You can learn more about their company by visiting www.prodigm.net.
This week Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me on the show as we discuss some of the expanded applications for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). CMCs are widely used in the aerospace and energy sectors but their ability to be used in extreme conditions (high heat) makes them attractive for other industries as well.