Manufacturers in every sector are incorporating promising new processes and materials into product development and production—which often involve coating, sealing, and bonding.
Because these molecular interactions are invisible, a host of unseen environmental conditions can compromise surface integrity during production, leading to costly flaws and breakdowns.
On this episode, Lucas Dillingham of Brighton Science joins the podcast to highlight their company’s technology – a system that allows manufacturers to confidently assess surface readiness for bonding, coating, or sealing at the point of preparation.
More than 20 years ago, Brighton Science began as a development lab for plasma polymerized coatings.
Through research and development work led by their Chief Scientist and founder Dr. Giles Dillingham, Brighton Science made great strides in the field of material science and adhesives in manufacturing.
It was during this time that Brighton Science developed the Surface Analyst, the first hand-held contact angle measurement device used in the development of adhesive bonding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://www.brighton-science.com.
This is part 3 of our interviews from CAMX 2023 in Atlanta last week.
This episode features interviews with Daniel Neumann, Andrew Pokelwaldt and Peter Hedger of the ACMA, as well as companies like Toray Advanced Composites and CEAD.
This is part 2 of our interviews from CAMX 2023 in Atlanta last week.
This episode features interviews with companies like Vibrantz Technologies, Fives, Crimson Racing, and ACS International.
This week Madeline Wehrle joins me on the show. She is the business development manager at Re:Build, a company that develops and manufactures technologically advanced products from concept through production at scale here in the United States using a "Brain to Box™" process.
Re:Build offers customers a new model of American industrialization. They've developed a combination of manufacturing operations and engineering capabilities that enable their customers to grow a local, robust, competitive business.
Projects begin with concept development and product engineering. Then they work closely with customers to develop a highly flexible manufacturing process and solution or, as they like to say, go from Brain to Box™.
We'll be discussing their process and some of the industries they're involve with.
You can learn more by visiting https://rebuildmanufacturing.com.
On this episode, Dan Neumann joins me to discuss how a government shutdown will affect our industry for the short term. Dan is the
provide a unique setting to meet with Members of Congress and agency leadership to educate them on the valuable capabilities of composites and further open markets.
You can learn more by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/flyin2024.
This week David Morgan, the chief strategy officer at Carbon Rivers joins me to discuss their upcycle programs in the wind energy, automotive, marine, construction, and glass fiber markets.
Based in Knoxville, TN Carbon Rivers is the only company in the world that can upcycle glass fiber and provide clean, mechanically intact glass and composite intermediates for various OEMs. They are also the only company in the world that supplies and deploys pristine graphene nanoplatelet flakes for a variety of global industries.
This technology company is dedicated to sustainable, green circular economies.
Instead of incineration, landfill, or aggregate in other materials, Carbon Rivers reclaims glass fiber from a variety of production and end of life waste streams in order to provide clean, high-quality glass fiber.
You can learn more about their technologies by visiting them at www.carbonrivers.com.
On this episode, Wagner Paglia of BlueWind Technology joins me to discuss their company and one of the recent milestones they achieved - manufacturing 1,500 nacelle covers in 40 months with just one set of molds.
Based in Pensacola, FL, BlueWind is a fast-growing company that specializes in manufacturing composite materials for applications with high technical requirements, such as those present in wind power generation, agricultural and petrochemical industries.
The 1,500 nacelle covers produced by BlueWind were part of a contract signed in late 2019 with GE Renewable Energy.
Made of composites through the infusion process, nacelle covers house such critical wind system components as the wind turbine generator, gear box, brake, and controller.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://bluewindtechnology.com.
On this episode, Zach Sinz of Stoner Molding Solutions joins me. Known for superior performance and consistent quality, Stoner has been helping manufacturers mold more parts in less time since 1942. Every Stoner formulation is designed to optimize your production process and significantly improve your bottom line.
Stoner’s brand portfolio offers solutions for any molding process. If you can mold it, they can release it. They manufacture molding solutions for the thermoplastics, polyurethanes, composites, rotational, rubber, fiber, and investment casting industries.
You can learn more by visiting www.stonermolding.com.
On this episode, I welcome Kyle Jordan to the show. Kyle is the new director of certifications with the ACMA. Their CCT program supports professional development and facilitates uniform training and technical skills. It’s the only certification program of its kind in the industry.
This program is completed online and provides enrollees with all the resources needed to succeed in becoming a Certified Composites Technician.
You can learn more by visiting acmanet.org and going to “education hub”.
If you have questions about CCT training you can email Kyle at kjordan@acmanet.org.
On this episode, Alvin Ericson joins me to discuss GFRP rebar technology and the growing advantage in the infrastructure market.
With a long and costly history of corrosion worldwide, steel is no longer viewed as a cost-effective option in aggressive environments. Many governments and businesses can no longer afford the short or long-term costs associated with black steel. Placing unprotected, rusty re-bar in new concrete structures is being eliminated in many parts of the world.
Alvin is an independent technical consultant in North America specializing in fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) systems. Since 1988, he's been introducing new reinforcing technology to the precast concrete market.
We'll be discussing some of the latest GFRP technology, that includes the GBar, GWall, and GBolt. You can learn more by visiting https://www.gbar-gbolt.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, 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.
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, 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.
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.
This week Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me for the final podcast episode of 2022. We'll be discussing some of the Best Innovations in Composites for 2022. In our discussion we'll reference some of the 2022 JEC Composites Innovations Awards finalists.
This week I welcome Douglas Gardner on the show. He's the professor and program leader of sustainable materials technology in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine. He's also a member of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and Forest Bioproducts Research Institute.
His research, teaching, and service activities focus on polymer and interfacial science aspects of wood-polymer composite materials.
He is also involved in research in the areas of adhesion and surface science, cellulose nanocomposites and extruded wood plastic composites, and additive manufacturing.
This week I welcome Nick Santhanam to the show. Nick is the CEO of Fernweh Group, and the co-author of a brand new book The Titanium Economy coming out October 25th in book stores and available for pre-order on Amazon.
While Silicon Valley titans dominate the headlines nowadays, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the US are firms you’ve likely never heard of, such as HEICO, Trex, and Casella. These booming companies belong to a burgeoning sector—industrial tech—that offers surprising hope to workers, consumers, and investors alike.
Nick and I will be discussing some incredible companies in his book - companies such as Trex, a company that manufactures high-performance composite decking using plastic waste.
In an age of instability, industrial tech is a cornerstone of our economic future, and Nick and his co-authors dispel the myth that the best of American manufacturing is behind us and illuminate an opportunity for a brighter future—if we can seize it.
You can pre-order their upcoming book on Amazon here.
This week I'm joined by Dr. Habib Dagher of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the Univ. of Maine and Tim Kenerson of AIT Bridges to discuss The GBeam Composite Bridge System - a long-life solution to traditional steel and concrete medium-span deck bridges at a low cost.
This week we interview Chris Briggs, founder and CEO of TouchPoint Games, a customer engagement service that helps companies build stronger relationships with customers through branded online sports contests. Chris will be discussing how manufacturers can utilize this service to grow their sales either directly or through distributors.
You can find episodes like this and more by visiting www.compositesweekly.com.