On this episode, Chris Oberste, Ph.D. joins the podcast to discuss their work in winning
the 2024 Altair Future of Lightweighting Award. This achievement was possible through
their partnership with Braskem and Clemson Composites Center.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://weav3d.com.
On this episode, Mirko Mondan, CEO of Dorfner joins the podcast to discuss some significant developments taking place within their company.
ACS International Products, a leading supplier of raw materials for the cast polymer, solid surface composites, epoxy flooring, and building materials industries, will officially transition to Dorfner USA by the end of this year. This transition marks an important milestone for the company, as Dorfner USA will further expand its’ operations across North America.
The rebranding will enhance the company's visibility and streamline service offerings to better meet customer needs globally.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.dorfner.com/en.
On this episode, Mark Davidson joins me to talk about RAMPF's Close Contour Technology. Their system uses epoxy and polyurethane pastes and castings to create high-quality models and molds that are close to the final part's shape. The technology has several benefits, including:
Applications include design and styling models, molds, large-scale modeling, rotor blade, wind turbine, and boat models. You can learn more by visiting www.rampf-group.com.
Also, if you're attending CAMX next week, you can find them at booth L31.
On this episode, Markus Zetterström joins us to discuss their research in developing a multipurpose lightweight material that can carry load, and store electrical energy, all in one. Imagine a carbon fiber composite that doubles as a battery.
Their team at Sinonus has achieved this by utilizing the structural strengths of carbon fibers while simultaneously letting them serve as electrodes in a battery cell. This in combination with a specially developed electrolyte, makes it possible to build lightweight and structurally strong constructions with an integrated electrical storage
capacity.
You can learn more about their work by visiting www.sinonus.com.
On this episode, Kyle Jordan and Rob Germann join me to discuss the ACMA’s recent work with the US Army Corps of Engineers on a personalized training program located at Creative Composites Group’s facility in Dayton, OH.
The training is based on the CCT VIP program, and they’ll discuss how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leveraging composite materials and the CCT program in future projects.
You can learn more about the ACMA's CCT training program by visiting https://acmanet.org/education/certified-composites-technician-program.
On this episode, Cindy Squires and Rebekah Stacha join me to talk about CAMX 2024, taking place in just 3 weeks out in San Diego, CA (Sep. 9-12). It's the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America.
You can still register by visiting https://www.thecamx.org.
This week, Garrett Bernard joins the show. Garret is the director of business development at Specialty Materials, the world's leading supplier of the highest quality Boron fiber products.
Garrett has spent his career in marketing and business development roles, growing specialty chemical and advanced manufacturing companies. He has a background in materials science and is an instrument-rated pilot.
You can learn more about them by visiting https://www.specmaterials.com.
On this episode, Dr. Yasmin Abdin joins me to discuss her research work innovating a method to transform asphaltene, a byproduct of bitumen processing, into carbon fibers.
Bitumen which is typically restricted for use as fuel or asphalt, could now be transformed into more useful and valuable carbon nanofibres. Dr. Abdin and her
colleagues have now turned their research into a startup, Fibernx Technologies, to commercialize their innovation by the end of 2024. You can learn more by visiting www.fibernxtech.com.
On this episode, Josh Shires, CEO of Fyous joins me to discuss their latest technology for tooling. It's called Polymorphic Moulding, an automated rapid shapeshifting molding technology that allows users to create accurate molds for tooling and will reduce time to market for a huge array of products.
Their technology uses 28,000 digitally controlled pins to create a shape from a 3D CAD shape in less than 20 minutes, achieving zero waste and enabling parts production 14 times faster than 3D printing.
It can be applied to a limitless number of products and sectors - including composites. Polymorphic Moulding is a zero-waste technology where raw materials are conserved and the molds can be used over and over.
Josh will be sharing the background of this technology on the show. You can learn more by visiting their website at https://fyous.com.
On this episode, we welcome Dustin Davis to the podcast. He is the director of business development at Norplex-Micarta, one of North America's leading producers of thermoset composite pre-pregs, sheets, and shapes. They have a long history of more than 100 years, of serving their customers.
Dustin has more than two decades of composite materials industry experience, with roots in manufacturing and engineering.
You can learn more about their company by visiting www.norplex-micarta.com.
On this episode, David Leach joins me to discuss the transition from thermoset to thermoplastic composites. David has been the director of business development at ATC Manufacturing, and a thermoplastic composites materials technology leader for over three decades.
ATC pioneers the adoption of continuous fiber thermoplastic composites in aero-structures. They supply more than a million parts per year, operating in a state-of-the-art facility in the eastern Washington, Northern Idaho region.
David will be presenting at ECCM21 next week on the topic of transitioning from thermoset composites to TPCs. ECCM21 (European Conference on Composite Materials) is Europe’s leading conference on composite materials and will provide a forum for access to the latest knowledge from both industry and academia in all areas of composite materials.
You can learn more about ECCM21 by visiting https://eccm21.org.
On this episode, we feature a leadership segment with Vanessa Bohns, author of the bestselling book You Have More Influence Than You Think. Her book was named Best Book for Ethical Leaders by Notre Dame’s Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, and a Top Business Title of the Month by the Financial Times. In the book, Vanessa draws from her original research to illustrate why we fail to recognize the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power.
You can learn more about her by visiting https://www.vanessabohns.com.
On this episode, Pravin Luthada, CEO of Addcomposites joins me to discuss the new age of AFP (automated fiber placement) technology. Addcomposites aims to become the go-to provider of advanced manufacturing solutions that enable widespread adoption of composites.
Traditional AFP systems are cost prohibitive and difficult to verify at the production floor, but their new technology (AFP-XS) is a plug-and-play system that converts any robot into an AFP system.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.addcomposites.com/about-us.
On this episode, ACMA consultant Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me to discuss technologies that are driving Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution and it represents a seismic shift in the way manufacturing and production processes are managed.
With the advent of smart factories, the integration of cyber-physical systems, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and artificial intelligence, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.
We’ll also be featuring a previous interview with Brian Fitzgerald of Augury discussing how A.I. is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry with its ability to predict machine and equipment failure, enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime costs.
On this episode, Xuan Song, PhD joins me to discuss his research in additive manufacturing. Dr. Song is an Associate Professor and James A. Chisman Faculty Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Iowa.
His research focuses on studying how material forming processes found in nature can be leveraged to enable sustainable, ultra-low-temperature additive manufacturing (AM) of novel ceramics and composites. He is a recipient of multiple awards including the NSF CAREER award in 2023, the AFOSR Young Investigator award in 2024, the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer award in 2022, and the College of Engineering Early Career Faculty Excellence award at UIowa in 2023.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan University, master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University, and PhD degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California.
https://am.lab.uiowa.edu/personnel/xuan-song.
On this episode Jesse Henry, CEO of Heartland joins us to share some recent news. Chemovator, the business incubator of BASF, has successfully finalized an investment in their company. Heartland is a material science company that provides manufacturers with a sustainable source of additives like fillers, reinforcements, & mineral extenders to enhance products they already make. They work with local farmers to produce natural fiber materials, enabling manufacturers to create more sustainable products.
With this investment funding, Heartland becomes Chemovator’s first portfolio company in North America. Jesse will be sharing an update on Heartland, and what this investment means for their company moving forward.
On this episode, Tom Barnes joins me to discuss how their company is redefining the way the world views pickleball. Selkirk Sport was founded in 2014 and is the leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and equipment.
To help drive innovation, Selkirk Sport created Selkirk Labs, a first-of-its-kind program, that invites players to be part of the innovation process. Members of Selkirk Labs get first access to test paddle prototypes. Using their feedback and A.I. programming, their engineers tweak the prototypes to better suit players' needs before adding the paddles to their main line, which is made entirely in the U.S.
Tom is a co-owner and the director of research and development for Selkirk Sport. The company was founded while Tom was serving in the Marine Corps and after transitioning into the USMC Reserves, Tom was excited to join his brothers.
Now, Tom infuses his passion for technology and advanced manufacturing into developing new materials, equipment and manufacturing approaches for pickleball. Tom is dedicated to developing a world-class R&D ecosystem,coupled with a lean manufacturing approach to elevate Selkirk's innovation and production standards.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://www.selkirk.com.
On this episode, John Schweitzer and Kyle Jordan of the ACMA join me to discuss a couple of topics. John will be discussing the ACMA’s Composites Sustainability Conference coming up June 4-6 in Denver, CO.
You can learn more about this event by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/csft24.
Kyle Jordan will be giving an update on the CCT Instructor Course that took place earlier this month in Kansas City, and explain what new instructors can do with the designation.
On this episode, Markus Buehler, McAfee Professor of Engineering at MIT joins me to discuss how they are using machine learning to create stronger materials.
For engineers developing new materials, there are billions of different possibilities to sort through. Lab tests & detailed computer simulations to determine their exact properties can take hours, and even days for each variation. Now, a new artificial intelligence-based approach developed at MIT could reduce that to a matter of milliseconds.
Markus discusses their new course on Predictive Multiscale Materials Design. In this course, you will enhance your ability to leverage materials design, machine learning, and additive manufacturing to create better materials.
You can register at: https://professional.mit.edu/course-catalog/predictive-multiscale-materials-design
On this episode, Mark Scott and Jake Rowen of Resodyn join me to discuss their RAM acoustic mixing technology. They are a global leader in mixing and processing solutions.
Mixing is a key processing step in nearly every industry from lubricants to ceramics.
Traditionally, mixing has been accomplished using motor-driven impellers, blades and other engineered devices that rotate or agitate the ingredients. These methods, however, present several challenges including degradation of particles during mixing, non-uniform and inconsistent mix quality, and extended mixing times.
Fortunately, a new and innovative technology solves many of the problems that plague traditional mixers.
RAM combines the efficient power generation of resonance and the effects of sound energy to facilitate mixing – without the use of mechanical means within a mixing vessel.
Since 1994, Resodyn Corporation has built a legacy of facing down tough global problems with disciplined science and engineering, spanning numerous fields of study.
Their innovative process and product design approach have turned many of those discoveries into commercial product successes.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://resodynmixers.com.
This week Sebastian Pohlmann of UP Catalyst joins the podcast to discuss the world's first scalable technology for utilizing industrial CO₂ emissions. Their Carbon Nanotubes are directly produced from CO₂ emissions via molten-salt carbon capture and electrochemical transformation.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) can enhance the mechanical properties of composite materials - improving the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact resistance.
You can learn more about UP Catalyst by visiting https://upcatalyst.com.
On this episode, Blair Robbins joins me on the show to discuss the closure of the Port of Baltimore, and how it might impact supply chains for our industry.
Blair is a partner in the Transportation and Logistics Group at EisnerAmper, and has nearly 30 years of experience helping companies cope with supply chain issues, and challenges in inventory management due to disruptions from the pandemic to infrastructure damage and natural, disasters, labor shortages, and terrorism.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.eisneramper.com/transportation-and-logistics.
On this episode, Paul Gloyer, the president of GTL, (Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories, Inc.) joins me to discuss recent news involving validation test results from their LH2 Liquid Hydrogen Composite Dewar-Tanks for Aviation Applications.
GTL is an aerospace engineering research and development company headquartered in Tullahoma, TN with a second office in California. They specialize in providing transformational technologies to the aerospace and defense industry.
They’ve won numerous development contracts with NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Navy, and others.
Paul has 25 years of experience delivering technical solutions to solve the aerospace industry's most challenging problems. He has led efforts to develop a wide variety of aerospace systems including the PA-X suborbital rocket, the SPORT orbit transfer vehicle, and the Encounter solar-sail craft.
You can learn more about GTL by visiting https://www.gtlcompany.com.
On this episode, Florence Moreau of TeXtreme joins me to discuss their new TeXtreme 360°. It belongs to a new class of composite materials called tape-based Discontinuous Fiber Composites (DFCs), combining in-plane isotropy, high strength and stiffness, and enhanced manufacturability.
This new class of composite materials is an alternative to traditional metal alloys and continuous fiber composites, unlocking new possibilities across a wide range of applications.
Textreme has established itself as the market leader in spread tow thin-ply carbon reinforcements. Introduced to the market in 2005, it was quickly recognized in high-performance sports applications where customers valued its low weight and high performance.
You can learn more about the TeXtreme 360° by visiting https://www.textreme.com/product/45/360.
On this episode, Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me as we discuss A.I. and technology advances in the manufacturing sector.
The global marketplace is changing at an unprecedented pace, and technology is poised to play a significant role in supporting manufacturers to take on the challenges they may face in 2024 and beyond.
Andrew Pokelwaldt is a regular guest of the show. He's a manufacturing consultant, with a focus on training, and workforce development. He's an industry leader, experienced in the composites fabrication and manufacturing process, and a military veteran.