On this episode, Chris Hurdleston of ACS International and Dorfner joins me to discuss his perspective from the KBIS 2024 show in Las Vegas last week. The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is North America’s largest trade show dedicated to all kitchen and bath design aspects. 

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. 

You can learn more by visiting www.stonermolding.com. 

On this episode, we feature an interview with Joannie Harmon at IACMI’s annual member meeting discussing workforce education.

The U.S. is facing a crisis when it comes to workforce. Per a recent Deloitte report, US manufacturing is expected to have 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030. 

The Composites Institute has made workforce education and development a pillar of its mission, along with composites R&D and commercialization.

Joannie leads national scale up workforce programs to revitalize American manufacturing. 

These include America’s Cutting Edge and Advanced Composites Career Pathways. 

You can learn more by visiting https://iacmi.org/workforce. 

On this episode, Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me to discuss the topic of industry consolidation; we'll explore the impact of some recent mergers & acquisitions. 

Like any sector in the global market, the composites & cast polymer 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 supplier consolidation is a testament to these forces at play.

So 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://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/energy-resources/gx-global-chemicals-ma-outlook-2023.pdf

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. 

Their company Votera, 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. 

This week I welcome Robert Grede on the podcast. Robert is the author of the book Rebuilding the Brand: How Harley-Davidson Became King of the Road. 

In the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson was on the verge of bankruptcy. In the general public's opinion, the quality was substandard. Harleys leaked oil and were often broken down. Today, Harley-Davidson is a model brand. And It isn't just a motorcycle company anymore. It is a community, a look, a source of self-expression, an all-American appeal for freedom—all expressed in one little logo.

So What happened? How did they turn things around? On this episode, Rob will be sharing the story. Robert ghostwrote the book after spending days with Clyde Fessler, a man who held several positions within Harley, from the head of marketing services to VP of business development.