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Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Robotic Finishing: More Than Programming a Path
In the latest episode of the podcast “Manufacturing a Stronger Standard,” host Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA, talked about robotic finishing and what needs to be discussed prior to creating painting programs and after. Despite the advanced technology available to support programming, there are still challenges we need to be aware of. He contended that “finishing is…
Global Impact of Automation with Milton Guerry
Just about sixty years ago, robots were a notion of the future, automation was a novel and inspiring concept on the horizon. Now, robotic technology is an everyday feature. Milton Guerry, President of Schunk, a clamping and gripping systems technology company, sits down with host Joe Gemma as a leader of the industry to share…
Challenges of Meeting Demand with a Reduced Labor Force
Supply and demand – the driving force behind a capitalist economy has impacted the U.S. housing market tremendously since the onset of the global Covid pandemic. Since 2020, housing costs have risen for both homebuyers and renters. This was great news for rental companies and everyone involved in real estate transactions including mortgage brokers, lenders,…
Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Fixing the Manufacturing Capacity Gap
Automating manufacturing processes is essential to addressing the labor shortage and skills gap within the manufacturing industry. More and more companies, especially those on the fabricating and welding side are automating processes to increase production. In this episode of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard podcast, Derek DeGeest President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA discusses a topic…
Electric Car Battery Bottlenecks Have a Way of Being Worked Out
(Bloomberg) — Supply of battery materials was a key part of the recently passed climate bill in the US, as the country looks to bring online more domestic refining and manufacturing in the coming decade. The electric-vehicle battery news cycle feels especially frenetic right now, with some groups predicting a decade of shortages for materials like lithium….
Introducing Begerz, a New Way to Crowdsource
Crowdsourcing isn’t a trend; it’s a reality. And making dreams come true, whether personal or helping someone else achieve something, is the motivating factor behind Begerz. Raising funds with an emphasis on creativity and a karma-conscious movement is the backbone of Begerz’s mission. On this new podcast, people can learn how they can realize their…
Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Robotic Finishing – More than a Program Path
Lesta and Wagner have over a decade of proven experience in automation together for general industry in Europe. DeGeest brought Lesta’s automation technology to the U.S. to build their robotic finishing system for metal their fabrication customers and opened LestaUSA to bring those solutions to the rest of North American companies. Wagner’s North American Systems…
Auto Industry Professionals Weigh Solutions to Persisting Technician Shortage
The demand for workers in the trades continues to outpace the supply at alarming rates. When it comes to the automotive industry, the need for technicians is estimated to be five openings for every active technician. This is a significant increase in the technician shortage from 2021 when the ratio was 2:1 with unfilled…
US Housing Starts Decline to Lowest Level Since Early 2021
(Bloomberg) — New US home construction fell in July by more than forecast to the slowest pace since early last year as builders adjusted to a pullback in demand and a pickup in inventory. Residential starts dropped 9.6% last month to a 1.45 million annualized rate from a revised 1.6 million pace in June, according…
CHIPS Act Will Bring A Wave of R&D to Semiconductor Manufacturing
The U.S.’ tech supply chain is getting a strategic helping hand from Congress, as the CHIPS ACT (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) has passed both the House and Senate, 243-187 and 64-33, respectively. Designed primarily to boost semiconductor manufacturing in a bid to compete with China’s strength in the sector while also addressing the…
How Evolutions in Transportation and Mobility Are Creating Opportunities within the Built Environment
In another exciting episode of Are We There Yet? Grant Harrell hosts a conversation with CEO and Chairman of GFF Architects Evan Beattie, on the changing built environment and the ways in which transportation advancements are affecting the future. Beattie, who leads the architectural firm based in Texas and which has been awarded over 100…
Built Modular: MPA Modular Bank Buildings
Although natural disasters are not a daily occurrence for everyone, an event such as a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or fire is a situation that it’s important to be prepared for. MPA Systems modular construction by BOXX Modular is set up to quickly and efficiently provide secure buildings in the event of a disaster. Host…
Veterans Transitioning to Project Management and MHI Roles
Veterans retire with a variety of skills under their belt. These skills form a natural path from the military into the civilian workforce, particularly translating to project management. To talk about this overlap, DJ Hughes, a current armed forces reserve officer with twenty years of active-duty service under his belt, talks to host Tyler…
Daimler Truck Shrugs Off Supply-Chain Issues With Rising Sales
(Bloomberg) — Daimler Truck Holding AG said demand for commercial vehicles will continue to outweigh supply in the second half of the year after the German manufacturer reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Daimler Truck said Thursday second-quarter operating income came in at 1.01 billlion euros ($1.04 billion), above analyst forecasts for a 768 million-euro result. The…
Winners and Losers in Democrats’ Signature Tax and Energy Bill
(Bloomberg) — President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are the biggest winners now that a huge piece of Democrats’ economic agenda is hurtling toward enactment. The tax and energy bill passed Sunday after a year and half of rocky negotiations that divided the party. It gives Democrats tangible progress on key issues…
Steve Strong’s Vision for Concept Systems Going into 2023
After a momentous twenty-three years, Michael Helm has stepped down in his role as CEO with Concept Systems. Helm passed the torch down to Steve Strong, who chatted with host Tyler Kern about his future-forward visions for Concept Systems. After spending almost 15 years at the Boeing Company, Strong knows a thing or two about…
Real-Time Streaming and the Viewer Experience with Jed Corenthal of Phenix
Livestreaming is an essential part of our modern day world, and the expectation is that it should be real-time. Easier said than done, right? There are inherent challenges and unpredictability that come with livestreaming, from reliability and bit rate issues to real-time interaction barriers. Delivery times can sometimes take up to five minutes after…
As Mortgage Rates Stay Up, Lenders and Brokers Need to Get ‘Creative’
Editor’s Note: This report was initially conducted after July 14’s Freddie Mac weekly average mortgage rates were released. Though the video focuses on those specific averages, the article has been expanded upon to add context from the last several weeks of mortgage rate fluctuation. Freddie Mac’s weekly averages since July 14 have been volatile, with…
Deconstruction: The Comprehensive Role for Quality Control in Project Planning and Implementation
Jon Herring, the Quality Control Director at VCC, joins Gabrielle Bejarano in this episode to discuss the role of quality control at VCC and how substitutions in supplies create complications. The VCC’s Total Quality Management (TQM) department starts by assessing risk on jobs. TQM ensures the plan is in place and its key players understand…
House Approves $52 Billion Bill to Help Chip Manufacturers
(Bloomberg) — The US House of Representatives passed a bill that includes $52 billion in grants and incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, sending it to President Joe Biden for his signature and delivering a win for his administration more than a year after legislation was first introduced in Congress. “This legislation is a major victory…
The Growing Role of Cobots in Factory Automation with Alex Megej
In this episode, Alex Megej, Chief Technology Officer for the Industrial Business Unit at TE Connectivity, speaks with Tyler Kern about cobots, how they differ from traditional industrial manufacturing robots and how they are advancing today’s factory automation. Cobots are more compact than large-size manufacturing robots. “Think of them as a mechanical arm that…
Airports Each Receive Millions in Federal Funding to Revitalize Airport Infrastructure
The Biden administration has recently granted $1 billion to 85 different airports across the country to help develop and expand their terminals and facilities. This grant will be used to increase energy efficiency, promote competition, provide greater accessibility and expand capacity. Airport administrators say this is not only welcomed funding, but a top priority for…
Fortis Warranty Becomes Fortis in Branding Initiative
New name reflects broader expertise, expanded services DENVER (July 28, 2022) – Fortis Warranty today announces that its company name going forward will be FORTIS. Founded in 2003 by industry experts, FORTIS is the only company to offer roof performance solutions that feature extensive initial and ongoing reconditioning for commercial buildings as an alternative to…
Holistic Risk Management: Is Insurance Ready for the Shift?
Brian Hunt is a Texas native whose career focus includes insurance and risk management. Today, Hunt is a VP at USI, the seventh largest insurance broker in the country, where he specializes in construction and real estate. “It’s not my job to tell you what you want to hear. It’s my job to tell you…
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