Archived Biztalk Podcasts
How a recession changes a market
February 1, 2012
Tim Heston talks with Tony Bloom, co-owner of Mohawk Metal Co., a Eugene, Oregon, fabricator that took off on the growth path during the recession, and hasn't looked back since.
Length: 8 minutes Right-click to download
Economic Outlook 2012
Dr. Chris Kuehl, economic analyst for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, spoke to attendees at this year's FABTECH, which turned out to be one of the busiest ever. Kuehl perhaps summed up the economic climate best by saying that the business community simply has moved on. Despite hearing news of mounting government debts and political wrangling, he said, manufacturing managers have new orders, and they need machines to fulfill them.
Length: 10:37 minutes
Improvement at Phoenix Products
October 27, 2011
Tim Heston talks with Lynn M. Benishek, materials manager at Milwaukee-based Phoenix Products, about how quick-response manufacturing has changed Phoenix's shop culture, as well as its supplier relationships.
Read the related story.
Length: 6 minutes Right-click to download
Brass instrument manufacturing: How metal makes music
September 20, 2011
This month Tim Heston talks with Christan Griego, director of development at Edwards Instrument Co., a subsidiary of Getzen Co., about a unique niche in metal fabrication — brass instrument manufacturing. In this business, every process — including manual spinning shown in the photo — affects the sound of the instrument.
Length: 3:48 minutes
S & P's Downgrade and What It Means to Manufacturing
August 10, 2011
The economy is at the forefront of everyone's mind. Where are we today, and where is the economy headed for the balance of 2011? FMA's economic analyst Dr. Chris Kuehl provides his timely analysis of what is ahead for the U.S. and global economy as well as how the changes and opportunities relate to the manufacturing industry.
Length: 28 minutes Right-click to download
Listen to the Questions & Answers on this topic:
Length: 24 minutes Right-click to download
Crow Corp.
July 28, 2011
Keith Jennings, president of Crow Corp., a job shop outside of Houston, continues to grow and, like so many, has struggled to find the right person with the right skills and work ethic, even in this economy. In this podcast, Jennings describes how he now takes a different approach to hiring. He now outsources the process to a firm called V.I.P. Staffing.
Length: 7:00 minutes
Mayville Engineering Co.
June 23, 2011
In less than a decade, Mayville Engineering Co. of Mayville, Wis., transformed itself from a money-losing enterprise to a metal manufacturing powerhouse, this year topping The FABRICATOR magazine's FAB 40 list of the country's most successful metal fabricators. Tim Heston talks with CEO Bob Kamphuis and Tom Verbos, vice president of sales and marketing, about how the company did it.
Length: 7:20 minutes
Atlanta Precision Machining & Fabrication
May 23, 2011
Atlanta Attachment Co., a manufacturer of bed-making equipment and sewing workstations, launched a job shop division called Atlanta Precision Machining & Fabrication in 2009, a bold move in the middle of the Great Recession. Mark Tullis, Atlanta Precision's area manager, explains how this new venture became a success.
Length: 5:31 minutes
Glenn Kidd Interview: What's driving steel prices?
April 12, 2011
Steel analyst Glenn Kidd — a presenter at The FABRICATOR's Leadership Summit, the 6th Annual Metal Matters, held last month — sheds light on a pressing issue for many a metal fabricator: steel prices. Drawing from more than three decades of experience, Kidd describes the complicated forces that have helped shape the tumultuous pricing landscape.
Length: 7:10 minutes
Cupples' J&J Co. Inc. Podcast
March 29, 2011
Tim Heston talks with Jeff Cupples of Cupples' J&J Co. Inc., a large Tennessee job shop with diverse capabilities, from laser cutting to milling and turning. The parts pictured here were cut with a laser, bent with a press brake, machined with a CNC turning center, and welded by a robot. The company accomplished it all in-house.
Length: 8:18 minutes
Porcelain Steel Buildings (PSB) Co. Podcast
February 15, 2011
Senior Editor Tim Heston talks with Joseph Carrizales of PSB Company, a manufacturing subsidiary of White Castle System Inc., the hamburger restaurant chain. The Porcelain Steel Buildings (PSB) Co. was launched in 1934 to make portable metal buildings like the one pictured here. Over the years, the company has grown into a hybrid operation: part product line manufacturer, part job shop, and part service center.
Length: 8:18 minutes
Maloya Inc. Podcast
Senior Editor Tim Heston talks to Marc Anderes, vice president of operations at a Long Island contract manufacturer, Maloya Inc., about the fabricator's first vertical machining center investment. The investment has allowed the shop to manufacture assemblies such as the exterior light fixture pictured here, which has both fabricated and machined components.
Length: 7:32 minutes
C.O.W. Industries
November 22, 2010
Tim Heston talks with Gary Foreman, vice president of C.O.W. Industries, a Columbus, Ohio, job shop, about how the company implemented the Theory of Constraints, among other improvement techniques, to reduce the company's lead-times from weeks to days.
Length: 10:10 minutes Right-click to download
Robinson Laser Podcast
Tim Heston talks with Paul Labriola, CEO of Robinson Laser, about the company's expansive online capabilities.
Length: 9:32 minutes Right-click to download
Marlin Steel Wire Products Podcast
Tim Heston talks with Drew Greenblatt, CEO of Marlin Steel Wire Products, a Baltimore job shop that recently got into the sheet metal business
Length: 7:02 minutes Right-click to download
Decorated Products Inc. Podcast
July 28, 2010
Tim Heston talks to Jeff Glaze, president of Decorated Products Inc. The made-to-order metal label manufacturer based in Westfield, Mass., has made major strides toward reducing the cost of raw-stock inventory.
Length: 6:49 minutes Right-click to download
NEX Solutions Podcast
June 28, 2010
Senior Editor Tim Heston talks with Kevin Grossman of NEX Solutions, a contract fabricator that has experienced double digit growth, even during the worst economic downturn in a generation.
Length: 7:42 minutes Right-click to download
General Welding & Fabricating Inc.
May 28, 2010
Senior Editor Tim Heston talks with Mark Andol, owner of General Welding & Fabricating Inc. In April, Andol opened a retail location called the Made in America Store, a place that, as the name suggests, only sells products that are 100 percent American-made. In the photo, a veteran approaches Andol to shake his hand during the shop's grand opening on April 3.
Length: 5 minutes Right-click to download
Superior Joining Technologies
Tim Heston talks about Web marketing strategies with Teresa Beach-Shelow, CEO of Superior Joining Technologies, a company that, with the help of social media, has expanded its customer base during the economic recovery.
Length: 10:11 minutes Right-click to download
Salem Metal Fabricators
Glastender Inc.
September 24, 2009
Tim Heston talks to Mark Norris, vice president of Glastender Inc., about the appliance manufacturer's progressive management strategy.
Length: 8:10 minutes Right-click to download
Maximum Industries
August 5, 2009
Tim Heston talks with Rodie Woodard, president and CEO of Maximum Industries, Irving, Texas, about the shop's maintenance practices, efficiency efforts, and the company's game plan for the economic recovery.
Length: 3:15 minutes Right-click to download
General MetalWorks Corp.
June 22, 2009
Tim Heston talks with Eric Isbister of General MetalWorks Corp., a Mequon, Wis., metal fabricator that, after almost a decade of growth, is looking to break into the alternative energy market.
Length: 4:35 minutes Right-click to download
PowerCurbers
May 1, 2009
Tim Heston talks with Craig Neuhardt and Randy Ward of Salisbury, N.C.-based PowerCurbers, a manufacturer of curb-making equipment, about just one of the improvements this lean company has made to improve communication between management and the workers on the floor.
Length: 6:15 minutes Right-click to download
Ultimate Hydroforming
April 8, 2009
This month Tim Heston talks with Shane Klyn, operations manager at Ultimate Hydroforming, a prototype company that had record sales last year and is experiencing steady business this year—an unusual situation for a metal fabricator in Sterling Heights, Mich.
Length: 5 minutes Right-click to download
Talan Products Inc.
Feb 10, 2009
February 10, 2009 This month, Tim Heston talks with Steve Peplin, CEO of Talan Products Inc., a high-volume stamper that’s bucking economic trends. Employees received healthy bonuses in 2008 for beating revenue goals, and the company is still on a growth path despite the drastic economic downturn.
Length: 5 minutes Right-click to download
E&E Metal Fab
December 18, 2008
This month, Tim Heston talks with Willie Erb, president of E&E Metal Fab, a fabricator about an hour west of Philadelphia. The 29-employee contract manufacturer has seen strong growth during its five-year history. Much of that growth, according to Erb, has come from a progressive company culture, including generous benefits and bonus programs.
Length: 4:10 minutes Right-click to download
Greenheck Fan Corp.
September 15, 2008
This month Senior Editor talks with David Loomans, an information technology specialist at Greenheck Fan Corp. about how the fan manufacturer automated front-end sales and engineering processes, so that new orders flow seamlessly down to the shop floor.
Length: 5:30 minutes Right-click to download
Oceaneering
August 12, 2008
This month Tim Heston talks with Oceaneering Project Manager, Richard Ely about some unique structural fabrication projects — including building duplex stainless steel bridges over the killer whale pools at SeaWord.®
Length: 4:20 minutes Right-click to download
Ace Metalcraft
July 16, 2008
This month Tim Heston talks with Dale Ball, president of Ace Metalcraft, Franklin Park, Ill, about the company's lean manufacturing transformation.
Length: 6:00 minutes Right-click to download
Wyoming Machine
June 17, 2008
This month Tim Heston sits down with Traci and Lori Tapani, co-presidents of Wyoming Machine, about how they got into the business, and why they feel manufacturing enhances the local community.
Length: 6:40 minutes Right-click to download
Ultra Machine & Fabrication
May 8, 2008
Tim Heston talks with Wendell Fannin, vice president of business development of Ultra Machine & Fabrication, a heavy plate fabricator that's on a serious growth path.
Length: 4:20 minutes Right-click to download
