Justin Semas with Arrow Engine and Compression Company
Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Justin Semas, Senior Sales Engineering with Arrow Engine and Compression Company about “Market Power Demand”.
Justin Semas from Arrow Engine Company discussed their recent acquisition by IES, a holding company focusing on power generation and infrastructure. Arrow aims to expand its offerings from 10 kW to 1 MW natural gas and propane engines for both prime and standby power. They emphasize multi-fuel capabilities, including propane in vapor and liquid forms, and natural gas. Arrow’s engines are known for their durability, with a 12-year unlimited hour warranty for prime use. They also highlighted their vendor network for maintenance and support. The company targets both large-scale data centers and remote locations with small power nodes.
Tobias Pforr with Octave
Industrial Talk is onsite at Octave Live and talking to Tobias Pforr, Principal Business Strategist at Octave about “Unleashing technology to improve the utility markets.
Tobias Pforr discussed his role at Octave, a company focused on network intelligence systems for utilities. He highlighted the importance of accurate asset documentation and the challenges of managing dynamic elements like weather and electric vehicle consumption. Pforr emphasized the need for clean, high-quality data to ensure system resilience and actionable insights. He shared his background in utility operations and innovation, including his experience with a Swiss utility and the establishment of a startup incubator. Pforr also touched on the regulatory complexities and the evolving demands on utilities, stressing the importance of managing complexity and maintaining system reliability.
Adam Zurligen with Country Morning Farms
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Adam Zurligen, Process Engineer at Country Morning Farms about “eMaint and Milk Processing”.
Adam Zurligen, a process engineer and reliability engineer, discussed his role at Country Morning Farms, a family-owned dairy operation in Warden, Washington. Adam implemented Fluke’s eMaint x5 to track maintenance costs, which had doubled in 2025. He highlighted the use of GPS trackers on mobile equipment to automate maintenance tasks and reduce costs. Adam also mentioned the integration of AI-powered capabilities to streamline data entry. Despite a small maintenance team, early results showed improved efficiency and reduced downtime. Adam’s story underscores the importance of technology in managing assets and costs in the dairy industry.
Brian Romano with The Arthur G. Russell Company
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Brian Romano, Director of Technology Development at Arthur G. Russell about “Automation Solutions”.
Brian Romano from Arthur G. Russell discussed the company’s focus on custom-designed automation, particularly for the medical device industry. Romano highlighted the importance of nimble solutions due to rapid market changes and technological advancements. He emphasized the need for continuous learning and training within the workforce, mentioning initiatives like a mini MBA and augmented reality glasses for remote support. Romano also noted the significant skills gap in automation, with only 16,000 graduates annually against 60,000 job openings. He stressed the importance of staying ahead in technology to maintain U.S. manufacturing leadership.
Robert “Bob” Voigt with Penn State University – METAL Program
Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Robert “Bob” Voigt, Professor with Penn State University about “Educating the Future Manufacturing Leaders”.
The conversation highlights the importance of the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, scheduled for November 3-5, 2023. The Industrial Talk podcast, hosted by Scott Mackenzie, features an interview with Robert Voight, a professor at Penn State Behrend, discussing the Metallurgical Engineering Trade Apprenticeship and Learning (METAL) program. Voight emphasizes the hands-on experience provided to students, including foundry visits and practical metal casting. He also discusses the evolution of materials like austempered ductile iron and the integration of digital technologies to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality. Voight’s contact information is available for those interested in learning more.
