Bradley White with Penn State – METAL Program

Industrial Talk is onsite at Penn State and talking to Bradley White with Penn State University METAL Program about “The Profession of Metallurgy”.

The Industrial Talk podcast episode, sponsored by the Propane Education and Research Council, features a discussion with Bradley White from Penn State’s METAL program. The program, which stands for Metallurgy, Metallurgical Engineering, Trade, Apprenticeship, and Learning, aims to train the next generation of workers in foundry skills. White, with 32 years of industry experience, is helping to establish a foundry lab at Penn State Barron, expected to be operational by 2027-2028. The program, funded by the Department of Defense, is expanding nationwide, with schools like Ohio State, Tennessee, and Purdue joining. The initiative emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world skills to inspire future industrial leaders.

Mina Soliman with IRISS

Industrial Talk is talking to Mina Soliman, Training Manager at IRISS about “Operational-Driven Safety and Reliability (ODSR) Mindset”.

Scott Mackenzie from Industrial Talk discusses the importance of safety and reliability in industrial maintenance with Mina Soliman, Training Manager at IRISS. IRISS offers patented infrared and ultrasonic inspection windows for safe, early detection of equipment issues. Soliman emphasizes the need for a holistic strategy called ODSR (Operational Driven Safety and Reliability) to involve operational teams in condition monitoring. He highlights the “Cassandra curse” in asset management, where data is available but not acted upon due to communication and knowledge gaps. Soliman also stresses the importance of continuous training and knowledge retention to bridge the gap between experienced workers and the younger generation.

Blake Biernacki and Mike Antosh with ProLytX

Industrial Talk is onsite at Octave Live and talking to Mike Antosh and Blake Biernacki at ProLytX about “Streamlining information insights and collection”.

The conversation highlights the importance of the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress from November 3-5, 2023, and the Industrial Talk podcast with Scott Mackenzie. Mike and Blake from ProLytX, a system integrator with 25 years of experience, discuss their focus on Octave’s design pillar, including 3D modeling, PNIDs, and wiring diagrams. They emphasize the need for a centralized, trusted data source and a supportive culture to maintain data integrity. They also discuss the potential positive impact of AI on their business, enabling faster information retrieval. The conversation underscores the importance of people and culture in driving technological success.

Zohar Kantor with PLCs.ai

Industrial Talk is talking to Zohar Kantor, Co-Founder at PLCs.ai about “Converting PLC code into plain-language operational intelligence”.

The conversation highlights the importance of the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress from November 3-5, 2023, and the need for cybersecurity professionals to attend. Scott Mackenzie emphasizes the significance of industrial professionals telling their stories and leveraging AI to enhance their operations. Zohar Kantor from PLCs AI discusses their platform, which simplifies PLC programming and diagnostics, reducing downtime and improving efficiency. Kantor stresses the importance of trust in AI solutions and the need to empower employees rather than replace them. The platform offers code optimization and documentation, aiming to support manufacturers in maintaining and optimizing their automation systems.

Luis Javier Garcia de Rozas – Guascor Energy

Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Luis J Garcia de Rozas, CEO of Guascor Energy about “Flexible, scalable generation solutions”.

Luis J. Garcia de Rozas, CEO of Guascor Energy, discussed the company’s operations and market position. Guascor specializes in gas and diesel engines, capable of running on various fuels including natural gas, biogas, and synthetic gas. The company, with 210-220 employees, manufactures engines in Spain and provides after-sales services globally. Garcia highlighted the company’s financial success, achieving an EBDA of 8 million in 2025, and its strategic focus on power generation, particularly for data centers. The company is adapting to meet the increasing demand for reliable power solutions, emphasizing flexibility and customization in their offerings.