Ben Lanz with Osmose

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Ben Lanz, Sr. Director, Industry & External Affairs at Osmose about “Power reliability and resiliency”.

Scott Mackenzie interviews Ben Lanz from Osmose, discussing the challenges and innovations in the utility industry. They highlight the aging infrastructure in Texas, with ERCOT needing gigawatts for data centers. Osmose has expanded from wood pole diagnostics to underground assessments, including vaults, transformers, and cables. Ben explains the use of AI and machine learning to improve efficiency, particularly in detecting defects in underground cables. They also discuss the importance of human intervention alongside AI for accurate assessments. Ben provides his contact information for further inquiries.

Adile Ajaja with EVLO Energy Storage

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Adile Ajaja, Director of Digital Technology at EVLO Energy about “Securing Energy Storage”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast featuring Adile, an electrical engineer and expert in grid-scale energy storage systems. Adil discusses his background with Hydro Quebec and the evolution of his company, EVLO, which focuses on innovative and cost-efficient energy solutions. They delve into the importance of cybersecurity in energy systems, emphasizing a life-cycle approach to protect against attacks and failures. Adile highlights the challenges of integrating legacy systems with modern cybersecurity measures, as well as the increasing demand for power due to data centers and AI processing. He also touches on Hydro Quebec’s strategies to manage this demand through efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Sandy Carielli with Forrester Research

Industrial Talk is talking to Sandy Carielli, Vice President at Forrester Research about “Quantum Computing Cybersecurity”.

Scott Mackenzie and Sandy Carielli discuss the implications of quantum computing on cybersecurity. Quantum computers could potentially break today’s public key cryptography, compromising data security. Carielli highlights the importance of transitioning to new, quantum-resistant algorithms, such as those developed by NIST. She emphasizes the urgency for organizations, especially government agencies and financial institutions, to start this migration process. Carielli also warns of the “harvest now, decrypt later” attack scenario, where data is intercepted today and decrypted later with a future quantum computer. The conversation underscores the need for proactive measures to ensure digital trust and security.

Gary Wood with Fluke Reliability

Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2025 and talking to Gary Wood, Customer Success Manager at Fluke Reliability about “You reliability journey today into the future”.

Scott Mackenzie interviews Gary Wood, a passionate industry professional and Customer Success Manager at Fluke Reliability, at the Accelerate 2025 event in Austin, Texas. Gary shares his journey from a military background to a career in manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and team buy-in in maintenance and reliability. He discusses the challenges of implementing and sustaining condition-based monitoring (CBM) systems, the role of technology in improving asset management, and the necessity of demonstrating return on investment (ROI) to executive leadership. Gary also highlights the evolving capabilities of CBM tools like Azima, Connect Assets in enhancing predictive maintenance and reducing downtime.

Brian Baker with Sentry Equipment

Industrial Talk is talking to Brian Baker, President and CEO of Sentry Equipment about “Achieving manufacturing excellence with high employee satisfaction”.

Scott Mackenzie interviews Brian Baker, CEO of Sentry Equipment, highlighting the company’s 100-year history and its role in power generation and water sampling. Baker discusses Sentry’s evolution from supporting dairy boilers to power plants and other industries, emphasizing the importance of low-cost energy, a skilled workforce, advanced technology, and the U.S. being the largest market. He also explains Sentry’s transition to employee ownership in 1986, which has motivated employees and improved customer service. Baker advocates for employee ownership as a fair and effective transition strategy for business owners.