Marian Schneider with Planar Motor
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Marian Schneider, Applications Engineer at Planar Motor about “Innovative, Smart conveying systems”.
Marian Schneider, a mechanical engineer from Germany now living in Vancouver, discussed the innovative technology of Planar Motors at the MD&M West conference. Planar Motors uses magnetic levitation for motion, offering six degrees of freedom, including rotation, tipping, and tilting. The technology, which has been around for 10 years, is modular, flexible, and programmable, making it suitable for various assembly and packaging lines. Schneider highlighted the system’s scalability, with applications ranging from small payloads to large systems with up to 1000 units. The technology is maintenance-free, relying on solid-state electronics and permanent magnets.
Jay Hack and Navin Kulkarni with Fluke
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Jay Hack and Navin Kulkarni about “eMaint and the impact AI has on asset management”.
At Fluke’s Xcelerate 2026 event, Jay Hack and Navin Kulkarni introduced new AI features in eMaint, a maintenance management system. They highlighted four key features: AI-driven email data interaction, SOP generation from OEM manuals, natural language work order creation, and multilingual document translation. The AI features received significant interest, with 40 customers eager to join the beta test. The system ensures data quality, supports structured data ingestion, and allows for real-time updates. Future plans include enhancing work order management and leveraging historical data for better decision-making and asset management.
Nancy Regan and Corey Dickens Discussing Asset Management
Industrial Talk is onsite at SMRP 2025 and talking to Nancy Regan and Corey Dickens about “The future of operational excellence”.
Scott Mackenzie introduces Elevotec ERP, EAM, and business intelligence solutions on the Industrial Talk Podcast. The episode features Nancy and Corey, industry veterans discussing their careers in reliability and maintenance. Nancy, with 27 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of mentorship and simple explanations in reliability. Corey, with 13 years in the Navy and industry, highlights the need for leadership, mentorship, and workforce development. They stress the importance of overcoming comfort zones, embracing failure, and leveraging technology while maintaining foundational skills. Both advocate for inspiring the next generation and the value of conferences like SMRP for professional growth.
Max Meegan with FPT Industrial
Max Meegan, Head of Sales for North America at FPT Industrial, explains how FPT—one of the world’s largest diesel engine manufacturers—supports power‑generation OEMs with a broad 30–800 kW engine portfolio, flexible packaging options, and a 300–400‑location North American service network. He highlights two major market challenges: under‑loading in rental/prime power applications, which FPT solves with a unique exhaust‑brake system that applies artificial load to protect after‑treatment reliability; and rapidly growing data‑center power demand, where long lead times for large 1–3 MW engines are pushing customers to deploy multiple smaller FPT gensets in parallel for faster delivery and higher uptime. Max also details FPT’s major after‑treatment advantage—optimized combustion that eliminates the need for a DPF and regeneration downtime, making their Stage V engines more efficient and reliable than typical EGR/DPF systems. Overall, he underscores a booming power‑generation market and FPT’s strong position in meeting fast, modular, and dependable power needs.
Adrienne Zepeda with MD&M West and Informa Markets
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Adrienne Zepeda, VP, Growth Portfolio Lead at Informa Markets about “Manufacturing, a community built on connections”.
The conversation highlights the success and impact of the MD&M West event, organized by Informa. Adrienne Zepeda, Vice President at Informa, discusses the event’s significance, noting over 12,000 attendees and the extensive planning involved, starting two to four weeks post-event. Adrienne emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement, leveraging feedback from exhibitors and attendees, and planning events up to two years in advance. Despite challenges, such as COVID-19, the event maintained its schedule, showcasing innovative technologies and fostering human connections. Adrienne’s role involves overseeing six events, including MD&M West, and ensuring the success of each event through meticulous planning and collaboration.
