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.

Outline

MD&M West Event Overview and Introduction

• Industrial Talk, sponsored by MD&M West and News and Brews, highlighting the event's focus on medtech automation, packaging, plastics, and design.
• Scott emphasizes the importance of attending MD&M West, describing it as a significant event for manufacturers solving market challenges.
• Scott mentions the involvement of Informa in organizing MD&M West and introduces Adrienne Zepeda, a professional from Informa, to discuss the event's details.

Adrienne Zepeda's Role and Event Planning

• Scott and Adrienne discuss the scale of MD&M West, with over 12,000 attendees and still one more day to go.
• Adrienne explains the extensive planning involved in organizing the event, starting as early as two to four weeks after the current event.
• Adrienne shares his background, mentioning his role as Vice President at Informa, overseeing six events, including MD&M West.
• Adrienne describes the cross-collaborative nature of his team, involving sales, operations, digital marketing, and event technology teams, totaling around 50 to 60 people.

Measuring Success and Event Impact

• Adrienne measures success through feedback from exhibitors and attendees, such as increased booth activity and lead generation.
• Adrienne highlights the importance of creating experiences that resonate with attendees and provide value throughout the year.
• Scott and Adrienne discuss the challenges and rewards of organizing such a large-scale event, including the need for continuous planning and improvement.
• Adrienne shares his personal motivation for organizing the event, focusing on the impact on the industry and the lives of people.

Impact of COVID-19 and Event Adaptation

• Scott inquires about the impact of COVID-19 on MD&M West and the industry's resilience.
• Adrienne explains that the need for manufacturing products remained constant during the pandemic, allowing the event to continue with some adjustments.
• The event schedule was adjusted to accommodate the changing circumstances, with shows held in February 2020, August 2021, and April 2022.
• Adrienne emphasizes the importance of maintaining human connections and the unique value of in-person events.

Innovation and Technology at MD&M West

• Scott and Adrienne discuss the rapid pace of innovation and technology in the manufacturing industry.
• Adrienne shares his fascination with the industry's continuous advancements and the impact of new technologies on manufacturing processes.
• Scott highlights specific examples of innovative products and technologies showcased at MD&M West, such as the magnetic maintenance device.
• The conversation touches on the importance of maintaining a forward-thinking approach to stay ahead of industry trends.

Future Plans and Industry Trends

• Scott asks about Adrienne's plans for the next year and the future of MD&M West.
• Adrienne expresses excitement about bringing the industry together again and incorporating feedback from surveys and advisory boards into future planning.
• The discussion includes the importance of adapting to changing industry needs and maintaining a focus on creating valuable experiences for attendees and exhibitors.
• Scott and Adrienne reflect on the significance of the event in fostering connections and driving innovation in the manufacturing industry.

Final Thoughts and Contact Information

• Scott and Adrienne wrap up the conversation, expressing mutual appreciation for the work done at MD&M West.
• Adrienne provides contact information for those interested in participating in future events, including the MD&M West website and social media links.
• Scott encourages listeners to reach out to Adrienne and explore the various events organized by Informa.
• The episode concludes with a reminder of the importance of attending industry events to build meaningful connections and drive success.

The Industrial Talk podcast, sponsored by MD&M West and News and Brews, features a discussion with Brandon, Tait, and Matt from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence. Brandon manages portable devices sales, Tait oversees stationary device measurement, and Matt focuses on production software. They discuss the importance of measurement in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and medical, emphasizing quality control and automation. Hexagon's solutions integrate AI to enhance efficiency and accuracy, reducing costs through automated processes. The team highlights the significant ROI from integrating quality into manufacturing, leveraging AI to assist programmers and improve production. Listeners are encouraged to connect with them on LinkedIn for more information.

Outline

MD&M West and News and Brews Introduction

• Scott introduces the episode of Industrial Talk, sponsored by MD&M West and News and Brews, highlighting the event's focus on medtech automation, packaging, plastics, and design.
• Scott reiterates the podcast's mission to celebrate industrial professionals and the solutions they bring to manufacturing.
• Scott mentions the importance of attending MD&M West to connect with industry leaders and discover innovative solutions.

Introducing the Guests: Brandon, Tait, and Matt

• Scott introduces the three guests: Brandon, Tait, and Matt, and suggests using their first names for ease of conversation.
• Brandon shares his background, mentioning his 16 years with Hexagon and his role in managing the portable devices sales team.
• Tait introduces himself, stating his 26 years with Hexagon and his management of the stationary device measurement team in the southwest.
• Matt shares his experience, mentioning his three and a half years with Hexagon and his expertise in production software and CAD CAM solutions.

Hexagon's Role in Manufacturing and Quality Control

• Brandon explains Hexagon's role in manufacturing intelligence, focusing on measurement, sensors, and software.
• Tait emphasizes the importance of quality control and measurement in critical industries like aerospace and medical devices.
• Matt discusses the role of production software in driving CNC machines and ensuring part quality.
• Scott shares a personal anecdote about his brother-in-law's CNC shop, highlighting the precision and quality of the manufactured parts.

Future of Automation and ROI in Manufacturing

• Brandon discusses the future of automation in manufacturing, aiming for full cycle automation in inspection and reverse engineering.
• Tait highlights the significant ROI in automating quality control, reducing future rejects and costs.
• Matt explains how Hexagon integrates AI tools into production software, assisting in automating programming processes.
• The discussion touches on the importance of AI as an assistant to programmers, leveraging decades of data for high-confidence results.

AI Integration in Hexagon's Solutions

• Matt elaborates on the integration of AI tools in production software, using partnerships with companies like Microsoft Copilot.
• Tait emphasizes the role of AI in assisting programmers and measuring features with high confidence.
• Brandon adds that AI can visualize geometric features in parts, driving programming accuracy.
• The conversation concludes with a discussion on the necessity of human interaction in manufacturing and the efficiency gains from AI tools.

Contact Information and Closing Remarks

• Scott asks the guests how listeners can connect with them, suggesting LinkedIn as the best platform.
• The guests agree, mentioning their individual LinkedIn profiles and the Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence page.
• Scott thanks the guests for their flexibility and participation, mentioning the importance of building a network in manufacturing.
• The episode concludes with a reminder to attend MD&M West and connect with the News and Brews crew for more insights and solutions.

Fred Borne, a physics engineer and leader at Resonetics, discussed the company's expertise in medtech manufacturing, particularly in interventional cardiology, advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive surgeries, and bioelectronics. Resonetics specializes in microfabrication, including laser micromachining, and has expanded its capabilities through acquisitions, such as MemorySays for nitinol production. Borne highlighted the company's role in developing fiber optic sensors and implantable batteries, emphasizing their applications in neuromodulation and cardiac devices. He also touched on the potential of brain-computer interfaces and the future of neuromodulation technology.

Outline

MD&M West Event Introduction

• Industrial Talk, sponsored by MD&M West and the News and Brews team.
• Highlights the importance of MD&M West in delivering medtech automation, packaging, plastics, and design under one roof.
• Emphasizes the innovation, energy, and conversation at the event.
• Thanks the listeners for tuning in and celebrating the people driving industrial innovation.

Welcome to Industrial Talk Podcast

• Scott reiterates the podcast's dedication to celebrating industry professionals worldwide.
• Encourages listeners to put MD&M West on their calendar for next year.
• Mentions the importance of meeting people like Fred Borne at the event.

Introduction of Fred Borne

• Fred shares his background as a physics engineer specializing in fiber optics.
• Mentions his education at Laval University in Quebec City, one of the top photonics optics schools in North America.
• Discusses his career in fiber optics and the acquisition of memory says by Resonetics.

Resonetics and Market Solutions

• Fred explains that Resonetics is a top 10 contract design manufacturing company for the medtech industry.
• Specializes in interventional cardiology, advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive surgeries, and bioelectronics.
• Highlights the company's expertise in microfabrication and the acquisition of memory says for the production of nitinol.
• Discusses the company's ability to provide micro components of nitinol, stainless steel, and other materials.

Microfabrication and Medical Applications

• Scott and Fred discuss the concept of microfabrication and its applications in medical devices.
• Fred explains the use of laser micro machining for creating extremely small components.
• Mentions the company's ability to handle various materials and the importance of precision in their work.
• Discusses the challenges and innovations in the medical device manufacturing process.

Fiber Optic Sensors and Medical Implantable Batteries

• Fred explains his role at Resonetics, managing the fiber optic sensors and medical implantable batteries divisions.
• Discusses the use of fiber optic sensors in blood pressure monitoring and other medical devices.
• Highlights the applications of fiber optic sensors in diagnostics and heart pumps.
• Explains the use of medical implantable batteries in cardiac applications and neuromodulation devices.

Neuromodulation and Future Technologies

• Fred discusses the growing field of neuromodulation and its applications in medical devices.
• Explains the use of neuromodulation devices to treat conditions like urinary incontinence and asthma.
• Mentions the use of neuromodulation devices for sleep apnea treatment.
• Discusses the future potential of combining neuromodulation with brain-computer interfaces (BCI).

Battery Technology and Innovations

• Fred explains the advancements in battery technology and the company's focus on increasing capacity.
• Discusses the differences between rechargeable and primary batteries based on application requirements.
• Mentions the use of rechargeable batteries in neuromodulation devices due to their non-life-sustaining nature.
• Highlights the importance of reliable battery technology in medical devices.

Contact Information and Final Thoughts

• Scott asks Fred Borne for the best way to contact him, and Fred suggests LinkedIn.
• Scott expresses his admiration for Fred's work and encourages listeners to connect with him.
• Reiterates the importance of attending MD&M West and meeting industry professionals like Fred.
• Concludes the podcast with a reminder to put MD&M West on the calendar for next year.