Vineet Thuvara with Fluke Corporation
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer with Fluke about “Busting the AI myths with reliability”.
Vineet Thuvara, Chief Product Officer at Fluke, discussed his journey from mechanical engineering to leading product development at Microsoft and Amazon, and his current role at Fluke. He emphasized the importance of breaking myths about AI, particularly in industrial reliability, and highlighted Fluke’s efforts to enhance technician efficiency using AI and AR. Thuvara shared that Fluke’s new sensors and software aim to reduce unplanned downtime, which costs $50 billion weekly, by providing real-time, accurate data and insights. He also discussed the potential of AR glasses to improve safety and efficiency in technical fields.
Robert McGinty with Braden
Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Robert “Bob” McGinty, Director, Marketing and Sales at Braden about “Advanced SCR Solutions”.
Bob McGinty, a veteran in the power industry, discussed the evolution and growth of the power generation sector, particularly driven by data centers and AI. He highlighted Braden’s role in emission control and gas turbine technology, emphasizing their advanced SCR system for faster compliance and reduced costs. Bob noted the increased demand for power due to population growth and technological advancements, stressing the need for responsible environmental practices. He also touched on the challenges of renewable energy costs and the importance of mentorship and family-oriented environments in the industry.
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.
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.
Brandon Neer, Tait Stensrud and Matt Redden with Hexagon
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Brandon Neer, Tait Stensrud and Matt Redden at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence.
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.
