Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Jan Bendier, Business Development Manager at Harro Hoefliger about “From lab to production”.
The conversation features Scott MacKenzie from the Industrial Talk podcast, discussing the MD&M West event in Anaheim, California, with Jan from Harro. Jan, originally from Germany, has been with Harro for 10 years and is currently based in California. Harro specializes in automation equipment for the pharma, medical, and biotech industries, focusing on custom applications and the “from lab to production” approach. They have been in business since 1975 and maintain a strong presence in the US market. Jan highlights the trend towards self-administration in healthcare and Harro's use of AI for predictive maintenance. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Jan on LinkedIn and attend MD&M West 2027.
Industrial Talk is talking to Massimiliano “Max” Moruzzi, CEO at Xaba, Inc. about “xCognition – Brining brains to your bots”.
Massimiliano “Max” Moruzzi, founder of Xaba, discussed his company's innovative approach to industrial automation through physics AI. Xaba's technology, xCognition, emulates a human brain's perception, deep side, and core layers to create a synthetic brain for machines. This allows for dynamic, time-series data analysis, unlike traditional AI which relies on static data. Max emphasized the importance of physics AI in advancing industries like quantum computing and energy efficiency. He highlighted a project where temperature variations significantly impacted material properties, underscoring the need for adaptive AI. Max also shared his background in aerospace and automotive engineering, linking his expertise to Xaba's mission.
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Alex Mecl, Co-Founder Real Hand, Inc. about “Next level automation with hand dexterity”.
The conversation features Scott MacKenzie from the Industrial Talk podcast discussing the MDNM West event with Alex Mecl, CMO and co-founder of Real Hand. Real Hand offers robotic hands with human-like dexterity to solve the final 10% of automation tasks that require human interaction. They can mimic up to 21 degrees of freedom (DOF) and incorporate pressure and tactile sensors. A use case involves sorting plastic bags, which can be learned by the robotic hand in 3-6 months. The company aims to enhance physical intelligence in robots, potentially revolutionizing fields like sign language translation. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Alex Meckel on LinkedIn.
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Matthew Garcia, Regional Sales Manager with with Kawasaki Robotics about “AI and Vision guided robots”.
Matthew Garcia, Regional Sales Manager at Kawasaki Robotics, discussed the company's history and innovations at MD&M West. Kawasaki, a $15 billion company with roots in shipbuilding, introduced the first hydraulic robot in the late 60s. They now offer robots from 3 kg to 1500 kg, catering to various industries like food and beverage, automotive, and aerospace. Garcia emphasized Kawasaki's focus on partner support and personalized attention. He highlighted recent advancements in AI and vision-guided robots. Despite tariffs, Kawasaki's Japanese manufacturing and shipping line help maintain competitiveness. Garcia provided his contact information for further inquiries.
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to Alfonso Aramburo, Master of Ops about “Strategies for manufacturing optimization”.
The conversation revolves around the Industrial Talk podcast, sponsored by MD&M West and News and Brews, highlighting innovations in the manufacturing industry. Scott Mackenzie interviews Alfonso Aramburo, a manufacturing expert with 17 years of experience, about his role as a “Master of Ops.” Alfonso discusses common challenges in manufacturing, such as operational readiness for business development projects and the importance of process mapping to streamline operations. He emphasizes the need for companies to address inefficiencies and improve workforce development. Alfonso also mentions his book on cultural change and the reluctance of employees to adopt new processes. Contact information for Alfonso is provided for further insights.
Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Bridget Youngs, Founder at Terminus Industrials about “Disrupting the transformer manufacturing market”.
Bridget Youngs, founder of Terminus, discussed her company's innovative approach to transformer manufacturing. Terminus aims to reduce production time from months to under two weeks by automating processes and using AI and robotics. They focus on 138-34.5 kV transformers, a critical need in the ERCOT territory. Bridget highlighted the challenges of standardizing equipment across 1,700 utilities and the inefficiencies in current manufacturing. Terminus plans to launch products in Q3 2027, leveraging a team with expertise from companies like GE and Tesla to streamline design and manufacturing.
Industrial Talk is onsite at MD&M West and talking to John Derzy and Michael Lipcsik with Hirata Corporation about “Manufacturing efficiency solutions”.
The conversation features Scott Mackenzie from the Industrial Talk podcast, discussing the MD&M West event with John Derzy and Michael Lipcsik from Hirata. John celebrates his 50th year in the industry and highlights Hirata's 50-year history, starting with handcarts and evolving into a company specializing in automation and robotic solutions. Michael shares his background in manufacturing and automated testing. They discuss Hirata's diverse clientele, including automotive, electronics, and medical devices, and their focus on long-term customer relationships. Hirata's expertise in automation and predictive maintenance is emphasized, along with their integration of robots and systems for efficient manufacturing.
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, 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.
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.
