Host Gino Gualtieri and guest co-host Ian Young (of Diebec Ltd.) speak with Kazuaki Asai and translator Yume who traveled from Japan to attend Odyssey Expo. Quality, quality and more quality is the main theme of this episode. From zone patching to kaizen implementation to the Kingpin transfer system, Kazuaki has been involved in industry inventions for years. New products and innovation continue to be a big reason why he and many people come from all over the world to attend the Odyssey Expo. 

IADD Cutting Edge award-winner Jennifer Thoroe talks with podcast hosts Gino Gualtieri and Lisa Boyd about her journey within the industry. She highlights the changes seen during the last fifteen years and the importance of networking to keep the industry moving forward. Jennifer also talks about her involvement with the IADD, from her very first chapter meeting to her current role on the Board of Directors, being a woman in a male-dominated industry, core values and what she learned from her entrepreneurial endeavor.

At the age of 18, Rick Putch walked into a corrugated sheet plant “just to find a job” and now he’s a renowned industry expert. He’s conducted presentations and training in over 35 countries (translated to 10 different languages), and details his journey that has led him to “come full circle” in this podcast. Rick also discusses troubleshooting, one of his biggest passions, and the importance of organizations like the IADD bringing education to an international level to help resolve problems. He reveals different variables that can create diverse sets of issues (such as heat/humidity or global differences in fiber content), his new research lab in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and how the technology of smartphones, video and FaceTime has helped the troubleshooting process. Rick also talks with podcast hosts Gino Gualtieri and Lisa Boyd about his creation of a fishing game.

Kevin Ball, retired Vice President of Tru-Cut Steel Rule Die, Inc., discusses a plethora of topics. His love for technology and computers has helped him build quality products, which aided the expansion of the business from a 1500 sq. ft. facility with one “little blue jigsaw” to a 20,000 sq. ft. facility with 42 employees. Utilizing new technology has enhanced lead times from weeks to days thanks to efficiency. Kevin talks about the speed of technology advancement and poses some interesting questions: What will 3D print bring to the industry? How will it affect the industry? Additionally, he talks about how he sees competition as an opportunity afforded by building relationships with industry colleagues and how staying involved in the IADD can help progression.

Former president of Apple Steel Rule Die Co. Jim Ippolite provides an interesting perspective on a number of topics. As a producer of dies for cutting medical products, gaskets, foam, thermoforming and labels, Jim believes firmly that success comes from fast turnaround times and that good diemakers are not necessarily good business people. One of the first diemaking companies to use autobenders and lasers, Apple’s 8 current diemakers put out 2.5 times more work than the previous 33 diemakers. Fighting against the commoditization of dies and diemaking overcapacity, Apple has installed a boxmaking machine that will change their business and improve their speed. Finding quality employees is a universal problem, perhaps to be solved by still-to-be-perfected robots. Transcript available here.

Industry stalwart Mike Adams of Adams Technologies and EasyBender Americas has seen the industry from many angles. The 1997 recipient of packagePRINTING's Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year award talks about the key to surviving in a market driven economy, how technology impacts hiring the next generation, better tooling, innovations in rotary technology, additive technology, growth opportunities, future trends and why steel rule dies are unlikely to be replaced, at least in certain industry segments. He addresses new vs. upgraded equipment, service issues and the upside of automation, while noting the positive impact of the IADD on the industry in terms of knowledge sharing and driving technology forward. He also provides insight to podcast hosts Gino Gualtieri and Lisa Boyd about family owned and run businesses. Transcipt available here.

Diemaking industry champion and expert Clint Medlock of Stafford Cutting Dies, Inc. is a former IADD President and multiple award winner. He travels the continent giving presentations for the benefit of the association and others, and in this podcast he shares how he got started in business, his involvement in the IADD and the origins of the Odyssey Expo. Clint values his IADD membership (he often says, “The more I put in, the more I get out.”). He reveals a few tips on how to get colleagues and competitors to share information, a trick for how to learn and retain information and the importance of good people and the drive of new technology to make your business successful. He also talks with podcast hosts Gino Gualtieri and Lisa Boyd about the future, IADD friends and fishing. Transcipt available here.

President-Elect Gino Gualtieri and Board member Lisa Boyd chat with diemaking industry legends John and Joann Gordon of Jonco Die. Mr. Gordon was the recipient of the 2017 IADD Lifetime Achievement Award, and he and his wife discuss their journey over the past 50 years. From humble beginnings, they have jointly built a world-renowned company, hand-made tooling, to the latest in current technology. Jonco is the epitome of how a family business can be successful when everyone works together. Take a listen! Transcipt available here. 

From his 40+ years in the industry, Bob Pettijohn acknowledges the importance of providing a quality die at a great price – with the reminder that it’s your knowledge and the technical advice you give your customers that set you apart from your competitors and give you a strategic advantage. Hear how his participation in the IADD has provided him with a valuable support network of industry experts who provide education, share information and work together to better the industry. Bob also talks with podcast host IADD President-Elect Gino Gualtieri of Central Die Supplies about his company’s partnership with a local high school and how the role of his sales people has changed due to automation and customer expectations. Transcipt available here.

Industry veteran Bob Wax acknowledges that while the basic process of diecutting remains relatively unchanged over the past 100 years, at the same time exciting advances and improvements have been made in technology, equipment, cutting rules, cutting surfaces and more. These advances allow better cutting of many different types of materials such as gaskets, foams, abrasives and other difficult-to-cut materials. Bob talks with podcast hosts IADD President-Elect Gino Gualtieri of Central Die Supplies and Media Committee member Lisa Boyd about future technologies that may revolutionize (or disrupt) the converting industry. Transcipt available here.