On this episode Tim Finerty and Bryan Powrozek from Clayton McKervey join me on the podcast to talk about research, innovation, development, tax credits and cash flows. When it comes to building automation and building a business in complex machine building you need a team. Clayton McKervey has a specialty practice advising robot companies and robot integrators how to best utilize money, labor and inputs to save and defer the tax burden for industrial machine builders.

Thanks to the admin team at Clayton McKervey for managing me and helping put this podcast together: Denise Asker, Colleen Godlowski, and Erica Reagle.

You can find out more about Tim and Bryan by contacting ClaytonMcKervey.com or by checking them out on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanpowrozek/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfinerty/

Enjoy the podcast!

Jim

There are lots of people to thank for helping to put together this episode of the podcast. Charles Haines and Bob Little, Ian Stern from ATI Industrial Automation and of course Ryan McCormick from JPL, Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

 

In this podcast Ian and Ryan tell the story of how they worked together to put a specific sensor on the Mars Rover robot and some of the challenges they faced.

 

To learn more about the companies:

 

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

 

https://www.ati-ia.com/

 

The Mars Rover story including a short video is also on the ATI Industrial Automation website at: https://www.ati-ia.com/company/NewsArticle2.aspx?id=724930791

Enjoy the podcast.

Jim

Phil Szczepaniak is one gifted animator. Based in British Columbia working in 3d technical animation for over 20 years, Phil has been in the industry probably for as long as the industry has existed. He is a highly sought after resource for marketers creating educational, customizable content for his worldwide client base.

Phil's website for his company 3deeit is the home of his stunning, industry-leading animations. In this podcast I ask him about the animation process and how he got started in technical animations, the timelines and costs. We have worked together on many projects over the last dozen or two years.

You can learn more about Phil on LinkedIn.

Enjoy the podcast!

Jim

I met Dave Henderson at The Assembly Show and The Quality Show in Rosemont as he was launching a new product for the automation industry. In this episode we are going to talk about the new product, called Q-SPAN. It is an end of arm tool for the Universal Robot chassis. We will discuss the launch and some of the challenges in launching a product during a pandemic. Dave is a very smart man, is a leader and innovator and I am disclosing that Dave has become a client in my marketing practice. Dave is an expert in many things, but especially micro motors.

CEO and Founder @ New Scale Robotics and New Scale TechnologiesDavid is a technology innovator, experienced business leader, and proven team builder. He has more than 30 years of experience in engineering, new product introduction, worldwide market development, and profitable business operations. David’s technical expertise is in mechanical and precision systems engineering. He has published or presented numerous papers and holds several patents including the patent for the SQUIGGLE motor.

Before founding New Scale in 2002, David was director of the positioning product division of Burleigh Instruments (now EXFO), where he achieved 300% revenue growth with 20% EBITA from 1994 to 2000. He has prior experience as a program manager and mechanical engineer with Contraves USA.

David has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. He serves as chairman of the New Scale Technology board of directors.

Enjoy the podcast,

Jim

I caught Simon doing a presentation at ATX Anaheim show and I tracked him down to talk about collaborative technologies in automation.

Simon recently rejoined ATS in April of 2018 to lead the growth of the SuperTrak brand in the global market.At Clearpath Robotics he helped establish the OTTO product line of indoor self driving targeting autonomous material handling in the industrial market. In his role he built and oversaw a team leading market strategy, product development, product design, and program execution.Prior to Clearpath, Simon held multiple progressive roles at ATS Automation, overseeing the execution of multi-faceted automation programs for some of the world’s largest companies with revenues exceeding $30 million / year and project teams exceeding 70 people operating 24/7. Project experience spans multiple industries, including solar, packaging, consumer electronics, and medical devices with installations of over 750 systems in North America, Europe, and Asia.Simon earned Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Design Engineering, with an option in Management Sciences, from the University of Waterloo as well as an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University with a specialization in Strategic Management and International Business Operations, earned on a part-time basis.

Enjoy the podcast. Jim

Show Notes:

Hello everyone. And welcome to the robot nation podcast. This is the podcast dedicated to advanced manufacturing capital equipment and the robotics and automation industry. We'll be covering trends and topics important to the factory automation and robotics industry. And we'll interview guests in our series of podcasts. We know that manufacturing is cool. It brings all kinds of jobs into your community. And if you're good, you will have a job for life.

So welcome everyone. My name is Jim Beretta and I'm your moderator. I am also president of customer attraction, industrial marketing based in Cambridge, Ontario. If you liked this podcast, please rate us wherever you find your podcasts, but more importantly, tell your friends about it. Send them an email, tweet us hashtag robot nation podcast. If you'd like to get in touch with us. Our email address is [email protected].

If you have an idea or an interesting company or technology, or you'd like to be a guest on our podcast, please nominate someone and just send an email to that same email address [email protected].

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome our guest Simon Drexler. Simon Drexler is a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier with his MBA and the university of Waterloo with his P N designation in systems design management sciences. Simon Drexler is the director of the linear motion technologies. The LMT group at ATS automation in Cambridge, Ontario. He's been a business analyst at Communitech technology accelerator and startup for a regional innovation center. Simon has worked with auto ClearPath robotics. One of the early leaders in autonomous robotics with over 12 years experience in industrial automation. Simon has earned himself this spot on plant magazine's top 40 engineering leaders under 40 and was named supply and demand chain executive magazines pro to know with a passion for technology. Simon continues to drive innovation in the world of industrial automation. Along with leading the LMT group, Simon currently sits in the board of advisors for Canadian manufacturers and exporters. And when not in the office, Simon spends time being active in the outdoors with his wife and two children.

We're kind of both alike Simon. We both worked for ATS automation and we both worked for Communitech and we have a lot of robots in our lives. And so I'd like to welcome you to the podcast

Simon: Thank you very much, Jim. I'm happy to be here.

Simon, one of the first questions that I'd like to ask you is a lit

In this interview, we have a conversation about innovations from industry expert and friend, Mr. Joe Gemma.

Joe has 35 plus years of experience working in the automation industry, 12 years working for a System Integrator and the last 20+ years working for a Robotics OEM.

He is a strong supporter of the industry. He participates on the RIA Board of Directors and as past Chair and currently serves on the Board of the Association for Advancing Automation. He has served on the Board of the IFR and past President for International Federation of Robotics. Joe recently joined Calvary Robotics as the Global Vice President. Previously he spent 5 plus years as the Chief Regional Officer for KUKA Robotics Division - Americas. Spending 18 years at Stäubli, Mr. Gemma was CEO the Stäubli Group North America. Until 1997, he worked for the US enterprises, Advanced Technology Systems, Crellin Technologies and Corner & Lada, working in engineering, project management, business development and sales management.Mr. Gemma currently serves on various committees of the Robotic Industries Association, which covers the North American automation industry. Joe is committed to working to get broader visibility of the automation industry in general.

A couple of disclosures here. Peter is a great planner and we have done many projects together for clients across North America. We both have professional relationships with A3, The Association for Advancing Automation. If you are looking for a strategic planner, I highly recommend Peter Wright.

 

In this podcast we spoke about the challenges for the automation sector dealing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Planning Group is dedicated to providing business planning expertise, strategic advice and facilitation to organizations through the practical application of strategic and operational planning. From the largest corporations and associations, to medium sized regional players, Peter helps his clients understand where they want to be and come up with a solid plan of attack to get there. Since 2002 he have provided these services to clients worldwide.

 

Fun fact: We live very close to each other in the city of Cambridge, Ontario.

 

Enjoy the podcast.

 

Jim

Carol Leaman is president and CEO of Axonify. She is an award-winning thought leader with an impressive track record of successfully leading technology companies in our tech-rich Waterloo Region. Not only is she a disruptor in the corporate learning space, but she’s also the brains behind the Axonify Microlearning Platform. I caught up with Carol at the Axonify headquarters in Waterloo, prior to Covid and we had a great conversation about how microlearning can be used in manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.

You can learn more about Axonify at https://axonify.com

Carol is on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-leaman-22973b

Enjoy the episode! Jim

Jeff is president and Principle Executive Search Consultant at Chapman Group, Inc in Scottsdale, AZ

Jeff provides valuable search and recruiting solutions to high technology companies with a particular focus on those developing automated manufacturing and warehousing products, systems and solutions including automated assembly, robotics, mobile robotics, machine vision, ASRS and manufacturing and warehouse management software.

You can reach Jeff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechapmangroup/

And his website is thechapmangroup.com

Enjoy the podcast!

Jim

I am Jim Beretta, ex-applications engineer (although I am not an engineer), ex-capital-equipment-complex-machine salesperson, and ex-marketer for a major robot integrator located in Cambridge, Ontario.

 

I helped create and drive the marketing effort that built the ATS name into one of the leading brands in machine building and robot integration.

 

I left ATS Automation Tooling Systems, now ATS Automation, over 10 years ago and built my own marketing consultancy called Customer Attraction, because most companies want more customers.

 

There was a podcast missing in the manufacturing industry. I hope to tell stories, introduce experts and take some of the lessons from my 100+ webinars that I have researched and presented to the automation community.

 

I hope you enjoy the #therobotindustrypodcast. If you would like to get in touch with us, fill out the form, we would love to chat.

 

Regards,

 

Jim