Happy Friday, everyone. I am in Montreal today finishing up the ADM Montreal 2024 for my client Informa. I am excited to release the latest episode (#129) of The Robot Industry podcast with my friend, Ray Osborne from Anchor Danly. Ray is based in Nashville and services parts of the southern USA on behalf of Anchor Danly. AD is a client and Ray knows a lot about engineered steel and servicing his clients.

Before we get to our episode today I wanted to let you know about a NEW podcast that I am starting called Automation Matters. It is about the front end of the automation business whether you are a builder, integrator, distributor or robot OEM this is for you. This new podcast is about sales, marketing, business development, strategy and much much more and I am excited about Automation Matters. More on that later.

Ray - welcome to the podcast. How did you get into this industry?

Tell us about Anchor Danly, I have seen their signs for years in Cambridge and always wondered what they built or made. 

You have something in common with the person who started AD, namely drums and music/

What is a Die Set?

What is a Tooling Plate?

What is a Dial Plate?

What is a steel frame?

You also sell components for die sets, what kind of components are these?

At AD you build a lot of special Machine bases, tell our audience about these

Blanchard Grinding - you have 35 grinders, why is this steel treatment so popular?

What types of products do you build for robot integrators and machine builders? Fabrications, What kind of fabrications do you build?

Trends in the industry?

Have we forgotten to talk about anything?

How do our listeners get in touch with you?

How can people find you if they want to find out more about Anchor Danly?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-osborne-b84ba71a

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing produced today’s podcast and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffrey Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsor, Ehrhardt Automation.

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

London, ON but today, downtown Montreal

Welcome to episode #128 of The Robot Industry Podcast. It was my pleasure to interview Stefania Ferrero and Alessandro Piscioneri from Comau Group at Automate show in Detroit recently. I really did not know much about Comau so I really appreciated the opportunity to chat with both of them at the show. I knew about the solutions in Body in White, but was great to connect up with them and to find out more about their solutions, approaches and robots.

My questions to both Stephania and Alessandro:

What is the history of Comau?

What industries do you operate in?

Where are you located in the world?

Announced a new family of robots for specialized markets

Exoskeleton release

Battery and new technologies in automotive and power generation

Welding automation

Collaborative robotics at Comau?

Where are robots produced?

How many people are at Comau?

Comau in education, training and in schools (elementary and University)

Thanks to Comau, Stefania and Alessandro. If you would like to find out more from them, you can find them on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefania-ferrero-5a6a541

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandropiscioneri

You can also find and follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comaugroup/

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

Our co sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

If you would like to get in touch with us at The Robot Industry Podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Today’s podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffy Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsors, Ehrhardt Automation and Anchor Danly. 

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

London, ON

[email protected]

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to episode #127 of The Robot Industry Podcast. For this edition, I caught up with Dale Walsh, VP Strategy and Innovation at Roboworx. Here are my questions:

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into robotics?

What does Robotworx do? What problem are you solving?

We are not going to mention customers, today but what kind of robots do you service?

What is your customers challenge and their customers pain?

What kind of facilities (do you operate) in?

You mentioned NFL cities, what does that mean?

You mentioned about robots in the corner…

How do you work with clients?

Workers working with human co-workers?

What is an SLA

Let’s talk about training?

Spare parts?

Delivery robots and AMRs

Do you have some case stories that you can mention?

What are customer best practices?

Customer Success as well as 

Preventative maintenance.

Franchises

Have we forgotten to talk about anything?

What hobbies do you like? I know that you have an RV

How can people find you if they want to find out more about Roboworx?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adwalsh

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

Our co sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Today’s podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffy Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsors, Ehrhardt Automation and Anchor Danly. 

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

London, ON

Hello Everyone,

For this episode of The Robot Industry Podcast, I have picked one of my favourite podcast recordings. The robot industry needs more "Dave Goodenough's".

Enough said, enjoy the podcast.

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

Our co sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

I would like to acknowledge A3: the Association for Advancing Automation. They are the leading automation trade association for robotics, vision and imaging, motion control and motors and the industrial artificial intelligence technologies.  Visit Automate dot org to learn more.

If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Today’s podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffy Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsors, Ehrhardt Automation and Anchor Danly. 

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

For episode #126 of #TheRobotIndustryPodcast, I have invited Saman Farid from Formic. I have been watching Formic for a long time and am excited for them and their approach and thrilled to have Saman join me for this edition.

Saman welcome to the podcast.

How did you get involved in automation and building a very cool, disruptive model for manufacturers?

What is going on in manufacturing ?

What is your customer’s pain?

What are some of the secondary motivations?

Can you give me some examples of applications that you are doing for your customers?

What is the process if I have an application in my factory that I think might be a good fit for Formic.

What kind of applications do you tend to stay away from?

Are you turnkey, do you provide design of the robot end of arm tool for example?

How long does this take from initial visit or virtual visit to getting a machine on my shop floor?

How do you charge for this service? How do you get paid? Are there any soft costs?

Can you describe the process ~ Let’s say I want you to help me automate a machine tending application.

What about uptime and OEE?

Who services the equipment?

How long will the machine last?

What happens when the program ends as a manufacturer?

Can I upgrade the automation?

Who are your favorite robot brands and controls technologies?

You have got a couple of success stories…?

Granola Business in California.

Cameron Coffee in MN.

What is Formic CORE?

Everyone is talking about AI, are you using AI?

Who is your key customer, is it a plant manager or CEO or CFO?

How do you find new customers and prospects?

What are some of the challenges that you are facing at Formic in this growing business?

When you are not automating, innovating, building food robots and AI, what do you like to do, hobbies?

How can people get a hold of you and find out more about Formic?

Our sponsor for this episode is Ehrhardt Automation Systems. Ehrhardt builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you [email protected] eh rh ar dt automation dot com

Our co sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

I would like to acknowledge A3: the Association for Advancing Automation. They are the leading automation trade association for robotics, vision and imaging, motion control and motors and the industrial artificial intelligence technologies.  Visit Automate dot org to learn more.

If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me jim beretta on LinkedIn.

Today’s podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing and I would like to thank my team: Chris Gray for the music, Geoffy Bremner for audio production, my business partner Janet and our sponsors, Ehrhardt Automation and Anchor Danly. 

Best Regards!

Jim

Jim Beretta

Customer Attraction & The Robot Industry Podcast

London, ON

For this edition of #TheRobotIndustryPodcast (#125) I have invited Rajat Bhageria from CHEF Robotics for a conversation. We met recently at Automate show in Chicago and got reintroduced through Vention.

Chef Robotics: Empowering Humans to do what they do Best

Tell us about Chef Robotics and how you had this idea. Where are you located and tell us about the team. We talked in the warm up that you have been in stealth mode. Why stealth? how bad is the labor shortage in the food serving industry? You have food broken up food prep into three main areas, starting with preparation…. Why is AI, artificial intelligence so critical to the mission and your competitive advantage in food? How does AI help your customers? What does a food automation system look like at Chef Robotics? Typical questions from your customers? Lets talk about food safety and cleanliness: how do you approach this? What food has given you the most challenges? What about spices? Tell us about your robot and your code. How does a customer add new foods. Maybe Sticky Rice? Who are your first customers? Are there any bulls eye customers that you are looking for? How do you charge for an automation system? What do you need from our community? Did we forget to talk about anything? Challenges with Scaling this business? When you are not automating, innovating, building food robots and AI,  what do you like to do, hobbies? How can people get a hold of you and find out more about CHEF Robotics?

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing.

Regards Jim Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast

If you would like to get involved with The Robot Industry Podcast, 
would like to become a guest or nominate someone, send me an email to 
therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces or find me on LinkedIn. Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom 
turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 
years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of 
automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering
world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of 
their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at 
[email protected]

Our co-sponsor is Anchor Danly They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and 
automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground 
steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, 
dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining
and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

Hello Gentle Readers and welcome to edition #124 of #therobotindustry podcast. Forgive my reference to Bridgerton, my partner is addicted. I also need to correct the title of this podcast edition, Canon Reeves company is actually called Pipedream Labs.

Pipedream is an autonomous underground rail system that offers near-instantaneous delivery of objects to and from homes and businesses.

This episode  is about unprecedented convenience and a really big idea. Its a mash up of instant super convenience, getting trucks off the road making life better and disrupting...well everything.

Canon, tell us about yourself.

Tell us about Pipedream and how you had the idea.

What do you mean by hyperlogistics?

We talked in the warm up but give us some examples of how this works, today in fast food, near a parking lot.

What about some other examples of real life applications that you are working on?

Tell us about your new robot.

How is this a greener, cheaper, and more accessible solution?

Who are your first customers?

How do you demo your system to potential clients?

Who are your partners?

Are there any bulls eye customers that you are looking for?

Tell me about your big news…..$13 Million

What do you need?

When you are not automating innovating, building robots, what do you like to do, hobbies?

How can people get a hold of you?

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing.

Regards,

Jim

Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast If you would like to get involved with A3 | The Robot Industry Podcast, would like to become a guest or nominate someone, send me an email to therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces or find me on LinkedIn.

Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at [email protected]

Our co-sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

Welcome to edition #123 of The Robot Industry Podcast. I had the opportunity recently to travel to Fremont, Ohio and get a tour of the Motion Controls Robotics facility and meet with Scott Lang, president and CEO.

Scott, Tell me a bit about Motion Controls Robotics.

What is on your customer’s minds when they are looking for an automation solution? What is most important?

You have done work in building materials, food and bev, what other industries?

What do you mean by end-of-line robotics systems?

What is happening in palletizing?

What does Induction mean?

What is a modular palletizing system?

Are you finding that you are doing more work with smaller companies or larger companies?

What is more important, cycle time or uptime?

What does the ROI conversation look like - is it still 24 months?

You are Fanuc partner ~ what does that mean to you, Fanuc and your end customer?

Let’s talk about end of arm tools, are you seeing any trends?

How long does it take to purchase, design and build a system?

Do you find more engineers in the building (ie in your customer's buildings)or less?

How are you attracting skilled trades?

How do you stay on target for machine deliveries?

Did we forget to talk about anything?

When you are not automating, integrating automation, what do you like to do, hobbies?

How can people get a hold of you?

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing. Thanks too to the team at Motion Controls Robotics for putting this visit together, especially Nicole Busenbark.

Regards,

Jim

Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast If you would like to get involved with A3 | The Robot Industry Podcast, would like to become a guest or nominate someone, send me an email to therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces or find me on LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with Scott, LinkedIn is the best place or you can get in touch with me.

Motion Controls Robotics website is here.

Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at [email protected]

Our co-sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

Today for The Robot Industry Podcast (#122) I welcome Drew Wilson. Drew has been a leader in all things electrical and mechanical test and he is a friend. Drew is a brilliant engineer and is not afraid to speak his mind especially about all things automation and testing. He has helped educate hundreds of engineers and customers about common sense testing in the automation industry.

You have had a very interesting jobs and projects in your life. You have worked on the people mover in Detroit and in automotive, medical device, pharma machines and there are lots that we cannot talk about too.

Drew, Test is a challenge for manufacturers and machine builders, because I feel that they just want to buy something and move on and they, the machine builder and maybe even the end customer don’t really know why and what they are testing. They just want a Pass or a Fail…a simple answer to a complex problem. Would you agree?

Can you tell our listeners what a gauge R & R is? Why would you recommend a test company and not an automation company or machine builder to do the test part of an automated system? What are some trends that you have noticed in automated testing over the last few years? What are some of the best practices for test/testing? Do you have some favourite test equipment companies, hardware and software? Testing is a huge challenge to both the manufacturer and the automator, how would your recommend to some of our listeners who might be thinking ~ how can I specialize (or maybe how can my kid) specialize in test and test instrumentation, how do I learn about this? Maybe I want to start a test instrumentation company? How do I do that? Machine vision is sometimes confused with testing…what are your thoughts? A question about expensive test equipment. If I am installing test equipment in an automated system, am I best to distribute the test equipment throughout the machine or put it at the end of the line, what is your thoughts on this? What are the big mistakes that automation integrators, even very big and capable ones make when it comes to test? What do you like doing when you are not selling robots? How can people get a hold of you?

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing, thanks for listening.

Regards,

Jim

Jim Beretta
 Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast If you would like to get involved with A3 | The Robot Industry Podcast, would like to become a guest or nominate someone, you can find me, Jim Beretta on LinkedIn or send me an email to therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces.

If you would like to get in touch with Drew, LinkedIn is the best place:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-wilson-8206b43 or you can get in touch with me.

Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at [email protected]

Our co-sponsor is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, Blanchard Ground steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

I welcome Andrea Mazzini and Chris Round to this edition (#121) of The Robot Industry Podcast. If you know me, you might have also met Chris, one of the best marketers and salesperson in our industry. We had this call while Chris was at HQ in Arezzo, Tuscany in Italy.

Some of my questions to Chris and Andrea:

Chris you have just ARS, can I excited you about the company and the opportunity?

Andrea There is a lot going on in Italy right now when it comes to automation?

What’s happening out there from your perspective?

What is Flexibowl? Are there any other major components?

How does it work?

What makes it innovative? What kind of parts are in its sweet spot?

Where are you having success? What is the typical cycle time?

Tell me about the vision system?

Success Stories / Case stories?

Does it compete with traditional bowl feeders or other feeding technologies?

Where is it made? What about service and support?

Tell us about Automate show. What is your booth number at Automate Show?

how do I find out more information about ARS and Flexibowl?

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing, thanks for listening.

Regards,

Jim

Jim Beretta Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast

To find out more about Ars Automation click here and you can check out Chris Round and Andrea Mazzini, via their LinkedIn profiles.

If you would like to get involved with A3 | The Robot Industry Podcast, would like to become a guest or nominate someone, you can find me, Jim Beretta on LinkedIn or send me an email to therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces.

Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at [email protected]

Our co-sponsor for this episode is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

Keywords and terms for this podcast: Ars Automation, Chris Round, Andrea Mazzini, Flexibowl, The Robot Industry Podcast, Ehrhardt Automation Systems #TheRobotIndustryPodcast Anchor Danly

For this edition of #Therobotindustrypodcast (#120) I caught up with an old friend, David McCharles from Pineberry Manufacturing during Informa's ATX and PackEx Toronto show. David is an entrepreneur business owner and golfer.

David manufactures very specific machinery to the automation and packaging market: Friction feeders, pick and place dispensers, plastic card material handling equipment, card affixers, conveyors, leaflet dispensers, custom automation, labelling systems, inkjet, collation systems and more.

We talk about what's happening in packaging automation and his changes from 2009.

Automation integration, robotics integration.

One point of contact for end packaging companies.

Automation projects > What's Happening?

Pokey Man Cards

Personalization of letters inserted into boxes

Printing on envelopes, bubble mailers, paper bags, etc.

Enjoy the podcast. Thanks for subscribing, thanks for listening.

Regards,

Jim

Jim Beretta Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing & The Robot Industry Podcast

To find out more about Pineberry click here and you can check out David McCharles, here.

If you would like to get involved with A3 | The Robot Industry Podcast, would like to become a guest or nominate someone, you can find me, Jim Beretta on LinkedIn or send me an email to therobotindustrypodcast at gmail dot com, no spaces.

Ehrhardt Automation is our key sponsor. Ehrhardt builds and commissions robot and custom turnkey automated solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing they understand the complex world of automated manufacturing, project management, supply chain and delivering world-class custom automation on-time and on-budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Ehrhardt can build for you at [email protected]

Our co-sponsor for this episode is Anchor Danly. They are the leading manufacturer and distributor of robot and automation bases, high quality die sets, components, steel plates, and metal fabrications used in the production of tools, dies, and molds for metal working and plastics injection molding, mining and construction equipment, and general fabrications.

Keywords and terms for this podcast: David McCharles, Pineberry Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Friction Feeders, Card Feeders, The Robot Industry Podcast, Ehrhardt Automation Systems #TheRobotIndustryPodcast Anchor Danly