Podcast for the Automation, Robotics and Manufacturing Industries by host, Jim Beretta. The podcast is partnered with A3 | RIA Robotics Industry Association. We discuss trends, innovation, and important tech for advanced manufacturing.
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Reducing Risk in Automation with BOS Innovations’ Ben Huigenbois
Season 4 · Episode 136
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 • Duration 25:13
Welcome to the podcast (#136) My guest today is Ben Huigenbois, he is president of BOS Innovations in London, Ontario, my home town. From Ben's LinkedIn: Experienced President with a demonstrated history of working in the industrial automation industry. Experienced and skilled in leadership, organizational development, ERP system development, skills development, project management, strategic planning, technology deployment, sales and marketing.
Ben, welcome to the podcast, thanks for joining us. How did you get interested in automation? Give us a bit of your background.
Tell our audience about BOS Innovations? What is it that you do, that is what type of automation are you building?
What have you seen change recently in automation systems?
What are your customers asking for that they may not have in previous years?
Our podcast today is going to be about reducing RISK in automation systems. This is an important conversation because reducing risk for both an integrator and an end customer is critical, can you comment?
What are some of the risks that manufacturers face? How about the integrator or machine builder?
How can manufacturers reduce their risk?
Abating risk takes time and money, correct?
Where do you start when it comes to identifying risk areas?
Let’s talk about remote support, something that I know is very important to you and your customers.
What are some of the challenges for remote support?
You have recently moved your entire operations, and thank you for the tour, it is a beautiful facility.
You are also launching a subsidiary but separate business called TrueLight [TrueLight Machine Vision Integration]. Can you tell our audience about the need and the focus on TrueLight? They are a separate business, correct.
Did we forget to talk about anything?
When you are not automating, innovating, building systems and vision, what do you like to do, hobbies?
How can people get a hold of you and find out more about BOS Innovation?
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.
RoboHQ's Powerhouse Pittsburgh Robotics Network PRN with Jennifer Apicella
Episode 135
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • Duration 31:41
Welcome to the podcast (#135), Jennifer. I am glad to have you. Can you tell me about Jennifer Apicella?
The Pittsburgh robo-ecosystem is a globally recognized powerhouse of more than 125 advanced technology companies, offering 7,300+ high-impact jobs across 18 industry verticals.
How did you get involved in robotics?
Pittsburgh, it seems both likely and unlikely to be a robotics hub. Tell us about the city.
Is there a synergy between members and / or board members?
How did the city turn into a robotics HUB? How long did it take?
Let’s talk about some (of your) numbers: members, money, sponsors, etc.
Funding, where do you get your funding?
What is the main reason that startups join PRN?
What is the profile of a perfect member?
Who are some of your new and hot robot companies? Do you see any patterns or areas of interest (humanoid vs mobile robots)
What are some of your challenges in being in charge of PRN?
What kind of facilities do you have?
Tell us about some of the programs that you run?
How important are events to your members?
Do you charge for membership?
Are there other robot or automation hubs in the world that you like? Amsterdam? Waterloo? California?
Automation, Pizza and Robots with Appetronix’s CEO Nipun Sharma
Season 4 · Episode 134
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 • Duration 25:49
Welcome to The Robot Industry Podcast #134. It is my pleasure to introduce Nipun Sharma from Appetronix to this edition of the podcast
Nipun Sharma is a visionary entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of Appetronix, an innovative company revolutionizing the food service industry with fully autonomous robotic quick-service restaurants. By integrating advanced machine learning and data science, Appetronix creates delicious, made-to-order meals without the need for on-site staff, offering a glimpse into the future of dining.
With more than 17 years of leadership experience in the restaurant and food manufacturing sectors, Nipun has successfully managed more than ten restaurant brands across multiple cuisines, including both quick-service and full-service concepts. His expertise extends to operating food production facilities, enabling a seamless connection between supply chains and consumer dining experiences.
His professional journey began on Wall Street, where he honed his skills in investment banking and private equity. A graduate of McGill University, he transitioned to the food and beverage industry, taking on executive roles and serving as Chief Operating Officer for global public restaurant chains. His strategic vision and operational acumen have driven growth and innovation, solidifying his reputation as a leader in transforming traditional business models through technology.
Nipun is passionate about redefining the dining landscape and advancing the integration of robotics in the restaurant industry, making him a pioneer at the intersection of technology, hospitality, and culinary excellence.
Nipun, How did you get into the industry?
Is it food or is it robotics & automation?
Unmatched autonomy with Maple Advanced Robotics Inc. MARI
Season 3 · Episode 133
Friday, February 21, 2025 • Duration 26:49
Welcome to podcast #133 with my guests Armin Khatoonabadi and Yi Li from Maple Advanced Robotics Inc., located in Richmond Hill, ON. Some exciting news is that the company has been awarded the Hannover Messe Robotics Award for their AI-driven robotics platform for fast and code-free programming platform.
Armin and Yi, welcome to the podcast.
Yi Can you tell our audience a bit about you?
Armin, your turn.
Armin you have recently just joined Maple Advanced Robotics, from Apara.ai, correct?
Yi, can you tell us how you got started?
Can you tell the audience about MARI and what is making your offering so different in the industry?
What is MARI’s Scan & Go workflow?
What are your proprietary technologies?
Can you give our listeners some examples of what applications uses are out there (case studies)
What are some trends in the industry?
Award question?
Have we forgotten to talk about anything?
How do our listeners get in touch with you?
Maple Advanced Robotics Inc. Unit 17, 80 West Beaver Creek Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1H3
Our sponsor 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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com
Redefining the boundaries of robotics with Palladyne AI's Ben Wolff
Season 3 · Episode 132
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 • Duration 18:07
Ben, welcome to the podcast.
You are a lawyer by trade, and you have worked in different roles, at the former Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation, which is now called Palladyne AI, and in fact recently came back from retirement to lead the company. Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to come back to the company.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room…Palladyne AI is formerly Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation. The company was previously focused on commercializing robotic hardware such as teleoperated robots, exoskeletons and an underwater robot, as a result of 30+ years of development work, government contracts and the acquisition of RE2 (“R-E-Squared”). However, the company recently re-branded as Palladyne AI and is now focusing on AI software. Why this pivot?
Do you have any regrets about going public via a special purpose acquisition company back in 2021?
Tell us about your team… How many people do you currently have working at Palladyne AI?
Where is Palladyne AI located?
Can you talk about Palladyne AI’s technology and how it is differentiated from other AI solutions for robotic automation?
What is the value proposition of the Palladyne AI software?
How much of Palladyne’s current AI solution is based on the robotics development work from Sarcos?
Palladyne AI is “hardware-agnostic” – what do you mean by that, and how do you accomplish it?
Who are Palladyne AI’s customers and the industries you are primarily focused on?
Can you give us any examples of projects the company is working on or has announced?
Where do you find new customers?
MIR Tech and Trends with Jean-Pierre Hathout and Kevin March
Season 3 · Episode 131
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 • Duration 34:25
Welcome to The Robot Industry Podcast, #131. For this edition of the podcast, I have two people from the same company: MIR, or Mobile Industrial Robots.
I caught up with Jean-Pierre Hathout the CEO at MIR, at the Automate show, and later I had a conversation with Kevin March who is our local Area Sales Manager. I thought it would be interesting to join the two conversations - one at a trade event and one about sales and applications.
Our sponsor 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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com
If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me, jim beretta on LinkedIn.
Robotically Cleaning the World's Hotels with Tailos' CEO Micah Estis Green
Season 3 · Episode 130
Thursday, November 28, 2024 • Duration 31:20
Micah Estis Green is the Founder and CEO of TAILOS, an inventor of a robot vacuum named Rosie. His company is based in Austin, TX . He is top 30 under 30 and has been covered in lots of magazines including Forbes and other industry periodicals.
First Micah, tell me about Shark Puncher - I have to ask.
You have taken a break from Cornell, is that correct?
How did you get involved in automation and robotics > and you have been building robots for a while?
Tell our audience about your company and how you got started.
You are located in Austin. Is this important?
What are some of the surprises you have experienced commercializing a robot?
Tell us about Rosie (by the way, I love that name).
Can you educate us about the hotel industry, where is the pain? Who is the buyer? It is a competitive industry.
What about the guest experience…
How do people find out about you?
What is your sales process, if I am a Hotel Operator, what do I do? Can I test out a unit?
Why not just install a bunch of iRobots?
What is the ROI of a Rosie?
Are you selling Rosie by the piece or is this a raas model?
Do people see Rosie or is she just used during housekeeping?
Do cleaners like Rosie?
Let’s talk about data and the importance of data to your clients?
Engineered Steel Solutions with Anchor Danly's Ray Osborne
Episode 129
Friday, November 15, 2024 • Duration 23:01
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?
The Power of Automation Comau Group at Automate 2024
Season 3 · Episode 132
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 • Duration 18:22
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.
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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com 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.
What is next for PRN?
When you are not organizing robotics and events, what do you like to do?
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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com 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.
Tell me and our listeners how you transitioned from pasta to pizza and SJW to Appetronix.
Why Pizza? How big is pizza and automated pizza market?
Who are your partners… Donato’s, Agape, AlleyCorp, Abuma Manufacturing and Grote?
Your first location is an airport in Columbus OHIO, correct?
What were some of the big challenges for machine or system #1?
What kind of robots are you using?
How many pizzas can you make an hour?
Lets talk about DATA?
What does the future look like for Appetronix? Are there other foods, other form factors?
Did we miss anything?
If someone wants to find out more about how they can put one of your units into their facility, how do they get a hold of you?
When you are not creating value and inventing new ways to eat food things, what do you like to do?
Some notes:
Appetronix has entered into an exclusive partnership with Donatos Pizza and its sister companies Agápe Automation and the Grote Company to launch a fully-autonomous pizza vending machine (from press release). I know that
If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me, jim beretta on LinkedIn.
Our sponsor 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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com
If you would like to get in touch with us at THE robot industry podcast, you can find me, jim beretta on LinkedIn.
What things are we not seeing about Rosie, when you have an IOT device in hotel rooms?
You have over 1000 units deployed (congratulations!), who are your customers, where are you finding success?
How are you delivering Rosie to your clients? What is the start up time to get going?
How many robots do you usually deploy at one time?
Is there a lot of mapping and programming involved?
How long does the battery last and when do you charge Rosie?
What about spare parts, if a robot stops working?
What is the addressable market for you?
What is next for you?
When you are not innovating, building robots and cool things, what do you like to do, tell us about your hobbies?
How can people get a hold of you and find out more about Rosie and Tailos?
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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com 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:
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?
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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com 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.
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 info@ehrhardtautomation.com 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.
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