308: From Prototype to Production: Inside Chicago’s Hardtech Innovation Engine with mHUB's Bill Fienup and Kim Blomquist

Five years ago, many companies treated training as optional. That’s changing.Joining Chris is Christelle Keefer, Director of Training and Certification at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), back for a second visit. Before she started at A3, she spent years at a robotics OEM working with schools, instructors, and customers worldwide. And if she had her way, this conversation would be happening at a punk rock show.They discuss what automation training should include and what certifications look like for different roles. Christelle also talks about how manufacturers can prepare the existing workforce for new opportunities, and how educators can help students connect with automation.In this episode, find out:How stackable credentials let working adults build their skills without taking years away from workWhy hands-on equipment time and simulation still matter as more training moves onlineHow manufacturers can upskill the workers they already have, and why tying training to a pay increase or promotion mattersHow colleges work with local employers to shape their programs, and where apprenticeships fit into the pictureWhat A3 is doing to connect students with manufacturing through competitions, mentorship and the Education Pavilion at AutomateWhat Christelle hopes the future of automation will look like, and why she sees a national strategy as part of the pictureEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“Nothing beats hands-on training and actually getting your hands onto the software and onto the equipment.” - Christelle Keefer, Director of Training and Certification at the Association for Advancing Automation“Teachers who are bold and brave with technology learn with their students. They make mistakes with their students.” - Christelle Keefer, Director of Training and Certification at the Association for Advancing Automation“Training tied to one brand doesn’t always transfer when someone changes jobs.” - Christelle Keefer, Director of Training and Certification at the Association for Advancing AutomationLinks & mentions:Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is North America’s largest automation trade association, representing more than 1,500 organizations involved in robotics, AI, machine vision, motion control and related technologies.Automate is A3’s automation show, with an education pavilion, student robotics competitions, and a list of employers hiring on the floor.Fathom Digital Manufacturing offers more than 25 advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, from CNC machining to injection molding.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

In a factory, work in progress is a problem. In a warehouse, it’s the whole job.Chris takes the show inside the warehouse with Josh Cloer, General Manager, North America at Nomagic, and Onur Uranli, Director, Enterprise Business Development & Strategic Growth at Intelligrated. It’s an adjacent topic, but every product a factory makes ends up in one.Josh, back after first joining the show in 2022, explains what physical AI means for a robot that must work out what went wrong. Onur asks whether the pallets arriving at a warehouse are ready for the automation built to receive them. Together they look at why warehouses are playing catch-up with factories, and why the answer starts with Henry Ford.In this episode, find out:Why most warehouses are still manual, and where automation investment has gone so farWhat the “forgotten middle” of warehouse automation looks likeHow physical AI helps a robot work out what went wrong and recover from downtimeWhy the same item can look different by the time it reaches the warehouseWhere warehouse automation is catching up to the factory, and what each side can learn from the otherHow MHI’s Robotics Group helps automation vendors work togetherEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“It’s hard to build a company that can be all things to all people in a big market like warehouse automation.” - Josh Cloer, General Manager, North America at Nomagic“Doing that point solution business case is a really hard problem after the fact. And it should be something that you’re thinking from the beginning.” - Josh Cloer, General Manager, North America at Nomagic“This is not a really pallet problem. It’s a system problem.” - Onur Uranli, Director, Enterprise Business Development & Strategic Growth at IntelligratedLinks & mentions:Nomagic is a physical AI company that builds robotic item picking for end-to-end warehouse automation.Intelligrated is a warehouse automation provider that designs, builds, integrates and supports end-to-end systems for distribution centers, including conveyors, robotics and warehouse software.MHI is the material handling and supply chain association whose Robotics Group focuses on robotics and automation.PTC’s Industrial Newsletter is a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

How do you explain mHUB? Chris asks the people behind it, over coffee instead of beer.Recorded in Chicago’s West Loop, Chris sits down with mHUB’s Bill Fienup, Co-Founder and VP of Innovation Services, and Kim Blomquist, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, to explore how the company helps hardtech startups move from prototype to production.Bill and Kim cover the labs and the accelerator, and how a startup gets its first 10 to 100 units built before it finds a manufacturing partner. They also discuss why investors are paying more attention to hardtech.In this episode, find out:What a platform like mHUB gives hardtech startups beyond a building and a maker spaceWhy having labs on site speeds up product developmentHow the accelerator funds early-stage startupsHow startups find the right manufacturing partner as they scaleWhy hardware is harder to build than softwareHow HAAS Alert brought production home after tariffs hitEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“In hardware, you’re manufacturing something that takes much longer and much more capital, and so it’s so important to get that first part right.” - Bill Fienup, Co-Founder and VP of Innovation Services at mHUB“We’re in the business of building new businesses. But we also want to retain them, we want them to stay here.” - Kim Blomquist, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at mHUB“You need to be creative about how you can extend your runway, how you can raise enough money to cover not only the development, but the manufacturing.” - Bill Fienup, Co-Founder and VP of Innovation Services at mHUBLinks & mentions:mHUB is a Chicago hardtech and manufacturing innovation center that gives startups a machine shop, mentors, a manufacturing network and capital.HAAS Alert is a Chicago safety technology company whose Safety Cloud platform sends real-time alerts to drivers when emergency vehicles approach.Zenblen is a Chicago food robotics company that builds fully automated smoothie kiosks.PTC’s Industrial Newsletter is a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.MaintainX is a maintenance and asset management platform for the technicians keeping equipment running.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturing has been collecting skills for centuries, and the list keeps growing.Chris takes Manufacturing Happy Hour to Revere Electric’s Executive Forum at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) for a live conversation about what the factory of the future needs in the plant and in the workforce. Joining him are Michael Cvelbar and Phil Bush of Rockwell Automation, Joe Hamann of the Connected Systems Institute (CSI), and Ryan Schneeberger of Revere Electric Supply.Joe and Phil look at how new people get job-ready through student hackathons and a veteran training program. Ryan and Michael cover the other side, keeping people on the floor and giving operators more to do once they’re there. Students learn where AI adds value, while manufacturers want to see the return before they invest. And a room full of manufacturers toasts every time they say “digital twin.”In this episode, find out:Why Michael says manufacturers need backup plans when disruption hitsHow Rockwell is preparing operators to troubleshoot their own equipmentWhy manufacturers say new engineering graduates can take years to reach full productivityHow Rockwell’s Academy of Advanced Manufacturing trains military veterans as controls techniciansWhat flexible automation can do for a customer and why manufacturers stay cautious on AI until the ROI is clearHow Phil, Joe, Ryan and Michael describe their factory of the future when the audience asksEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“We want to hire on attitude and aptitude and culture fit, and we want to train on skills and capabilities.” - Phil Bush, Global Competency Programs Manager at Rockwell Automation“Get started. Try something, right? Start small, learn from it. It’s probably not going to be perfect, but you’ll be better the next time.” - Joe Hamann, Executive Director at Connected Systems Institute“The digitization that’s required, it’s business critical. It’s mission critical now. It’s no longer, ‘Hey, we’re going to go pilot this and see if this works.’ You need it, and it needs to be scaled across the enterprise.” - Michael Cvelbar, Director of Operations at Rockwell AutomationLinks & mentions:Rockwell Automation is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, headquartered in Milwaukee.Revere Electric Supply is a fourth-generation, family-owned electrical distributor serving industrial and construction customers across Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and a presenting partner of this live event.Connected Systems Institute is a center of excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, hosting this episode and developing manufacturing specialists through education, lab facilities, and research with industry partners.Husco is a Waukesha, Wisconsin manufacturer of hydraulic and electro-hydraulic controls for off-highway and automotive equipment.Fathom Digital Manufacturing offers more than 25 advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, from CNC machining to injection molding.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturing has a lot to gain from AI, and a lot to lose by waiting.Recorded at mHUB in Chicago’s West Loop during IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), Chris sits down with Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone, to talk about what AI could mean for an industry facing 500,000 open manufacturing jobs and a growing need to do more with the people it already has.They also look at what happens when systems of record become systems of action, and how that changes the way manufacturers respond to problems on the shop floor.In this episode, find out:How a career that started on a Honda engine line shaped Sanjay's view of manufacturing as managing constraintsWhy manufacturers don't need to replace their existing technology before putting AI to workHow AI can turn a system of record into a system of action on the factory floorWhat QAD Redzone learned after giving line leads an AI agent before bringing their supervisors into the conversationWhy some manufacturers are willing to set aside 5-7% of their IT budget for AIHow a month of 24/7 bug fixing, complete with its own t-shirts, helped QAD Redzone rebuild customer trustEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"The role of AI is not to replace the human being. The role of AI is to make that human being, that talent, 3 to 4x more powerful." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone"Manufacturing is a show-me world. It is not a tell-me world." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone"Nobody in manufacturing is sitting there waiting for somebody to give them AI. They only want it if it impacts their outcomes." - Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD RedzoneLinks & mentions:STÄUBLI is a leading manufacturer of quick connector systems, covering connection needs for all types of fluids, gases, and electrical power.QAD Redzone is the manufacturing AI platform built for the mid-market, bringing AI into the ERP and the workflow where decisions get made.mHUB is a Chicago hard tech platform that brings young companies together with networks of entrepreneurs, advisors, and capital.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

RVs are homes that go 60 miles an hour. That changes everything about what goes inside them.Chris sits down with Sean Petterson, CEO of Supersede, a company combining recycling and manufacturing in an unexpected way - turning recycled plastic into structural building materials. Supersede started with boats, where wood has an obvious problem - boats get wet!From there, the company moved into RVs, where the materials face constant movement and thermal cycling, on a production line that can build an entire RV in a couple of hours.Sean also explains the thinking behind Supersede's manufacturing model, including why he'd rather build 10 smaller plants than one big one.In this episode, find out:How running production lines in mirrored pairs cuts the distance operators walk across the floorWhy an RV, built to go 60 miles an hour, is a harder test for a material than a house that never movesHow Supersede built its own ERP with zero software developers, piecing it together through Slack, Jira, and GitHub insteadHow a pre-sold capacity threshold - already dropping fast - decides when Supersede builds its next plantHow embedding machine vision and LiDAR on the line replaces a QA machine that would otherwise cost far moreWhy Sean thinks manufacturers who didn't start using AI a year ago are already a decade behindEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"If you hadn't gotten on the AI bus 12 months ago, you're a decade behind." - Sean Petterson, CEO of Supersede“A big contributor to those inefficiencies is, frankly, just legacy that gets embedded.” - Sean Petterson, CEO of Supersede“In manufacturing, things can move slow, and we just have the unique benefit of making sure that we're investing effectively, but very efficiently.” - Sean Petterson, CEO of SupersedeLinks & mentions:Supersede is a manufacturing company turning recycled plastic into structural building materials, starting with its Marine Board product for the marine and RV industries.Harmoni is a factory orchestration platform that connects what's happening on your shop floor with the systems you already use, from your machines and operators to your ERP, giving your team one real-time view of production.PTC's Industrial Newsletter - a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

There's a lot more coming out of Iowa than corn.Chris heads to Des Moines for a live conversation with four guests who each know Iowa manufacturing a little differently.Dominique Hain and Cami Schaefer share how Women in Manufacturing Iowa grew to over 900 members in three years. Denny Williams and Denise Hill take it from there, discussing automation, hiring, and just how deep Iowa's farm roots run through its factories.The conversation also uncovers some of the products many people may not know are made in Iowa, including Winnebago RVs.In this episode, find out:What makes a state better known for agriculture become one of the country's stronger manufacturing basesHow Iowa's farming communities are shaping who gets hired at companies like WeilerWhich surprising products are actually made in Iowa, from butter braids to basketball hoopsWhy so many Iowa manufacturers trace back to a farmer solving a problem for himself, then his neighborsHow Co-Line is using robots and cobots to boost throughput without cutting its workforceWhy finding qualified operators is harder than finding corn in rural IowaEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"I love Des Moines because it's almost like a well-kept secret of Iowa, or of the US." - Cami Schaefer, Executive Operations Assistant at BrownWinick"We launched our chapter only three years ago, and we're already over 900 members strong, which is absolutely incredible." - Dominique Hain, Industry Account Manager at Rockwell Automation"With that strong work ethic and farming background, we like to hire young farm kids who know how to work on equipment. They're not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty." - Denise Hill, Senior Human Resources Manager at WeilerLinks & mentions:Dominique Hain - Industry Account Manager at Rockwell AutomationDenny Williams - Sales/Estimating at Co-Line ManufacturingDenise Hill - Senior Human Resources Manager at WeilerCami Schaefer - Executive Operations Assistant at BrownWinickFathom Digital Manufacturing, offering more than 25 advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, from CNC machining to injection molding.PTC's Industrial Newsletter, a quick hit of clarity on how design, manufacturing, and service data can work together for manufacturing leaders looking to modernize.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

You can count on Philly to bring the energy!Recorded live in King of Prussia at the final stop of the Northeast leg of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, this episode features the loudest, most engaged crowd Chris has had on the show yet.Ashley, Brett, and Matt open the show with a look at what makes the Philadelphia manufacturing ecosystem tick, and why collaboration, not competition, might be the region's biggest advantage.Hannah and Greg then join Matt to talk workforce development, and some of the most creative approaches to the talent shortage you'll hear on the show all year.In this episode, find out:What inspired one shop owner to build a group where members share equipment, knowledge, and even trade secrets with people who'd traditionally be seen as competitorsWhy locating a machine shop in the heart of Philadelphia, despite the traffic, parking, and wage tax, turned out to be a competitive advantageHow a youth basketball nonprofit ended up building a skilled trades program for teenagers who don't want to go to collegeWhy the region's defense industry is driving serious demand for skilled manufacturing workersWhat convinced a group of manufacturing leaders that hiring from a more diverse talent pool is a genuine business advantage, not just the right thing to doWhat it really takes to change how an entire generation sees a career in the tradesEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"That's a competitive advantage for us when we're hiring from a diverse group. Our spindles are running more." - Matt Bruner, President & Co-Founder at American Precision Works"What makes Philadelphia great is that now we have that willingness to change. Philly is really spearheading that campaign to make manufacturing and the collaboration between all of us more open" - Ashley Watkins, Sales & Marketing Manager at JBM Technologies"I don't hide any of my prints when we do the group meetings. I'm not afraid of anyone coming in and stealing my work." - Brett Lister, Youth Basketball, Business Owner at B&B Dynamic MachiningLinks & mentions:Ashley Watkins - Sales & Marketing Manager at JBM TechnologiesMatt Bruner - President & Co-Founder at American Precision WorksGregory Thomson - Director of Skilled Building Trades at PhiladelphiaBrett Lister - Youth Basketball, Business Owner at B&B Dynamic MachiningHannah McGarry - Director at Workforce EngagementCliftonLarsonAllen, presenting partner for the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, offering industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.MaintainX, presenting partner for the tour, helping frontline teams streamline maintenance, standard operating procedures, and more from a mobile device.NTMA (New Jersey/Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association), a local partner organization supporting manufacturers with resources, events, and a national network.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Where's the party at? While there’s a lot to see on the show floor at IMTS 2026, some of the best conversations, connections, and memories happen after the show floor closes each day.In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by returning guests Jim Mayer and Emily Wilkins for an "IMTS After Hours" conversation about how to make the most of manufacturing’s biggest week in Chicago.They share some of their favorite stories from IMTS events of the past - from spontaneous meetups and happy hours, to karaoke, to Chris’ infamous 90s Vs. Emo Night in 2024 - while previewing what’s on the agenda for IMTS 2026.You’ll hear why the after hours experience can be just as valuable as walking the show floor, how to pace yourself during a packed week of events, and where you can find Chris, Jim, Emily, and the rest of the manufacturing community once the trade show shuts down for the day.Whether this is your first IMTS or you’re a seasoned veteran, consider this your unofficial guide to making the most of IMTS afterparties all week long.See you in Chicago. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

"New York City is where dreams come to audition", and this goes for manufacturers too.Recorded live at New Lab in Brooklyn, this episode is split into three segments and features seven guests. Chris explores what manufacturing means in a city best known for 'wall street’.Andrew, James, and Stacey open the show by digging into New York's overlooked industrial past, including a 250-year stretch where the city was the largest manufacturing hub in the country. Jacob, Nikki, and Miquela then take the stage to talk about what's being built in the city today, from robotics to a single Brooklyn facility housing 17 different manufacturing verticals.Finally, Michelle of New York Embroidery Studio joins Chris one-on-one to share her insights after nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience, including how she pivoted her entire operation overnight to produce PPE during COVID.In this episode, find out:What the Brooklyn Navy Yard's 300-acre footprint looks like today, decades after its WWII peakWhy New York's robotics ecosystem might never look like Detroit or Pittsburgh and how that could be an advantageWhat 17 different manufacturing verticals look like inside a single Brooklyn facilityHow one manufacturer pivoted from designing gowns for the Met Gala to producing 3 million isolation gowns a monthWhy New York's built-in market of 8 million consumers gives local manufacturers an edge most cities can't offerWhat it took to solve a 20-year-old medical design flaw by giving a doctor direct access to a factory floorEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"All These inventions that came from here - the laser, the CCD, the ATM machine, the transistor, vulcanized rubber - all those things went somewhere else to build.” - James Williams, Chief Strategy Officer at Nanotronics"It's not that somebody is getting rid of the hand tools, it's that it's merging with additional technology." - Miquela Craytor, Founder & Principal, Craytor Strategies"Smart people that have problems need to have access to factories to create and build new things." - Michelle Feinberg, Owner of New York Embroidery Studio and NYES ProtectLinks & mentions:CliftonLarsonAllen, sponsor of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, offering industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.MaintainX, sponsor of the tour, helping frontline teams streamline maintenance, standard operating procedures, and more from a mobile device.New Lab, an innovation hub based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, hosting this episode and supporting startups working on advanced technology and manufacturing.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.