In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s unique approach to sheet metal fabricating. Chamberlain explains how OSH Cut offers an online platform that allows customers to upload their designs and receive instant quotes for laser cutting and bending services. He also describes how they have developed their own software to automate the quoting and production processes, as well as their efforts to expand their capabilities to include other services such as welding. Chamberlain also discusses their use of digital advertising ..read more

This week on The Fabricator Podcast, Jason Becker, host of the Arc Junkies Podcast and owner of Underground Metal Works, shares his journey into welding and how the trade has opened doors he never would have expected, leading him to become an ironworker, educator, podcaster, and business owner. Becker talks about how he earned his first welding certificates before he even learned how to drive, and how he carried over that trade when he joined the Marine Corps. After leaving the military, he worked as a structural steel ironworker before transitioning into teaching welding at Florida colleges a ..read more

Omar Nashashibi, co-founder of The Franklin Partnership and a lobbyist representing manufacturing trade associations, joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing sheet metal fabricators and other manufacturers in the current political climate. He emphasizes the importance of workforce development, stable tax policies, and understanding government regulations. Nashashibi also discusses the impact of tariffs, the need for education and advocacy on behalf of manufacturers, and the role of government incentives in promoting profitability and viability. He encour ..read more

After Ludlow Manufacturing Inc. (LMI) received The Fabricator's 2024 Industry Award, Todd Ludlow, founder and president of the Waukegan, Ill.-based metal fabrication business, joined us on the podcast to expound on it all. Ludlow discusses his journey of starting and growing his own fabrication business. He reflects on his early days as a machine operator and how transitioning into sales sales role helped him learn the industry. He emphasizes three important points the helped transform his business to the success it is today: The importance of having a strong company culture Giving up power t ..read more

In this episode, Michael Bennett, a welder and metal artist based in Wadsworth, Ill., joins The Fabricator Podcast to discuss how an unfortunate car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down reignited his passion for working with metal, particularly scrap metal. Michael talks about how attending mechanic school helped instill a mindset of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, which he says inspired him to relearn how use his tools after he lost strength in his preferred left hand. It also gave him the skills to build robots to help assist him around his farm. He also ..read more

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, sponsored by Salvagnini America and part of the Automation Talk series, Tim Heston interviews Clay Case and Matt Humerick of Salvagnini about the role of software automation in modern precision sheet metal fabrication. They discuss the challenges and bottlenecks in the fabrication process, the importance of data flow and communication between design, engineering, and manufacturing, and the benefits of software in streamlining production and improving efficiency. They also touch on the future of software in the industry, including the potential for AI ..read more

In this episode, Christian Streu, CFO of The Partner Companies, and Charles Cohen, President of FotoFab, join The Fabricator Podcast to talk about the growing trend of mergers and acquisitions in manufacturing. They discuss the evolution of Chicago-based The Partner Companies and how smaller manufacturing and fabrication businesses can benefit from being part of a larger organization. The Partner Companies was formed in 1997 by founders Dan Brumlik and Scott Bekemeyer with a focus to bring together a strategic network of specialty manufacturers serving the aerospace, defense, energy, medical ..read more

On this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Philadelphia-based welder and trades advocate Pa'Trice Frazier joins host Dan Davis and Josh Welton at SEMA, in partnership with Miller Electric. Pa'Trice chats about how she got her start as a welder and working Atlanta projects like the Mercedes Benz Stadium, Spanx Headquarters, Marta Buckhead Bridge, and, in Philadelphia, the River Alive Exhibit at the Independence Seaport Museum. She also talks about appearing on the NBC show Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge and fabricating a 1969 Dodge Charger called "Power Charged" and using her Weldjointed platfo ..read more

Ryan Fielding of Ringbrothers joins hosts Dan Davis and Josh Welton on this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, in partnership with Miller Electric at SEMA 2023 in Las Vegas. Ryan goes into detail about the three builds that Wisconsin-based Ringbrothers displayed at SEMA: a 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible called “Uncaged”, a 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II called “Paramount”, and a 1969 Dodge Charger called “Tusk”. Ryan also talks about how his family's background influenced his career as a fabricator, how he learned to weld when he was 8 years old, and his grandfather's stint as a stunt car per ..read more

In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, and in partnership with Miller Electric, Andy Weyenberg from Miller's motorsports division and Real Garage with Andy, joins us live at SEMA 2023 in Las Vegas to discuss the welding industry and its applications in the performance racing industry. Andy talks about his love of motorsports, the science behind the various types of welding, what SEMA means for Miller, how race cars influence different welding techniques, the famous car builders at SEMA, and the future of the aftermarket sector. He also discusses building a '69 Trans Am with 800 horsepower ..read more