Manufacturing a Stronger Standard

Live from FABTECH 2023: Stories From the Field with LestaUSA’s Brad Ruppert

Brad Ruppert

Live from FABTECH 2023; there were plenty of stories to share from the world of automation, robotics, and finishing. In the bustling and competitive world of manufacturing, innovation is the name of the game. The rapid embracement of automation technologies is a testament to the industry’s relentless pursuit of efficiency and quality. A study…

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Engineering & Construction
FABTECH 2023: Finishing Consultants Partners with LestaUSA to Bring Proven Robotic Finishing Solutions

The rapid evolution of technology in recent years has drastically transformed the manufacturing industry, unlocking new horizons in efficiency, precision, and scalability and bringing forth proven robotic finishing solutions. This transformation into an adoption of robotics and automation is reshaping the realm of finishing solutions within manufacturing. With FABTECH 2023 serving as a veritable…

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Engineering & Construction
FABTECH 2023: A Finishing Industry Update from LestaUSA National Sales Director, Steve Schwartz

The modern manufacturing industry stands at the cusp of a paradigm shift ushered in by the robust adoption of robotic technology and automation, particularly in finishing operations. While promising a leap in efficiency and precision, this transition invites many challenges and considerations. As showcased in FABTECH 2023, the amalgamation of seasoned expertise with innovative…

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Engineering & Construction
Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Robotic Finishing: More Than Programming a Path

In the latest episode of the podcast “Manufacturing a Stronger Standard,” host Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA, talked about robotic finishing and what needs to be discussed prior to creating painting programs and after. Despite the advanced technology available to support programming, there are still challenges we need to be aware of. He contended that “finishing is…

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Engineering & Construction
Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Fixing the Manufacturing Capacity Gap

Automating manufacturing processes is essential to addressing the labor shortage and skills gap within the manufacturing industry. More and more companies, especially those on the fabricating and welding side are automating processes to increase production. In this episode of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard podcast, Derek DeGeest President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA discusses a topic…

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Engineering & Construction
Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Robotic Finishing – More than a Program Path

Lesta and Wagner have over a decade of proven experience in automation together for general industry in Europe. DeGeest brought Lesta’s automation technology to the U.S. to build their robotic finishing system for metal their fabrication customers and opened LestaUSA to bring those solutions to the rest of North American companies. Wagner’s North American Systems…

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Articles Software & Technology
Live from FABTECH 2021: Bill Heuer and Paul Peterson

While automation is prevalent in many aspects of manufacturing, finishing and liquid applications have been slower to find the right solutions. Derek DeGeest, host of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard, spoke with Product Marketing Manager Bill Heuer and Worldwide Sales Director for Automation-Liquid Finishing Paul Peterson of Graco at FABTECH 2021 about their partnership as a…

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farm
The Business Case for AgTech: Better Data Is Key to Managing Risk on the Farm
April 23, 2026

Farming is under more pressure than it’s been in years. Costs are rising, prices are unpredictable, and every decision carries more weight than it used to. What many still think of as a traditional industry is quietly evolving, with more farmers turning to digital tools to manage risk and stay competitive. It’s not about chasing…

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pre-clinical
From Classroom to Clinic: Pre-Clinical Talent Steps Into Healthcare’s Hard-to-Fill Roles
April 23, 2026

Healthcare systems are facing a workforce crisis that’s no longer temporary—it’s structural. Even before COVID-19, staffing shortages across nursing, technical, and administrative roles were already straining capacity; today, those gaps are wider, costlier, and directly impacting patient access. With labor shortages persisting and burnout rising, health systems are being forced to rethink not just…

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learning
If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook
April 21, 2026

The ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus…

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skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

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Other Manufacturing a Stronger Standard
Live from FABTECH 2021: Eddie Saunders of Flex Machine Tools
July 2, 2022

This is another episode of “Manufacturing A Stronger Standard” live from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp., Derek DeGeest, talked with Eddie Saunders, Creative Director and host at FlexLive of Flex Machine Tools. Flex Machine Tools designs and manufactures a wide range of machine tools including Waterjets, Vertical Machining Centers, Tapping…

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Finishing Industry Trends and Challenges: Manufacturing A Stronger Standard
July 2, 2022

This episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard is live from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp. Derek DeGeest, talked with Scott Francis, editor-in-chief of Products Finishing, the media brand devoted to all things finishing. The company covers the latest equipment, technology, processes, and best practices when it comes to equipment and…

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Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Richard Wilcox and LestaUSA Increasing Customers’ Production with New Automation Systems
July 2, 2022

Achieving automation on the finishing side requires many pieces—two of the most important being the conveyor system and robotics. Host of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard Derek DeGeest spoke with Systems Sales Manager Matt Chorski of Richards-Wilcox Conveyors about their partnership as an Authorized Equipment Partner of LestaUSA while at FABTECH 2021. Chorski described the company:…

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Manufacturing a Stronger Standard: Nordson Customer Success with LestaUSA Technology
July 2, 2022

Derek DeGeest was back at FABTECH 2021 for another Manufacturing a Stronger Standard conversation. He spoke with Frank Mohar, Regional Sales Manager at Nordson, about the partnership between the companies and the future of finishing automation. Nordson is an Authorized Equipment Partner of LestaUSA. Mohar recalled that at the 2019 FABTECH was the introduction between…

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Richards-Wilcox and LestaUSA Increasing Customers’ Production with New Automation Systems with Matt Chorski
July 2, 2022

Achieving automation systems on the finishing side requires many pieces—two of the most important being the conveyor system and robotics. Host of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard Derek DeGeest spoke with Systems Sales Manager Matt Chorski of Richards-Wilcox Conveyors about their partnership as an Authorized Equipment Partner of LestaUSA while at FABTECH 2021. Chorski described the…

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Finishing Industry Trends and Challenges
July 2, 2022

This episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard is live from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp. Derek DeGeest, talked with Scott Francis, editor-in-chief of Products Finishing, the media brand devoted to all things finishing. The company covers the latest industry trends, including equipment, technology, processes, and best practices when it comes…

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Live from FABTECH 2021: Eddie Saunders of Flex Machine Tools
July 2, 2022

This is another episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard live from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp., Derek DeGeest, talked with Eddie Saunders, Creative Director and host at FlexLive of Flex Machine Tools. Flex Machine Tools designs and manufactures a wide range of machine tools including Waterjets, Vertical Machining Centers, Tapping…

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Improving Quality and Bottom Line for Finishing Operations
June 30, 2022

This is another episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of Lesta USA and Degeest Corp., Derek Degeest, talked with Bill Robinson, President and Kris Bonnegent, Regional Sales Manager, at Eurosider and Coating Delivery Technology, which provides Nitrotherm and Polifluid systems to hundreds of companies around the world including OEM’s…

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Improving Quality and Bottomline for Finishing Operations
June 30, 2022

This is another episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LetsaUSA and Degeest Corp., Derek Degeest, talked with Bill Robinson, President and Kris Bonnegent, Regional Sales Manager, at Eurosider and Coating Delivery Technology, which provides Nitrotherm and Polifluid systems to hundreds of companies around the world including OEM’s Toyota,…

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