LestaUSA is self-learning
While Lesta robots themselves were originally born in Italy, LestaUSA robots are manufactured, integrated, installed, and supported by our very own team right here in our manufacturing facility shared with DeGeest Corporation in South Dakota. We know North American manufacturing because we do it ourselves. This is a strategic advantage because the team of people who make and support your Lesta robot have real experience in a production environment where these robots are actually in use. This creates a unique R&D environment focused on creating solutions for general industry.
Manufacturing Industry is Seeing a Skills-Gap That Technology Created, But Can Solve
The age-old adage of “knowledge is power” has evolved into “knowledge is digital.” In today’s fast-paced manufacturing world, there’s a gap widening between experienced craftsmen, who have honed their skills over decades, and the tech-savvy newcomers who expect instant access to information. This so-called “skills gap” is far from new, but what sets…
Live from FABTECH 2023: Stories From the Field with LestaUSA’s 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…
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…
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…
Episodes
Live from FABTECH 2023: Stories From the Field with LestaUSA’s 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…
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…
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…
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…
Richards-Wilcox and LestaUSA Increasing Customers’ Production with New Automation Systems with Matt Chorski
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…
Finishing Industry Trends and Challenges
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…
Live from FABTECH 2021: Eddie Saunders of Flex Machine Tools
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…
FABTECH Show Kickoff and Overview of Solutions Distributed by DeGeest
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 Brad Ruppert, Engineering Manager, and Application Specialist at LestaUSA. They spoke about FABTECH and what they’ve done at previous shows. This is the second time that they have been at…
Adapting Existing and New Wagner Solutions to Leverage Self-Learning Robots
This episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard was live from FABTECH 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp., Derek DeGeest, talked with JR Rogers, National Sales Manager for Engineered Systems for Wagner, a leading global manufacturer of systems for surface finishing with liquid paints, powder coating, adhesives, and sealant materials. Wagner is also…
Improving Quality and Bottomline for Finishing Operations
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,…
FABTECH Show Kickoff and Overview of Solutions Distributed by DeGeest
This is another episode of Manufacturing A Stronger Standard live from the FABTECH Show 2021. Host and President of LestaUSA and DeGeest Corp., Derek DeGeest, talked with Brad Ruppert, Engineering Manager, and Application Specialist at LestaUSA. They spoke about FABTECH and what they’ve done at previous shows. This is the second time that they have…
How Lesta’s Robots Elevate Production and Automation in Wood Finishing
Wood finishing work is a craft requiring a keen eye and precise application, which has made it particularly hard to automate, but new technology is changing that. Offering insights on these new capabilities, Manufacturing a Stronger Standard brings listeners a conversation with DeGeest and Lesta USA President Derek DeGeest and Igor Kania, Wood Finishing Specialist for Lesta SRL from…
Self-Learning Robots Find a Better Way to Dry
Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation & LestaUSA, and Brad Ruppert, Engineering Manager and Application Specialist at DeGeest Corporation & LestaUSA, have a passion for new technology. When they can apply that to the manufacturing finishing process, it gives them a level of excitement that is contagious. They were excited to announce a new product…
Certify Before You Buy—How To Deal With New Machinery
Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA, knows when the industry comes together to help each other, successful integration of robotics and automation into operations follows. After being on both sides of the coin of installing a large finishing system and shepherding in new self-learning robotic technology to North America, it’s important to share…
Polifluid’s Benefits for Finishing Technology
Sometimes business improvements are stumbled upon by pure luck. That was certainly the case for Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Corporation, who chanced upon Polifluid during a recent trip to Europe. Derek is joined by Bill Robinson, President of Coating Delivery Technology, as well as host Tyler Kern, to dive deeper into this discovery and…
DeGeest Steel Works Changes Name, Enters New Era as DeGeest
DeGeest Steel Works recently announced a name change – the second in company history – to simply DeGeest, a simplification that better reflect the company’s constant commitment to expanding its range of solutions and services for its customers. This is more than a name change. DeGeest’s offerings are expanding from exceptional steel fabrication to include Finishing…
The Business of Overcoming Fear
In work and daily life, fear can halt business and personal progress. Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest Steel Works & LestaUSA, and Jim Rieffenberger, Business Leader Coach, speaker, and author from Renue, talked about ways to address the fears that can hold businesses back. Rieffenberger, a lifelong friend and mentor to DeGeest, recently became a…
Upskilling Your Workforce, Part 3
On this episode of Manufacturing a Stronger Standard, a DeGeest Steel Works podcast, President Derek DeGeest joined host Tyler Kern for the third installment of the duo’s series on upskilling your workforce. Upskilling refers to giving employees additional tools and skills, elevating their knowledge and capabilities – and often your entire operation. Previous episodes have touched…
How the Steel Industry is Attracting and Retaining New Talent in a Modernized World
As the technology-native Gen-Z comes of working age, flashy Silicon Valley jobs twinkle in their eye. But there’s another industry that is attracting these fresh young minds, and it is working hard to retain and invest in the people that choose to work there. That industry is manufacturing. Joined by Derek DeGeest, President of DeGeest…
Automation in the Paint Shop: Robots with a Human Touch
Derek DeGeest, President, DeGeest Steel Works, and Lesta USA, went on a search for ways to automate business processes, utilize software and technology, and help his employees accomplish more. What came next is an answer many general industry manufacturers are looking for too. As DeGeest Steel Works’ automation processes grew, a bottleneck formed at the…