What's Made in the USA?

Carl Holden
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Marketing

What's Made in the USA? puts a spotlight on the people who build products or services right here in the United States of America. Each episode is about the business, how it started, what it makes, and how it meets the mission of a self-reliant and free country. Hosted by Carl Holden, entrepreneur and marketer of many manufacturing companies

  1. Nov 3

    Frey Wiess Makes Precision Machined Parts

    Susan Ralph and Linda Rosenberg are twin sisters and second-generation owners running Frey Weiss Precision Machining in Wood Dale, Illinois. They produce precision CNC turned and milled components, tight-tolerance parts, subassemblies, and white-label medical research instruments for aerospace, commercial, and industrial OEMs. Hear how they dropped filing cabinets for paperless ERP and face the harsh reality of customers offshoring work despite fifty percent tariffs. In this episode: - Why a paperless ERP system let them run a twelve-person shop without front office bloat - How flexible four-day workweeks keep their CNC turning and milling floor staffed from 6 AM to 9 PM - Machining a single solid missile part with 54 dimensions on a four-axis setup - The reality of losing long-term work to overseas shops even with fifty percent tariffs in place - Dealing with raw material price hikes of twenty to thirty percent year over year - Why the shop employs skilled machinists rather than basic machine operators - What young people and women need to know about building high-paying manufacturing careers About Susan Ralph and Linda Rosenberg: Susan Ralph and Linda Rosenberg are the second-generation owners of Frey Weiss Precision Machining, with Susan managing sales, operations, quoting, and floor troubleshooting. Founded in 1969 by Adolf Frey and Helmut Weiss, the company operates a contract machine shop in Wood Dale, Illinois, right outside O'Hare Airport. They manufacture tight-tolerance single parts, multi-component subassemblies, and white-box instruments for medical research, aerospace, commercial, and industrial clients using materials like Ultem. Their capabilities include CNC turning, CNC milling on four-axis machines, manual machining, laser marking, and clean assembly. Website: https://freyweiss.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications so you never miss an interview with the people making things in America. Topics covered: CNC turning, CNC milling, four-axis machining, contract manufacturing, Ultem machining, subassemblies, laser marking, paperless ERP, job shop scheduling Chapters: 0:00 Welcome and second-generation machining roots 3:50 Moving from manual paperwork to paperless ERP 9:19 Managing shop staff and flexible work schedules 13:35 Aerospace parts, 54 dimensions, and medical instruments 17:00 Rising material costs, tariffs, and offshoring pressure 20:34 Seeking growth and working with manufacturing associations 28:03 Advice for young people and women entering machining

  2. Oct 25

    Polymer Marketing Inc. Makes Specialized Firm

    Industrial tank winders rely on thin polyester film to slide giant fiberglass cylinders off steel molds without sticking. Charles Jason Balkcum, Sales and Operations at Polymer Marketing Inc., explains how his small team supplies custom PET film and Mylar to pipeline builders, chemical tank manufacturers, and niche converters. In this conversation with Carl Holden, Balkcum unpacks how PMI turns rejected off-spec factory runs and small-batch orders into a thriving 40-year supply business. In this episode: - Why fiberglass pipe and tank builders must use barrier film around molds to prevent resin from bonding - How metallized PET film replaces heavy glass mirrors in studios and wedding backdrops - The origin of Polymer Marketing Inc. taking off-spec DuPont rolls rejected over tiny thickness variations - Why a lean three-person operation uses a dedicated North Carolina partner for warehouse storage and slitting - Why walking into a New England engineering room for five minutes closed a deal that months of emails could not - The simple question distributor reps can ask industrial accounts to uncover hidden Mylar film business About Charles Jason Balkcum: Charles Jason Balkcum manages sales and operations at Polymer Marketing Inc., a supplier and custom converter of polyester film headquartered in Evans, Georgia. The company specializes in PET film, commonly known by the trade name Mylar, as well as metallized, clear, translucent, and opaque industrial films. PMI works with partner warehouses to supply converted, slit, and sheeted rolls used as non-stick release barriers for fiberglass composites, oil and gas storage tanks, chemical pipelines, and specialty packaging. Started in 1980 by Balkcum's father and two colleagues from DuPont, PMI has spent over four decades supplying niche manufacturers and distributors whose order sizes or custom requirements fall outside standard mill minimums. Website: https://polymermarketinginc.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Subscribe to What's Made in the USA to hear real manufacturing operators break down their processes and supply chains. Topics covered: polyester film, PET film, Mylar, barrier film, fiberglass composites, metallized film, slitting and converting, industrial supply Chapters: 0:00 Supplying polyester film to manufacturers 2:03 How fiberglass tank builders use barrier film 4:42 Metallized films and lightweight mirror applications 8:14 Starting PMI from DuPont off-spec rolls 13:10 Operating lean with a North Carolina slitting partner 15:29 Distributor partnerships and in-person technical sales 24:53 Finding real manufacturers versus warehouse distributors 38:02 Marketing advice and using AI to qualify buyers

  3. Oct 25

    Scriptel Makes Signature Pad Technology

    When you sign a digital consent form at a hospital, your signature is not just a picture on a screen. John Powers, owner and CEO of Scriptel, explains how forensic data like stroke speed helps verify identity on the hardware his team builds in Columbus, Ohio. Scriptel manufactures durable electronic signature pads designed specifically for healthcare environments, veterinary clinics, and legal compliance. In this episode: - Why Scriptel signature pads capture forensic stroke speed rather than just flat image files - How writing custom software for Citrix virtual channels solved a massive hospital integration barrier - Sourcing plastics, cables, and circuit board assembly across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana - The real world environments that cause the most physical wear on signature pads - How John transitioned from developer to acquiring the business from investors in 2021 - Why wealthy bank clients rejected fingerprint biometrics in favor of traditional signatures About John Powers: John Powers is the owner and CEO of Scriptel, a hardware and software manufacturer based in Columbus, Ohio. Scriptel produces specialized electronic signature pads made with scratch-resistant glass, custom molded plastic housings, internal circuit boards, and secure integration software. The company primarily serves healthcare networks, clinics, veterinary practices, and legal environments that require authenticated consent forms. Their components are sourced across the Midwest, including plastics from Ohio and Pennsylvania, cables from Indiana, and circuit board assembly in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, before final assembly in Columbus. Powers joined the company as a software developer following a 28-year career at Xerox, took over technical development in 2016, and purchased the business in 2021. Website: https://scriptel.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Subscribe to the channel and tune in to discover the American manufacturing stories behind everyday technology. Topics covered: electronic signature pads, healthcare hardware manufacturing, circuit board assembly, injection molded plastics, Citrix virtual channels, biometric signature capture, EHR software integration Chapters: 0:00 Electronic signature pads and core markets 3:00 Forensic data in digital signatures 5:55 Taking over and right-sizing Scriptel 10:31 Citrix and Epic EHR software integration 12:09 Hardware durability in healthcare environments 14:18 Midwest sourcing and domestic assembly 18:17 Why handwritten signatures remain relevant 24:29 Career advice for the next generation

  4. Oct 3

    DasPac Makes Packaging Automation Solutions

    Doug Soltis, owner of DasPac, solves high-stakes packaging setup problems for overstressed manufacturing engineers. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, DasPac acts as an integrator and distributor providing packaging equipment and materials like case erectors, stretch wrappers, shrink wrap, and bundling systems for large-scale operations across industries like food production, electrical, and horticulture. In this episode: - Why overstressed engineers hire DasPac to select and integrate their packaging lines - How NAFTA drove Doug to transition into an equipment and materials specialist in 1992 - Why DasPac guarantees equipment sales at exact manufacturer list prices without extra markups - How DasPac handles complex packaging systems like case erectors, stretch wrappers, and conveyors - How Doug uses shake machine testing to find exact film and wrapper settings for heavy store shipments - Why Doug is integrating AI into background proposal workflows to spend more time with clients - Why clear communication skills are the most essential asset for the future workforce About Douglas "Doug" Soltis: Douglas "Doug" Soltis is the owner of DasPac, a packaging equipment distributor, representative, and integrator headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. DasPac provides packaging machinery and materials including shrink wrap systems, case erectors, tapers, stretch wrappers, labels, and conveyors to major product manufacturers. Serving diverse sectors such as horticulture, baking, food processing, batteries, and electrical manufacturing, the company helps engineers specify and integrate end-of-line systems. Doug named DasPac using his initials and a nod to his mother's German heritage, establishing the business in the early 1990s following NAFTA's impact on regional manufacturing. Website: http://www.daspac.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Subscribe to What's Made in the USA to discover the companies and leaders behind American manufacturing. Topics covered: packaging equipment, case erectors, stretch wrappers, shrink wrap bundling, palletizing systems, conveyor integration, stretch film testing, packaging machinery, packaging distribution Chapters: 0:00 What DasPac provides for packaging equipment and materials 3:41 How NAFTA led Doug to launch DasPac in 1992 8:04 How DasPac helps engineers select and integrate machinery 12:30 Navigating line speeds, high-volume requirements, and tariffs 14:45 Integrating AI to streamline proposals and customer communication 20:52 Testing stretch film and equipment settings on shake machines 27:18 Doug shares key advice for the next workforce generation

  5. Sep 16

    Promier Products Makes Bright Flashlights

    Cody Grandadam didn't take the traditional path to building a multi-million dollar lighting brand. The founder and CEO of Promier Products launched his company at age 24 with negative money, turning a passion for relationship-building into a business that now develops high-powered portable lights like 100,000-lumen flashlights. He shares how his Peru, Illinois team designs enthusiast-grade lights for brands like Kodiak and LitezAll, navigates overseas manufacturing realities, and revitalized a historic 400,000-square-foot factory complex. In this episode: - Why launching a single high-volume account beats knocking on hundreds of individual doors - How Promier Products designs multi-use flashlights featuring magnetic bases, UV LEDs, and 100,000 lumens - Why price points and rapid 6-month product release cycles keep flashlight production overseas for now - How tariff spikes hit retail margins and why Promier Products chose to absorb millions in costs - How success in the flashlight business funded the revival of the historic Westclocks building in Peru, Illinois - Why specialized product positioning helps independent brands outshine legacy competitors on store shelves About Cody Duane Grandadam: Cody Duane Grandadam is the founder and CEO of Promier Products, headquartered in Peru, Illinois. Promier Products designs and distributes consumer portable lighting, including pocket lights, headlamps, task lights, and high-output enthusiast flashlights under brands like LitezAll and Kodiak. Operating out of the historic Westclocks factory facility, the company engineers and packages its product lines in the US for distribution into major national retail chains. Cody started the company in 2011 and has expanded its footprint to cover dozens of domestic team members alongside global manufacturing partners. Website: https://litezall.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Subscribe to the channel and watch the full video to see how American product designers are building national brands. Topics covered: portable lighting, flashlights, LED flashlights, 18650 battery cells, product design, retail distribution, trademarking, manufacturing tariffs Chapters: 0:00 Flashlight innovation and lumens overview 1:27 Starting the company and brand origins 4:48 Early sales journey and retail strategy 8:50 Team culture and company footprint 11:39 Design process and overseas manufacturing 16:42 Direct to consumer versus retail 23:31 Impact of tariffs on retail pricing 28:25 Scaling market share and buyer relationships 33:07 Travel memories and advice for professionals

  6. Sep 11

    IceStone Makes Recycled Glass Countertops

    What happens when a seasoned entrepreneur takes over a heavy manufacturing plant to make sustainable architectural surfaces? Dal LaMagna, CEO and Owner of IceStone, joined the company after building Tweezerman to turn around an ambitious green factory in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. IceStone manufactures durable, high-end countertops made from 100 percent recycled glass, portland cement, and non-toxic pigments for commercial and residential spaces. In this episode: - Why Dal LaMagna stepped in to manage IceStone after selling Tweezerman - Manufacturing 1,300-pound recycled glass and cement countertop slabs in Brooklyn - Why IceStone countertops contain zero crystalline silica, avoiding common industry health risks - How profit-sharing and employee empowerment drive workplace culture and retention - Using credit cards and convertible debt instead of giving up early equity to investors - Managing cash flow with a simple 50-20-20-10 operating budget model - Why entrepreneurs should design a business around their ideal daily lifestyle About Dal LaMagna: Dal LaMagna is the CEO and Owner of IceStone, a sustainable countertop manufacturer based in Rhinebeck, New York. Founded in 2003, the company produces environmentally friendly surface slabs made from recycled glass, cement, and non-toxic pigments for residential kitchens and commercial spaces. Operating out of a 50,000 square foot facility in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, IceStone served architects, designers, and builders with durable, silica-free materials. Dal previously founded Tweezerman, which he built from 500 dollars into a 57 million dollar brand before turning his focus to green building products and tech ventures like FactFlow. Website: https://icestoneusa.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Watch the full interview to learn how American manufacturers build sustainable, high-performance building materials. Topics covered: recycled glass countertops, silica free surface slabs, concrete countertop manufacturing, Brooklyn Navy Yard factory, sustainable building materials, architectural surfaces, employee profit sharing, startup financing models Chapters: 0:00 What IceStone makes and how it compares to consumer products 1:14 Manufacturing 1,300-pound countertop slabs in the Brooklyn Navy Yard 3:00 Startup advice on fearing success and financing with credit cards 6:30 Balancing product, sales, and business operations with a 3-person committee 8:54 Sharing 20 percent of company sale profits with employees 10:43 Protecting your brand with trademarks and avoiding legal pitfalls 12:50 Managing cash flow with a 50-20-20-10 operating budget 16:04 The history of IceStone, manufacturing challenges, and silica-free safety 22:26 Personal memories and advice for young workers entering the market

  7. Sep 11

    Service Plus Makes Oil Seals

    What happens when a teenager who grew up in machine shops decides to fix a broken industrial supply chain? Jacob Cox, Owner and Founder of Service Plus, started by manufacturing better valve seals before building a full-scale valve manufacturing company in Houston, Texas. His company designs and manufactures patented completion and production valves that keep upstream oil and gas wells running across the United States, Canada, and international markets. In this episode: - Why Jacob Cox left a previous job to start manufacturing higher-quality valve seals in-house - Expanding from custom seal manufacturing to full upstream oil and gas valve production - Supplying energy companies across major US shale basins, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina - Why American technology leads global markets in innovative, patented oilfield hardware - Achieving near-perfect employee retention in a competitive manufacturing labor market - How tariffs and raw material supply chain fluctuations impact heavy metal forgings - Navigating oil price volatility while investing in facility expansions and new product designs About Jacob Cox: Jacob Cox is the Owner and Founder of Service Plus, an oilfield equipment manufacturing company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Raised in an oil and gas family, Jacob spent his teenage years working in machine shops before launching a business to solve quality, lead time, and customer service issues with valve seals. Service Plus manufactures patented completion and production valves, precision seals, and custom components used on upstream oil and gas wells. Operating from their facility in Houston, Texas, the company serves oil and gas operators, distributors, and major energy producers throughout the United States, Canada, and select international markets. Website: https://serviceplusoilfield.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Watch the full interview to see how American innovation is driving the next generation of oilfield valve technology. Topics covered: oilfield valve manufacturing, upstream completion valves, precision valve seals, body forgings, oil well equipment, shale basin drilling, patented oilfield technology, energy industry supply chain Chapters: 0:00 Upstream oil and gas valve manufacturing overview 1:36 Founding Service Plus and solving valve seal issues 3:05 US, Canada, and international market expansion 4:34 Customer purchasing models and direct sales approach 6:45 Employee retention strategies and workforce investment 12:49 Navigating tariffs and raw material supply chains 17:31 Oil price volatility and 5 year growth plans 22:39 Personal West Virginia roots and camping memories

  8. Sep 11

    Ajustco Makes Industrial Inventions

    What happens when an electrician wakes up at 2:00 AM from a dream showing a totally new hardware design? Jason Stile, Founder and CEO of Ajustco, turned that late-night vision into a patented, self-adjusting barrel bolt lock before launching a revolutionary pre-pour concrete anchor system. His Penn Argyl, Pennsylvania company manufactures patented construction hardware that eliminates job site drilling, saving time and keeping workers safe on major infrastructure projects across the United States. In this episode: - Why traditional barrel bolt locks fail when doors shift from weather and age - How a dream at 2:00 AM led to a patented, automatically adjusting hardware design - Bringing a consumer hardware product to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Tractor Supply - Why drilling holes for post-pour concrete anchors creates labor and safety issues - How the Anchor Thread system attaches directly to concrete formwork before pouring - Partnering with national distributors like White Cap to supply major infrastructure jobs - Expanding product lines for California seismic codes and corrugated metal decks About Jason Stile: Jason Stile is the Founder and CEO of Ajustco, a hardware design and manufacturing firm headquartered in Penn Argyl, Pennsylvania. A former electrician who owned a firm in New York City, Jason launched the company after patenting an automatically adjusting barrel bolt lock called the Adjust Lock. Ajustco manufactures patent-protected construction hardware, including the Anchor Thread pre-pour concrete anchoring system, which eliminates post-pour drilling for safety netting, fall protection, and MEP installations. Their products use steel bolts sourced from a foundry in Michigan, plastic parts molded in New Jersey, and final assembly at their Pennsylvania warehouse to serve major general contractors nationwide. Website: https://ajustco.com/ About What's Made in the USA: What's Made in the USA is hosted by Carl Holden of Zellus Marketing, a technical SEO agency in Huntsville, Alabama that gets American manufacturers ranking on Google and AI search for the exact products they make. Each episode is a conversation with an owner or operator about what their company makes, how they make it, and how they built the business behind it. https://whatismadeintheusapodcast.com https://www.zellusmarketing.com Watch the full interview to learn how innovative hardware design is transforming modern construction sites. Topics covered: pre-pour concrete anchors, self-adjusting barrel bolt locks, construction hardware manufacturing, anchor thread systems, formwork attachments, fall protection anchors, seismic slip form anchors, corrugated deck anchors, hardware distribution Chapters: 0:00 Barrel bolt lock innovation and origin 2:54 Pre-pour concrete anchor system demonstration 9:26 Company naming and brand strategy 10:42 From electrician to hardware inventor 15:29 Manufacturing supply chain and assembly setup 18:30 Construction sales and White Cap distribution 24:18 Designing anchors for seismic and metal deck applications 28:00 Tracking school experiences in New Jersey

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About

What's Made in the USA? puts a spotlight on the people who build products or services right here in the United States of America. Each episode is about the business, how it started, what it makes, and how it meets the mission of a self-reliant and free country. Hosted by Carl Holden, entrepreneur and marketer of many manufacturing companies

Information

  • Creator
    Carl Holden
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Carl Holden
  • Show Website
    What's Made in the USA?