Seen and Solved by Hubbard-Hall

Seen and Solved by Hubbard-Hall

“Seen and Solved” is a podcast brought to you by Hubbard-Hall which focuses on the stories from the front line of the metal finishing industry. Listeners will hear from our experts as they get candid about the popular and not-so popular problems we have come across in the field. Listen to learn how to improve your process and reduce cost and chemical consumption.

  1. 3D AGO

    S04 E07 - Engineering Better Blackening: Color, Corrosion and Consistency

    In this episode of Seen and Solved, host Tim Pennington welcomes Bill Blanchet and Tyler Thomas from Seacole and Connor Callais from Hubbard-Hall to address the technical challenges of achieving consistent black oxide finishes in the firearms and tooling industries. The discussion highlights how reject rates as high as 40% can be reduced to near zero by properly engineering black oxide lines, pairing the right chemistry with the right equipment, and ensuring operators are trained to maintain process control. Key topics include the impact of tank sizing, burner capacity, automatic water feed systems, and temperature stability on process consistency; the role of surface preparation and pretreatment in producing uniform coatings; and how Hubbard-Hall’s Super Seep Free hot oil eliminates salt creepage from blind holes and recessed geometries. The episode also explores how moving blackening operations in-house provides manufacturers with tighter quality control, shorter lead times, and reduced costs. With decades of combined experience in surface finishing, equipment design, and chemical process optimization, the guests share proven methods for solving black oxide challenges while adapting to industry changes such as PFAS regulatory pressures. This conversation is essential listening for metal finishing engineers, production managers, and quality professionals who need repeatable, cost-effective black oxide results. Whether you’re running a metal finishing shop, managing an in-house firearms blackening line, or looking for surface finishing best practices, this episode delivers actionable takeaways on reducing rejects, improving consistency, and achieving better results with less chemistry.

    19 min

  2. OCT 22

    S04 E06 - Retirement Reflections - Jeff Davis Gets Candid on Career, Culture & Connections

    In this special, out-of-studio episode of Seen and Solved, we join Jeff Davis – SVP of Business Development and Distribution - and Shelley Lusas – Director of Marketing - at D’Amelio’s Restaurant in Waterbury, Connecticut for a conversation that is as much about celebration as it is reflection. Designed to be a fun, relaxed setting, this episode captures the spirit of what Jeff himself coined as “socializing with intent”—sharing stories, wisdom, and laughter while reflecting on a remarkable career. Jeff is retiring after 42 years at Hubbard-Hall, where he experienced nearly every facet of the company – from manufacturing and sales to marketing, purchasing, and leadership roles. In this candid conversation, he shares lessons learned, industry insights, the evolution of metal finishing and industrial chemistry, and the relationships that have defined his career. Along the way, his stories are full of humor, nostalgia, and the kind of mentorship that leaves a lasting impact. This episode is a heartfelt celebration of Jeff’s extraordinary contributions, the people he’s influenced, and the company culture he helped shape. Whether you’re in manufacturing, metal finishing, industrial chemistry, or leadership, Jeff’s reflections offer inspiration, insight, and a reminder that success is built on patience, preparation, and connection.

    24 min

  3. OCT 8

    S04 E05 - Connor Callais - Misfires to Mastery: Cleaning, Coating, Compliance - Part 2

    Part 2 of the series on Cleaning, Coating, Compliance in Seen & Solved takes a deeper look at immersion applications, focusing on chemical control and post-treatment in conversion coatings. Host Tim Pennington continues his discussion with Connor Callais, Product Manager at Hubbard-Hall, shifting the focus to why monitoring time, temperature, and concentration is essential for proper bath control. Connor explains how titrations and boiling points are used to guide chemical maintenance in phosphate and black oxide baths, the risks when operators let parameters drift, and the challenges shops face when post-treatments are overlooked or mismanaged. The discussion also highlights practical ways to extend corrosion protection and preserve surface finish quality with the right sealants, oils, and water-based coatings. For manufacturers, applicators, and finishing shops working with immersion lines, this episode emphasizes why chemical control is critical to consistency, why bath audits prevent costly failures, and why post-treatment decisions directly affect coating performance, corrosion resistance, and part longevity. With insights on avoiding drift, maintaining line efficiency, and improving long-term quality, Part 2 shows why the final stages of cleaning, coating, and compliance are just as important as the first steps in surface preparation.

    9 min

  4. SEP 24

    S04 E04 - Connor Callais - Misfires to Mastery: Cleaning, Coating, Compliance - Part 1

    What makes or breaks a successful immersion application? In this episode of Seen & Solved, host Tim Pennington sits down with Connor Callais, Product Manager at Hubbard-Hall, to walk through the keys to achieving consistent, high-quality conversion coatings. In Part 1 of this conversation, Connor shares insights on: • Common mistakes in immersion processes and how to avoid them • Why racking and surface prep are critical to results • The role of cleaning, rinsing, and acid steps in performance • How post-treatment decisions impact corrosion protection and finish quality Whether you’re working with zinc or manganese phosphate, black oxide, or decorative coatings, this conversation highlights practical ways to improve line efficiency and part performance. Listen in, and learn how attention to the details—surface prep, chemistry, and process control—can make all the difference.

    18 min

  5. SEP 10

    S04 E03 - Jason Potts - From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: Fixing a Powder Coating Line

    On this episode of Seen & Solved, host Tim Pennington is joined by Jason Potts — better known as the Finishing Fixer — to break down a real-world challenge inside a powder coating operation. The customer was running a line at twice the normal speed, stuck with a cleaner that only worked with constant boosters, and dealing with lead times that dragged on for months. Jason explains how he and the Hubbard-Hall team dug into the process, checked the line setup, and used their pilot line and lab to test every option. The result was the development of AquaEase PL 930, a one-and-done cleaner that kept the line running fast, eliminated boosters, shortened lead times, and won the confidence of the customer.

    10 min

  6. AUG 27

    S04 E02 - Robin Deal - PFAS in Wastewater: Practical Approaches and What’s Next in Treatment Technology

    PFAS continues to be one of the most pressing issues for the finishing industry, and the pressure is not going away. In this episode of Seen and Solved, host Tim Pennington speaks with Robin Deal of Hubbard-Hall about what finishers need to know now. They examine how the EPA’s current priorities place metal finishing squarely in the spotlight, why the industry’s decades-long history with PFAS matters today, and how regulations are likely to evolve in the coming years. Robin shares findings from Hubbard-Hall’s nationwide testing of hexavalent chrome plating facilities and anodizing shops, identifying 11 PFAS compounds that consistently appear in wastewater. She explains how the team evaluated various treatment methods, from hydroxide precipitation to microfiltration, carbon filtration, and evaporation, and why carbon filtration emerged as the most practical near-term option for significant PFAS reduction. The discussion also explores forward-looking research into ways to destroy PFAS entirely, from advanced oxidation and UV light to ultrasonic degradation, ball milling, and thrombotic agglomeration. For finishers, this conversation offers both a reality check on the current regulatory landscape and a hopeful look at emerging technologies that could reshape the future of wastewater management.

    24 min

  7. AUG 13

    S04 E01 - Erik Sarlund - Phos & Clean: Cutting Complexity in Pretreatment Chemistry

    In this episode of Seen and Solved, host Tim Pennington talks with Erik Sarlund, Hubbard-Hall’s pretreatment expert, about why Phos & Clean is showing up in more tanks and earning a reputation for performance. Phos & Clean isn’t just a single product—it’s a complete line of one-step cleaner coaters built to save time, reduce waste, and keep quality high. Erik shares where it’s being used most effectively, from automotive to marine applications, how it handles challenging mixed metals like steel and aluminum, and why it’s often the perfect fit for facilities with smaller footprints or those replacing multi-stage systems. You’ll also hear a real-world success story from a marine manufacturer who needed a process tough enough to pass 2,000-hour salt spray tests—even after bending powder-coated aluminum rails. If you’re looking for a way to simplify pretreatment without compromising results, this conversation is worth your time.

    11 min

  8. JUL 30

    S03 E25 - Shelley Lusas - Behind the Brand: The Strategy & Innovation Driving Success

    What does modern marketing look like inside a 175-year-old chemical company? In this episode of Beyond the Brand, Shelley Lusas, Marketing Director at Hubbard-Hall, shares how a lean team is making a big impact – blending bold creative ideas, consistent strategy, and the smart use of AI to stay ahead. Shelley walks through how every campaign is built around three clear goals: brand awareness, lead generation, and competitive advantage. She talks about what it takes to build trust with internal and external partners, the importance of clarity across more than 500 chemistries, and how the team is helping customers achieve better results with less chemistry—online, on the show floor, and tank side. You’ll hear the story behind a standout branding campaign involving rubber ducks, a last-minute logo refresh tied to the company’s 175th anniversary, and how Hubbard-Hall is optimizing its presence in a world where visibility in AI search is just as important as SEO once was. This episode is a look at how thoughtful strategy and a creative mindset can reshape the way people think about industrial marketing—without losing sight of what matters most.

    15 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

“Seen and Solved” is a podcast brought to you by Hubbard-Hall which focuses on the stories from the front line of the metal finishing industry. Listeners will hear from our experts as they get candid about the popular and not-so popular problems we have come across in the field. Listen to learn how to improve your process and reduce cost and chemical consumption.

Information

  • Creator
    Seen and Solved by Hubbard-Hall
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Seen and Solved by Hubbard-Hall
  • Show Website
    Seen and Solved by Hubbard-Hall